Borneo Rainforests & Friendly Tribes

📍 Kuching Airport to Hotel in Kuching (22 km): 30 mins

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 explore the streets of this quaint town, learning about its history and traditions.

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

The 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 Brooke’s 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 is a singular Chinese temple with a dominant dragon. Continuing with the Old Chinese Court, used by the Chinese community, today is the 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 Rajah Charles Brooke as a gift to his beloved wife, the Ranee Margaret and Fort Margherita, the ideal entry 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 or continue independently exploring Kuching.

Overnight in Kuching.

Inclusions:

📍 Kuching Hotel to Semenggoh (20 km): approx. 45 mins / Semenggoh to Bidayuh Village (43 km): approx. 1.15 hours

This morning at 08.00, meet with the guide at the hotel lobby and depart for the 45-minute transfer to 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.

At 09:00, arrive at Semenggoh for the first feeding of the day. Take a short 15-minute walk through the rainforest to the feeding platform where the rangers will put fruits out for the semi-wild Orangutans. They spend most of their time roaming the forest but frequently come back to the centre for a free meal.
 
At 10:30 leave for a scenic drive passing through rice fields, rubber, cocoa and pepper plantations, luxuriant tropical forests, rivers and mountain ranges to reach a Bidayuh village nestled in the valley.

The Bidayuh community, the Architects of Baruk Homes, is the fourth-largest ethnic group in Sarawak. The traditional Bidayuh settlement was in the interiors and hillsides to protect themselves from enemies and to get access to fresh water.

Share an authentic lunch with your hosts: food is grown locally on the family farm or collected from the jungle. It is the best moment to learn more about the family-run homestay, their story, and their efforts to help the community.

After the delicious lunch, it is time to explore around. Visit the original Bidayuh longhouse at the top of the hill to see and experience how the natives live with traditions which have been passed down through the generations. Here you will see how bamboo plays an integral part in their daily lives. Stop off at the local primary boarding school and mat weaver’s house (no obligation to buy, but a small token will help the local community).

After dinner (depending on the weather), take a short walk to see the creatures of the night. Fireflies with their blinking lights are always a favourite, even among locals. 

Return to the homestay, and spend the evening at leisure.

Overnight in Kampung Sadir.

Inclusions:

☕ Breakfast, 🥘 Lunch, 🍗 Dinner

📍 Bidayuh Village to Kuching Hotel (63 km): approx. 1.3 hours

After breakfast, trek to one of the many waterfalls (35 mins away) for a refreshing swim or just to marvel at Mother Nature’s creation. Hear the beautiful symphony of the forest and rivers, which are like music to the ears. You will also be introduced to the local flora and wild herbs and their various uses. 

Trek back to the homestay for lunch before departing to Kuching around 2 pm.

Afternoon is free at leisure

Overnight in Kuching.

Inclusions:

☕ Breakfast, 🥘 Lunch

📍 Kuching to Sarikei: 3 hours 30 mins by boat / Sibu Airport to Sarikei (80 km) 1 hour 30 mins / Sarikei to Ulu Sarikei (35 km): 45 mins / Ulu Sarikei to Sibu (74 km): 1 hour 30 mins

Meet your driver at your hotel in Kuching for a transfer to the jetty and depart for Sarikei. Take the Express Boat to Terminal Sarikei (*) 

Arrive at Sarikei, also known as “Food Basket” & “Pineapple Town”. First, you’ll get to savour local delicacies at a local open-air restaurant or coffee shop. Continue by land to the Ulu Sarikei Countryside. View the hilly scenery on the way with some pepper vineyards, rubber trees, rice paddies and longhouses just by the roadside.

Arrival at Rumah Nyuka, a longhouse made entirely out of belian wood, home of 45 Iban tribe families. The Iban people were once the legendary warriors of Borneo, feared headhunters who expanded their territories through ferocious battles. Meet your host and learn about their lifestyle and culture. Go for a village walk and experience a local rubber-tapping activity. Get to know how tough the job of extracting natural rubber latex is, as well as the process of making rubber sheets. Sungai Ulu Sarikei river flows right past the front of the longhouse. Enjoy a barbecue lunch by the riverside.

On your journey onward to Sibu, stop at some fruit stalls in the countryside where you can tantalise your taste buds with a barrage of tropical flavours from sweet or sour tangerines to pineapples, bananas, and dragon fruits — to name but a few.  

