|
Borneo All the Way - Borneo Jungle ItineraryYou'll see: Kuching - Bako National Park - Lemanak - Mulu National Park - Kota Kinabalu - Kinabalu National Park - Sandakan - Sukau - Pulau TigaThis Borneo jungle itinerary is all about the tropical rainforest and it takes you to several incredibly beautiful parks. For three weeks you'll be submerged in a world of murky rivers, primates and colourful natural surroundings. Awaken each morning to the natural sounds of the rainforest and monkeys swinging through trees. You'll sleep in the heart of Borneo's jungle. Start off in the country's capital in South Malaysia, Kuching. Historic buildings, small stores selling spices and mosques dominate the street scene here. Afterwards, escape the crowds and noise and you'll visit several parks in Sarawak. Get to know the indigenous people of this area, the headhunters, learn from them and even search for food 'the Iban way'. Afterwards you'll travel north and visit the caves in Mulu National Park. After visiting the jungle, reconnect with civilisation in the capital of Sabah, Kota Kinabalu. The city is very; however if you look closely, you'll still find traditional markets here. The highlight of this Borneo itinerary is your climb to the top of the highest mountain in Malaysia. You'll also get to meet adorable primates face-to-face in the Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre in North Borneo. Afterwards you'll sail deeper into the jungle where wild animals roam the wooded shores of jungle rivers. Last but not least, this Borneo itinerary ends with a visit to the tropical beaches of the former 'Survivor Island', the setting for the American version of this famous tv-show.
|
| Duration: |
20 days/ 19 nights Departure daily |
Accommodation: |
Basic hotels and jungle lodges. Accommodation category 2,3 and 4 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price: |
from $3599 per person - based on 2 people sharing |
Includes: |
Transport, accommodation with breakfast, English speaking guide, entrance fees for national parks on Borneo, lunch and dinner in Lemanak, Kinabalu and Pulau Tiga and lunch in Mulu National Park, |
| Transport: |
Mini bus, boat and domestic flight |
Excludes: |
Other meals |
Day 1 and 2 - Kuala Lumpur - KuchingAfter a layover in Kuala Lumpur you'll arrive in Kuching to begin your Borneo itinerary. A driver will be waiting for you in the arrival hall and he will be carrying a sign with your name on it for easy identification. He and your guide will bring you to the hotel you'll be staying at and they will also provide you with a travel information pack which will provide you with everything you need to know and vouchers for your trip. It won't be long before you notice how different this new world you've entered actually is. Aside from a scattering of more modern buildings, you'll mostly see traditional architecture on the way to your hotel. The stifling heat and the scents of local spices will surely give you that holiday feeling.Kuching, which literally means 'cat' in Bahasa Malayu, is also known as 'Cat City'. It is quite a charming city with a great atmosphere and we truly enjoyed ourselves while we were here. You'll find that there are plenty of wonderful places to eat along the riverfront and behind your hotel. We also recommend crossing the river to visit colonial buildings on the other side. After the long journey and numerous impressions, you'll probably call it an early night... |
|
|
Day 3 - Kuching - Bako National ParkToday you'll wake up early and start off with an early breakfast. Your Borneo itinerary guide and driver will be waiting in the hotel lobby to pick you up around 9am. You'll only need to bring a long the basics, so don't worry about lugging around too much with you. After about 40 minutes you'll arrive at a small village of stilted houses named Kampung Bako. This village's name carries the name of the park you'll eventually reach: Bako National Park. One of the first things you'll notice when you reach the park is the presence of bizarre rock formations standing proudly in the surf. You'll sail past these odd rock creations and then you'll continue on a 30 minute boat ride to the mangrove forest. You may not believe the skipper when he calls out, 'We're almost there', since you won't see the hidden pier for the park until you're right in front of it.After you've checked in and settled into your room, lunch will be waiting for you. Be sure to eat enough to keep you satisfied; in the afternoon you'll go on quite a rigorous walk. During your hike you'll visit several deserted beaches and you'll be on the look-out for unusual animals. Undoubtedly, you'll see quite a few monkeys and you'll see swine scurrying around park headquarters. After dinner on this Borneo itinerary, you can choose to go on an optional night hike and afterwards your bed will be waiting for a peaceful night's rest. |
