Borneo in Style

📍 Kuching airport to Cove 55, Damai (30 km): 40 mins

Suggested arrival flight: MH642 ETA 14.15 — Flight is not included

Upon arrival at Kuching Airport, you’ll be warmly greeted by your private guide and driver, who will assist with your baggage and arrange your transfer to your beachfront hotel in Kuching.
 
Welcome to Kuching, the capital of Sarawak. No other city in Malaysia has such a romantic and unlikely history.

The residents of Kuching (pop. 650,000 approx.) enjoy living here, they its own business in a relaxed manner that hasn’t changed in 160 years. Transfer to the Damai area located within the world’s oldest tropical rainforest and with its idyllic setting on the shores of a tropical sea, surrounded by the rainforest-clad slopes of the legendary Mount Santubong.

Overnight in Kuching  

Inclusions:

📍 Cove Hotel to Bako National Park (38 km): 50 mins

At 08:00, depart Kuching for a 45-minute drive to Bako Fishing Village.  Continue by motorised boat for a 30-minute cruise along the beautiful coast to reach Bako National Park.  

The oldest of Sarawak’s national parks, Bako offers the perfect introduction to Sarawak’s forests and wildlife. Bako is also home to 275 rare proboscis monkeys, found only in Borneo. Observe the fabulous proboscis monkeys, silvered langurs, bearded pigs, and monitor lizards. Despite its seemingly small size, Bako contains a wide range of vegetation - swamp forest, scrub-like padang vegetation, mangrove forest, dipterocarp forest, delicate cliff vegetation, and beautiful sandy beaches.  

Explore the rainforest on a variety of walking trails from mighty 80-meter dipterocarps to dense mangrove forest.  For bird enthusiasts, Bako is the home to many species such as the rufous-backed kingfisher, stork-billed kingfisher, red-crowned barbet, white-bellied woodpecker, and many more.  During low tide, observe the mudskippers and blue-fiddler crabs coming out from their hideout to feed on the beaches. 

Take a simple lunch at the park café before returning to Bako Village by boat and onward transfer to Kuching.

Note: Depending on the tides, the boats will pull up at the jetty or onto the beach for arrival and departure.

*Picnic lunch at Bako National Park.

Return to your hotel.

Overnight in Kuching

Inclusions:

☕ Breakfast, 🥘 Lunch

📍 Cove 55 to Semenggoh (50 km): 1h 15 mins / Semenggoh to Kuching: (23 km) 45 min / Kuching to Damai: (37 km): 1h

Meet with the guide at 07:30 in the hotel lobby and depart for Semenggoh Orangutan Wildlife Centre. Established in 1975 and just outside Kuching, Semenggoh Nature Reserve is home to many orangutans.  For over 20 years, the wardens here trained young orangutans, who had been orphaned or rescued from captivity, how to survive in the wild.

It is now a centre for the study of orangutan biology and behaviour, and this is the primary reason that people visit the Semenggoh Wildlife Centre. However, the rangers also work with other species, including crocodiles and hornbills. 

At 09:00, arrive at Semenggoh for the first feeding of the day. Embark on a brief 15-minute stroll through the rainforest to reach the feeding platform. Here, rangers provide fruit for the semi-wild orangutans, who, despite mostly roaming freely, often return to the centre for a complimentary meal.

Return to the hotel.

Discover Kuching, a veritable treasure trove of historical buildings and remarkable stories concentrated around the south bank of the waterfront.

At 15:00, meet the guide and wander the streets of this quaint town, learning about history and traditions.

Start your walk exploring India Street, flanked by colourful century-old shop houses. Follow a narrow passageway and discover a hidden small Indian Mosque. 

Next stop is the Old Kuching Courthouse, the first Brooke era administrative building, The Pavilion, originally used as a medical headquarters.  Take a photo at the Square Tower, which served as a maximum-security detention centre and later a dancing hall used by the Brookes’ officers.

Take a short walk along Main Bazaar, one of the oldest streets, and observe the antique and handicraft outlets found here.

