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Operated by Intrepid Travel
Tripcode: TMPB
Overview
Destination:
Malaysia,
Duration:12 days
Type:Group tour (max 12)
Travel Period
September 2026 - December 2028
Through rainforest, jungle, rivers and wetlands, take a 12-day Premium adventure to uncover Borneo’s natural wonders. You’ll discover fascinating culture, history and ancient traditions as you journey to the jungles of Sabah and Sarawak, learn about the Iban way of life within Batang Ai National Park and get swept up in the energy of Kuching. Connect with nature and wildlife along the Kinabatangan River and join local conservationists to plant trees in Kampung Abai. Visit an orangutan rehabilitation centre in Sandakan and wake up to the calls of monkeys. From dense rainforests to misty rivers and jungle valleys, this diverse island is a joy to explore.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION
1. A complimentary airport arrival transfer is included; valid if you are arriving on Day 1 or if you have booked pre-tour accommodation through us. You must provide your flight details to your booking agent at least 14 days prior to travel.
2. A single supplement is available if you’d prefer not to share a room on this trip. The single supplement applies to all nights of your trip except for nights 2 and 3 (Batang Ai) and is subject to availability. Please speak to your booking agent for further information.
3. This trip includes domestic flights. The luggage allowance is 20kg for check in luggage and 7kg for carry on.
4. Some governments may have increased travel advice levels in place for parts of Eastern Sabah, including Sandakan and Turtle Island. Check your government’s travel advice before departure. Travel insurance is mandatory and must cover all destinations and activities on the Itinerary. If you are unsure about your level of coverage, please contact your insurer. In addition to the increased security presence in the region, we comply with local regulations, including avoiding night boat travel and using approved routes and vessels. More details can be found in the Safety section of the Essential Trip Information.
2. A single supplement is available if you’d prefer not to share a room on this trip. The single supplement applies to all nights of your trip except for nights 2 and 3 (Batang Ai) and is subject to availability. Please speak to your booking agent for further information.
3. This trip includes domestic flights. The luggage allowance is 20kg for check in luggage and 7kg for carry on.
4. Some governments may have increased travel advice levels in place for parts of Eastern Sabah, including Sandakan and Turtle Island. Check your government’s travel advice before departure. Travel insurance is mandatory and must cover all destinations and activities on the Itinerary. If you are unsure about your level of coverage, please contact your insurer. In addition to the increased security presence in the region, we comply with local regulations, including avoiding night boat travel and using approved routes and vessels. More details can be found in the Safety section of the Essential Trip Information.
Highlights:
- 1. A complimentary airport arrival transfer is included; valid if you are arriving on Day 1 or if you have booked pre-tour accommodation through us. You must provide your flight details to your booking agent at least 14 days prior to travel. 2. A single supplement is available if you’d prefer not to share a room on this trip. The single supplement applies to all nights of your trip except for nights 2 and 3 (Batang Ai) and is subject to availability. Please speak to your booking agent for further information. 3. This trip includes domestic flights. The luggage allowance is 20kg for check in luggage and 7kg for carry on. 4. Some governments may have increased travel advice levels in place for parts of Eastern Sabah, including Sandakan and Turtle Island. Check your government’s travel advice before departure. Travel insurance is mandatory and must cover all destinations and activities on the Itinerary. If you are unsure about your level of coverage, please contact your insurer. In addition to the increased security presence in the region, we comply with local regulations, including avoiding night boat travel and using approved routes and vessels. More details can be found in the Safety section of the Essential Trip Information.
Standard inclusions
- Meals: Meals: 11 breakfasts, 6 lunches, 7 dinners.
- Transport: Boat, Plane, Private Mini Van.
- Accommodation: Lodge (4 nights), Hotel (5 nights), Resort (2 nights).
- Complimentary Arrival Transfer.
- Kuching - Welcome Dinner.
- Batang Ai - Lachau Bazaar Lunch.
- Batang Ai – Longboat Transfer.
- Batang Ai - Jungle and Plantation Walk.
- Batang Ai - Local Longhouse Visit.
- Batang Ai - Enseluai Waterfall.
- Batang Ai - Waterfall BBQ Lunch.
- Batang Ai – Longboat Transfer.