Arrive in Sibu, the gateway to central Sarawak, a town rich with culture and tradition. The majority of the population is Chinese, mainly from Fuzhou, with other ethnic groups like Melanau, Malay and Iban as well. Together, they live in harmony, carrying out their cultural traditions and appreciating the traditions of one another.

Check-in at the hotel. 

In the evening, embark on a walking tour to the bustling Sibu Night Market. Open nightly, except during heavy rainfall, this lively local market will astound you with its diverse array of food, gadgets, textiles, and utensils.

Overnight in Sibu 

Notes: Boat journeys are recommended between early March and late October. During the wet monsoon season, boat travel is not possible; instead, guests can fly from Kuching to Sibu. It is advisable to wear long sleeves due to the strong air conditioning on the boat.

Inclusions:

☕ Breakfast, 🥘 Lunch

Begin your day by delving into the rich tradition of 'longevity noodle' making. This art form is deeply rooted in passion and strong tradition, particularly for the Foo Chows. Longevity noodles are an essential dish for birthday celebrations and festivals like the Chinese New Year dinner. Their long, continuous strands symbolise good health and longevity.

You will visit a village house to observe the traditional process of making these noodles by hand, highlighting the distinction between handmade and machine-made varieties. The process involves pulling the noodles, sun-drying them, and finally bagging them for storage. Factors such as flour quality and portion, as well as weather and humidity, significantly influence the final quality of the noodles.

Note: The abovementioned activity is subject to weather conditions.

Back downtown, walk onto the biggest Central Market in Malaysia – home to more than 1,200 stalls serving up a bedazzling variety of commodities. Highlights are the Iban ladies selling exotic fruits, jungle produce and handicrafts, and the Chinese poultry sellers who offer their live chickens and ducks neatly wrapped up in tubes fashioned from old newspapers. You will get a real feel of how the people of Sibu live and get to see seasonal fruits that are unique to Sibu. Then cut across the winding streets of Old Sibu Town and soak in the sights and smells of pastries baking in earthen ovens and alleyways of small traditional businesses that provide priceless photo opportunities.

After the tour, return to your hotel.

Overnight in Sibu

Inclusions:

☕ Breakfast

📍 Sibu to Sg Kut to Dalat (by speedboat): approx 3 hours with 2 village stops / Dalat to Mukah (42.5 km): approx 45 mins

Continue your journey into the Seafarer’s Heartland: The Melanaus are one of the most celebrated ethnic tribes in Sarawak, known for their gentle, loving nature and seafaring skills. From Sibu, jump onto a speedboat and head towards Dalat Town. This boat journey will bring you through the meandering river, passing Malay villages, shipyards, Iban longhouses and Melanau villages. Midway through your journey, jump off the boat for a stop at the Sungai (river) Kut Melanau Village and take a glimpse into the peaceful, undemanding and amazingly serene village life.

Then back into the boat, which will snake its way between a rainforest and a mangrove swamp before arriving in Dalat Town. Go visit the iconic Church by the river and the Jerunei Gardens to find out what’s so fascinating about these two icons of Dalat. Continue your journey to Lamin Dana. Stay in an authentic Melanau village house built above the water. Do a plank walk walking tour of Kampung (village) Tellian to hear the legendary, sometimes tragic tales of the burial poles dotted around the village. Spend the night at this cultural heritage and let your host spin yarns from days of old.

Note: Lamin Dana is a replica of a traditional Melanau Tallhouse. Please note that all rooms are twin-bedded, and there are no private or attached washrooms.

Overnight in Mukah.

Inclusions:

☕ Breakfast, 🍗 Dinner

📍 Mukah to Sibu Airport (144 km): approx 2.5 hours / Kota Kinabalu Airport to Kota Kinabalu Hotel (9 km): 20 mins

After breakfast, take a leisurely boat cruise along the dark, mysterious brackish waters of Tellian & Misan River. Appreciate Melanau handicrafts. Visit the local sago processing centre, a cottage industry that produces Sago Pearl the traditional way. This is a local delicacy and is the most prolific in this region.

Proceed to the Mukah market, where you experience locals trading and carrying on with daily activities. Go to “Bizarre Food” and sample Siet (Sago Worm) and Umai (Fresh Raw Fish). This will earn you bragging rights when you go home with the prized photos of you savouring these two famous dishes.

Late Lunch in Lamin Dana, say farewell to Lamin Dana and transfer to Sibu Airport for your onward flight to Kota Kinabalu

Recommended flight Air Asia AK6093 Sibu – Kota Kinabalu (Airfares NOT included)  

On arrival at Kota Kinabalu airport, meet your driver and transfer to your hotel.

