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Get closer to nature with a 16-day tour through Malaysia where you'll roam where the animals do and trek up challenging but rewarding terrain. Explorations through jungles, along crocodile-infested rivers, and to animal sanctuaries provides endless animal encounters (proboscis monkey, pygmy elephant) before you embark on a trek up Mt Kinabalu, making it to the summit by sunrise for an experience like no other.
- Duration: 16 Days
- Guaranteed Departure: Yes
- Physical rating: Demanding
- Supplier Tour ID: AASK/238266
- Your Guide: English speaking
- Starts: Kuching, Malaysia
- Finishes: Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia
- Age requirement: 12 +
- Kuching
- Batang Ai
- Kota Kinabalu
- Kota Belud
- Sungai Kinabatangan
- Sepilok
- Pulau Libaran
- Mount Kinabalu
Itinerary
Day 1: Kuching
Arrive at any time.
Day 2: Kuching/Bako National Park
Depart Kuching in the morning, passing through mangrove forest before arriving at Bako village. Continue along the coast by motorized boat to reach Bako National Park. Hike through the park and experience amazing plant and wildlife. Be sure to keep an eye out for the proboscis monkey. Return to Kuching in the evening.
Day 3: Kuching/Batang Ai
Drive through the scenic countryside, passing plantations, rivers, rainforest to reach the Batang Ai jetty, stopping en route to visit a trading town and a local farmhouse. We'll also make a stop to visit the Semenggoh Wildlife Centre and with some luck, spot a wild orangutan passing through. From the jetty transfer via boat to a local Iban longhouse and enjoy a stay with this welcoming community while learning more about their culture.
Day 4: Batang Ai
Witness a blowpipe demonstration before setting off by longboat for a trip across the lake. Disembark and enjoy a hike through the forest and a local lunch at a scenic locale. Enjoy a refreshing dip in the water before heading to our hotel for the night.
Day 5: Batang Ai/Kuching
Return to the jetty by boat and continue overland to Kuching.
Day 6: Kuching/Kota Kinabalu
Fly from Kuching to Kota Kinabalu. Enjoy some free time in the evening.
Day 7: Kota Kinabalu/Kota Belud
Travel to Tambatuon village and meet the local community. Visit a local farm and gather fresh ingredients for an included cooking class. After lunch, trek to a nearby river, exploring the landscape surrounding the village along the way. This evening enjoy a traditional dinner with your hosts.
Learn more about the typical lifestyle in the village by taking part in seasonal activities such as rubber tapping, fruit harvesting, and rice planting.
Day 8: Kota Belud/Sungai Kinabatangan
Travel towards Sandakan and continue to the jungle lodge on the Kinabatangan River, Sabah's longest. After settling in head out for a river safari. After dinner, opt for a guided night walk through the jungle.
Day 9: Sungai Kinabatangan
Begin the day with a river safari in search of wildlife. After breakfast, visit the nearby oxbow lake with a professional guide and seek out proboscis monkeys, pygmy elephants, macaques, and gibbons. Enjoy another boat cruise along the river to spot more wildlife before returning to the lodge for dinner.
Day 10: Sungai Kinabatangan/Sepilok
Depart in the morning and travel to Sepilok. Enjoy a visit to the orangutan rehabilitation centre and the adjacent sun bear conservation centre.
Day 11: Sepilok/Pulau Libaran
Transfer to Sandakan and continue to Libaran Island by boat. Take a guided tour of the island's turtle hatchery and learn about the turtle conservation program. Opt to go snorkelling or kayaking with some free time.
Day 12: Pulau Libaran/Kota Kinabalu
After breakfast, depart Libaran Island and travel back to the Sandakan jetty. From the jetty, transfer to Sandakan airport for a flight to Kota Kinabalu.
Day 13: Kota Kinabalu/Mount Kinabalu
Travel to Mt Kinabalu. Opt to hike the nature trails, or enjoy an excursion to Poring hot springs and a canopy walk with some free time.
Travel to the base of Mt Kinabalu, the highest mountain between the Himalayas and Papua New Guinea.
In the afternoon, stretch your legs by exploring the trails around the park or check out the visitor centre.
Day 14: Mount Kinabalu
Head off to conquer Mt Kinabalu. During the first day's climb to Laban Rata, enjoy a packed lunch on the way. The hike can take from 5-7 hrs. Indulge in a buffet-style dinner then rest up for an early start to summit the mountain in the morning.
Set off early to begin the ascent up Mt Kinabalu. It is not an easy walk, but it is incredibly rewarding. Willpower is the main requirement as it's uphill all the way!
Spend the night at Laban Rata in basic mountain huts 3,272m (10,735 ft) above sea level.
Turn in early to prepare for the final climb very early in the morning.
Day 15: Mount Kinabalu/Kota Kinabalu
Summit Mt Kinabalu (3-5hrs) and arrive in time for sunrise. Return to Laban Rata for a rest and to the park headquarters for lunch. Transfer back to Kota Kinabalu.
Day 16: Kota Kinabalu
Depart at any time.
- Activities
- Your Local Living Moment: Iban Longhouse Homestay, Batang Ai Your Foodie Moment: Cooking Class, Kota Belud
- Bako NP excursion
- Trading town and farm visit
- Blowpipe demonstration
- Forest hike and local lunch
- Semenggoh Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre visit
- Internal flights
- Morning and evening Kinabatangan River safaris
- Guided oxbow lake visit and wildlife spotting (Kinabatangan)
- Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre visit
- Turtle Island stay with turtle hatchery visit
- Mt Kinabalu hike (2 days)
- All transport between destinations and to/from included activities
- Hotels/guesthouses (8), traditional longhouse (1 nt, multi-share), jungle lodge (3 nts), permanent tented camp (1 nt), mountain lodge (2 nts, multi-share)
- 15 breakfasts, 10 lunches, 7 dinners
- Private vehicle, boat, longboat, walking, plane
- Chief Experience Officer (CEO) throughout, local guides
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