Make an offering at a 175-year-old temple, Tua Pek Kong Temple, a singular Chinese temple and its dominant dragon. Continue with the Old Chinese Court, used by the Chinese community, today a Chinese History Museum. 

The history of modern Sarawak began when the English adventurer James Brooke sailed up the Sarawak River in his schooner in 1839. Retrace this historic route with a sampan (traditional boat) ride down this same river, which still bustles with its charm, and enjoy some local snacks during the cruise.

Across the river, enjoy 360’ panoramic views of Kuching and the historical landmarks. See the Astana, a romantic structure built by the Rajah Charles Brooke as a gift to his beloved wife, the Ranee Margaret and Fort Margherita, the ideal sentry point for the settlement. All set against a background of picturesque Malay Villages and distant mountains.

Your experience ends after sunset. Return to your hotel.

Overnight in Kuching

Inclusions:

☕ Breakfast

📍 Hotel to Kuching airport (30 km): 40 mins / Kuching to Mulu (by flight) 1 hour 35 mins / Mulu Airport to Hotel (join in transfer) (5 km): 10 mins / HQ to Lang & Cave (by foot, boardwalk – 3 km) EASY

Our driver will pick you up from your hotel and transfer you to Kuching Airport

Suggested flight: MH3752 KCH-MZV 10.05-11.40 – Airfare is not included 

11.40 - Arrive at Mulu Airport and meet with the guide and driver for a join-in transfer to the hotel for the next two nights. (standard check-in 1400 hrs)

Depending on the arrival time, there are a variety of free options to undertake prior to meeting back up with the guide in the afternoon. These include a wander to the Tree Top Tower for views across the roof of the national park, a stroll along the boardwalk to Pukau Waterfall or taking the Nature Heritage Trail for 1.5 km. 

After lunch, depart for Mulu National Park Headquarters, for a 3.5 km elevated plank-walk to Lang Cave -the longest cave passage in the world (2,161 metres long) – which adjoins Deer Cave. Explore Lang Cave with its magnificent stalactites and stalagmites before proceeding to Deer Cave, where the biggest attraction is a colony of thousands of free-tailed bats. At dusk, witness an amazing spectacle of nature as thousands of these bats emerge from the cave in formation to forage for insects in the rainforest. 

Experience night trekking through the jungle to the park headquarters. From luminescent fungi to blinking fireflies, the jungle comes alive at nighttime, and this is a fabulous opportunity to view creatures not visible in daylight.

Return to the hotel.

Note: Upon arrival at Mulu Marriott, check-in is at 3 PM. Guests may need to proceed directly to Mulu National Park for the day's activities before room access. Please have a packed day bag and walking attire ready for immediate use.

Overnight in Mulu

Inclusions:

☕ Breakfast, 🥘 Lunch, 🍗 Dinner

After breakfast, which is accompanied by the sound of the jungle’s morning chorus, take a 15-minute longboat ride up the Melanau River to experience two more of Mulu’s ‘must-see’ limestone caves: Wind Cave and Clearwater Cave. These form part of the Sarawak Chamber — the largest connected cave system in the world. If water levels are low, it’s also possible to get there along a beautiful 4 km hike. Explore the “King’s Room” before proceeding to Clearwater Cave. Walk on plank walkways that were built on the sides of limestone cliffs leading to Clearwater Cave. Then, climb up steep steps that were carved into the side of the hill to get to the entrance of Clearwater Cave. Inside the cave, check out the details of its various features and limestone formations. 

Return to Mulu HQ by boat, and this afternoon, take to the treetops on a canopy walkway. 

The rest of the afternoon is at leisure, or head out on some self-guided walking trails in Mulu National Park. 

Return to the accommodation, dinner at leisure.
 

Overnight in Mulu

Inclusions:

☕ Breakfast, 🥘 Lunch, 🍗 Dinner

📍 Mulu Hotel to Airport (join in transfer) (5 km): 10 mins / Mulu to Kota Kinabalu (by flight): approx. 55 mins / Kota Kinabalu Airport to Hotel (7 km): 15 mins

After breakfast, the day is at leisure till your departure, transfer to the airport

A lunchbox will be provided to enjoy during lunchtime.

