Trekking the Best of Borneo
A walking and touring adventure in Sarawak and Sabah ~ Climb Kinabalu, SE Asia's highest peak ~ Mulu and walking the 'Headhunters Trail' ~ Sepilok Orang-Utan Sanctuary
Exotic and colourful walking and touring adventure holiday to climb Kinabalu and explore the best of Borneo. This great holiday adventure trekking and touring Borneo starts out with a visit to the Mulu National Park, deep within the rainforest of north-eastern Sarawak. Walking on jungle trails and travelling by longboat on the many rivers, we explore some of the world's largest caves and climb above the forest canopy to a spectacular viewpoint amongst soaring limestone pinnacles. The trekking continues northwards on the 'Headhunters Trail, ' stopping off at the villages and longhouses of the Iban people. From Kota Kinabalu in the adjacent state of Sabah, a short flight takes us to Sandakan, where we visit the orang utan sanctuary at Sepilok and enjoy 2 nights at a jungle lodge on the Kinabatang River and explore an area rich in wildlife. Returning via the hot springs at Poring to the foot of Kinabalu (4101m. /13450ft), two days of walking is required for the ascent of this challenging peak. Trekking over the bare upper slopes of Kinabalu commands memorable views across the South China Sea to the Philippines. We make an early start fro the final ascent to climb Kinabalu and our climbing efforts are duly rewarded with a sunrise view from the summit. With time to relax by the sea at the end, this amazing walking and touring adventure holiday to climb Kinabalu is Borneo at its best!
Trip Guide
The first trekking element on this trip is the 4-day exploration of the Gunung Mulu National Park. Although this is at low level, there is one tough day, as we climb to the viewpoint for the Mulu Pinnacles. You will also need to be prepared for hot conditions and for at times testing underfoot conditions. We will be mostly walking on tracks and trails between villages. There will be rutted, muddy roads and slippery hunters tracks through the forest. The slippery and sometimes sharp limestone rock encountered on the ascent to the Mulu Pinnacles is particularly testing. There are also river crossings, some of them on tree trunk bridges. We have a couple of hours walking on our first day at Mulu, 2 to 3 hours on the second, 6 to 7 hours on the third and 4 to 5 hours on the final day in this area. Two days are set aside for the ascent of Mount Kinabalu. This is a tough undertaking and involves approximately 2200 metres of ascent and descent via the same route. The path is well maintained in places and has countless steps. It can be slippery low down in the forest and after rain. High up on the route, there are sections of bare rock slabs, with some fixed rope handrails. The route is never very steep or exposed. Overall, we have graded this trip at the upper end of our MODERATE grade on account of the remote trekking and the quite tough ascent of Kinabalu.
Trip Guide
The first trekking element on this trip is the 4-day exploration of the Gunung Mulu National Park. Although this is at low level, there is one tough day, as we climb to the viewpoint for the Mulu Pinnacles. You will also need to be prepared for hot conditions and for at times testing underfoot conditions. We will be mostly walking on tracks and trails between villages. There will be rutted, muddy roads and slippery hunters tracks through the forest. The slippery and sometimes sharp limestone rock encountered on the ascent to the Mulu Pinnacles is particularly testing. There are also river crossings, some of them on tree trunk bridges. We have a couple of hours walking on our first day at Mulu, 2 to 3 hours on the second, 6 to 7 hours on the third and 4 to 5 hours on the final day in this area. Two days are set aside for the ascent of Mount Kinabalu. This is a tough undertaking and involves approximately 2200 metres of ascent and descent via the same route. The path is well maintained in places and has countless steps. It can be slippery low down in the forest and after rain. High up on the route, there are sections of bare rock slabs, with some fixed rope handrails. The route is never very steep or exposed. Overall, we have graded this trip at the upper end of our MODERATE grade on account of the remote trekking and the quite tough ascent of Kinabalu.
Price
From: GBP1495 per person (14 days)
Price Includes
- Experienced local guide
- 10 nights in Hotels
- 2 nights in jungle lodge & 1 night in a village longhouse
- Group Airport Transfers in Miri & Kota Kinabalu
- Internal flights & all transport included in the itinerary
- All meals on trek
- International Flights, Travel Insurance, tips for local staff, porterage, transfer of trek bags from Mulu to Limbang. Lunches are not provided on Days 2,13 and 14 and dinners are not provided on Days 1,6,7,12 and 13. Camera fees at Orangutan Sanctuary, Gomantong Caves, Poring Canopy trail, Miscellaneous expenses - soft drinks, souvenirs etc.
Day 1. Rendezvous at group hotel in Miri. Transfer availaible for client on group flightl. KE group package services begin with the overnight at the group hotel.
Day 2. Transfer to the airport for the 40 minute flight to Mulu National Park. Check into our resort accommodation and afternoon visit to Deer and Lang's caves.