Overnight in Kota Kinabalu.

Inclusions:

☕ Breakfast, 🥘 Lunch

📍 Kota Kinabalu to Kiulu Valley (55 km): 1 hour 25 mins

At 08:00, embark on a scenic countryside drive approximately 45 minutes from Kota Kinabalu, passing through rustic villages and lush green landscapes. En route, enjoy a brief stop at the Tamparuli Suspension Bridge and its adjacent local market, offering a glimpse into the daily lives of Sabah’s local communities. Continue through the picturesque Kiulu Valley, known for its emerald mountains, fertile rice fields, and crystal-clear river (*). 

Arrive at Kampung Mantob, where you’ll be warmly welcomed by local hosts at the Fig Tree Lodge. After a short introduction and briefing by your guide, get ready to explore the day’s cultural immersion program.

For lunch, you'll enjoy a traditional meal featuring local flavours and ingredients. Afterwards, immerse yourself in cultural activities like traditional rice processing and pounding, a blowpipe demonstration and practice, and a rubber tapping demonstration. You can also try rattan weaving and fire-making, with rice planting offered seasonally as an optional activity.

If time and weather permits, end your day with a refreshing dip in the Kiulu River, a perfect way to unwind before your return journey to Kota Kinabalu.

(*) Note: Today’s activities are on a join-in basis 
Please bring: Sunblock, insect repellent, a hat, walking/trekking shoes, sandals, a refillable water bottle, swimming attire, and a towel.

Overnight in Kota Kinabalu.

Inclusions:

☕ Breakfast, 🥘 Lunch

📍 Sandakan to Sukau (125 km): 2.5 hours. Cruise time: 16:00 (join-in basis). Cruise duration will depend on wildlife spotting: approx. 2 hours

Leave early in the morning to Kota Kinabalu airport to catch your flight to Sandakan.

Recommended flight (not included) MH2042 Kota Kinabalu 07:15 – Sandakan 07:55

Upon arrival at Sandakan airport, meet your driver and leave for Sukau to meet the Orang Sungai, the river people. They depend on the fertile soil around the rivers to grow their vegetables and crops. These talented craftsmen produce intricate designs of tableware, mats and various adornments.

Meet your host at the local village and rest assured that this homestay provides direct benefits to the local communities and environmental conservation efforts.  Run by locals since 1998 and centred in Sukau, Bam is the Programme Coordinator of Hutan-Kinabatangan Orangutan Conservation Programme, and his homestay has grown holistically alongside a passion for wildlife and environmental issues. Learn to make local handicrafts from coconut husks, assisting in collecting and planting saplings for orangutan conservation efforts or making fishnets to assist with local fishermen's conservation. 

At 14.00, after lunch leave for Sukau Jetty and a short boat transfer to Borneo Nature Lodge. 

Relax by the river before embarking by boat upriver at 16:00 along Sabah's longest river, the Kinabatangan, with an opportunity to view wildlife and birds in their virgin rainforest habitat. Search for some primate species, including the endemic Proboscis Monkeys, as they settle down on treetops.

Relax by the river before dinner and then tonight head out on an evening cruise to spot nocturnal wildlife on the river. 

Overnight in Kinabatangan

Note: All cruises are on a join-in basis

Inclusions:

☕ Breakfast, 🥘 Lunch, 🍗 Dinner

📍 Cruise times: AM: 06:00, EVE: 20:00. Cruise duration will depend on wildlife spotting: approx. 2 hours

Rise early in the morning at 06:00 along with the birds and other animals of the river for a cruise to Kelenanap Oxbow Lake, a crescent-shaped lake that formed when the river’s meander became so wide that it cut itself off. 

Take a short jungle walk (if weather permits) and experience the wilderness of Borneo before returning to the lodge for breakfast. For the rest of the day, you’re free at leisure to explore the surrounding area or nearby village.

Have dinner at the lodge. Then at 20:00, cruise along the river to see many species of flora and fauna that only become active once the sun sets. Amongst them, fireflies, bats, and a variety of riparian animals are commonly spotted. Free of light pollution, weather permitting, a spectacular sea of stars lies overhead.

Overnight in Kinabatangan.

Inclusions:

☕ Breakfast, 🥘 Lunch, 🍗 Dinner

📍 Sukau to Sepilok (110 km): 2.5 hours

Depart in the morning to Sepilok.