Day 4 - Bako National Park - KuchingIf you would like to see a lot of monkeys and other animals on the Borneo itinerary, it's best to wake up early. After breakfast you can choose which route you would like to follow and head out to explore the jungle. Some of the paths can be a bit slippery, so you'll want to wear proper shoes for walking for your hike through the jungle. All around you you'll see extraordinary trees and plants, such as Venus Fly Traps. Your journey will take you to a deserted beach where you can go for a quick refreshing swim before returning to the jungle. Depending on the route you take you'll either back at park headquarters at in time for lunch or in time for a late lunch. After you've finished lunch, a boat will take you through the mangrove forest and back to the village of Kampung Bako. A bus will be waiting to take you back to civilisation in Kuching. Once you reach Kuching, you'll check into your hotel and you can head out for a bite to eat before going to bed. |
|
|
Day 5 - Kuching - LemanakAfter an early breakfast you'll head out deeper into the jungle with your guide. You'll travel in a small group for approximately 4 hours until you reach one of the more remote locations in Sarawak known as Lemanak. In an area made up of dense jungle, you'll drive past rubber, cocoa and pepper plantations... each of which you'll get to visit as well. Along the way you'll stop off at a colourful market in the town Serian where you can purchase all types of products with origins in the jungle. This is the perfect place to buy a few small gifts, such as cigarettes and fruit, for the chief of the longhouse you're going to visit. Around noon, you'll have lunch in one of the local restaurants.After lunch on your Borneo itinerary you'll leave the mainland behind and you'll board a motorised 'perahu', a wooden jungle boot. During the boat ride past wooded shores, where you'll hear monkeys screeching from time to time, you'll see local life play out before you. You'll see women washing clothes and children splashing around in the water. You'll sail straight through the tropical rainforest beneath an enormous roof of leaves for about an hour, until you eventually reach 'Iban' territory. |
Day 6 - LemanakAfter breakfast, you and your guide will head out to explore the area surrounding the longhouse. Your guide will give you a glimpse of life in the area and tell you more about it. In the afternoon you can either go for a walk through the jungle or perhaps you may even want to try your hand at fishing 'The Iban way' using a fishing net. It may look like a piece of cake; however you'll see that it will take quite some practice to catch more than a few floating branches. Eventually you'll walk back through the rainforest to the jungle lodge. Walking through the humid forest is sure to create an appetite. No worries though, our cooks will prepare a delicious meal for you including all kinds of local delicacies. This meal is sure to please your taste buds... In the evening you'll visit the Iban once again and as always these gracious people will greet you with a smile. You'll spend this night of the Borneo itinerary in a jungle lodge. |
|
|
Day 7 - Lemanak - KuchingAfter you wake up to a tasty breakfast, you'll say goodbye to the friendly Iban tribe. A wooden boat will take you on a relaxing trip across the Lemanak River and eventually you'll reach the shore where a (mini) bus will be waiting for you. You'll spend the next four hours or so driving through the green landscape. Along the way you'll take a rest break to freshen up for your return to civilisation in Kuching. Eventually you'll be dropped off at your hotel. In the evening of the Borneo itinerary you'll delight at the meals served at the many food stalls at the Main Bazaar or have a bite at the riverfront; this is a great place to try local delicacies. At the end of the day your hotel room will be waiting for you and you can let the impressions of today slowly sink in. |
