DAY 1: Arrive Kuching
Welcome to Sarawak: Where Adventure Lives! Upon arrival at the airport, meet our tour representative and transfer to your Hotel for check in. Rest or free & easy to explore Kuching City.
MEALS: None
OVERNIGHT: The Waterfront Hotel, Kuching
DAY 2: Bako National Park Day Trip
One of the best places in Sarawak to see wildlife in a natural setting. Commonly spotted at Bako are the Borneo endemic proboscis monkeys, silvered langurs (monkeys), long-tailed macaques, wild boar, monitor lizards and numerous species of birds. The park has an impressive range of forest types from mangrove to kerangas (heath forest), tropical swamp vegetation, cliff vegetation and beach vegetation. A trail network provides access to different parts of the national park depending on level of fitness and areas of interest. The park’s spectacular coastline is dotted with small bays, coves and beaches.
Pick up from hotel, 35 minutes drive to Bako village, proceed by boat for approximately 30 minutes to the park headquarters. En route there is a chance to see crocodiles, sea eagles and other shore birds. Arrive at the park HQ and begin exploring the trails and searching for wildlife. Return to Kuching mid-afternoon.
MEALS: Breakfast, Lunch
OVERNIGHT: The Waterfront Hotel, Kuching
DAY 3: Semenggoh Orangutan Centre
Breakfast in the hotel. Pick up and depart for Semenggoh Wildlife Centre, located 24 kilometres from the centre of Kuching. This orangutan rehabilitation centre retrains orphaned or rescued orang-utans on how to survive in the wild. Over 20 orang-utans live in the forest within the nature reserve and often return to the centre at feeding times. Upon arrival, head to the briefing area. After a brief talk from the rangers, take a short walk along a trail to the feeding area to watch the orang-utans come down from the trees for a free meal. Return back to the city and have the remainder of the day at your own leisure.
MEALS: Breakfast
OVERNIGHT: The Waterfront Hotel, Kuching
DAY 4: Kuching ~ Sarikei ~ Ulu Sarikei
Depart from Kuching by local express boat (fast passenger ferry) to Sarikei. Sarikei also known as “Food Basket” & “Pineapple Town”, you’ll get to savour the local delicacies for lunch at local open air restaurants or coffee shops. Continue by land to Ulu Sarikei Countryside. View the hilly scenery on the way with some peppers vineyards, rubber trees, rice paddy’s and longhouses just by the roadside.
Upon arrival at the longhouse, enjoy a warm welcome by your host who will brief you on longhouse information and culture. Head into the village for a walk in the evening and see the friendly local community. Come back in time before sunset. Prepare local meals for dinner such as the Pansuh (chicken meat cooked in bamboo) and taste the Tuak (rice wine) together with your host. After dinner, relax and share stories & legends with the host in the Ruai (Veranda). Retreat for the night.
MEALS: Breakfast, Dinner
OVERNIGHT: Iban Longhouse Homestay
DAY 5: Ulu Sarikei ~ Sibu
Wake up early this morning and join the villagers to experience the local rubber tapping activity. Learn about the tough job of extracting natural rubber latex and also process the rubber sheet.
Back to the longhouse for breakfast & a rest. Embark on your journey through the still green and undisturbed forest, with sightings of flora and fauna all the way. Here, you can understand how the local people say “Rainforest is the biggest supermarket for free”. View up close and personal some of the plants and herbs that the locals normally use for food or medical purpose and even for making ink as the base for Pua Kumbu. Enjoy a quick swim at the simple yet naturally beautiful water stream. Prepare and enjoy lunch in the middle of the rainforest while the sound of nature and gushing waterfall echoes in the background. Return back to longhouse and get yourself cleaned up and refreshed before journeying onto Sibu.
Upon arrival in Sibu, check-in to the hotel for a rest. Join us on a tour to the mind boggling Sibu Night Market, which is open every night except during heavy rain. Be amazed by the food, gadgets, textiles, utensils & all things interesting in this amazing place.
MEALS: Breakfast, Lunch
OVERNIGHT: Tanahmas Hotel, Sibu
DAY 6: Sibu Tour ~ Fly to Kota Kinabalu, Sabah
After Breakfast, take a leisurely stroll on a beautiful esplanade alongside Malaysia’s longest river – The Mighty Rajang River. See how the people use River Taxis (Express Boats, Speed boats, Sampans etc) of all sorts and forms to move along the river. Watch how the locals stock up their “Floating Grocery Stores” that serve riverine folks. Walk on to a beautifully crafted Chinese Temple, climb up the Seven Storey Pagoda and take a panoramic view of Sibu’s waterfront life.
Then cut across the winding streets of Old Sibu Town and soak in the sights and smells of pastries baking in earthen ovens, alleyways full of small businesses that provide priceless photo opportunities. After this journey back into time, walk to the biggest Central Market in Malaysia – home to more than 1,200 stalls serving up a bedazzling variety of commodities. Seek out the live chicken stalls and find out how they are bundled with newspapers. You will get a real feel of how the people of Sibu live and get to see seasonal fruits, catches that are unique to Sibu.
We then take a transfer to the airport for a short flight to Kota Kinabalu, Sabah. Upon arrival you will be picked up and transferred to your hotel for check in. The evening is free at your own leisure.
MEALS: Breakfast
OVERNIGHT: Cititel Express or Gaya Central, Kota Kinabalu
DAY 7: Kota Kinabalu Free Day
You are free to spend the whole day at leisure exploring this modern city at your own pace or take advantage of our optional half day city tour. Another option is the fabulous sunset dinner cruise on board North Borneo Cruises.
