Excellent introduction to Kuching and the history and culture of Sarawak which, in my view, enhanced the whole trip. Wildlife walks in Bako National Park with guide Alex Lee; seeing a flying Lemur fly was a real highlight.
9-Day Ultimate Borneo Wildlife Bike Safari
Visit Sarawak’s Best Wildlife Parks
Meet Orangutans & Other Local Wildlife
Cycle, Trek, & Boat Through Borneo’s National Parks
Join our 9-day trip and delve into the world of Borneo’s idyllic national parks and wildlife reserves. We promise you a cycling adventure through the rainforest and down to Borneo’s picturesque coastline. Spot a crocodile or migratory birds along the rivers and shoreline. Hike through national parks, stopping for refreshing dips in hidden waterfalls. This trip offers the best of the Borneo wilderness from mountain to coast.
Tour Highlights
Pedal your way to some of Sarawak’s best wildlife parks to meet the famous orangutans and big-nosed proboscis monkeys that live here.
Discover the huge variety of flora and fauna indigenous to the island.
Cross rivers, ride boats, and trek through rainforests, in daylight and darkness, as you cycle from one beautiful national park to the next.
Enjoy an extended cycle along Borneo's picturesque coastline for a chance to spot the blooming rafflesia flower and an optional ride to the tip of Borneo.
Click the Tabs to Find Out More
Itinerary
Trip Details
Price
- Adult (12+:) MYR 9,800.00
- Bike hire: MYR 840.00 per bike
- Single supplement (for solo travelers who prefer their own room): MYR 980.00
Contact us if you have a group of more than 6 pax to ask for our group pricing!
Departure Time
To be arranged post-booking as it depends on the flight schedule
Meeting Point
Kuching Airport
Availability
2024
- March 17th – March 25th
- April 24th – April 29th
- June 16th – June 24th
- August 11th – August 19th
- September 22nd – September 30th
Duration
9 days, 8 nights
Number of Cycling Days
3 full days, 3 half days
Distance
235 km
Group Size
Minimum 2 adults, for groups of more than 6, please inquire for a special price
Difficulty Level
3/5 Active: paved roads and gravel tracks with some undulations and some easy off-road biking
Included
- Airport transfer
- English-speaking guide
- Helmets
- T shirt & reusable water bottle
- Accommodations, including the night of arrival and pre-departure night
- Meals
- Support vehicle and all luggage transfers
- Rain ponchos
- Drinks & snacks during rides
- Other non-riding activities as per itinerary
- Entrance fees
Not Included
- Bikes, for the longer tours we offer bike hire as a supplement in case you prefer to bring your own bike
- Bikes can be rented from us on an availability basis – we provide front-suspension mountain bikes with lightweight alloy frames, 27-speed gearing, dish-brakes, and Shimano components, and all are in good condition
- Travel insurance
What to Bring
Essential Items
- Multiple sets of cycling or sporting clothing
- Multiple sets of spare casual clothing, including long trousers and shorts, hat/cap, swimming costumes, sandals, and extra walking shoes
- Cycling gear: gloves and sunglasses
- Personal care: small towel, toiletries, personal medication, sunscreen, and mosquito repellent
- Camera and chargers, dry bag, and torchlight
- Extra cash/credit card
- Passport with 6 months validity and spare pages (additional immigration check at Sarawak’s entry points) and travel insurance details
For More Comfort
- Padded bike shorts with something to put on over the top when not on the bikes
- Cycling shoes or comfortable sports shoes
- Your own personal helmet, water bottle, and raincoat
About your guide
From start to finish, your trip will be led by 1 or 2 English-speaking, cycling tour leaders, depending on the size of the group. Along with further support from an assistant and support vehicle driver, the team aims to deliver a comfortable, safe, fun, and enriching travel experience by ensuring that everything runs smoothly. Our local, English-speaking tour leaders take great pride in their heritage (as well as their own personal stories) and are well informed on Borneo’s history, culture, and natural wonders.
Good to Know
- Our tour leaders carry spare parts and tools for basic repair
- Age restriction: all participants must be aged 12 and over
- Bike hire is an additional charge for this tour – for correct bike sizing, please provide personal height measurements during the booking process (for rental bike only)
- Tell us your food preference, accommodation preference, and any other personal requests
- Come into our shop when you arrive to meet your tour leader and test out your bike – this is a good time to fix your personal saddle, clips, bike bag, or phone rack
- Check out OUR RESPONSIBLE TOURISM COMMITMENT
What You'll Do
Pedal into history on this heritage tour of Kuching, the capital of Sarawak. Explore the main bazaar in the picturesque old town, and stop at the square tower at the ‘stone jetty’. In the early days of the Brooke Rajah, this fort and a nearby courthouse were the full extent of the government buildings.
