Best of Borneo
Highest peak in the region, snap a pic of the 'Man of the Forest', turtle spotting, jungle stay, visit the Iban tribe, trek the Headhunters' trail.
- 16 days 22 October 2011
- 16 days 5, 19 November 2011
- 16 days 3, 17 December 2011
Mountains, dense jungle, sandy beaches, mysterious caves and exotic wildlife await you on this spectacular journey to Sabah and Sarawak. Take the road less travelled and explore the immense beauty of Borneo as you trek deep into this remote land still quite untouched by tourism. Meet locals from remote villages and stay overnight in longhouses for an immersive cultural experience that few travellers get to know. Our certified CEOs will lead the way and share with you the hidden gems will have your camera's shutter working overtime. This is a once-in-a-lifetime experience from start to finish.
Day 1
Kota Kinabalu
Travellers will be arriving at different times during the day so feel free to arrive at the joining point at any time as there are no planned activities. The group meeting is normally set for 6pm on the day of arrival. Please check reception for a note from your leader. Kota Kinabalu, the capital of Sabah, is an intriguing city that was born between the wild jungles and the South China Sea. Having survived World War II bombings, KK now has a charm that can only be found in a frontier town. In your free time you can immerse yourself in history at the Sabah State Museum, visit the Monsopiad Cultural Village, home to a notorious head hunter, or explore the islands off-shore of Kota Kinabalu, excellent for swimming or snorkeling. Allow approximately USD15 for an island visit, although costs can vary depending on your negotiating skills, the time you wish to spend on the island and the number of people with whom you share a boat with.
Day 2
Mt Kinabalu National Park
In the early morning we travel to the base of Mt Kinabalu by bus, approximately two-and-a-half hours. Mt Kinabalu is the highest mountain between the Himalayas and New Guinea. Hopefully you'll catch a glimpse of the summit, which in the afternoon is often shrouded in cloud. The huge rock monolith looms over us as a daunting reminder of the climb we are about to embark on but don't be discouraged, it's a rewarding experience! We stay at the foot of the mountain, so there's the opportunity to stretch your legs by explore the trails around the park, check out the visitor centre or if you wish, do an optional trip to Ranau and Poring Hot Spings. There are some beautiful nature walks around the headquarters and at Poring Hot Springs, through lowland tropical forest on well marked trails. Alternatively you can relax for the afternoon and mentally prepare yourself whilst listening to the sounds of the jungle. In the evening we have a short briefing about tomorrows climb. If you do not wish to climb you can arrange to stay at the base of the mountain.
Days 3-4
Mt Kinabalu
We set off early to begin the ascent up Mt Kinabalu. It is not an easy walk, but it is incredibly rewarding, willpower being the main requirement, as it's uphill all the way! The well-marked trail is predominantly made up of steep steps that vary considerably in size. Altitude can affect anyone, no matter how fit you are, and it can certainly slow you down a fair bit. There's no rush,the key to success with altitude is to drink plenty of water, take your time and enjoy the pristine environment. We leave our main packs in storage. Carrying just an overnight pack, you pass an extraordinary variety of plant life including fungi, mosses, lichen, varieties of orchids and several types of carnivorous pitcher plant. If you a very lucky you may even see rafflesia, the worlds largest flower. The climb is 8km and usually takes between 5 and 7 hours. There are shelters along the way to stop for brief rests. We spend night 3 at Laban Rata in basic mountain huts. Laban Rata is at an altitude of 3,272m. Food and refreshments are available at Laban Rata and you can normally rent towels and a sleeping bag for a nominal fee. It's an early night in order to prepare for the final climb very early tomorrow morning! Getting to the summit (4095.2m) from Laban Rata takes 2-3 hours.
If for any reason, you are separated from your group higher on the mountain, there is a thick white rope all the way to the summit. If visibility is very low it may be necessary to hold onto the rope and follow it. The rope leads all the way from the vegetation belt above Panar Laban to the summit. The weather on the summit can deteriorate very quickly, with thick mist reducing visibility to 3m, rain storms and strong winds can also occur at times. When climbing on the summit and the higher part of the mountain, it's important to have sufficient warm clothes, a headtorch, spare batteries, waterproof rain coat, food and water. During the descent we stop at our mountain hut before continuing to the park head quarters and returning to our accomodation for the night. The descent is tough on the knees and takes approximately 5-7 hours. A certificate is available to prove that you completed the climb - this can be arranged for RM10. You can for an additional charge hire a porter to carry your bag. The porters charge per weight.
Days 5-6
Kinabatangang River
We journey overland next by bus for around 6 hours to an area known as Sukau where we visit the Kinabatangang River. This is Sabah's longest river and home to an incredible variety of wildlife. We stay in the jungle and get to observe an vast array of insects, birds and animals in there native environments. Walking along jungle trails and travelling by boat along the river you regularly see king fishers, hornbills, macaque, and proboscis monkeys. Very occassionally you may get lucky and see elephants, wild boar, otters, orang-utans and other reclusive species. Please note that the overnight stays of days 5 to 8 may swap on occasions, dependent on the availability of Seligan Island accommodation.
