Nature of Malaysia

Welcome to Malaysia! Upon arrival at the airport in Kuching, you will be met and transferred to your hotel for overnight.

After breakfast, take a full day tour to visit Bako National Park and Sarawak. Upon arrival at Bako village, walk to the pier and take a 25-minute boat ride to Bako National Park, the oldest national park in Malaysia. There are 16 diverse walking trails within this unique biome, containing all the plant species found in Borneo. Proboscis monkeys gather by the beach in the mid-afternoon, catching crabs as the tide changes. This is a great location to watch these animals in the wild. Afterwards, depart Bako for Sarawak Cultural Village. Spend time exploring and learning from the guide the ethnic houses; Bidayuh Longhouse, Iban Longhouse, the Penan Hut, the Orang Ulu Longhouse, the Melanau House, the Malay House and a Chinese Farm House. See and Feel the ethnic groups in Sarawak through traditional dancing. A 45-minute Cultural Show gives a fantastic insight into the traditional dress and cultural dancing of the tribes of Sarawak. Charming Orang Ulu maidens following the pattern of the hornbill, the rugged Iban warrior performing to the rhythm of deep gongs and rainforest musical instruments. Dinner at the Cultural Village before returning to Kuching. (BD)

Start off early with a transfer to visit Semenggoh Nature Reserve, a large enclosed area of rainforest which is home to endangered Orangutans rescued from captivity and kept for rehabilitation. During the scheduled feeding time, some orangutans may descend from the rainforest to the lower branches of trees near the feeding platform. After the feeding time, it’s time to start riding. Using winding rural back road, pedal through a series of kampongs dotted with small scale pepper farms, rice fields and plantations. Arrive at a large and old Bidayuh Tribe’s longhouse that houses over 80 families and boasts a history of 500 years in existence. Join one of the host family in the longhouse to enjoy freshly cooked bamboo chicken and wild jungle vegetable on tanju (patio) of the longhouse. (Cycle up to 20km at leisure – easy, flat terrain). Transfer 1.5 hours back to Kuching for a cooking class from 1630 – 1930. Cook with fresh organic ingredients from the rainforest. Dinner and overnight at your hotel. (BLD)

After breakfast, check-out of your hotel and enjoy a city tour in Kuching. The tour begins with a drive to see the gigantic Cat Status (mascot of the city) at Padungan before cruising through Chinatown and a stop at the Tua Pek Kong temple (1876) – the oldest in Sarawak. From the temple, you can get a good view of the imposing Fort Margherita (1879) and the Waterfront Esplanade. The route passes through the superbly-designed St. Joseph Cathedral, the Syariah (Muslim) Court, Satok Market and traditional Malay houses built on stilts. Take a photo stop at the magnificent-looking Mosque built along the river bank. Drive pass Gambier Street (famous for spices), look out for the old Colonial Law Court House – complete with a Clock Tower and a granite obelisk built in memory of Rajah Charles Brooke. Take a short walk at the Waterfront or Main Bazaar for shopping and drop-in at the Chinese Museum. The tour will end at the Sarawak Museum, which is acknowledged as one of the finest. It is a treasure house of artefacts and exhibits which possess great archaeological and cultural significance. Transfer to the the airport for your flight to Sandakan. Upon arrival, transfer to your resort or hotel. (B)

Meet the guide at hotel lobby and drive to Sepilok Orang Utan Rehabilitation Center. At this centre, observe orangutans being rehabilitated to become wild in their natural habitat and experience a walk in the Tropical Lowland Dipterocarp Forest of Borneo. Next, continue your visit to the Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre. The centre helps to improve the living condition of the rescued sun bear and released to its natural behaviours in the 2.5ha enclosed forest. Depart from the Sepilok Centre and transfer to jetty in Sandakan for scheduled boat which departs at 1200hrs. Take an hour boat cruise up to the Lower Kinabatangan River Sanctuary. This wonderful journey of discovery starts from the waters of Sulu Sea of Sandakan Town through a magnificent scenery of the Mangrove Forest. Continue the journey via boat to Sukau village in search of primates such as the endemic Proboscis Monkeys, birds and other Wildlife. Upon arrival in Sukau, check-in at Kinabatangan Riverside Lodge. Later in the afternoon, take a river cruise to Menanggul River, a small tributary of the Kinabatangan. Return to the lodge for dinner and overnight. (BLD)

In the morning, take an early morning river trip to the Ox-Bow Lake to observe wildlife and experience the early morning ambience of the longest river in Sabah. Return to the lodge for breakfast. After breakfast or after lunch, depart overland to Gomantong Bird nest Caves. Upon arrival, 15 minutes’ walk on the plank walk to the cave. Explore the largest bird’s nest cave in Sabah, home to millions of Bats and Swiftlets. Return to the lodge and free at own leisure. Proceed with the afternoon river cruise in the search for more wildlife’s. Dinner and overnight at Kinabatangan Riverside Lodge. (BLD)

After breakfast, transfer via boat back to Sandakan. Transfer to your hotel for overnight. (B)

Say goodbye to Malaysia and transfer to the airport for your return/onward flight.