Borneo: Sarawak & Sabah

Touch down in Kuching, the historic capital of Sarawak situated along the Sarawak River. The day is reserved for acclimatization and initial exploration. Walk the waterfront promenade, where colonial-era architecture stands alongside modern Sarawakian landmarks, before settling in for the evening.

Travel southeast from Kuching toward the Sarawak-Kalimantan border, stopping first at the bustling market town of Serian. The stalls here are a masterclass in ethnobotany, laden with wild jungle ferns, bamboo shoots, and seasonal tropical fruits. Continue to Muara Mongkos, a traditional settlement of the Bidayuh people, also known historically as the Land Dayaks. Here, a 24-door timber-and-bamboo longhouse built in the 1950s serves as a living architectural record of communal life. Walk through the village's surrounding agricultural plots—where wet paddy, black pepper vines, and rubber trees are cultivated—to understand the local agrarian economy. The afternoon includes a demonstration of traditional Bidayuh culinary techniques, utilizing bamboo tubes and local leaves over an open fire to prepare a communal lunch.

Head north to the Santubong Peninsula, where the sandstone peak of Mount Santubong dominates the coastline. Board a river vessel to navigate the mangrove estuaries of the Kuching Wetlands National Park. This complex intertidal zone is a critical habitat for the bizarre, leaf-eating proboscis monkey and the rare, euryhaline Irrawaddy dolphin, recognizable by its blunt, rounded snout. After an afternoon at leisure back in Kuching, travel to the sandstone ridges of Kubah National Park as dusk falls. Accompanied by a resident herpetologist, navigate the park’s damp trails to observe its extraordinary amphibian diversity. The evening chorus is dominated by species like the Matang narrow-mouthed frog, one of the smallest known vertebrates in the world, which breeds inside pitcher plants.

Board a morning flight to Mulu, home to Gunung Mulu National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage site renowned for its massive equatorial karst topography and ancient tropical rainforest. After settling into the lodge, wait for nightfall to enter the forest canopy. A guided night walk along the park’s boardwalks reveals a highly specialized nocturnal ecosystem. Keep headlamps focused on the understory to spot bioluminescent fungi glowing on decaying leaf litter, camouflaged stick insects, and the blinking displays of fireflies navigating the humid air.

Board a traditional wooden longboat to navigate the Melinau River, stopping briefly at a Penan settlement to learn about the challenges facing these historically nomadic hunter-gatherers. Continue upstream to Wind Cave, named for the cool drafts channeled through its narrow passages, to observe its delicate calcite columns. A short walk leads to Clearwater Cave, which houses one of the longest subterranean river systems in Asia. After a picnic lunch, trek the boardwalks to Lang Cave, celebrated for its intricate, active stalactites, before entering the colossal chamber of Deer Cave. This massive passage, measuring at least 90 meters high and wide, hosts millions of wrinkle-lipped bats. Gather near the cave entrance at dusk to witness the spectacular bat exodus, as massive, undulating columns of bats spiral out into the forest canopy to feed.

Spend the morning exploring the forest floor of Mulu at your own pace, or choose to ascend to the Mulu Skywalk, a suspended canopy walkway offering a bird's-eye view of the multi-tiered rainforest ecosystem. In the afternoon, transfer to the airstrip for a flight to Kota Kinabalu, the coastal capital of Sabah. The evening is free to explore the city's lively waterfront markets and sample fresh seafood along the South China Sea.

Take an early flight to Sandakan and transfer directly to the Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre. Here, orphaned and displaced orangutans are trained in survival skills to facilitate their return to the Kabili-Sepilok Forest Reserve. Nearby, visit the Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre to observe the world's smallest bear species and learn about habitat preservation efforts. Afterward, travel overland to the lower Kinabatangan River basin, arriving at the riverside village of Kampung Bilit. Board a small riverboat for a late-afternoon cruise along the muddy waterways, scanning the riparian forest for wild proboscis monkeys, hornbills, and saltwater crocodiles. Return to the lodge for dinner, then set out on a guided night walk to observe the forest's active nocturnal insects and sleeping birds.

Wake early to the calls of gibbons and hornbills at the Borneo Natural Sukau Bilit Lodge. Set out on foot to explore the dense jungle surrounding a nearby oxbow lake, an old river bend cut off from the main channel that now serves as a quiet refuge for wildlife. The early morning light offers the best opportunity to observe wild macaques, gibbons, and specialized bird life. In the afternoon, board a riverboat for a wildlife cruise along the Kinabatangan River. Keep a sharp lookout for the highly endangered Bornean pygmy elephant, which often migrates along these riverbanks in small family herds.

Travel overland to the Tabin Wildlife Reserve, a massive conservation area comprising mature dipterocarp forest. After checking into the Tabin Wildlife Resort, hike along an established elephant trail to the Lipad mud volcano. This active, mineral-rich mud flow serves as a crucial salt lick for the reserve's diverse mammalian species. Climb the adjacent observation tower to scan the canopy for hornbills and raptors, and inspect the soft mud for fresh footprints of bearded pigs, deer, and elephants. Following dinner, board an open-top vehicle for a nocturnal wildlife night safari. Use specialized spotlights to search the dense foliage for elusive nocturnal species, including the tiny Western tarsier, slow loris, and palm civets.

Start the day with an early morning bird walk along the reserve's edge, where the low forest canopy offers exceptional visibility for spotting endemic Bornean bird species. After breakfast, trek through the dense dipterocarp forest to Lipad Waterfall, where you can swim in the natural plunge pool or examine the diverse fern and orchid species growing in the humid spray. In the late afternoon, a dusk wildlife drive runs through the reserve to catch the transition between diurnal and nocturnal forest activity. Complete the day with a quiet night walk around the lodge grounds, searching for sleeping birds perched on low branches, colorful tree frogs, and unique forest insects.

Enjoy a quiet morning at the resort, perhaps observing the local wildlife from your balcony or learning about the geological properties of the volcanic mud from Lipad. Later, transfer to the airport in Lahad Datu for onward flights back to Kota Kinabalu. Spend the final evening in Sabah exploring the vibrant night markets, walking along the coastal boardwalk, or dining on local specialties in the city center.

Pack bags and prepare for departure. Depart from Kota Kinabalu International Airport at any time to catch onward flights home or continue your independent journey through Southeast Asia.