Day 7
Sepilok Orang-utan Rehabilitation Centre
A 100km journey overland takes us to Sepilok where we visit Sepilok Orangutan Centre (approximately 5 hours). We pass through primary rain forest and Sabah's arable farming areas, which is predominately palm oil and rubber plantations. Sepilok is one of the highlights of the trip where you'll get to meet the adorable 'wild men of Borneo'. Orang-utans and their human like features are a truely unforgetable experience. The centre is an excellent example of active conservation, re-introducing domesticated, injured and orphaned orang-utans back into the wild. You'll visit one of the feeding platforms and there's a vistor centre where you can learn more about these amazing animals. There are walking trails where you can see not only orangutans, but several species of macaque and a host of other birds and wildlife roaming freely. (Please note there is an additional camera fee at the centre). It must be remembered the reserve is primarily set up to help re-introduce orangutans back into the wild after a life of domestication or having been orphaned. As we walk into the reserve to see the semi-wild orangutans it is essential that we follow the parks instructions. We are not permitted to interfere or touch the orang-utans as human contact must be kept to a minimum.
Day 8
Selingan-Turtle Island
Today we transfer to the jetty for a boat ride to Selingan Turtle Island Park. The journey to the island will take approximately 45 minutes to one hour. Upon arrival, register at Turtle Island Park Head Quarters before checking into your chalet. After lunch at the cafeteria, you are free at your own leisure; snorkel, swim, explore the island, or simply relax on the beach. Enjoy a sumptuous dinner as the sun sets, then visit the Island Discovery Center to learn more about the life-cycles of these wondrous creatures, as well as their history and threats to their existence. After this, wait for the rangers call to observe the Mother Turtle laying her eggs by the shore. Follow the rangers as they transfer the eggs to the hatchery, before heading back to the shore to witness the release of baby turtles to the open sea.
Day 9
Sandakan to Kota Kinabalu
In the morning, we return to Sandakan, and visit the small but informative Memorial Museum on the site of a former Japanese POW camp, which highlights Borneo's involvement during World War II, infamously remembered for the 'death marches'. We may have time to take in some of the sights of the city, go shopping and experience the hustle and bustle of the waterfront markets, before transfering back to Kota Kinabalu by air (45min flight) and have more time to explore the city. On a clear day (depending on flight pathes) you sometimes get to see Mt Kinabalu from the air.
Day 10
Limbang
In the morning we drive around 2.5 hours to board an express boat to the island of Labuan (a small tax free island) where we change boat and continue onto Limbang, our destination for the day. Each boat trip takes between one-and-a-half and two hours, depending on the boat schedule. Limbang is in northern Sarawak which is located between the two parts of Brunei. It's a small prosperous town which sits on the eastern bank of the Limbang River. A short walk along the river you'll find one of Charles Brook's forts, which is now a small museum exhibiting some interesting historical artifacts and some of the regional crafts and cultures. We spend the remainder of the afternoon in town before embarking into the jungle region of Mulu National Park the following morning. Instead of carrying all of your luggage on the head hunters trail it is possible to send any excess luggage onwards to Mulu. If you wish to do this your leader can help you arrange this and the additional cargo service charge for this is approximately $4 per kilo (2.2lbs).
Day 11
Iban Longhouse
We depart from Limbang in the morning initially by mini-bus to Medamit and then onward by narrow long boats. We overnight in a simple Iban long-house and are treated as guests by our Iban hosts. The nature of the accomodation is very basic but the experience offers a unique insist into the Iban way of life and culture. Sleeping arrangements are communal, with a matress and sheet on the floor. The Iban are considered quite shy and reserved people, but it's amazing how much is shared by quiet observation and mutual interest.
Day 12
Headhunters Trail
After breakfast with our Iban hosts, we say our farewells and continue by longtail boat further upriver to the start of out jungle hike. We pass through thick rain forest and trek 12km (about 3-4 hours) along the 'headhunters trail'; famous for when Kayan war parties used to raid the peoples of the Limbang region. We follow a path through the jungle until we reach Camp 5, our destination for the day, perched beside the pictureque Melinau river. Camp 5 is a basic hut with only sleeping mats, dining area and bathroom facilities. After the days exersions the best place to cool off is amongst the rock pools in the river, over-looking the impressive rock faces of the Gunung Benerat. Of an evening listening to the tranquil jungle choruses, with the occassional bat swooping through the candle light, you feel a world away!
Days 13-14
Mulu National Park
In the morning we leave Camp 5 and head off on foot again for about 3 hours, walking a further 9 kms. We are later met by longboat and journey down-river to Mulu Headquarters. Here we explore some of the world's largest caves and witness the incredible nightly phenomina, where literally millions of bats leave the entrance to Deer Cave (a 10km round-trip walk to/from HQ). The following day we get to explore Wind Cave and swim in the entrance to Clearwater Cave, which are among the longest cave systems in the world. The flora and fauna is spectacular in this area, with many species are only found in certain cave and jungle habitats. In the afternoon there's time to walk at leisure along the board walks or visit the aerial canopy walk if you wish.
Day 15
Fly to Kota Kinabalu
From Mulu we fly back to our starting point of Kota Kinabalu. This charming laid-back city is full of things to see and we spend the rest of the day exploring the waterfront area and pretty side streets. You may even take the opportunity to head out to the beach.
Day 16
Kota Kinabalu
You are free to depart at any time today.
