Classic Borneo

Welcome to Kuching, the capital city of Sarawak. You will be met at the airport and transferred to our hotel. Depending on your arrival time, enjoy the afternoon to relax or explore. This evening we will have a short meeting and then a welcome dinner together.

Kuching, the state capital of Sarawak, is arguably one of the most attractive cities in Southeast Asia. With a romantic history of Sultans, traders, warriors and White Rajahs, a rich architectural heritage, and the warm hospitality of its residents, it is quite easy to end up spending longer than intended in Kuching.
This city of 650,000 people has modern amenities yet still retains a small town feel. Its laid-back charm is one of its key attractions. The friendly residents of Kuching enjoy meeting and talking to travellers.
Accommodations: The Waterfront Hotel

Best of Kuching bike tour combines the highlights of our pioneering Heritage Bike tour with our best selling Kampong Bike tour. This unique bike tour covers the great majority of Kuching’s sight and much more. Discover the hidden gems of Kuching, see our temples and monuments through the hidden lanes inside the heritage zone and indulge in a wide variety of popular authentic Sarawak local street foods, drinks and desserts.

This evening board the MV Equatorial for a 1½ hours Sunset River cruise on the Sarawak River. This is a wonderful way of observing Kuching City and will give you a feel of how transportation to and from the city was in the days before the introduction of air travel and modern road vehicles. In the distance, Mount Serapi provides a stunning backdrop for the city. On most days you will be able to enjoy a scenic sunset from the deck of the cruise ship. End your cruise around sunset and walk the short distance back to your hotel.
Accommodations: The Waterfront Hotel

The Semenggoh Orangutan Centre provides an excellent opportunity to view semi-wild orangutans in a natural setting. This orangutan rehabilitation center 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 center to receive supplemental feeding.

The feeding area is set in a natural amphitheater 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 center and the conservation objectives.
This afternoon we depart Semenggoh and continue to Bengoh, the starting point of your kayak adventure. Float down a river that meanders through limestone hills clad with tropical rainforest. The generally peaceful flat water is punctuated with Class 1 to Class 2 rapids providing a thrilling water ride. Take breaks along the way to savor the beauty of the jungle, visit a friendly Bidayuh Village and have a swim in the cool refreshing mountain water. Enjoy a light picnic lunch on the sandy riverbank. End the trip at the picturesque village of Semadang and then return to Kuching.
Accommodations: The Waterfront Hotel

Bako National Park is 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 depending on level of fitness and areas of interest. The park’s spectacular coastline is dotted with small bays, coves and beaches.
From the village, proceed by boat for approximately 25 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.
Accommodations: The Waterfront Hotel

After breakfast we depart for our cooking class venue where you will meet your cooking instructor for a genuine Sarawak style cooking course. You will here get the opportunity to experience authentic Borneo cooking culture and learn hands-on how to cook local Sarawakian dishes with your experienced cooking instructor who will share the secrets of local cooking with you in a fun and relaxed atmosphere.

Your cooking instructor will in advance have arrange a wide variety of fresh and locally produced raw food items (including meat, vegetables, rice, fruit and loads of spices etc.) that you will be thought to turn into to a delicious meal that you will eventually consume yourselves. There will for sure be something to look forward to at the end of the process. The session will culminate with lunch, where after you will have the rest of the afternoon at your own disposal to venture around downtown Kuching on your own to maybe look for spices to take home, have a cup of coffee at one of the small cafés or just go back to your hotel for a rest. Alternatively, you can go for an optional massage or spa treatment at one of the nearby spa centers.
In the late afternoon you will be picked up from your hotel and taken to a dinner venue in town to spend time with a local female personality from Kuching while enjoying your dinner. This will provide you an intimate interaction with your female ‘host’ for the night while taking in good Kuching food. What better way to experience first hand genuine Kuching hospitality over local specialties. Discover the customs and ways of life of a Sarawakian female personality and be surprised by the particular and universal concerns and considerations of the average citizen in Sarawak.
Accommodations: The Waterfront Hotel

Today we depart 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.

Board a longboat and travel upriver to Nanga Sumpa. Settle in at Borneo Adventure’s lodge and have dinner. After dinner visit Nanga Sumpa longhouse. Relax on the ruai (common verandah) and spend time with the Iban people. Interact with the community; learn about their culture and enjoy some local rice wine.
Accommodations: Nanga Sumpa Lodge

Following breakfast hike the jungle trails along the river. Then continue upriver by longboat. Our destination is the scenic Enseluai waterfall. Along the way (if conditions are suitable) your boatman may stop to demonstrate fishing Iban-style using a jala or throw net. 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. Relax on the ruai (common verandah), spend time with the Iban people and enjoy some local rice wine.

Accommodations: Nanga Sumpa Lodge

After breakfast in the lodge we travel downriver to the Batang Ai Lake jetty. Then travel overland back to Kuching with lunch en route.
Accommodations: The Waterfront Hotel

In the morning, transfer to Kuching airport and fly from Kuching to Mulu. Arrive at Mulu airport and transfer to accommodation. Once we arrive to Mulu National Park we will check into our hotel for the next two nights.

In the afternoon, proceed to the park headquarters and enjoy a scenic 3 km plank walk 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.
Accommodations: Mulu Marriott Resort & Spa

In the morning, proceed by longboat upriver to Wind Cave with its impressive ‘King’s Chamber’. 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.

Here, stalactites and stalagmites with delicate lace-like patterns are found. A short walk along a plankwalk next to the limestone cliff leads 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 picnic lunch, swim or relax before returning to accommodation.
Accommodations: Mulu Marriott Resort & Spa

In the morning, proceed to the impressive Mulu Canopy Skywalk. At 480 meters long, the Mulu Canopy Skywalk is one of the longest tree-based walkways in the world. As you walk among the ferns, epiphytes and vines 15-20 metres above the forest floor and river you will enjoy this unique opportunity to get closer to the rainforest “web of life” viewing it from a whole new perspective.

In the afternoon, transfer to Mulu airport for flight to Kota Kinabalu. Upon arrival in Kota Kinabalu airport be met and transferred to the Jesselton Hotel for check in.
Accommodations: The Jesselton Hotel

Early morning we return to the Kota Kinabalu airport for our flight to Sandakan. Once we arrive to Sandakan we will be met at the airport and depart for the Sepilok Orangutan Sanctuary.

The Sepilok Orangutan Sanctuary is 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 and have lunch. In the afternoon we go on a river cruise up the Kinabatangan River to the Menanggul River in search proboscis monkeys, birds, reptiles and other wildlife.
Accommodations: Kinabatangan Riverside Lodge

An early start today as early morning can be excellent for wildlife viewing. We take a boat trip for bird watching and wildlife viewing at the nearby Ox Bow Lake. Then return to the lodge for breakfast. Free at leisure to relax.

In the afternoon venture on another river cruise down the Menanggul River in search of wildlife. Early evening is also prime time for wildlife viewing. Return to the lodge at dusk.
Accommodations: Kinabatangan Riverside Lodge

After breakfast depart the lodge and return to Sandakan by road. Have lunch at a local restaurant and then be dropped off at Sandakan airport for your flight home or continue your adventure with our Bali Tour.