Best of Borneo

20 Days | Travel through the wild untamed lands of beautiful Borneo

4.7 out of 5 based on 19 reviews submitted.
Explorer
Wildlife
From
ZAR  54,330
View dates and book

If you're looking for an adventure somewhere spiritual, wild, and full of natural beauty, this 20-day adventure through Borneo might just be for you. Trek through the steamy jungles of Nugong Mulu National Park, relax on the shores of Turtle Island and see the cheeky orangutans in Sepilok reserve. Meet locals from the small villages that sit in the shadow of Mt Kinabalu and look out for the abundant wildlife on your trails, boat journeys and in the jungles you'll spend a night or two in. This is Borneo.

Trip overview

Map of Best Of Borneo including Malaysia
Start
Kuching, Malaysia
Finish
Sepilok, Malaysia
Theme
Explorer, Wildlife
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
Original
Ages
Min 15
Group size
Min 1 - Max 16
Trip code
TMSXC
This trip generates 61 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.

Why you'll love this trip
  • See wild orangutans at the Semenggoh sanctuary and look for proboscis monkeys in Bako National Park. One of the last truly wild places on earth, Borneo offers rare treats for nature lovers.
  • Explore labyrinthian cave systems, some of the largest in the world, and watch as millions of bats emerge from their depths at sunset, darkening the sky like a plume of black smoke.
  • Climb Mt Kinabalu – the literal pinnacle of all treks in South East Asia – with local guides whose families have trekked the mountain for generations. Witness the sunrise at the peak after a morning hike and spot diverse flora and fauna along the way.
  • Join a local ranger to witness the life cycle of sea turtles, who come ashore on Turtle Island to lay their eggs on the beach. At night, you’ll watch the hatchlings make a dash down the beach on the way to their new life.
  • Cruise down the Kinabatangan River and search for wildlife in this rich and unique jungle ecosystem – if you’re lucky, you may spot wild pygmy elephants!

Is this trip right for you?
  • It’s best to pack light for this trip. There is a strict 20 kg (checked in baggage) and 7 kg (hand luggage) maximum luggage limit on the included internal flights. Excess luggage will incur extra fees to the traveller.
  • When staying in the National Park, accommodation is multishare and can be basic. The unqiue atmosphere and wonderful location more than make up for this though.
  • Climbing Mt Kinabalu is a challenge that shouldn't be underestimated. The elevation is approximately 4095 m and we rise early to summit in the dark to witness the sunrise. It's an unforgettable climb for sure, but you'll need an excellent fitness level to complete it. Read our blog here for everything you need to know about climbing Mt Kinabalu: https://www.intrepidtravel.com/adventures/guide-to-climbing-mt-kinabalu-borneo/
  • You'll need to pack some specific items for this trip – check the ‘Packing List’ in the Essential Trip Information for more details so you are prepared.
  • You will get to experience a wide range of accommodation types on this trip – shared dormitory rooms in hostels, a homestay, resort, jungle lodge and hotels. Some may be a little more basic than our standard hotels, but their unique locations and close proximity to nature is what makes them special.

Itinerary

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

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

Map of Best Of Borneo including Malaysia

Inclusions

Meals

16 breakfasts, 7 lunches, 6 dinners

Transport

4x4, Ferry, Longtail boat, Plane, Taxi, Mini van, Private mini van, River Boat

Accommodation

Cabin (multishare) (2 nights), Dormitory (1 night), Hotel (5 nights), Resort (1 night), Chalet (1 night), Resort (1 nights), Homestay (1 night), Hostel (3 nights), Hotel (2 nights), Lodge (2 nights)

