Sarawak

The Malaysian state of Sarawak on the island of Borneo offers an unforgettable mix of culture- and nature-based travel experiences. With its history of White Rajahs, diverse cultures, mighty rivers, rainforests & iconic wildlife, Sarawak is a unique destination that appeals to a wide range of visitors. Our tours and excursions are designed to get the best out of what Sarawak has to offer. Whether it is enjoying the charms of historic Kuching; exploring the massive cave systems of Mulu National Park; jungle trekking and wildlife watching at Bako National Park; travelling upriver to visit the Iban and experience longhouse life; or staying at our award-winning jungle lodge at Ulu Ai; our experienced local guides will connect you with Sarawak, its people and the natural features of the “Land of the Hornbills”. If you find that none of the packages on our website fit into your itinerary, we can custom tailor tours to your needs. For more information on our tours, please contact us.

Kuching Excursions

Kuching, the state capital of Sarawak, is arguably one of the most attractive cities in Southeast Asia. With its romantic history of White Rajahs, its rich architectural heritage, and the warm hospitality of its residents, it is quite easy to end up spending longer than intended in Kuching. The river, once an important transport link, is still a central feature of the city with the beautifully landscaped waterfront promenade providing a relaxing venue for strolling both day and night. The city centre is compact, with most of the main attractions located a short distance away from the Kuching Waterfront. The Sarawak Museum, Brooke era heritage buildings such as the Square Tower and the 19th Century shophouses at Main Bazaar are all within walking distance of the city centre hotels.

There are a number of excellent national parks and wildlife reserves located close to Kuching. These include Bako, home of the rare Proboscis monkey; Gunung Gading, where Rafflesia flowers bloom; Semenggoh Wildlife Centre with its semi-wild orang utans; Kuching Wetlands National Park with its mangrove attractions and diverse range of wildlife; Tanjung Datu National Park, a remote park that offers stunning beaches, rainforest and wildlife; and Talang Satang National Park, a turtle sanctuary.

We offer daytrips and overnight tours to the national parks accessible from Kuching. We also have tours to other attractions within 1-2 hours of Kuching such as Mongkos Bidayuh longhouse, Anna Rais longhouse, the Sarawak Cultural Village, Satang Island, Santubong and Damai Beach.

Longhouse & Upriver Experiences

A visit to a longhouse is often the highlight of a trip to Sarawak. Our longhouse tours focus on the remoter rivers and longhouses of the Batang Ai region of Sarawak, including the Upper Delok River, Lalang River and Menyang River. These locations are special owing to the natural environment and stunning scenery. Clean rivers and jungle streams, refreshing waterfalls and undisturbed tracts of rainforest allow you to combine a range of outdoor activities with a visit or stay in an Iban longhouse. Our trips combine a longhouse visit with a unique upriver experience. They offer visitors the chance to enjoy the rainforest in an upriver Borneo setting and also see how the Iban live on the fringes of the jungle.

Borneo Adventure’s tours and activities at Batang Ai are centred on our Nanga Sumpa Lodge, located approximately a 1½ hour longboat ride from the Batang Ai Lake. The lodge overlooks the Delok River and is a short walk away from the Iban community.

Our Lubok Kasai Jungle Camp is located further upriver, deep in the heart of Borneo. It is situated on the banks of the Lalang River in an area where orangutan are sighted. Both Nanga Sumpa and Lubok Kasai serve as bases to discover and experience the whole Batang Ai area.

We have a range of adventure treks at Batang Ai, including orangutan treks such as The Red Ape Trail and ‘In Search of Orangutan’ and a Longhouse to Longhouse trek from Menyang Tais to Nanga Sumpa. These treks offer you the chance to spend in a night in the rainforest in a simple Iban-style jungle camp.

Our trips to Menyang Tais longhouse offer the opportunity to stay in a longhouse and learn about the Iban culture and lifestyle. Menyang Tais is 17-door Iban longhouse located a 20-30 minutes boat ride from the Batang Ai reservoir jetty. The longhouse is home to approximately 80 people. Visitors sleep in a bilik or family ‘apartment’ of a host family in the longhouse. A range of activities such as farm visits, jungle trekking and upriver excursions are available.

Mulu National Park

Gunung Mulu National Park is justifiably famous for its limestone karst formations, some of the most spectacular caves on earth. Mulu is home to world’s largest underground chamber (the Sarawak Chamber), the world’s largest cave passage (Deer Cave) and the longest cave in Southeast Asia (Clearwater Cave). Listed as a World Heritage Site in 2000, the park is dominated by three mountains – Mulu, Api and Benarat – and covers 52,000 hectares of primary rainforest. Four “show caves” can be visited as day trips from the park HQ. These are accessed by jungle trails, plank walkways or pathways through the caves. The Mulu experience is not confined solely to its caverns. The park’s biodiversity is as impressive as its caves with Mulu containing 15 different types of forest – including mixed dipterocarp, heath, peat swamp, moss forest and montane vegetation – and thousands of species of ferns, fungi, mosses and flowering plants. Mulu is also home to a wide variety of mammals, reptiles, birds, amphibians, fish and insects and other invertebrates.

