Overview

This is a tour that covers the life of the region its wildlife treasures and some spectacular natural caves. Starting in Kuching we explore the city and its hospitality. Visiting local attractions including the famous Urang Sarawak Gallery. Exploring wildlife is a central theme for a tour of this region and we will visit both Semenggoh Nature Reserve and the Bako National Park. The tour includes treks to explore the rich flora & fauna of the region and to look out for Orangutans, Proboscis monkeys & other animals. We then shift focus to the lifestyle of the region and go visiting the natives. Trips include Batang Ai lake, local fruit and vegetable markets and visiting pepper farms. We will also go to two different longhouses – Iban Longhouse and the Bidayuh longhouse. Watch the traditional people sound their gongs & perform their traditional war dance in full ceremonial regalia. The adventure starts with the cycling trip along country roads, passing villages and farms, to a Bidayuh longhouse. We now shift to kayaking along a river surrounded by lush rainforest and stunning limestone outcrops. The tour includes moderately challenging off-road mountain-biking, as well as exploring abandoned gold mines and ancient caves.  Spend a night at a local village homestay, before cycling back to Kuching with an en-route stop at a waterfall and a visit to the Matang Wildlife Centre for a chance to see Orangutans, sun bears, clouded leopards and many other rare endemic species of wildlife. The tour has a lot of excitement and is surely going to give you timeless memories.

9 Nights 10 Days Available on request Kuching Airport
Inclusions/Exclusions
What we'll give. What we won't

What is included in the tour

  • You will enjoy 7-nights in an Air-conditioned hotel accommodation on twin sharing basis. The hotel rooms will have a private bathroom
  • The longhouse community room (1-night) is with basic amenities and shared sanitary facilities
  • Meals are covered as stated in the detailed description
  • All tour and transfers are with local English-speaking driver or guides in as air-conditioned vehicles
  • All entrance fees and/or boat fees as stated in the program
  • Drinking water available on the vehicles
  • Bicycles and helmets as well as a backup support vehicle
  • Package includes GST 6% (Good and Service Tax)