Day 8 - Kuching - Miri - Mulu National ParkToday you'll fly from Kuching to Miri and on to Mulu National Park. A window seat in the plane will give you an incredible view of the tropical rainforest below you. After about 40 minutes you'll begin to descend and eventually land on Mulu's small air strip. Your guide will be waiting for you. A 'longboat' will then take you to your charming wooden jungle lodge.After check-in you'll head into the park for a 3km hike through the jungle across a wooden walkway. The first cave you'll reach is 'Lang Cave', an enormous cave filled with stalagmites and stalactites. Bring along a raincoat, the roof leaks groundwater. The cave is lit up by large lamps and is easily accessible by walking across the walkways. The next cave, 'Deer Cave' is nearby and is home to millions of bats. Bring along a flashlight, the cave is dark and can be slippery. As the sun goes down, you'll walk back towards the cave entrance (the largest in the world). Out of nowhere, you'll hear a lot of noise: a whirring and a fluttering; the mass exodus of thousands of bats heading out of the cave and into the nocturnal jungle in search of insects. After this astounding experience, you'll return to your lodge at around 7/8pm for a delightful meal at the restaurant. In the evening you'll doze off in your spacious, comfortable room. |
|
|
Day 9 - Mulu National ParkAt around 8:30am, after a hearty breakfast, you'll set out in a long, wooden jungle boat. Along the way you'll pass Penan tribe villages. The first cave you'll come across is the 'Wind Cave', an enormous cave with bizarre natural pillars. Your boat ride will then continue on towards 'Clearwater Cave', which was created by an enormous network of underground rivers. A long staircase will take you through this fascinating cave network. It can get quite warm in the caves, so it's best to wear cool clothing. After visiting the caves, you can go for a refreshing swim in the crystal clear waters of the pools to cool off. While enjoying a picnic lunch, you may see dozens or perhaps even hundreds of 'Rajah Brooke' butterflies happily fluttering above the water. The butterflies make it feel as if you're part of a fairytale. Eventually your boat will take you back to your lodge. You'll arrive in the late afternoon and will be able to sit back and relax until dinner. At the end of the day you'll fall asleep in your lodge to the sounds of the jungle. |
Day 10 - Mulu National Park - Kota KinabaluThe jungle is quite an early bird and so you'll probably be awakened quite early by the natural alarm clock of jungle sounds. A very appealing breakfast will be waiting for you on Day 10 of the Borneo itinerary. After breakfast you'll be taken to Mulu airport where a turbo prop plane will be waiting to take you to Miri. Your plane will fly low over the tops of the trees and you'll have one last glimpse of the impressive Mulu National Park before flying away. No planes are allowed to fly into Mulu after 4pm so that they do not disturb the bats leaving their caves.Upon your arrival in Kota Kinabalu you'll have entered an entirely different world. You'll collect your baggage and catch a taxi cab to hotel which is located near the airport. You'll notice that Kota Kinabalu is a much more modern city than Kuching is. There are many tall buildings, advanced infrastructure and you'll see many examples of modern architecture all around you. The hotel you'll spend the night in tonight has all the necessary amenities and is located just outside of the city centre. In the evening you may enjoy taking a taxi cab to the waterfront to visit a local market offering all types of local delicacies. If you prefer, you can also choose to indulge in a more western oriented dinner. The dining options are endless. At the end of the evening you'll head back to a large, comfortable bed in your hotel. |
|
|
Day 11 - Kota Kinabalu - Kinabalu National Park - Gunung KinabaluToday you'll have another early start. The hotel you'll be staying in offers a very large breakfast buffet with a wide assortment of breads, cereals and fresh fruit to choose from. After breakfast you'll be picked up at your hotel and taken on a two hour drive through breathtaking scenery with Kota Kinabalu National Park as your destination. You'll stop off off Nabalu for a little while so that you can purchase some local fruit and handmade items if you like. When you arrive at the national park, you'll be asked to fill out a form with your personal details. An enthusiastic English speaking guide will gladly guide you through the park. He will tell you more about the extraordinary animals and plants that inhabit the park and you'll show the most beautiful locations in the park as well. Don't forget to visit the 'Mountain Garden' which is open between 3pm - 4pm. The rest of the afternoon is yours to spend as you wish. In the evening a lovely dinner will be prepared for you and afterwards you can either sit back and relax or head to bed early in preparation of tomorrow's strenuous climb. |