Upon arrival, check-in at your lodge. At 14:00, meet your driver and guide and transfer to the Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre. Be introduced to the centre with a video that shows the plight of the Orangutans and the ongoing rehabilitation efforts. Walk ten minutes through the rainforest on wooden boardwalks to witness the feeding of the orangutans. It’s interesting to see how they climb through the trees with ease to reach the platforms. Continue onwards to the nursery area to observe young orangutans. They’re kept in a zone with specially constructed structures that help them develop their climbing and socialising skills.

Afterwards, visit the Borneo Sun Bear Conservation Centre to learn about the conservation of the world’s smallest bear. There are currently 36 bears housed at the centre, which have been rescued from poachers. The centre has essentially taken large pieces of natural forest and constructed barricades to ensure the bears can be brought back to health. At their own expense, guests have the opportunity to adopt a bear to ensure the program and the animals' survival. (Viewing/Feeding times: 15:00)

Return to your hotel. 

Overnight in Sepilok.

Inclusions:

☕ Breakfast

📍 Sepilok to Kinabalu Park (230 km): 4 hours

At 07:00 head out to the cooler climates of Kinabalu Park, home to between 5000-6000 species of plants and 430 different birds and mammals.

Arrive in time for lunch and check in at the lodge.

Take a walk in the Botanical Gardens and learn about the vast array of flora found in this lush park. Admire views of Mt Kinabalu, Southeast Asia’s highest peak before lunch in the park.

Kinabalu Park, with four climatic zones, boasts one of the richest collections of biodiversity in the world, housing and protecting more than 4,500 species of flora and fauna.

Afternoon is free at leisure. There are several trails in Kinabalu Park you can explore.

Overnight in Kinabalu Park

Inclusions:

☕ Breakfast, 🥘 Lunch

📍 Kinabalu Park to Rungus Longhouse (154 km): 3 hours / Rungus Longhouse to Hibiscus Beach Retreat (40 km): 1 hour

Embark to the island’s northern tip on an exploration to learn more about the Rungus tribe in the region of Kudat. Kudat is well-known for its beautiful beaches where the South China Sea meets the Sulu Sea. 

Depart at 08:00 from Kinabalu Park and travel along the coast of Sabah, passing by rice fields and small villages. Stop at Kota Belud market, a sprawling marketplace located 75 kilometres from Kota Kinabalu. Browse the colourful stalls selling tropical fruits, locally-grown vegetables and unusual herbal remedies. 

Resume the drive up the coast, entering the Kudat region. This area is home to the Rungus people. Despite having modernised in many ways, the Rungus still maintain their ancestral practices of basket weaving, growing rice and wearing elaborate costumes during festivals. The Rungus are a sub-ethnic of the Kadazan-Dusun tribe who are known to be highly skilled artisans. The Rungus community in Kudat produce colourful beaded necklaces, basketry, and woven tapestries. 

Get an introduction to Rungus culture at Bavanggazo Longhouse, one of the few remaining traditional dwellings of the Rungus people. Step inside this remarkable structure and sit down for a lunch of Rungus dishes. 

Continue to explore neighbouring Rungus villages to gain a better understanding of their customs and ways of life. Witness craftsmen making gongs, one of the prized musical instruments of the Rungus people. Also, stroll through a ‘bee smokers’ village to see how the locals produce and collect honey to be consumed and to be used in traditional medicines. 

Continue to Kudat for a relaxing evening on the beach area.

Overnight in Kudat

Inclusions:

☕ Breakfast, 🥘 Lunch

At 07:00 head out to the cooler climates of Kinabalu Park, home to between 5000-6000 species of plants and 430 different birds and mammals. Today is a day at leisure to enjoy the beach and swim in the clear blue waters. Take a snorkel and enjoy the marine life or simply relax. Kudat region offers clear skies, breathtaking sunsets and the twinkle of starry nights.

This evening you can watch the sunset at the Tip of Borneo. This dramatic headland is situated at the northernmost tip of the island and it is here that the South China Sea lingers and meets the Sulu Seas flowing from the east. The sunsets and full moons are incredibly spectacular. 

Overnight in Kudat.

Inclusions:

☕ Breakfast

📍 Kudat to Kota Kinabalu Airport: (182 km): 3 hours 30 mins

Breakfast this morning at the resort. 

Spend the day at leisure relaxing by the pristine beach.

Check-out of the resort 

Be transferred to Kota Kinabalu airport by land for the onward destination.

Inclusions:

☕ Breakfast