Premium Borneo in Depth

12 Days | Discover Borneo’s wildlife, diverse landscapes and natural wonders

4.7 out of 5 based on 72 reviews submitted.
Explorer
From
NZD $5,119

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.

Trip overview

Map of Premium Borneo In Depth including Malaysia
Start
Kuching, Malaysia
Finish
Sandakan, Malaysia
Theme
Explorer
Destinations
Malaysia
Physical rating
Indicates how physically exerting a trip is, and how fit you will need to be to enjoy it. More info on physical ratings
Style
Premium
Ages
Min 15
Group size
Min 1 - Max 12
Trip code
TMPB
This trip generates 110 kg of CO2-e per person per day.
We offset these emissions on your behalf. But we know that is not enough, so we also have a carbon reduction target.
Premium accommodationOur best 4-star accommodation and the highest level of service
Premium experiencesAll must-see locations plus authentic experiences exclusive to Premium
Premium knowledgeTrips led by our most experienced and highest-rated local leaders

Why you'll love this trip
  • Surround yourself with rich wildlife with two nights at the naturally beautiful and perfectly located Kinabatangan Wetland Resort – your Feature Stay accommodation.
  • Visit endangered orangutans at the Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre, meet the Malaysian sun bear and take multiple cruises down the Kinabatangan in search of wildlife.
  • Gain unique insight into the Iban way of life during an Exclusive Experience where you stay in a rustic jungle lodge in the rainforests of Batang Ai, visit a traditional longhouse and chat to the locals about their culture.
  • Get a taste of Borneo’s diverse food scene during Exclusive Experiences, including dinner at a bustling food court popular with locals and a freshly caught seafood dinner after touring the seafood market.
  • Experience Borneo's beautiful natural surroundings with visits to local farms, waterfalls, National Parks, wildlife cruises, and more.
  • By travelling on this trip, you’ll directly support our Intrepid Foundation partner, RESPonsible Elephant Conservation Trust (RESPECT). Donations help them educate and engage local communities on the importance of conserving local habits for Borneo Pygmy Elephants.

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.

This itinerary is valid for departures from 01 January 2023 to 31 December 2024.

View the itinerary for departures between 01 January 2025 - 31 December 2025

Itinerary

Map of Premium Borneo In Depth including Malaysia

Inclusions

Meals

11 breakfasts, 6 lunches, 7 dinners

Transport

Boat, Plane, Private Mini Van

Accommodation

Lodge (4 nights), Hotel (5 nights), Resort (2 nights)

Premium Inclusions
  • Arrival airport transfer
  • Tipping for accommodation, activities and transport
  • Luggage transfer
  • Daily breakfast and signature local meal experiences
  • 24/7 on-ground support
Activities
  • Complimentary Arrival Transfer
  • Kuching - Welcome Dinner
  • Batang Ai - Nanga Sumpa Dinner
  • Batang Ai - Lachau Bazaar Lunch
  • Batang Ai - Jungle and Plantation Walk
  • Batang Ai - Local Longhouse Visit
  • Batang Ai - Enseluai Waterfall
  • Kuching - Group Lunch
  • Mulu National Park - Sunset bat experience
  • Mulu National Park - Deer & Lang Caves guided walk
  • Mulu National Park - Wind & Clearwater Caves guided walk
  • Mulu National Park - Picnic Lunch
  • Kota Kinabalu - Sunset Cocktail
  • Kota Kinabalu - Seafood Market Tour and Dinner
  • Kota Kinabalu - Local Market Tour
  • Kinabatangan River - Afternoon Wildlife Spotting Cruise
  • Kinabatangan River - Evening Wildlife Walk
  • Sandakan - War Memorial
  • Kinabatangan River - Morning wildlife spotting cruise
  • Kinabatangan River - Evening Wildlife Spotting Cruise
  • Sepilok - Sun Bear Conservation Centre
  • Sepilok - Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre
  • Sandakan - Farewell Dinner
Optional activities
  • Kota Kinabalu - Sabah Museum entrance fee - MYR15
  • Kota Kinabalu - Tunku Abdul National Marine Park Snorkeling Trip (Min 4) - MYR355
  • Kota Kinabalu - Cultural Village Tour (excludes transportation) - MYR130

Dates and availability

Loading trip dates and availabilities...

Important notes

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. You can find links to prominent government travel advisories our Travel Alerts page https://www.intrepidtravel.com/au/travel-alerts

Essential Trip Information

Want an in-depth insight into this trip? Essential Trip Information provides a detailed itinerary, visa info, how to get to your hotel, what's included - pretty much everything you need to know about this adventure and more.

Read Essential Trip Information

Reviews

4.7 out of 5 based on 72 reviews submitted.
Reviews are from travellers who have completed their trip and want to share their experience. We show all reviews, but may remove any that include profanity or inappropriate content, are unrelated to the trip or reveal personal details.

Filter by rating

Cherie · Traveled October 2024
Review submitted 20 Oct 2024

Celia · Traveled October 2024
Review submitted 22 Oct 2024

Celia · Traveled October 2024
Review submitted 16 Oct 2024

Sian · Traveled October 2024
Review submitted 15 Oct 2024

Tim · Traveled September 2024
Review submitted 09 Oct 2024
Premium Borneo in Depth
From
NZD $5,119