Our two or three day Mulu Essentials tours focus on the main show caves. We also organise a number of adventure treks that enable visitors to experience the rainforest. These include the Gunung Mulu Summit Trek, the climb to see the Pinnacles of Gunung Api and the Headhunters’ Trail which combines river travel, trekking and a stay in a longhouse.

Sabah

The Malaysian state of Sabah on the island of Borneo is renowned for the beauty of its natural environment and its network of national parks and wildlife sanctuaries. Sabah’s abundant and relatively accessible wildlife – combined with its picturesque islands and beaches – offer visitors the opportunity of combining nature-based activities such as trekking, wildlife watching and diving with relaxing beach holidays.

Our tours and excursions are designed to get the best out of what Sabah has to offer. Whether it is climbing Mount Kinabalu; discovering the ancient rainforest at Danum Valley; cruising the Kinabatangan River in search of Proboscis monkeys; snorkeling in the Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park; diving Sipadan or simply relaxing on a beach; our experienced local guides will connect you with Sabah, its people and the natural features of the “Land Below the Wind”. If you find that none of the packages on our website fit into your itinerary, we can custom tailor tours to your needs. For more information on our tours, please contact us.

Kota Kinabalu & World Heritage Site Tours

Kota Kinabalu or KK is the state capital of Sabah. The city has good transport links and a range of good city and resort hotels. Kota Kinabalu’s coastal location and mountain backdrop give it one of the most spectacular settings of any city in Malaysia. One of the great things about KK is the streetlife – the busy coffee shops, the waterfront markets and generally buzz about the place. Some of the best seafood in Malaysia can be found in KK and the beaches, reefs and islands of the Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park are just a 15 minute boat ride from the city centre. Kota Kinabalu serves as the jumping off point for the Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine park, white water rafting at Padas and Kiulu, Rungus longhouses at Kudat, Klias wildlife cruises and the magnificent Kinabalu Park.

Kinabalu Park, covering an area of 754 sq km, was the first national park in Sabah. The park is dominated by Mount Kinabalu, one of the highest peaks in Southeast Asia at 4,095 metres. The slopes of Mount Kinabalu are home to an incredible variety of plants and animal species. Different elevations of the park and their micro climates support distinct habitats. The lower slopes are covered in lowland dipterocarp forest; above 1,200 m there is lower montane forest and at elevations above 2,600 m the cloud forest is characterized by a diversity of flowering plants. Above 3,300 m there is a sub-alpine meadow zone with stunted trees and shrubs. Above 3,700 m the strong winds and rain make it hard for plants to survive. Owing to its unique and varied ecology the park was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2000. The park has a number of trails and offers a range of activities and experiences, including the summit climb. The main entry point for the park is located 90 km from Kota Kinabalu at an elevation of 1,520 m above sea level.

Sandakan Wildlife Adventures

Sandakan, the former capital of Sabah, is a busy port town located at the entrance of a picturesque bay on the East Coast of Sabah. The town serves as the jumping off point for a range of nature-based attractions and wildlife adventures including Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre, Selingan Turtle Islands, the Kinabatangan River and Labuk Bay Proboscis Monkey Sanctuary.

Set up in 1964, the Sepilok Orang Utan Rehabilitation Centre is a sanctuary for injured, orphaned or rescued orang utans who are trained how to survive in the forest. Upon graduation rehabilitated orang utan are released into the surrounding forest. Many of the orang utan return to the centre at the twice daily feeding times, giving visitors a unique chance to get close to orang utan. The Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre (BSBCC) officially opened in October 2014 and is dedicated to the world’s smallest and perhaps least known bear. The centre is located within walking distance of the orangutan centre. Most of our Sandakan tours include visits to both orangutan and sun bear centres. The third major attraction at Sepilok is the Rainforest Discovery Centre which has an excellent 347 metre long canopy walkway.

The Kinabatangan River has gained a justified reputation as one of the top wildlife watching destinations in Southeast Asia. The 560-kilometre Kinabatangan River passes through a diverse range of habitats which support a remarkable diversity of wildlife; including proboscis monkeys, orangutan, gibbons, elephants, tarsiers, slow loris, crocodiles, freshwater sharks, Irrawaddy dolphins and a variety birds. We offer a range of multi-day tours focusing on the wildlife attractions of the Kinabatangan. These trips include overnight accommodation at the Kinabatangan Riverside Lodge at Sukau and the Abai Jungle Lodge. Some trips combine stays at both of these lodges.

Selingan Island is located approximately 40 km north of Sandakan and is accessed via a 1-hour speedboat ride. Selingan is a nesting site for both green and hawksbill turtles. Although turtles lay eggs all year round the best time to visit Selingan is between July and October when the sea conditions are calmer and the number of turtle landings is higher. We can arrange overnight trips to Selingan. Accommodation consists of 1-2 star chalets.