- Mulu National Park - Sunset Bat Experience.
- Mulu National Park - Deer & Lang Caves Guided Walk.
- Mulu National Park - Wind & Clearwater Caves guided walk.
- Mulu National Park - Picnic Lunch.
- Kota Kinabalu - Sunset Cocktail.
- Kota Kinabalu - Local Market Tour.
- Kota Kinabalu - Cooking Class at Local Home.
- Kinabatangan River - Afternoon Wildlife Spotting Cruise.
- Kinabatangan River - Evening Wildlife Walk.
- Sandakan - War Memorial.
- Kinabatangan River - Morning wildlife spotting cruise.
- Kinabatangan River - Evening Wildlife Spotting Cruise.
- Abai village - Tree Planting Experience.
- Sepilok - Sun Bear Conservation Centre.
- Sepilok - Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre.
- Sandakan - Farewell Dinner.
Itinerary
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Collapse allDay 1: Kuching
Selamat datang! Welcome to Borneo. When you arrive in Kuching, you’ll be collected from the airport by a local representative and transferred to your hotel. You’ll then have a welcome meeting at 6 pm tonight to meet your local leader and group members. If you arrive early, you might like to take a stroll along Kuching’s scenic waterfront or visit the Borneo Cultural Museum. After your meeting, get to know your group over a welcome dinner at a local, home-grown restaurant set in the heart of Kuching, where you can sample some authentic Sarawakian food.
Day 2: Batang Ai
This morning, begin your journey to Batang Ai National Park, where the remote and lush rainforests are alive with the calls of hornbills and gibbons. The Iban people have called these rainforests home for 400 years, with entire villages living under one roof in longhouses built along the river. Hidden away from the modern world, these communities have retained centuries-old traditions.
Stop off at the native market in Lachau, where you can pick up locally made goods like woven baskets and traditional Iban clothing. Then, take a longboat down the Delok River to your accommodation for the evening – the serene and secluded Nanga Sumpa Lodge, tucked away on the riverbank. The operator here has had a long-standing relationship with the community, creating jobs and local involvement so the residents can benefit from tourism. He also established a scholarship fund to support children’s education in the community. Tonight, you’ll sit down for a traditional dinner at the lodge.
Day 3: Batang Ai
After breakfast surrounded by nature, you’ll take a walk through the jungle, passing local farms, orchards and plantations. Your trip leader will share stories from the region and teach you about foraging for edibles and local medicinal plants. Next, take a longboat up the river to the Enseluai Waterfall. Keep your eyes open in case of a rare orangutan sighting! When you arrive, your local guide will teach you about the raw materials used in traditional cooking, like bamboo and leaves. Then, you’ll take part in cooking up a barbecue lunch with the local community, roasting chicken in bamboo over an open fire. In the afternoon, cruise back to Nanga Sumpa for a walk through the village. After dinner, visit a traditional longhouse and spend time with the Iban people who will teach you about their way of living. Hang out on the common veranda, share some rice wine and gain insight into the local Iban culture.
Day 4: Kuching
Wake up to the songs of birds. After breakfast, take a longboat out of the rainforest and make the journey back to Kuching, stopping off for lunch at a local coffee shop along the way. The name Kuching literally translates to ‘cats’, and the city has fully embraced this moniker. You’ll have free time here, so maybe wander the streets to see the giant cat statues, spray-painted street art and local cat museum. If you’d like to dive deeper into the city’s fabulous food scene, your leader can recommend some spots to eat.
Day 5: Gunung Mulu National Park
Today, say goodbye to Kuching and take a flight to Mulu National Park – a national park full of rainforests, mountains, caves and karst formations. Your trip leader will provide insight into how the park’s weird and wonderful geographic features came to be. In the late afternoon, visit Deer Cave and Lang Cave, which are reached by a scenic jungle walk along a 3 km (1.8 m) plank path, passing through peat swamp, alluvial flats and limestone outcrops. Watch millions of bats fly out of Deer Cave at sunset and see the large ring-shaped formations they make as they circle the cliff face, before moving out across the rainforest. Return on the same path and head to your accommodation for the evening in secluded forest bungalows, tucked away in the park.