Day 3. After breakfast, take a boat upriver to Clearwater and Wind caves. Continue to Long Litut by longboat and then, after lunch, trek to Camp 5.
Day 4. Today, we will trek through jungle, rich in pitcher plants and orchids, to reach a viewpoint for the spectacular Mulu Limestone Pinnacles (1175m / 3855ft). Return to Camp 5.
Day 5. In the morning, we trek the 'Headhunters Trail' to Kuala Terikan, before taking a boat to Rumah Penghulu Sigah. Overnight in an Iban longhouse.
Day 6. Back in the boat for the journey downriver to Nanga Medamit, from where we drive to Limbang Town. After checking in to our hotel, the afternoon is free.
Day 7. After breakfast, we take the exciting Express Boat along the coast, from Limbang to the island of Pulau Labuan and onwards to Kota Kinabalu. Overnight in a hotel.
Day 8. An early flight to Sandakan, where we visit the Sepilok Orang-Utan Sanctuary. Then, boat excursions to Kinabatangan River delta and Sukau. Overnight in a riverside lodge.
Day 9. An early boat trip on the river, including a visit to Gomantong Caves and with excellent birdwatching. Overnight in a riverside lodge.
Day 10. We drive to Poring. Here, we can explore the forest trails and experience the canopy-level walkway. Lodge accommodation.
Day 11. After breakfast we register with the Park Office before a short transfer to the start of our climb to Laban Rata. Overnight at the Laban Rata Guesthouse.
Day 12. Very early start for the climb to the summit of Kinabalu (4095m / 13,435ft). Descend to Laban Rata for breakfast and then continue via Kinabalu HQ to Kota Kinabalu. Overnight in a hotel.
Day 13. Free day. Or optional tour to one of the outlying islands of the Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park. Overnight at Kota Kinabalu in a hotel.
Day 14. The morning is free to relax and explore Kota Kinabalu. Late afternoon transfer to the airport where KE group package services end.
Day 2. Transfer to the airport for the 40 minute flight to Mulu National Park. Check into our resort accommodation and afternoon visit to Deer and Lang's caves.
Day 3. After breakfast, take a boat upriver to Clearwater and Wind caves. Continue to Long Litut by longboat and then, after lunch, trek to Camp 5.
Day 4. Today, we will trek through jungle, rich in pitcher plants and orchids, to reach a viewpoint for the spectacular Mulu Limestone Pinnacles (1175m / 3855ft). Return to Camp 5.
Day 5. In the morning, we trek the 'Headhunters Trail' to Kuala Terikan, before taking a boat to Rumah Penghulu Sigah. Overnight in an Iban longhouse.
Day 6. Back in the boat for the journey downriver to Nanga Medamit, from where we drive to Limbang Town. After checking in to our hotel, the afternoon is free.
Day 7. After breakfast, we take the exciting Express Boat along the coast, from Limbang to the island of Pulau Labuan and onwards to Kota Kinabalu. Overnight in a hotel.
Day 8. An early flight to Sandakan, where we visit the Sepilok Orang-Utan Sanctuary. Then, boat excursions to Kinabatangan River delta and Sukau. Overnight in a riverside lodge.
Day 9. An early boat trip on the river, including a visit to Gomantong Caves and with excellent birdwatching. Overnight in a riverside lodge.
Day 10. We drive to Poring. Here, we can explore the forest trails and experience the canopy-level walkway. Lodge accommodation.
Day 11. After breakfast we register with the Park Office before a short transfer to the start of our climb to Laban Rata. Overnight at the Laban Rata Guesthouse.
Day 12. Very early start for the climb to the summit of Kinabalu (4095m / 13,435ft). Descend to Laban Rata for breakfast and then continue via Kinabalu HQ to Kota Kinabalu. Overnight in a hotel.
Day 13. Free day. Or optional tour to one of the outlying islands of the Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park. Overnight at Kota Kinabalu in a hotel.
Day 14. The morning is free to relax and explore Kota Kinabalu. Late afternoon transfer to the airport where KE group package services end.
Accommodation Details
During this trip, we stay in an assortment of hotels and basic lodges, largely dictated by what is available locally. The group will spend 1 night in Miri in a tourist class hotel, 1 night in lodge accommodation at the Royal Mulu Resort, 2 nights in a basic jungle shelter at Camp Five (simple huts with raised wooden platforms for sleeping), and 1 night in a communal room in a longhouse at Rumah Penghulu Sigah or Rumah Bala Lasong. The group will also have 1 night in a basic hotel in Limbang and 3 nights in a good standard tourist class hotel in Kota Kinabalu. In the Sukau Wildlife Sanctuary, we spend 2 nights at a comfortable riverside lodge with twin rooms and en-suite facilities.
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