Cross the river in traditional fashion, on a ‘sampan’ ferry deftly steered with oars, to visit Fort Margherita, built by Charles Brooke in 1879 and named after his bride. The fort’s cannons were trained on the river, both a traffic route and a possible source of an enemy attack. After substantial renovations, it is now a museum of Brooke memorabilia.
Accommodation: The Marian
Meals: Dinner
The trip starts off with a transfer from your city hotel to Asajaya and a boat ride to Beliong. Beliong in Asajaya, is located some 38 km from Kuching. Beliong in the local Chinese dialect means “kiss of the dragon” and the scenery of this island is right on Kuching’s doorstep. Culture and history aside, the area provides a beautiful view for cycling along. After two local boat crossings, we reach Muara Tebas for lunch, then continue the ride to the Bako boat terminal. After the ride. we get a boat transfer to Bako National Park. At night, venture into the night with our expert park guide to catch sight of breathtaking night creatures.
Accommodation: Bako National Park
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
The trip starts off with a full day of trekking and wildlife spotting. Bako is one of the best places in Sarawak to see wildlife in natural surroundings, including Borneo’s signature long-nose proboscis monkeys, long-tailed macaques, wild boars (bearded pig), snakes, monitor lizards, and more! They can all be seen in close but safe proximity under the guidance of our expert park guide.
After the trek in Bako, we get on a transfer to the other side of the peninsula near Santubong for an Evening Wetlands Cruise. The boat trip offers more opportunity for wildlife spotting including estuary crocodile and shorebirds. After the cruise, upon reaching Damai Beach, you will have the opportunity to relax on the beach at our jungle resort.
Accommodation: Permai Rainforest Resort
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
Enjoy your morning ride along a beautiful mangrove coastal route, taking in great views of Mount Santubong. Along the way, we will visit the Malay fishing kampongs of Buntal and Pasir Pandak. The lovely villages pose as a great opportunity to spot migratory birds along the spectacular coastline. The ride continues all the way to the foothills of Mount Serapi, at a little retreat where we will stay for the night.
In the evening, take a night stroll to the jungle stream to spot colorful Bornean Frogs.
Accommodation: Retreat @ Serapi
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
On this day, we go for a ride from our retreat at Serapi, all the way to the Fairy Cave.
The cycling route as well as the cave visit on this day features an abundance of karst formations along the way. The Fairy Cave boasts an impressive huge chamber halfway up a mountain, with formations dating all the way back to the Jurassic period. Walk up a series of flights of stairs to reach the entrance of the chamber. The approaching chamber will take your breath away on first sighting and it offers spectacular view to both inside and outside the cave. You will have a chance to discover bats and swiftlets which call the area home.
After the cave visit, you will be transferred to Bau town for lunch before heading back to Serapi.
Accommodation: Retreat @ Serapi
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
Trace the extensive coastline, which is interspersed with secluded beaches and peat swamp forests. There are chances to see a wide range of coastal and wetland birds, including numerous migratory species that are temporarily resident in Borneo. Bike onto a distinctive car ferry to cross the Sampadi River along the route. After a long, level ride, we arrive in the seaside town of Lundu for lunch after passing through several fishing “kampongs” (villages).
After lunch, we venture into Gunung Gading National Park for a chance to see any blooming Rafflesia, the biggest flower in the world, or go for a hike to the park waterfall. We then end our ride at a welcoming seaside resort, where you can enjoy a well-deserved plunge in the pool, and see the sunset from the beach.
Accommodation: Lundu Union Yes Retreat/Rafflesia Resort Lundu
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
After breakfast by the pool, saddle up for our final day of riding. We follow the coastline and ride on a mixture of dirt trails and village roads towards the picturesque Sematan town. At Sematan, visit the local fish market which boasts fresh catches and delicious local produce. Next, we ride to a local waterfall for a picnic lunch. The final bike ride is along another beautiful stretch of isolated, white sand beach, and, during low tide, you can even ride your bike all the way to reach the seaside resort. Enjoy the cool sea breeze during our sunset dinner.
Accommodation: Sematan Palm Beach Resort
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
Make the most of the morning by the beach before we check out of the resort and transfer back to Kuching. After lunch, we will visit the Semenggoh Orangutan Sanctuary. The Semenggoh Nature Reserve is a totally protected area (TPA) for the habitat of semi-wild orangutans in Sarawak. Within this nature reserve is the Semenggoh Wildlife Center where visitors can have a close encounter with these adorable apes. These orangutans may have learned to fend for themselves in the wild but they do return to the centre for their feed when fruits are scarce in the jungle.