Suggested flight: MH3252 MZV-BKI 12.00-12.55 – Airfare is not included 

Upon arrival at Kota Kinabalu Airport, our guide will meet you to assist you with your transfer to the hotel.

Experience a breathtaking sunset on a privately chartered power yacht. Be pampered by experienced crews while enjoying the breathtaking sunset over Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park. 

This bespoke experience begins with a private transfer from the hotel at 16:15 to Sutera Harbour Marina for a sunset cruise on the privately chartered Amazing Love power yacht. Enjoy a welcome cocktail upon boarding before a leisurely cruise out of the marina and along the Kota Kinabalu coastline to the islands of Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park. Make the most of being pampered by the yacht’s professional crew and savour a selection of wines and beers against the backdrop of a breathtaking sunset. There will be time to relax onboard while gingerly cruising around the bay before returning to the marina. After the cruise, transfer back to the hotel by 20:45.

Overnight in Kota Kinabalu

Inclusions:

☕ Breakfast, 🥘 Lunch

📍 Kota Kinabalu Hotel to Airport (7 km): 15 min / Kota Kinabalu to Lahad Datu (by flight): approx. 55 mins / Lahad Datu Airport to Borneo Rainforest Lodge by 4WD (100 KM): 3hrs (bumpy unsealed road)

Begin your day with an early start to immerse yourself in the unique and tranquil sights and sounds of Danum Valley, home to Borneo's oldest rainforests. Explore this pristine natural wonder on foot, where you can bathe in its rivers, dedicate time to bird spotting, and discover the remarkable diversity of 320 tree species within a single hectare of jungle. From one of Sabah's most spectacular canopy walkways, you might even catch a glimpse of the elusive Bornean Orangutan.

Suggested flight: MH3010 BKI LDU 06:05 07:05- airfare not included

Meet & Greet at Lahad Datu Airport at 07:05 upon arrival and proceed for registration & briefing.

10:00 From Lahad Datu depart for A join-in transfer into the thick virgin rainforest area of Danum Valley – one of the world’s most complex ecosystems. Around 30km of this 85km journey is on sealed roads, and the last two hours are along a gravel road, so expect a bumpy but interesting ride!

12:00 On arrival at the Borneo Rainforest Lodge, check in late afternoon prepare yourself for an introduction to our nature activity for the day. Nature activities introduction includes guided nature trails, Canopy Walkway — 360m in length and 27m high up in the 130-million-year-old rainforest, which is humming with jungle sounds.

After dinner, board one of the open-top 4WD vehicles for an exhilarating night spotlighting tour. Accompanied by a local guide, you'll delve into the jungle after dark to spot nocturnal animals. The reserve is home to a stunning array of creatures, from samba deer and civet cats to leopards, insects, and frogs.

Note: Transfers to and from Danum Valley from Lahad Datu are on a shared (join-in) basis. Should you prefer a private transfer, this can be arranged at an additional cost. All activities at Borneo Rainforest Lodge are conducted on a shared (join-in) basis. A private guide can be requested for an additional supplement.

Overnight in Danum Valley

Inclusions:

☕ Breakfast, 🥘 Lunch, 🍗 Dinner

📍 Early Morning Jungle Trek: Approximately 3hrs / Afternoon Jungle Trek: Approximately 2 hrs / Night Walk: Approximately 1.5hrs

Wake up to the jungle’s cacophony of sounds, ranging from birds to primates, such as the gibbons. Taking a packed breakfast, travel to a 200-year-old Kadazandusun Burial Site, known as “Coffin Cliff”, along the 2.6 km Viewpoint Trail. At the end of the trail, be rewarded with spectacular views over an ocean-like million-year-old jungle – a truly spectacular sight. The return journey includes a trip to the waterfalls!

Return to the resort for lunch.

The rest of the afternoon is at leisure; however, there is a range of optional activities available, such as private trekking, tubing on the Danum River and specialised guided tours. There is also a series of tracks leading around the Canopy Walk that are free to discover at will. 