Day 12 - Kinabalu National ParkAfter breakfast you'll be picked up at your hotel and you'll drive for less than 30 minutes until you reach the 'power station' at 1830m. This is where you and your guide will start out on the first segment of your journey to the highest point of South East Asia; Mount Kinabalu's peak at 4102m. A slowly winding path up the mountain will allow you to slowly adjust to the altitude. As you climb, your natural surroundings will begin to change. Within a few steps an entirely different world could open up to you. Trees, plants... everything changes.The air will also become thinner and you'll notice that climbing the mountain will become more exerting. The mountain cabins you encounter as you climb the mountain are a perfect place to rest up for a bit. As you enjoy the beautiful surroundings, you may want to have a bite to eat from the lunch bag you received. Depending on your speed, you can reach the Laban Rata guest house at 3550m within 4 to 6 hours. The guest house is actually an enormous ski hut which also offers a scrumptious buffet starting at 5pm. If the weather is clear, you may even want to eat your dessert while watching the most spectacular sunset outside. It won't be long until you fall into a deep, yet short sleep in the dormitory filled with other climbers in the sleeping bag provided for you. |
|
|
Day 13 - Kinabalu National Park - Kota KinabaluBe prepared for a 2:00 - 2:30am wake-up call from your guide. This may seem quite early; however the excitement for the last day of your climb will definitely act as an instant rejuvenator. Before heading out we suggest dressing up for cool temperatures. Wearing a warm (fleece) sweater and a gore-tex coat should keep you nice and warm. The wind at the top of the mountain keeps temperatures low and if it rains you'll be happy you brought along a sturdy raincoat. Let us know if you don't want to bring along a raincoat; we can arrange one for you for a small charge. Once you leave your accommodation you'll meet up with other climbers just waiting to climb the last leg up to the top of the mountain; everyone will be heading towards the large granite rock plates. Iron stairs and ropes have been attached to the mountain to make the more difficult areas easier to climb. The thin air will make this last part of your climb more difficult than the rest of the climb. No worries though, you won't have to rush and can finish the climb at your own pace. After about two hours you'll reach the cold, dark summit. You'll have front row seats for the most spectacular orange and gold. An incredible proud feeling of freedom and accomplishment will surely sink in when you reach the top and the view is just incredible, especially if there are no clouds.As you can imagine, it won't take you quite as much time to go down the mountain. You'll arrive at park headquarters around noon and a bus will be waiting to take you to your hotel in Kota Kinabalu. Once you arrive, you can either take power nap or head straight into town. |
Day 14 - Kota Kinabalu - Sandakan - SukauAfter an early breakfast, catch a cab to the airport for the first flight to Sandakan (which should take approximately 20 minutes). A guide will be waiting for you on your arrival and will accompany you into Sukau. Your first visit is to the world famous Sepilok Orang-Utan Rehabilitation Centre. The centre prepares, mostly young, orang-utans that have been orphaned by deforestation for an independent life in the wild. At 10am it's feeding time and you'll be able to see the adorable primates come out of the jungle to eat as much fresh fruit and nuts as they want. When you enter the park you'll see several older 'ladies' who actually quite enjoy the centre and aren't in any hurry to return to the jungle; they love meeting people and posing for pictures. There are also Sumatra rhinos and elephants in the park.From Sepilok you'll drive to Sandakan Harbour where you'll leave the mainland behind you and you'll sail across the Kinabatangan River, Sabah's longest river. This area is teeming with (proboscis) monkeys and you may even see organ-utans and elephants out and about. On the water's edge you'll see colourful, tropical birds staring endlessly into the water in search of a nice bite to eat. Along the way, you'll have lunch in a small Abai village and then you'll sail to Sukau where you'll check into your charming, wooden jungle lodge. Late in the afternoon you'll go on a relaxing cruise on the Menangul River; as the sun goes down, you'll see the animals coming to life. Enjoy a breathtaking sunset from on the water and in the evening you'll be treated to a delicious dinner at your lodge. |
