Premium Borneo in Depth
Premium Borneo in Depth
Premium Borneo in Depth
12 Days Starting in Kuching and ending in Sandakan
Visiting: Kuching, Batang Ai National Park, Mulu National Park, Kota Kinabalu, Kinabatangan River, Sandakan
Tour operator:
Tour code:
TMPB
Guide Type:
Fully Guided
Group size:
1 - 12
Age range:
1-12
Trip Styles:
Tour Overview
Through rainforest, jungle, rivers and wetlands, take a 12-day Premium adventure to uncover Borneo’s natural wonders. You’ll discover fascinating culture, history and ancient traditions as you journey to the jungles of Sabah and Sarawak, learn about the Iban way of life within Batang Ai National Park, get swept up in the energy of Kuching and connect with nature at the Kinabatangan River. Take boat rides in search of local wildlife, visit an Orangutan rehabilitation centre in Sandakan and wake up to the calls of monkeys. From dense rainforests to misty rivers and jungle valleys, this diverse island is a joy to explore.
Highlights
Itinerary
Day 1: Kuching
Location: Kuching
Accommodation: Riverside Majestic Hotel Astana Wing or similar
Meals Included: dinner
Selamat datang! Welcome to Borneo. When you arrive in Kuching, you’ll be collected from the airport by a local representative and transferred to your hotel. You’ll then have a welcome meeting at 6 pm tonight to meet your local leader and group members. If you arrive early, you might like to take a stroll along Kuching’s scenic waterfront or visit the Borneo Cultural Museum. After your meeting, your leader will help you get acquainted with the city on a walk to one of Kuching’s food courts popular with the locals, where you can sample some local delights and get an introduction into Malaysian cuisine.
Included Activities:
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Day 2: Batang Ai National Park
Location: Batang Ai National Park
Accommodation: Nanga Sumpa Lodge or similar
Meals Included: breaksfast, lunch, dinner
This morning, begin your journey to Batang Ai National Park where the remote and lush rainforests are alive with the calls of hornbills and gibbons. The Iban people have called these rainforests home for 400 years, with entire villages living under one roof in longhouses built alongside the river. Hidden away from the modern world, these communities have retained centuries-old traditions. Stop off at the native market in Lachau, where you can pick up locally made goods like woven baskets and traditional Iban clothing. Then, take a longboat down the Delok River to your accommodation for the evening – the serene and secluded Nanga Sumpa Lodge, tucked away on the riverbank. The operator here has had a long-standing relationship with the community, creating jobs and community involvement so the local people can benefit from tourism. He also set up a scholarship fund to boost children's education in the community. Tonight, you'll sit down for a traditional dinner at the lodge.
Included Activities:
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Day 3: Batang Ai National Park
Location: Batang Ai National Park
Accommodation: Nanga Sumpa Lodge or similar
Meals Included: breaksfast, lunch, dinner
After breakfast surrounded by nature, you’ll take a 2-hour walk through the jungle, passing local farms, orchards and plantations as your leader shares stories from the region and teaches you about foraging for edibles and local medicinal plants. Next, take a longboat up the river to the Enseluai waterfall. Keep your eyes open in case of a rare orangutan sighting! Take some time to relax and go for a swim, then your leader will choose a scenic spot for a picnic using local ingredients. In the afternoon, cruise back to Nanga Sumpa for a walk through the village. After dinner, visit a traditional longhouse and spend time with the Iban people who will teach you about their way of living. Hang out on the common veranda, share some rice wine and gain insight into the local Iban culture.
Included Activities:
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Day 4: Kuching
Location: Kuching
Accommodation: Riverside Majestic Hotel Astana Wing or similar
Meals Included: breaksfast, lunch
Wake up to the songs of birds and after breakfast, take a longboat out of the rainforest and make the journey back to Kuching, stopping off for lunch at a local coffee shop along the way. The name Kuching literally translates to ‘cats’, and the city has fully embraced this moniker. You’ll have free time here, so maybe wander the streets to see the giant cat statues, spray-painted street art and local cat museum. If you’d like to dive deeper into the city’s fabulous food scene, your leader can recommend some spots to eat.
Included Activities:
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Day 5: Mulu National Park
Location: Mulu National Park
Accommodation: Garden Bungalows, Mulu National Park or similar
Meals Included: breaksfast
Say goodbye to Kuching and take a flight to Mulu National Park. This national park is full of rainforests, mountains, caves and karst formations. Your leader will provide insight on how the park’s weird and wonderful geographic features came to be. In the late afternoon, visit Deer Cave and Lang Cave, which are reached by a scenic jungle walk along a 3-km plank path, passing through peat swamp, alluvial flats and limestone outcrops. Watch millions of bats fly out of Deer Cave at sunset and see the large ring-shaped formations they make as they circle the cliff face, before moving out across the rainforest. Return on the same path and head to your accommodation for the evening in secluded forest bungalows, tucked away in the park.