MEALS: Breakfast
OVERNIGHT: Cititel Express or Gaya Central, Kota Kinabalu
OPTIONAL: Kota Kinabalu City Tour $65 | Sunset Dinner Cruise $149
DAY 8: Kota Kinabalu ~ Kundasang War Memorial ~ Sepilok
Today we journey overland to Sepilok. Departing the hotel at 8:30am we make a stop at the Kundasang War Memorial. The memorial is dedicated to the British and Australian soldiers who died in the Sandakan POW camp during their death marches to Ranau. We have lunch in Ranau and then continue overland, arriving in Sepilok around 4:30pm. Overnight at Sepilok Jungle Resort and enjoy an evening free at your own leisure. Fingers crossed a local orang-utan joins us for dinner tonight.. As they roam free they sometimes can be found swinging through the resort!
MEALS: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
OVERNIGHT: Sepilok Jungle Resort, Sepilok
DAY 9: Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre ~ Sun Bear Conservation Centre
This morning we visit Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre in time for the morning feeding and learn about the conservation and rehabilitation efforts of Sepilok. Witness the majestic Orangutan swing through the forest towards the feeding platform and watch as these beautiful creatures enjoy their breakfast. Afterwards we make a visit to see the World’s smallest bear in their natural habitat at the Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre. Enjoy lunch back at the resort and spend the afternoon at leisure, relaxing in the resorts pool and tropical surroundings.
MEALS: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
OVERNIGHT: Sepilok Jungle Resort, Sepilok
DAY 10: Labuk Bay Proboscis Monkey Sanctuary
Spend the morning visiting the fascinating long nose Proboscis monkeys at Labuk Bay Sanctuary. Only found in Borneo, the Proboscis monkey is weird yet wonderful; the males have super long noses and the bigger they are, the more attractive they are to the ladies! Spend the afternoon at your own leisure. We suggest you visit the nearby Rainforest Discovery Centre (2km) and learn about local flora and fauna and enjoy a canopy walkway among the treetops, giving you a birds-eye view of the park [entrance fee approx $10). Alternatively, return to visit the Orang-utans one last time for their afternoon feeding [At your own expense]
MEALS: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
OVERNIGHT: Sepilok Jungle Resort, Sepilok
DAY 11: Sepilok ~ Gomantong Cave ~ Kinabantangan River
After breakfast we travel overland to our wildlife lodge on the banks of the Kinabatangan River. En route we stop at the impressive Gomantong cave, the largest birds nest limestone cave in Sabah and featured in David Attenborough’s documentaries. On arrival into Bilit we have a spot of lunch before jumping on our first wildlife boat cruise down the river. Keep your eyes peeled for wild Orangutans, Proboscis Monkeys, Pygmy Elephants and lots of exotic birdlife! Evening free at leisure or take an optional guided night jungle walk to spot the nocturnal wildlife.
MEALS: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
OVERNIGHT: Bilit Adventure Lodge, Bilit
OPTIONAL: Wildlife night jungle walk RM10 ($5) per hour
DAY 12: Kinabatangan River ~ Wildlife River Cruises
Early morning start as we cruise along the Kinabatangan River at 6:00am in search for more wild and wonderful wildlife, then back to the lodge for breakfast. After breakfast you will have two choices; for trekkers: a guided jungle walk through the riverine forest. For non-trekkers; we participate in the batik painting. Relax for the afternoon and then just before dusk we embark on another river cruise in search for more wildlife. Spend the evening at leisure enjoying a cold beer and sharing your photos from the day with fellow travellers.
MEALS: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
OVERNIGHT: Bilit Adventure Lodge, Bilit
DAY 13: Bilit ~ POW Camp & Fish Foot Massage ~ Mount Kinabalu
After breakfast, we depart Bilit by 8:30am and travel to Ranau. On the way, we stop at Marakau POW camp and enjoy a tantalising natural fish spa foot massage down by the river. In the afternoon we reach our accommodation. Sabah Tea Resort is set within a sprawling tea plantation surrounded by pristine rainforests, cool mountain air and views of Mount Kinabalu. Enjoy the afternoon at leisure and explore the stunning surroundings of the resort grounds.
MEALS: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
OVERNIGHT: Sabah Tea Resort, Ranau
DAY 14: Tea Factory Tour ~ Nabalu Native Market ~ Kota Kinabalu
This morning we have a tour of the Sabah Tea Factory and learn the interesting process of how tea is made before proceeding for a guided walk to see local flora & fauna at the botanical garden. Enjoy a local lunch en route back to Kota Kinabalu with a short stop at Nabalu Native Market for a spot of souvenir shopping. Arrive back in Kota Kinabalu in the evening.
MEALS: Breakfast, Lunch
OVERNIGHT: Cititel Express or Gaya Central, Kota Kinabalu
Day 15: Pulau Sapi & Manukan Islands Day Trip
The perfect way to end your holiday in Borneo is with a day trip to the stunning islands of TAR National Park. Embark on an exciting 20 minute boat ride across the bay to Pualu Sapi to lounge on the soft sands and swim in the pristine blue ocean. For the adventurous, take the “Coral Flyer” Zip line that spans between two islands, Gaya and Sapi. Hold on tight as you fly over the crystal water! [At your own expense]. Next continue on to Manukan Island for more beach time, soaking up the sun or enjoying a spot of snorkelling. Return to Kota Kinabalu in the afternoon and enjoy your last night free at leisure or finish your holiday of a lifetime with a sunset dinner cruise on board North Borneo Cruises.
MEALS: Breakfast, Lunch
OVERNIGHT: Cititel Express or Gaya Central, Kota Kinabalu
DAY 16: Kota Kinabalu Departure
Enjoy a leisurely last morning in Kota Kinabalu before your transfer back to the airport in the afternoon.
MEALS: Breakfast