Day 6: Gunung Mulu National Park
Today, join your leader and further explore Mulu National Park. First, head to Wind Cave (named for the cool breeze that flows through it) along the Melinau River. Your leader will share some details on the formation of the cave as you explore the stalagmites and columns. Later, discover the caverns and crags of Clearwater Cave – one of the longest caves in Asia! The rest of the day is free for you to relax and take in the scenery.
Day 7: Kota Kinabalu
Today, you’ll fly to Kota Kinabalu – the bustling capital of the Sabah state. In the late afternoon, enjoy a sunset cocktail then the rest of the evening is free for you to explore. The city’s food scene is best experienced like a local, so for dinner tonight, be sure to ask your leader for advice on hidden treasures away from the main tourist trail.
Day 8: Kota Kinabalu
You have a free morning in Kota Kinabalu – maybe go snorkelling in Tunku Abdul Rahman Park and search for marine life or take a tour to the cultural village. Regroup midafternoon for a market tour, then head to a local home for a hands-on Bornean cooking class. A local female entrepreneur will guide you in preparing traditional dishes using the best available local vegetables of the day, beginning with a walk through the garden to be introduced to some of the ingredients. Enjoy the fruits of your labour, including pinarasakan sada (traditional simmered fish) and Nasi Linopot (rice wrapped in leaves).
Day 9: Kinabatangan River
Take a flight to Sandakan this morning, then visit the Sandakan War Memorial. Here, you’ll learn about the city’s past as you stand on the same ground as the former Japanese POW camp. This site also marks the starting point of the tragic Sandakan Death Marches. Next, head to the jetty for a boat ride to the Kinabatangan Wetlands Resort – your Feature Stay accommodation. Sitting on the banks of the Kinabatangan River, the resort offers access to local wildlife. Wooden boardwalks cut through the jungle and connect spacious and bright chalets that serve up great views of the surrounding mangrove forests. This afternoon, take a river cruise, where your leader will help you spot some of the local creatures. Wild elephants seldom reveal themselves, but crocodiles, macaques, wild orangutans, proboscis monkeys, hornbills and kingfishers can sometimes be seen. Enjoy dinner at the resort before heading back out for a nighttime wildlife walk. Geared up with a headlamp, you’ll set out in search of interesting insects or other animals that pop up after dark.
Day 10: Kinabatangan River
Take an early-morning cruise through the fog as the sun rises, enjoying light refreshments onboard while you search for birds and wildlife. Keep an eye out for long-tailed macaques and pig-tailed macaques. Return to the resort for breakfast and search the property with your leader for some insects, plants and birds. This afternoon, set off for another river adventure, exploring small tributaries by boat. You’ll also visit Kampung Abai today – a local village where you’ll join local conservationists for a tree-planting activity. Hear about their commitment to managing natural resources and tourism in a fair, ethical and community-based manner. Later, head out for a nighttime cruise and look for nocturnal animals – you might even see a wide-eyed slow loris hanging from a tree! Have dinner back at the resort, then relax in your comfortable rooms.
Day 11: Sandakan
Return to Sandakan by boat and visit the orangutans at the Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre. Watch them as they swing into view on ropes and vines, then check in at the outdoor nursery where young orangutans, born in captivity or orphaned, are cared for. You’ll also visit the Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre – seeing the world’s smallest bears in large forest enclosures as they are rehabilitated after being rescued. This evening, enjoy a final dinner in Borneo with your group and leader.
Day 12: Sandakan
Your adventure comes to an end after breakfast today. If you’d like to extend your stay, just get in touch with your booking agent to arrange additional accommodation. Flights depart most days from Sandakan to Kota Kinabalu or Kuala Lumpur.
Dates
Select a date or submit general enquiry
Operator
Intrepid Travel
Intrepid is a small group tour travel company with humble beginnings that now sends over 100,000 travellers a year on grassroots and responsible travel tours.
Important Information
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Please note: We are proud to be an independent agent to travel providers of hotels, flights and other related services. We are not a tour operator. Details and information on the offer are provided by 3rd party businesses and although we do our best to verify the information, we cannot guarantee its accuracy on all occasions. These offers are not available in conjunction with any other offer unless otherwise stated. Pricing and availability are subject to change without notice.
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11 nights
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