Included Activities:
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Day 6: Mulu National Park
Location: Mulu National Park
Accommodation: Garden Bungalows, Mulu National Park or similar
Meals Included: breaksfast, lunch
Today, join your leader and further explore Mulu National Park. First, head to Wind Cave (named for the cool breeze that flows through it) along the Melinau River. Your leader will share some details on the formation of the cave as you explore the stalagmites and columns. Later, discover the caverns and crags of Clearwater Cave – one of the longest caves in Asia! The rest of the day is free for you to relax and take in the scenery.
Included Activities:
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Day 7: Kota Kinabalu
Location: Kota Kinabalu
Accommodation: Horizon Hotel or similar
Meals Included: breaksfast
Today, you’ll fly to Kota Kinabalu – the bustling capital of the Sabah state. In the late afternoon after you have arrived, head to one of the city’s rooftop bars for a cocktail while watching the sunset over the skyline. The rest of the evening is free for you to explore. The city’s food scene is best experienced like a local, so for dinner tonight, be sure to ask your leader for advice on hidden treasures away from the main tourist trail.
Included Activities:
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Optional Activities:
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Day 8: Kota Kinabalu
Location: Kota Kinabalu
Accommodation: Horizon Hotel or similar
Meals Included: breaksfast, dinner
You have a free morning in Kota Kinabalu – maybe go snorkelling in Tunku Abdul Rahman Park and search for marine life, or take a tour to the cultural village. If you’d prefer to stay in the city, you can visit the handicraft market on the waterfront or explore Chinatown. Your leader will be on hand to help you plan activities for the day. Later in the afternoon, head to a local vegetable and fish market, learning about and sampling regional snacks along the way. End the tour with dinner at a local restaurant.
Included Activities:
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Optional Activities:
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Day 9: Kinabatangan River
Location: Kinabatangan River
Accommodation: Kinabatangan Wetland Resort (Feature Stay) or similar
Meals Included: breaksfast, lunch, dinner
Take a flight to Sandakan this morning, then visit the Sandakan War Memorial. Here, you’ll learn about the city's past as you stand on the same ground of the former Japanese POW camp. This site also marks the starting point of the tragic Sandakan Death Marches. Next, head to the jetty for a boat ride to the Kinabatangan Wetlands Resort – your Feature Stay accommodation. Sitting on the banks of the Kinabatangan River, the resort offers access to local wildlife. Wooden boardwalks cut through the jungle and connect spacious and bright chalets which serve up great views of the surrounding mangrove forests. This afternoon, take a river cruise, where your leader will help you spot some of the local creatures. Wild elephants seldom reveal themselves, but crocodiles, macaques, wild orangutan, proboscis monkeys, hornbills and kingfishers can sometimes be seen. Enjoy dinner at the resort before heading back out for a night-time wildlife walk. Geared up with a headlamp, you’ll set out in search of interesting insects or other animals that pop up after dark.
Included Activities:
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Day 10: Kinabatangan River
Location: Kinabatangan River
Accommodation: Kinabatangan Wetland Resort (Feature Stay) or similar
Meals Included: breaksfast, lunch, dinner
Take an early morning cruise through the fog as the sun rises, enjoying light refreshments on board while you search for birds and wildlife. Keep an eye out for long tail macaques and pig tail macaques, then return to the resort for breakfast and search the property with your leader for some insects, plants and birds. This afternoon, set off for another river adventure, exploring small tributaries by boat. Later, head out for a night-time cruise and look out for nocturnal animals – you might even see a wide-eyed slow loris hanging from a tree! Have dinner back at the resort, then relax in your comfortable rooms.
Included Activities:
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Day 11: Sandakan
Location: Sandakan
Accommodation: Sabah Hotel or similar
Meals Included: breaksfast, dinner
Return to Sandakan by boat and visit the orangutans at the Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre. Watch them as they swing into view on ropes and vines, then check in at the outdoor nursery where young orangutans, born in captivity or orphaned, are cared for. You’ll also visit the Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre – seeing the world’s smallest bears in large forest enclosures as they are rehabilitated after being rescued. This evening, enjoy a final dinner in Borneo with your group and leader.
Included Activities:
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Day 12: Sandakan
Location: Sandakan
Meals Included: breaksfast
Your adventure comes to an end after breakfast today. If you’d like to extend your stay, just get in touch with your booking agent to arrange additional accommodation. Flights depart most days from Sandakan to Kota Kinabalu or Kuala Lumpur.