This evening, venture into the jungle on foot with a local guide. Quietly entering the jungle reveals a stunning array of wildlife, not to mention the variety and size of the many insects that flourish in the evening hours.

Overnight in Danum Valley

Inclusions:

☕ Breakfast, 🥘 Lunch, 🍗 Dinner

📍 Lahad Datu to Kota Kinabalu (by flight): approx. 55 mins / Transfer Borneo Rainforest Lodge to Lahad Datu by 4WD (Join in Basis) (100 km): 3 hours (bumpy unsealed road) / Kota Kinabalu Airport to Shangri La Rasa Ria (39 km): 1 hour

Enjoy a breakfast with nature in a pristine rainforest along the riverbank. Meals on the “Nature Trail” let you get as intimate as possible with nature, located on a sandy riverbank just 100 meters from the main lodge. The shade from evergreen dipterocarp trees shelters you from the sun. Enjoy a delicious private breakfast against the backdrop of the rainforest and the sound of the river running by.

After lunch, check out and transfer to Lahad Datu Airport for an onward flight to Kota Kinabalu. 

Suggested flight: MH3019 at 1615hrs ETA BKI at 1710hrs

On arrival, transfer to Kota Kinabalu. 

Once in Kota Kinabalu, transfer to Shangri La Rasa Ria, arriving in the late afternoon. Don’t miss the sunset as the sky fills with the explosive colours of a glorious sunset surrounded by jungle. In the evening, choose from one of seven spectacular restaurants at Shangri La Rasa Ria.

Note: Activities are subject to weather conditions/departure time, and may be reorganised to best meet operational situations.
 
Overnight in Kota Kinabalu

Inclusions:

☕ Breakfast, 🥘 Lunch

Optional: Sabah’s Lost World – Aerial tour of Maliau Basin
Sour above Sabah’s Lost World on a scenic flight over the Maliau Basin conservation area, also known as Sabah’s Lost World, on a round-trip flight from Kota Kinabalu. Take in a bird’s eye view of the mighty Kinabatangan River on a flight, the second largest river in Malaysia.

Pickup at 08:30 and take a private transfer to Kota Kinabalu Airport for a scenic 3.5-hour flight by a 4-seater B206B helicopter over Maliau Basin. 
Maliau Basin Conservation Area, 58,840 ha, also known as Sabah’s Lost World, is a huge bowl of pristine forests described as one of the few remaining relatively untouched wilderness areas in the world.
One of Malaysia's most exceptional remaining wilderness areas, the almost circular Basin, spans 390 km² of untouched forest. This virtually self-contained ecosystem, never permanently inhabited, still holds large unexplored and undocumented areas. Bounded by a formidable escarpment reaching over 1,675m above sea level, the entire Basin functions as a single, enormous water catchment, with the Maliau River being its sole outflow, draining through a gorge in the southeast.
An aerial view of Sabah’s lost world, Maliau Basin, will take up to 3.5 hours. Return to Kota Kinabalu and catch a glimpse of the mighty Kinabatangan River, the second longest river in Malaysia, where the surrounding rainforests are home to the Bornean Orangutan, Pygmy Elephant and endemic Proboscis Monkey. 
Upon Landing at Kota Kinabalu Airport, transfer back to the hotel. 
Time: 08:30 – 13:00

Overnight in Kota Kinabalu

Inclusions:

☕ Breakfast

📍 Shangri La Rasa Ria to Kota Kinabalu Airport (39 km): 1 hour

‘Breakfast with a View' 

Trek through the Bornean jungle, 90 meters above sea level, to enjoy an invigorating breakfast overlooking Malaysian Borneo. A professional ranger will lead the hike, carrying a hand-woven wakid (traditional Sabahan carrying basket) filled with fresh breakfast produce. Visitors will trek through the treetops, crossing a canopy walk on the way. They will know they are closer to reaching the summit when they see the day's first light breaking through the jungle ceiling. It is a truly sensory learning experience, in which the expert guide will show guests native flora and fauna, such as long-tailed macaque monkeys, deer, squirrels, hornbills, and 30 species of butterflies.

Transfer to the airport for an onward flight.

Inclusions:

☕ Breakfast