Adventures in Malaysia

Welcome! Welcome to Borneo, in Malaysia. Our adventure begins with an important welcome meeting at 18:00 this evening. If you arrive early, why not delve into the history of this intriguing city between the Borneo jungle and the South China Sea at the Sabah State Museum. You can also visit the Mari Mari Cultural Village, or perhaps explore the islands off Kota Kinabalu, which are excellent for swimming and snorkeling!

Our journey in Malaysia continues by minivan to a Dusun village, nestled among picturesque hills in the shadow of the imposing Mount Kinabalu, the highest mountain between the Himalayas and New Guinea (about 2 hours). The Dusun, the ethnic group of our guides on Mount Kinabalu, are wonderfully friendly and hospitable people, and while here you will have the opportunity to learn about their way of life and spend a night in a village. Depending on the weather, you will take a hike through the surrounding fruit and rubber plantations. The tour leader can point you in the direction of the river for a great way to cool off afterwards! To ensure you share business with the community, you will split up to stay in a couple of different family homes.

This morning we say goodbye to our new friends from the village and travel into the pristine nature of the Kinabalu National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site (about 1 hour). Take some time to enjoy the surroundings and prepare for the climb. There are nature trails through the lowland rainforest and a botanical garden to explore. Otherwise, relax this afternoon and enjoy the cooler weather. The tour leader will provide a safety briefing on the climb and assist with any last-minute questions. Overnight at the Kinabalu Park in a lodge with shared bathrooms. Nestled among the lowland forests, this is the perfect place to relax before the ascent.

We get up early and take a short car ride to Timpohon Gate to start our ascent of Mount Kinabalu. It's not an easy hike as it's all uphill and you need to be prepared to tackle a trail made of steep steps of varying sizes. You might get very hot, but remember that the mountain summit can be deceptively cold. There's no rush, so take your time and enjoy the pristine environment: this is an area that boasts a remarkable variety of plant life, including about 1000 species of orchids and the extraordinary carnivorous pitcher plant. You will cover 6 kilometers on the first day (about 4-6 hours) and stop at a rest point near Laban Rata (3272 meters) for the night.

We get up around 2 in the morning to admire the sunrise on the summit of Mount Kinabalu (4095 meters). The view from the top is incredible: the jungles of Borneo in one direction, the South China Sea in the other, making every inch of the climb noteworthy. However, be aware that the temperature can change very quickly in the mountains, so bring clothes for all weather conditions. The climb from Laban Rata to the summit takes 2-4 hours and, due to the altitude, can be tough even for the fittest. The first section from Laban Rata is along artificial steps that pass through the vegetation. Once past the treeline, you will climb a series of wooden steps to the final checkpoint at Sayat Sayat. After witnessing the early morning sunrise, return to Laban Rata for a well-deserved breakfast, then descend the mountain (about 3-6 hours) to enjoy a rewarding lunch. Once everyone has descended from the mountain, you will continue to Poring Hot Springs by bus (about 1 hour). Tonight you will stay in a hostel located right inside the springs complex, with a bright and airy lounge to relax in. The hostel is multi-share and mixed with shared facilities. Some rooms have bunk beds.

Poring Hot Springs is your perfect day-off retreat to rejuvenate after a mountain hike. These pools, developed by the Japanese during World War II, channel warm sulphurous water, believed to have skin healing properties, into various man-made outdoor hot tubs. It's a popular spot with locals, especially during school and public holidays. Depending on the time of year, you might even spot a Rafflesia flower nearby. These are the world's largest flowers, growing up to a meter! Today, there's also a range of optional activities to choose from. There are graded trails leading through a lush lowland forest to mountain rivers, waterfalls, and bat caves, with birds and other wildlife often seen along the path.

Today, I travel by private bus through the steamy rainforest to Bilit, a small village on the banks of the Kinabatangan River (about 5 hours). Take a short boat ride to the comfortable jungle lodge where you will spend the night. The lodge is right on the riverbank and is a good spot for wildlife spotting. In the early evening, as the sun sets, head out on a motorboat to look for wildlife such as macaques, orangutans, proboscis monkeys, and, if you're lucky, even pygmy elephants! In the evening, go for a night walk in search of nocturnal wildlife. Rubber boots and socks are available for rent. The lodge tonight is comfortable with private bathrooms.

This morning, we're going on another early boat safari in search of wildlife: different species come out at different times of the day, so keep your eyes peeled. After breakfast, bid farewell to your jungle lodge and set off in a private minivan towards the coastal town of Sandakan (about 3 hours). Visit the Sandakan War Memorial and get a sense of Sandakan's past at its War Memorial, built on the site of a Japanese prisoner of war camp. This site also marks the starting point of the tragic Sandakan Death Marches, during which 2400 prisoners of war were forced to walk through the jungles of Borneo. At the end of the march, only six Australians survived, and only because they had escaped.

This morning, leave your large luggage at the hotel and walk for 15 minutes to a nearby pier. Travel by speedboat, passing small fishing villages and bamboo fish traps, to the Turtle Island Marine Park (about 1 hour), where green turtles come ashore to lay their eggs every night of the year. In the afternoon, there's time to swim, snorkel, or just relax on the beach of this tropical island. Snorkeling equipment is available for rent. In the evening, join a select group of visitors and a local expert ranger and be moved by the sight of the giant green turtles coming ashore to lay their eggs by moonlight. Watch the Rangers as they release hatchlings in their frantic dash to the ocean. It's a touching experience that might inspire you to join the turtle nest adoption program, with an adoption certificate and updates on the development of your nest. Be aware that this is a very delicate environment and you must follow the instructions of your tour leader and local rangers to ensure minimal impact on the turtles. You will spend the night on the island.

After breakfast, return to the mainland (about 1 hour), luggage collection and continuation by minibus to a guesthouse located near the Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Center (about 45 minutes). The center was established to help reintroduce these wonderful creatures back into the wild after a life of domestication or being orphaned. From the observation platform, you can watch and photograph these fascinating creatures as they come onto the stage and eat the supplementary diet of fruit that is prepared for them twice a day. Human contact must be kept to a minimum and it is essential that you follow the park's instructions, as indicated by your tour leader. Also included is a new nursery where you can see the young orangutans learning to climb on a specially built jungle gym. The observation area is behind one-way glass so as not to disturb the animals. To see other creatures of Borneo, there is the option to visit the Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Center. A 30-minute walk from your guesthouse is the Rainforest Discovery Centre, which also has a 620-meter-long, 28-meter-high canopy walkway offering spectacular views of the rainforest giants. Your accommodation is located about 10 minutes on foot from the Orangutan Rehabilitation Center. There is also the Labuk Bay Proboscis Monkey Sanctuary where you can closely observe the incredible proboscis monkey as it relaxes and feeds, an experience that can only be found in Borneo.

Our adventure in Malaysia ends today. There are no scheduled activities and you can leave the accommodation at any time. If you wish to stay longer in Sepilok, please contact us in advance and we will be happy to arrange additional accommodation (subject to availability). Flights depart nearly every day from Sandakan to Kota Kinabalu or Kuala Lumpur.