We drive back to Kuching after the visit, and check into your accommodation in the city. Have one last dinner together with the group and your guide at TopSpot, renowned for its seafood fare in the city, before calling it a night.
Accommodation: The Marian
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Today the tour concludes. For those who are not in a hurry to leave, the interior of Borneo awaits. For information on these and other destinations to extend your holiday, please ask our team at the time of booking. Transfer to Kuching Airport for a flight home.
Meals: Breakfast
Frequently Asked Questions
Our bike tours are fully supported by air-conditioned vehicles, so should you want to put your feet up, there will be a seat for you and a place to put your bike. The support vehicle also carries your luggage, as well as keeping you topped up with water, tropical fruit, and snacks.
Wearing a helmet is strongly recommended on all our biking adventures. Your tour leader will conduct a group cycling safety meeting on day one, as well as a briefing at the beginning of each day on what to expect during the day’s ride. Your tour leader is trained in first aid and emergency rescue but, to a certain degree, you must be responsible for your own safety while riding. For non-biking activities such as kayaking, safety measures such as life-jackets are compulsory and a separate safety briefing will be given before the start of each activity.
Meals and snacks are included as per the itinerary. We take care in our planning to include the best of Sarawak cuisine, including delicacies from a mixture of Dayak, Malay, and Chinese cuisine that all use local, fresh ingredients from the tropics. Some can be hot and spicy. We eat dinner together, Malaysian style, by sharing all of our delicious dishes. Alcoholic drinks are available at your own expense, but they might not be served in some Muslim halal restaurants.
We have carefully chosen the best available accommodation in different locations with friendly, local hosts. To ensure your comfort after a hard day in the saddle, we strive to offer a range of accommodation that is clean, comfortable, and represents the local culture. The type of lodging can vary depending on the location and what is available: a local tribal homestay, a jungle lodge, a national park cabin, a historical shophouse, and seaside resorts. Rooms are based on a sharing basis with double beds and if you are a single traveler, you might be paired with another traveler of the same sex unless you pay the single supplement.
The details of the number of cycling days, cycling distances, and difficulty levels for each tour are listed in the fact sheet. All our trips require basic fitness, preferably acquired through cycling. The fitter you are, the more you’ll enjoy the riding. However, we try to make our Sarawak bike tours as accessible as possible with the average cycling distance of 30-40 km per day and the longest distance no more than 70 km. Most cycling terrains are on paved roads (and limited gravel tracks) with some undulations.
Being on the equator, Borneo is generally hot (average daily temperatures are around 30 degrees Celsius) and humid, especially around noon. Therefore, we like to start our day early and rest at points of interest during the hottest part of the day. Short rain showers are fairly common during the mid to late afternoon but we provide waterproof ponchos for continuous riding, which can actually be very entertaining.
Once you have booked your tour, we will send you a pre-tour information pack that will have all the information you need to prepare for the tour, such as the packing list and joining instruction, etc.
Solo travelers are always welcome and those who would like their own room have the option of paying a single supplement. Otherwise, we will arrange for a shared room with another solo traveler (of the same sex) at no extra cost. If there is no roommate available, we will cover the additional cost of a single room.
We include very limited corporate insurance coverage with minimum coverage. It is a condition of participating in a Paradesa Borneo that each traveler holds his or her own travel insurance for the duration of the trip. It needs to include coverage of medical expenses, emergency evacuation, personal liability, and accident insurance. You should email us a copy of your insurance coverage for our reference in case of an emergency.
The official currency is the Malaysian ringgit (RM). Foreign currencies are not generally accepted and currency exchange is only available in major banks, as well as larger hotels. Credit cards can be used only in larger hotels and shops. ATMs are widely available in cities and towns, but you’ll need cash in villages to pay for some extra meals, drinks, activities, and, of course, shopping. There will be limited opportunities to spend money whilst cycling through rural areas outside of personal items, extra snacks, drinks, and the odd souvenir. Tipping at restaurants and for local guides and support staff is uncommon. Should however you feel the staff/guides have provided excellent service you may wish to give them some form of gratuity. We recommend that you bring an equivalent of US$ 400 (in Malaysian ringgit) for incidentals.
See What Our Guests Are Saying
She was great fun and was flexible with the itinerary so we got maximum enjoyment… We had great support on the road too with Max and Francis and JC the boss came out to visit us (group of 6) one evening and we enjoyed a mega party. A great indigenous company, young and efficient, and I would highly recommend them.