Labuk Bay Proboscis Monkey Sanctuary is located about 38 kilometres from Sandakan and consists of small patches of mangrove forest surrounded by plantation land. As there is insufficient food the monkeys receive a supplementary diet. At most feeding times proboscis monkeys descend from the nearby trees and head to the wooden platform for a free meal. These monkeys are wild but highly habituated and often get very close to visitors. Labuk Bay offers excellent photo opportunities.

Danum & Tabin

Both Danum Valley and Tabin Wildlife Reserve offer visitors good opportunities to see Sabah’s wildlife and forests. Tabin offers 2-3 star chalet-style accommodation whilst Danum offers 4-5 star accommodation in the awarding-winning Borneo Rainforest Lodge. Many of clients visit both Tabin and Danum, often after a trip to Sukau and the Kinabatangan River.

The Danum Valley Conservation Area covers 43,800 hectares of protected lowland rainforest and is home to an astonishing variety of plants and wildlife; including more than 340 species of birds, 124 species of mammals, 72 species of reptiles, 56 species of amphibians and 200 species of plants per hectare. Rare and endangered species such as the Sumatran rhino, banteng (a species of wild cattle), Borneo Pygmy elephant, clouded leopard, orang-utan and proboscis monkey are found at Danum Valley. The Danum Valley Conservation Area is located approximately 80 km from Lahad Datu and is accessed via an unsealed gravel road. Forest trails, a canopy walk, observation towers and night safaris allow visitors to experience the rainforest and provide good opportunities for wildlife watching.

Tabin Wildlife Reserve covers an area of 122,500 hectares northeast of Lahad Datu. Whilst Tabin contains areas of undisturbed forest, much of the reserve consists of previously logged over forest. The area was declared a protected area primarily due to the existence of three of the largest mammals found in Sabah: the Borneo Pygmy Elephant, Sumatran Rhinoceros and Banteng (a species of wild cattle). Nine species of primate are also found at Tabin and over 220 species of birds. Tabin Wildlife Reserve has gained a reputation is an excellent place for wildlife watching. Nature-based activities include jungle trekking, night safaris, night walks, wildlife spotting and bird watching. Tabin is accessed via sealed and gravel roads.

White Water Rafting

There are two areas in Sabah to experience white water rafting. The Kiulu River is suitable for the novice rafter and is done as a half-day tour from Kota Kinabalu. The Padas River gushes through the spectacular Padas Gorge and offers serious rafters the ultimate white water adventure. Rafting on the Padas River is usually done as full day tour from Kota Kinabalu.

Tropical Island Adventures

Pulau Tiga Park is located north of Kuala Penyu, opposite the swampy Klias Peninsula. The island became famous when it was used as the location for the first Survivor reality TV series. Accessed via a 40-minute boat ride from Kuala Penyu jetty, which in turn is a 2-hour minute drive from Kota Kinabalu. Pulau Tiga has interesting flora and fauna, nice beaches and a rich marine life that offers good snorkelling and diving opportunities. We offer two and three day trips to Pulau Tiga staying in 2-3 star chalet style accommodation.

Brunei

The Sultanate of Brunei is wedged in between the two East Malaysian states of Sarawak and Sabah, with its northern shore facing the South China Sea. Brunei is a land of contrasts, especially the capital, Bandar Seri Begawan. The famous Kampung Ayer, a collection of houses, shops, schools and clinics, is perched on stilts in the Brunei River. Located opposite this water village in the centre of town are speculator mosques and the world’s largest royal palace. The eastern part of Brunei is still largely covered by pristine rainforest. With its modern airport and direct flights from Australia, Europe and Asia, Brunei is increasingly serving as a gateway to north Borneo. Our tours and excursions are designed to get the best out of what Brunei has to offer. Whether it is a trip to a water village; trekking through the rainforest at Ulu Temburong National Park; or cruising the mangroves in search of Proboscis monkeys; our experienced local guides will connect you with Brunei, its people and the natural features of the “Abode of Peace”. If you find that none of the packages on our website fit into your itinerary, we can custom tailor tours to your needs. For more information on our tour packages or custom tours, please contact us. We usually respond within 24 hours.

Sarawak & Sabah

The Malaysian state of Sarawak on the island of Borneo offers a mix of historic, cultural and natural attractions. Sabah’s attractions focus on abundant and relatively accessible wildlife, unique national parks and picturesque islands and beaches. Our Sarawak and Sabah combo tours are designed to get the best out of both Malaysian Borneo states. For example, you can travel to Sarawak and enjoy the charms of historic Kuching, visit an Iban longhouse and explore the cave systems of Mulu before heading to Sabah to visit Kinabalu Park, discover the rainforest at Danum Valley, cruise the Kinabatangan River, relax on a beach and more. If you find that none of the packages on our website fit into your itinerary, we can custom tailor tours to your needs. For more information on our tours, please contact us.