A new, exciting destination for wildlife lovers. On this awe-inspiring trip we hope to see semi-wild orangutans at Semenggoh, rare Irrawaddy dolphins and turtles on a boat trip and the world’s largest flower – the endemic rafflesia – in the forest at Gunung Gading. An overnight stay at Bako National Park, famed for proboscis monkeys, lets you appreciate its birdlife at dawn and dusk, but the highlight is a three-day jungle trek in search of wild orangutan, and a visit to a traditional Iban longhouse.

Highlights

• Stay overnight in Bako National Park maximising your chances of seeing the wildlife, especially proboscis
• Trek and watch wildlife by foot in Sarawak’s pristine rainforest including a possibility of seeing
• Travel by longboat on some of Sarawak’s scenic jungle rivers and scan the banks for birds, primates and
• Visit the Talang-Satang National Park on a guided boat trip which is a nesting ground for green and hawksbill
• Experience some of the Iban culture by visiting a couple of longhouses

Itinerary (subject to change):

Day 1: Depart on your overnight flight to Kuching, Malaysia

Day 2: Arrive in Kuching where you are met by your local guide and taken to the hotel. The rest of the day is free to relax. Kuching is the capital city of Sarawak, Malaysia’s largest state, on the island of Borneo. The city has some interesting colonial architecture, temples, museums and

Day 3: Guided boat trip to the Santubong & Salak Rivers, and Satang & Tungkong Ara Islands In the morning, you will explore the Santubong and Salak Rivers looking for the rare Irrawaddy dolphin. You stop at the idyllic Satang Island where you can enjoy lunch  in this paradise setting as well as  snorkelling from the pristine white beach. This island is also a nesting ground for green and hawksbill turtles, and there is an opportunity to visit a hatchery and see first-hand the conservation work taking place. In the afternoon, you  visit Tungkong Ara Island. This protected islet is home to breeding colonies of various species of tern.

Day 4: Gunung Gading National Park Today, you head to the Gunung Gading National Park one of the best places in Asia to see the rafflesia. The rafflesia is the world’s largest flower and is spectacular when in bloom; however, beware of the smell which can be rather pungent. These sightings are not guaranteed as the flower only blooms occasionally. If there is no flower in bloom, you will walk to Waterfall No. 1 which is accessed by the main hiking trail which leads to the summit of Gunung Gading. There is plenty of other flora and fauna to see along the way. You can take a dip in the cool waters of the waterfall if you feel like it, surrounded by rainforest. 

Day 5: Bako National Park With your wildlife guide you will exploreBako National Park keeping an eye out for any of the 150 bird species and proboscis monkeys. Bako is often considered to be one of the best places to see this fascinating species of monkey with their distinctive appearance. This national park is also home to the unique kerangas or heath forest environment that is endemic to Borneo.

Day 6: Bako National Park This morning you continue to explore the excellent wildlife of this amazing area before heading back to Kuching with some time to explore before dinner.

Day 7: Nanga Sumpa In the morning you will be driven to the Batang Ai Reservoir. There will be stops on the way to see the pepper, cocoa and rubber plantations, as well as a visit to the town of Serian to experience the vibrancy of a native market. On arrival at the reservoir, you will board a longboat for a 90 minute journey along the Delok River to Nanga Sumpa Lodge where you spend the night.

After dinner you will cross the river to an Iban longhouse to relax on the  veranda with some of the locals to learn about their culture.

Day 8 Nanga Sumpa Set off in the early morning to reach locations of recent sightings of orangutans and their nests. You will trek for approximately 2-3 hours before heading back to the lodge for a late breakfast. After breakfast you will set out on a jungle trek looking for the wildlife of the rainforest, including pig-tailed macaques, ­lying squirrels, hundreds of birds and Borneo’s ginger icon, the orangutan.

Day 9: Nanga Sumpa to Lubok Kasai After breakfast depart Nanga Sumpa for a trek along the trails around Sepulau. Look out for orangutans and other wildlife and birds along the way. Returning to Nanga Sumpa Lodge for lunch, you will then travel upriver by longboat. Arriving at the Enseluai Waterfall you will have time to relax, swim and enjoy the rainforest surroundings. You will travel along the Delok River by boat to Lubok Kasai Jungle Camp, home for the next two nights. After dinner you can spend a quiet evening at the lodge and enjoy the peace and tranquility of the lodge’s surroundings or go on a short night walk near the lodge.

Day 10: Lubok Kasai After breakfast, you will start trekking for glimpses of the orangutans again. Return to Lubok Kasai for lunch and free time at leisure in the afternoon. Around 16.00 you will depart for an evening walk along the nearby forest trails in search of orangutans and other forest dwellers before returning for dinner.

Day 11: Return to Kuching Return to Kuching and your hotel via longboat and road. The afternoon is free to relax and explore.

Day 12: Semenngoh Nature Reserve In the morning you will travel to Semenngoh to see orangutans; these individuals aren’t completely wild, but it is still a pleasure to see our closest relatives in their natural environment. Depending on flight time, the rest of the day will be free for a bit more sightseeing or last minute souvenir shopping.

In the afternoon, you are collected and transferred to the airport for your overnight flight.

Day 13: Arrive back home after your overnight flight.

Option to extend your stay at the start or end of the holiday in Kuala Lumpur.

For a full itinerary, please contact us with the subject header Borneo.