Activities
  • Bako National Park - Wildlife Trail Trek
  • Kuching - Semenggoh Orangutan Sanctuary
  • Mulu National Park - Deer & Lang Caves
  • Mulu National Park - Wind & Clearwater Caves
  • Mulu National Park - Picnic Lunch
  • Mulu National Park - Local Dinner
  • Mulu National Park - Guided trek along Headhunters' Trails
  • Mulu National Park - Longboat ride along the Melinau & Terikan Rivers
  • Labuan Island - Sunset cocktail drink
  • Dusun Village - Guided village walk
  • Dusun Village - Cultural performance
  • Mt Kinabalu National Park - Mt Kinabalu Climb
  • Poring Hot Springs - Conservation Fee
  • Kinabatangan River - Night jungle walk
  • Kinabatangan River - Afternoon Wildlife Cruise
  • Kinabatangan River - Dawn wildlife cruise
  • Sandakan - War Memorial
  • Turtle Island - Turtle Island Marine Park
  • Turtle Island - Turtle Hatchery Visit
  • Sepilok - Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre
Add on activities
  • Kuching - Sarawak Cultural Village - MYR95
  • Sarawak River cruise - MYR65
  • Kuching - Borneo Cultures Museum - MYR50
  • Mulu National Park - Canopy Walk - MYR50
  • Labuan - Historical tour (Minimum 2 People) - MYR177
  • Kota Kinabalu - Sabah Museum entrance fee - MYR15
  • Kota Kinabalu - Tunku Abdul National Marine Park Snorkeling Trip (Minimum 4 people) - MYR355
  • Kundasang - War Memorial (Entrance Fee) - MYR10
  • Poring Hot Springs - Butterfly Farm - Free
  • Poring Hot Springs - Canopy Walk - MYR10
  • Poring Hot Springs - Orchid Conservation Centre - Free
  • Poring Hot Springs - Rafflesia Blooming Observation - MYR30
  • Poring Hot Springs - Hot Springs (Open Bath Tub) - (3 hours) - MYR10
  • Sandakan - Agnes Keith House - MYR15
  • Sandakan - St Micheals and All Angels Church - MYR10
  • Sandakan - Puu Jih Shih Chinese Temple - Free
  • Turtle Island - Snorkel Hire - MYR35
  • Sepilok - Rainforest Discovery Centre - MYR30
  • Sepilok - Sun Bear Conservation Centre - MYR50

Dates and availability

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Important notes

1. Please provide passport details at time of booking, as these are essential for booking services on this trip.
2. Strict luggage limits apply for this trip. See the 'Packing' section of the Essential Trip Information for more detail.
3. If you prefer not to share a room on this trip, you may purchase a single supplement, subject to availability. Please contact your sales agent if you would like to book this. The single supplement excludes Days 4 - 6 (Mulu National Park), Day 11 (Dusun Village), Day 12 & 13 (Mt Kinabalu), Days 14 & 15 (Poring Hot Springs) and Day 18 (Turtle Island) , where you will be in shared accommodation.
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 19 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

Carolyn · Traveled July 2024
An amazing tour that covered a huge area of Borneo taking in lots of sights and sounds. I especially loved seeing the wild animals especially on the river tour and would love to go back. The guides, especially Nostalia, were amazing and went out of their way to make sure you were having a good time.
Review submitted 31 Aug 2024

Inês · Traveled May 2024
This is a great trip if you want to have a good idea of what Borneo, kinabatangan is one of the highlights of the trip for sure. Joanna and Nostalia, our two tour guides were great and always available with suggestions and support.
Review submitted 09 Jul 2024

Kelly · Traveled April 2024
This trip through Borneo was absolutely amazing. I enjoyed every minute of this trip, I highly recommend it. The treks were tough, but rewarding.
Review submitted 17 May 2024

Denzil · Traveled March 2024
This itinerary is planned and executed in fine detail and I felt more confident each day.
Review submitted 05 Apr 2024

Mara · Traveled March 2024
Malaysian Borneo is a cultural delight, and we had to privilege to visit during Ramadan - this meant amazing markets to break the fast, watching people picnic in the evenings on the riversides and local parks. Sarawak was our favourite area, but the hike up Mount Kinabalu was a physical and mental challenge that I conquered and never need to do again! The history, tribes and local people are fascinating, but really we choose to travel here for the wildlife, and it didn't disappoint - orangutans, macaques, wild boar, silver leaf monkeys, and surprisingly my favourite were the Sun Bears at the conservation centre in Sepilok. I could have watched them all day. Thanks for another great trip Intrepid.
Review submitted 03 Jun 2024
Best of Borneo
From
ZAR  54,330