Beaches, Rainforest, Rivers & Culture 8D7N

Itinerary

Day 1 Arrive Kuching

Arrive in Kuching. Meet and transfer to your hotel. Rest of the day is free at leisure to discover historic Kuching. Overnight at the Waterfront Hotel (or equivalent).

Day 2 Kuching – Tanjung Datu National Park (B/L/D)

Tanjung Datu National Park comprises a narrow strip of forested hills and stunning beaches with clear emerald green waters. Located at the southwestern tip of Sarawak, Tanjung Datu is one of Sarawak’s smallest national parks but it is perhaps the most beautiful.  A key attraction is its seclusion. The park’s remoteness means that the beaches are pristine and the rainforest intact.  The park is home to a variety of wildlife include Bornean gibbons, pig-tailed macaques, long-tailed macaque monkeys, silver-leaf monkeys, civet cats, bearded pigs, diverse birdlife and more. Green turtles also nest on the park’s beaches from April to September.

0850-0910 hours pick-up from hotel in Kuching and proceed by road (approx. 2 ½ hours) to the small coastal town of Sematan and then on to the Malay fishing village of Serabang. Arrive in Serabang and have lunch at a village homestay. Around 1300 hours take a boat (approx. 20 mins) to Tanjung Datu National Park. Arrive at Tanjung Datu National Park HQ, walk across the beach and settle in to your room. (Note: when the tide is low or sea conditions prevent boat landings at the park HQ, arrival is at a nearby small bay (Telok Upas) followed by a 15 minutes walk to the Park HQ.)

After settling in go on short walk on either the Telok Upas, Viewpoint or Belian trails. Return to the park HQ around 1600 hours. The rest of the day is at your own leisure. Relax on the beach, have a swim or visit the turtle hatchery. Enjoy dinner at the park HQ. After dark go on short night walk and search for wildlife such as wild boar, sambar deer, mouse deer, barking deer, civet cats and other nocturnal creatures. Return to the park HQ. Your guide will inform you if any turtles come ashore at night to nest. If so, the rangers will allow you to watch the turtles but only when they have started laying eggs. Please note turtle sightings are not guaranteed. Overnight at park HQ room.

Day 3 Tanjung Datu National Park (B/L/D)

After breakfast, around 0800 hours go for a jungle trek along the Pasir Antu Laut trail. Enjoy the forest scenery along the 2.7 km trail and keep a look out for wildlife. Gibbons, banded langurs and hornbills are sometimes spotted on this trail. Midway along the trail you will come to a small stream. Take a short break before continuing through the pristine forest to Antu Laut beach. Have a swim at the beach before returning along the forest trail. Half way along the trail turn left onto a small track that leads to the main turtle beach. Huge boulders are found along the coast here where the rainforest runs right down to the beach. Admire the views before walking back along the beach to the park HQ arriving around 1300-1400 hours. Have a late lunch at the park HQ. Rest of the day is free at leisure. Go snorkelling near Telok Upas or alternatively go for another walk or relax on the beach. Dinner at the park HQ. After dinner take a stroll along the beach to see if any turtles have come ashore to nest. Overnight at park HQ room.

Day 4 Tanjung Datu National Park – Kuching (B/L)

After breakfast, free & easy, relax on the beach or go swimming. Alternatively go on a short walk on one of the park trails. Around 1200 hours board a boat and travel to Serabang. Have lunch at a village homestay. At 1400 hours return to Kuching by road, arriving around 1700 hours. Overnight at the Waterfront Hotel (or equivalent).

Day 5 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 6 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 7 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 8 Semenggoh Orangutan – Depart or Extend Tour (B)

0745-0800 hours or 1340-1400 hours pick up from hotel. Located 24 kilometres from the centre of Kuching, the Semenggoh Wildlife Centre provides an excellent opportunity to view semi-wild orangutans in a natural setting.  This orangutan rehabilitation centre receives orphaned or rescued orangutans and trains them to survive in the wild. Over 20 orangutans live in forest within the nature reserve and they often return to the centre to receive supplemental feeding. The feeding area is set in a natural amphitheatre where it is possible to observe the orangutans coming down from the surrounding forest for the food provided. The rangers provide a briefing on the purpose of the centre and the conservation objectives. Return to hotel by 1100 hrs. Check out and transfer to the airport for departure or extend tour.

Note: This tour is not available during the peak monsoon months owing to high seas. Some activities are subject to weather conditions and may be re-organised to best meet operational situations.