|
|
Day 15 - SukauYou might be awakened by screeching gibbon monkeys and the typical sounds made by hornbills. Early in the morning you'll sail towards nearby lakes where the animals on the shores will slowly come to life. You'll see otters, large lizards, crocodiles and of course very many monkeys. Later on in the morning you'll sail back to your lodge for breakfast. In the afternoon you can for instance go for a walk in the area or maybe sit back and relax with a book on the porch. Late afternoon you'll sail off in search of wild animals. Once the sun begins to set you'll sail back to the lodge for dinner and you'll spend your last night in the jungle lodge. |
Day 16 - Sukau - Sandakan - Kota KinabaluAfter a relaxing start of your day and breakfast, you'll sail for about 2.5 hours until you reach Sandakan. If you look up high and the trees, you'll see the monkeys looking down on you as they scurry about. Once you arrive in Sandakan you'll visit a traditional village of houses built on poles where the Kadazan tribe lives. You'll then continue on to the lively Sandakan market where practically every single thing you could ever want is sold. After lunch in a local restaurant you may want to look around before driving on to the elevated Chinese Puu Jih Syh temple. The temple offers an incredible view of Sandakan Bay. Late in the afternoon you'll be taken to the airport for your flight back to Kota Kinabalu. You'll spend the night in a comfortable hotel at the edge of the city. |
|
|
Day 17 - Kota Kinabalu - Pulau TigaToday you'll have a somewhat early start; you'll be picked up at your hotel at 7am. The drive will take you across a winding coastal road with a spectacular view of the mangrove and tropical sandy beaches. After a two hour drive you'll reach the ferry at Penyu River and you'll head out on a 40 minute boat ride to Pulau Tiga. This small island was the tropical setting for the American version of 'Survivors'. Don't worry though, you won't have to build your own hut or search for food to support yourself; you'll stay in your own cosy chalet by the beach at a charming beach resort and all meals are included during your stay. After lunch you can take a plunge into the crystal clear sea before heading into the jungle and on to the other side of the island. This is where you'll find warm mud bubbling up to the surface of the earth; this place is ideal for a nice warm, relaxing mud bath. Once you've finished relaxing and feel up to it, you can clean off nearby in the sea. Once you return to the resort you can spend time on the beach or go snorkelling at a nearby reef. Rather go diving? No problem, you can rent diving equipment at the dive shop. As the sun goes down, dinner will be served and you can enjoy the last rays of sun before heading off to bed. |
Day 18 - Pulau TigaAfter breakfast, soak up a few sunrays on the beach or cool off in the tropical waters of the sea. Naturally you can also choose to explore the wonders beneath the surface of the sea. From time to time you may come across a ranger on the island who will take you to nearby Snake Island for a small fee. The name of this island gives you a clue as to what you'll find there... During the afternoon you can lay back and relax, or pick up your snorkelling equipment and spend some more time under water. In the evening you'll find a delicious supper waiting for you. After dinner you can watch the sun set while you enjoy the feeling of the sand between your toes. |
|
|
Day 19 and 20 - Pulau Tiga - Kota Kinabalu - Kuala Lumpur - AustraliaWaking up this morning in your wooden chalet, you'll have one last chance to enjoy the sound of the surf and swaying palm trees. After breakfast you'll board a boat back to the mainland and you'll be taken to the airport. You'll fly from Kota Kinabalu back to Kuala Lumpur and from here you'll catch a flight back to Australia. Unfortunately, this is where you will have to say goodbye to emerald green Malaysia as it's the last day on your Borneo jungle itinerary. In the evening, you'll fly back to Australia and you'll be able to look back upon an unforgettable, adventurous journey through Borneo. |
Click here for the Quote Request Form
or
Build your own trip using our Malaysia travel modules