What's Included
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Accommodation
Lodge (4 nights), Hotel (5 nights), Resort (2 nights) -
Complimentary Airport Arrival Transfer
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Kuching - Welcome Dinner
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Batang Ai - Nanga Sumpa Dinner
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Batang Ai - Lachau Bazaar Lunch
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Batang Ai - Jungle and Plantation Walk
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Batang Ai - Local Longhouse Visit
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Batang Ai - Enseluai Waterfall
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Kuching - Group Lunch
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Mulu National Park - Sunset bat experience
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Mulu National Park - Deer & Lang Caves guided walk
What's Not Included
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Tipping and Gratuities
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International Travel
Transport
- Boat , Plane , Private Mini Van
Accommodation
- The style of accommodation indicated in the day-to-day itinerary is a guideline only and may change. On some occasions, alternative arrangements may need to be made due to the lack of availability of rooms in our preferred accommodation. In these cases, we will use a similar standard of accommodation.
- Throughout the trip, we request that our properties prepare rooms in time for our arrival, especially if we're arriving prior to normal check-in time. However, this isn't always possible which means we won't be able to check-in immediately on arrival at some hotels. Instead, we can store our luggage and explore our new destination or on some trips, have use of shared day rooms until all rooms are available.
Important Information
- 1. A complimentary airport arrival transfer is included; valid if you are arriving on Day 1 or if you have booked pre-tour accommodation through us. You must provide your flight details to your booking agent at least 14 days prior to travel.
- 2. A single supplement is available if you’d prefer not to share a room?on this trip. The single supplement applies to all nights of your trip?except for nights 2 and 3 (Batang Ai) and is subject to availability. Please speak to your booking agent for further information.
- 3. This trip includes domestic flights. The luggage allowance is 20kg for check in luggage and 7kg for carry on.
- 4. We recommend that you check your government's advice for their latest information on travelling in Eastern Sabah before your departure and ensure that your travel insurance covers you for all areas of your itinerary. Further information can be found in our "Safety" section of the Essential Trip Information. We also have links to prominent government travel advisories and any updates on issues affecting this trip on our Travel Alerts page https://www.intrepidtravel.com/au/travel-alerts
Mode of Transport
- Boat , Plane , Private Mini Van
Check out our Q&As
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Is this trip right for you
With internal flights, spend less time travelling and more time taking in the wildlife and natural beauty of your destinations. Travelling light is essential, as the included domestic flights have a strict 20 kg maximum for check in luggage, and 7 kg for carry-on.
The accommodation varies from hotels to a jungle lodge. The jungle lodge is more basic than our standard hotels, including shared bathroom facilities. A generator supplies electricity from 6.30-10.30 pm to power the main lights and fans. Solar powered nightlights illuminate the public areas, walkways, and bathrooms. The unique location and close proximity to wildlife is what makes the jungle lodge special.
There will be a few walks included on this trip on forested paths that can get wet and slippery. Shoes with a good grip are highly recommended and will also be useful for getting in and out of low rise long tail boats. -
What policies are in place for Covid-19?
Please contact us for latest COVID-19 policies
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How long has the tour company been trading?
Intrepid Travel has been taking travellers around the world for over 30 years
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Will the accommodation included meet local health and safety regulations?
Yes
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What Ethical Travel credentials does the tour company have?
Since 2002, The Intrepid Foundation has supported over 130 organisations across the world. We’re creating positive impact through the joy of travel, community and connection.
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Do you operate a “single share” option and how does it work?
Over 50% of traveller travel solo with Intrepid. You can choose to share a room with another solo travelle of the same sex for no additional charge, or choose to pay a single supplement if you’d like your own room. Please request this when booking, and we will secure you a single supplement wherever possible. Please note, if you are booking a last-minute trip, it may be harder for us to secure a single room
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Free Date Changes
Intrepid Travel allows you to make 10 free date changes, as long as the change is made at least 56 days before the start of the tour.
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Transfer as credit to Future Tours
Intrepid Travel allows you to transfer existing payments to a future tour to avoid cancellation fees if you can't travel and inform intrepid travel, 56 days before departure.
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Low Deposit
Intrepid Travel requires a minimum deposit of 400 USD per person or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 56 days before departure.
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Cancellation Policy
We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of intrepid travel charges.
Up to 56 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of deposit.
At 55 days before tour starts: Forfeit 30% of booking price.
At 30 days before tour starts: Forfeit 60% of booking price.
At 14 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of booking price.
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Terms and Conditions