Borneo Discovery 12D11N

Itinerary

Day 1 Arrival Kuching

Upon arrival, meet and transfer to hotel. Rest of the day at leisure. Overnight at the Waterfront Hotel (or equivalent).

Day 2 Bako National Park  (B/L)

0800 hrs – Pickup from hotel and drive about 35 minutes to Bako Village. From the village, take about a 25-minute boat ride (depending on the tide) to the park situated on a peninsula. Bako is one of the best places in Sarawak to see wildlife in a natural setting. The various types of animals that are commonly spotted at Bako include the proboscis monkeys, silver leaf monkeys, long-tailed macaques, wild boars, monitor lizards and numerous species of birds. Forest types range from mangrove to kerangas (heath forest), tropical swamp vegetation, cliff vegetation and beach vegetation. There are several trails to follow inside the park depending on level of fitness and interest. The park’s coastline is dotted with small bays, coves and beaches. Return to Kuching mid-afternoon. Please note schedule may depend on tide. Overnight at the Waterfront Hotel (or equivalent).

Day 3 Kuching – Nanga Sumpa (B/L/D)

0800 hours pick up from hotel in Kuching and drive to Batang Ai reservoir. Along the way stop at Lachau Bazaar. Stroll around the shops and the small native market and have an early lunch in a local coffee shop. Then continue your journey, arriving at Batang Ai Lake around 1330-1400 hours.  Board a longboat and travel upriver to Nanga Sumpa, arriving at approx. 1530 hours, although the exact time will depend on river conditions. Settle in at Borneo Adventure’s lodge and have dinner. After dinner visit Nanga Sumpa longhouse. Relax on the ruai (common verandah), spend time with the Iban people and enjoy some local rice wine. Overnight at Nanga Sumpa lodge.

Day 4  Enseluai Waterfall – Nanga Sumpa  (B/L/D)

Following breakfast hike the jungle trails along the river. Then continue upriver by longboat. Our destination is the scenic Enseluai waterfall.  Arrive at the waterfall and have time to relax, swim and enjoy the rainforest surroundings. Enjoy a riverside BBQ lunch prepared by your Iban hosts. Return to the lodge. After dinner visit Nanga Sumpa longhouse. Overnight at Nanga Sumpa lodge.

Day 5 Nanga Sumpa – Kuching (B/L)

Breakfast in the lodge. 0900 hours travel downriver to the Batang Ai Lake jetty, arriving around 1030-1100 hours. Then travel overland back to Kuching with lunch enroute. Arrive in Kuching approx. 1630 hours and be dropped off at your hotel. Overnight at the Waterfront Hotel (or equivalent).

Day 6 Kuching – Mulu Caves (B)

Check out and transfer to the airport for departure to Mulu National Park. Arrive Mulu airport and transfer to the park accommodation for check in. In the afternoon enjoy a scenic 3 km plankwalk through primary rainforest to the entrance of Deer Cave. Deer Cave is the world’s largest cave passage. Its scale its awesome and you are in no doubt how huge it is when you arrive at the cave entrance. The entrance of the cave is 150 m wide and 120 m high. Nowhere in this massive cave is the roof less than 90 m high. The cave has a moon-like landscape and from one vantage point, a perfect profile of President Lincoln can be observed. Next to Deer Cave is Langs Cave. The stalactites and stalagmites inside this cave are representative of the very best limestone formations in the park. After viewing the two caves, proceed to the Bat Observatory outside Deer Cave. Most evenings at sundown, a spectacular exodus of about 2 million of bats can be observed as they leave the cave in search of food. Then trek back to the park HQ by torchlight and return to your accommodation.

Day 7 Mulu Caves – Kota Kinabalu (B/L)

In the morning, proceed by longboat upriver to Wind Cave with its impressive ‘King’s Chamber’. Here, stalactites and stalagmites with delicate lace-like patterns are found. A short walk along a plankwalk next to the limestone cliff followed by a climb up approximately 250 concrete steps and you arrive at the entrance to Clearwater Cave. Like most caves in Mulu, Clearwater Cave provides a habitat for unique species of plants.  One of these, the one-leafed plant can only be found at Mulu. Photo-sensitive algae grow on certain rocks and produce needle-like formations that point towards the source of light. Near Clearwater Cave there is a wonderful swimming area shaded by giant rainforest trees. Enjoy a simple picnic or packed lunch, swim or relax before transfer to Mulu airport for departure to Kota Kinabalu. Upon arrival at Kota Kinabalu Airport, meet and transfer to your hotel for check-in. Overnight at 3* Hotel.

Day 8 Kinabalu Park Botanical (B/L)

Pickup from hotel in city and depart in the early morning for a 2-hour (88 km) journey through breath-taking scenery to Kinabalu Park. Take a guided nature walk with a park naturalist and then explore the park’s botanical garden, which showcases some of the many species of plants that can be found within the park. Have lunch at a local restaurant and in the afternoon visit the gallery on the park’s botanic diversity before returning to Kota Kinabalu. Overnight at 3* Hotel.

Day 9 Kota Kinabalu – Sandakan – Sepilok (B/L/D)

Pick up from your hotel in Kota Kinabalu and transfer to the airport for your flight to Sandakan. Pickup from Sandakan airport and transfer to MY Nature Resort at Sepilok. The rest of the day is free at leisure. Relax, swim in the pool or walk (5-10 minutes) to the nearby Rainforest Discovery Centre (entrance fee applies) and experience the canopy walkway, one of the best in Malaysia. Dinner and overnight at MY Nature Resort.

Day 10 Sepilok – Kinabatangan River – Sukau (B/L/D)

After breakfast visit the Sepilok Orangutan Sanctuary where captive orangutans are reintroduced into the wild. You will be able to observe them at their feeding stations in the rainforest and at the nursery (if open). Watch the feeding session at 1000 hours. Then proceed to the Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre (BSBCC). This centre rescues captured sun bears and is involved in sun bear conservation, welfare rehabilitation and education. Over 30 sun bears live at the centre in the bear house and outdoor enclosures. 1130 hours travel by road to Sukau. Arrive at Kinabatangan Riverside Lodge around 1330 and have lunch. 1630 hours go on a river cruise up the Kinabatangan River to the Menanggul River in search proboscis monkeys, birds, reptiles and other wildlife. Overnight stay at the Kinabatangan Riverside Lodge (non-air conditioned).

Note: The nursery at Sepilok is sometimes closed to visitors. This occurs if any of the young orangutan are sick. As such there is no guarantee that the nursery will be open.

Day 11 Oxbow Lake – Kinabatangan River – Sukau (B/L/D)

Early morning, take a boat trip for bird watching and wildlife viewing at the nearby Ox Bow Lake. Trek the lush riverine forest along the lake and then return to the lodge for breakfast. In the afternoon, venture on another river cruise down the Menanggul River and along the Kinabatangan River. Return to the lodge at dusk. Evening at leisure. Overnight at the Kinabatangan Riverside lodge.

Day 12 Sukau – Sandakan  (B/L)

After breakfast depart the lodge at 0930 hours and return to Sandakan by road. Have lunch at a local restaurant and then be dropped off at your hotel or the airport.