What is NOT included in the tour

  • Air-travel, Domestic or international to/from Malaysia, this can be quoted separately by us on request
  • Any optional tours you take
  • Charges for arranging guides for other languages if requested
  • Personal expenditure, such as drinks, souvenirs, laundry, camera fees, communications – including phone bills, postage, gratuities and the likes
  • Meals and services other than mentioned in the program
  • Personal travel insurance
  • Drinks with meals and bottled water
  • Porter charges, certificate, and the likes
  • Hotels may charge for early check-in and late check-out, this can be covered only if it is explicitly mentioned in the program
  • Gifts for the visit to the longhouse, this is quite a tradition in this part of the world
Highlights
What makes this tour special
  • Be enchanted by the hidden gems of Kuching
  • Be one with nature at the Semenggoh Nature Reserve and the Bako National Park
  • Explore the tribal life of the natives at and watch a traditional war dance, live in a longhouse
  • Go bicycling through the Sarawak's countryside and explore the stunning landscapes
  • Add adventure by kayaking and mountain biking through the rainforest
  • Explore abandoned gold mines & caves
Itinerary
Day 1: Kuching Arrival
  • You will be received by an English-speaking guide at the Kuching International Airport and a transfer by air-conditioned vehicle to a Hotel of your choice in Kuching. Check-in to the hotel, the day is at leisure – explore the hotel or the nearby areas. Night stay at the hotel is arranged in standard rooms.
  • Meals included: none
Day 2: Kuching – City Tour
  • Enjoy a lavish spread at the Breakfast before starting for a half day tour to explore the city of Kuching. The city brings together a number of cultures and has a flavor of all including the Malay, Indian and Chinese culture. You will also get to learn about the rich history of Sarawak
    The tour highlights include the Gambier spice streets, India street, Urang Sarawak Gallery, the oldest Chinese temple in Sarawak, Kuching South City Hall, as well as the Brooke Gallery at Fort Margherita. The tour will include visiting a Malay Village, the old State Mosque that is situated on the waterfront and the Civic Centre with the Chinese graveyard. Other places of interest that should not be missed are the Kuching Waterfront with a view of the Astana, the former "White Rajah Palace", and other colonial buildings. Once the city tour is over we return to the hotel for a relaxed afternoon. Night stay in standard rooms at the Hilton.
  • Meals included: Breakfast
Day 3: Semenggoh Nature Reserve
  • A day of activity starts with a sumptuous breakfast at the hotel. We then travel to the Semenggoh Nature Reserve, originally built to protect the Orangutans and to rehabilitate captive and orphaned ones back to the wild.
  • The reserve has its own rare flora and fauna including the giant squirrel, pigmy squirrel and splendid variety of birds. Trekking trails make Semenggoh an ideal place for wildlife photographers and nature lovers.
  • The highlight of the visit is a chance to see an Orangutan, your guide will help spot one during the morning feeding time. This is when the Orangutans swing down from the trees for a free handout of fruit. This reserve is one of the few places in the world where humans can interact with their shy jungle cousins.
  • We return to the hotel after the tour and relax the rest of the afternoon. Night stay at the hotel.
  • Meals included: Breakfast
Day 4: Kuching – Batang Ai
  • We check out from the hotel after our Breakfast. Our next destination is Batang Ai, where we spend time with the natives of Borneo. This is a 290 Km drive in an air-conditioned vehicle through the countryside. We will stop at local markets and enjoy the local flair throughout the drive. We will enjoy a few well-chosen stops along the way: the first one at Serian town, where we will visit a fascinating native fruit and vegetable market. The other stops include a visit to the pepper farm and a stop for lunch at "Lachau", a small upcountry Chinese village. At Lachau you may wish to make some last-minute shopping, for necessities such as insect repellent or for gifts for the Ibans.
  • The long road will take us to a beautiful lake called Batang Ai. The local lifestyle is what we are exploring on this trip, we shift to a traditional long boat for a 60-90 min boat ride over the lake to reach an Iban Longhouse. On arrival, interact with the resident families, your guide will take you through the longhouse encouraging you to take part in daily activities. An elaborate local ritual is planned for your visit, The Ibans will sound their gongs and perform their traditional war dance in full ceremonial regalia. Overnight stay is arranged at the longhouse is very simple accommodation. This will be in the community hall of the longhouse and you will be provided with mosquito net, mattress, pillows, and blanket.
  • Meals included: Breakfast, lunch, and Dinner
Day 5: Batang Ai – Kuching
  • The longhouse is as close to nature as civilization gets, the morning will be greeted by the singing of cockerels as you wake up and start your day. After a traditional breakfast join the Iban people in a blowpipe demonstration. We now start our return journey by native longboat downriver to arrive back at the jetty. The drive from here to Kuching is by air-conditioned vehicle and we do stop an en-route for lunch at a local cafe. Night stay is at your hotel of choice in Kuching.
  • Meals included: Breakfast and lunch
Day 6: Bako National Park Tour
  • We have breakfast at the hotel before we start on a 30 min drive to the small vi llage called Bako. From here we take a 20 min boat ride to reach the national park. The national park covers the northern tip of the Muara Tebas peninsula and is spread over an area of 27 sq km.  Bako contains a wide range of vegetation – swamp forest, scrub-like Padang vegetation, mangrove forest, dipterocarp forest, delicate cliff vegetation and more. Bako also contains a rich variety of wildlife and a coastline covered with small bays, coves, and beaches. The park has a number of well-marked trails offering interesting walks ranging from short pleasant strolls to serious full-day hikes. Visitors to Bako are almost guaranteed to see wildlife.  Long-tailed macaque monkeys and silver leaf monkeys are ever present, wild boar is often found rummaging around the park HQ, squirrels and monitor lizards are also common. There is every chance of seeing the rare and unusual proboscis monkeys on trails such as Telok Paku and Telok Delima, particularly if you go out late in the afternoon. A packed lunch will be served.
  • Once the tour is over we transfer back to the hotel in Kuching. The rest of the evening is free for some more of city exploration. Overnight stay at the Hotel.
  • Meals included: breakfast and lunch
Day 7: Kuching Departure - Semenggoh Nature Reserve – Anah Rais
  • We enjoy a relaxed breakfast at the hotel and have some time to explore a bit more of the activities at the Hilton before we check out.  A day of moderate cycling starts at the Semenggoh Nature Reserve, a sanctuary for orphaned Orangutans. The guide will help you spot one, the best chance of doing so is during the feeding time. This is when the Orangutans come down from the trees to the feeding platforms. If lucky you may get to see some unique facial expressions as well. Enjoy the jungle sounds, the call of the birds and the chatter of the monkeys and be enlightened about the conservation efforts of the reserve.
  • Then we start our cycling expedition through the backroads which are dotted with small villages (Kampongs), rice fields, plantations, and small-scale pepper farms. The trip has some stunning views of the limestone mountains. We cycle up to a 500-year-old longhouse belonging to the Bidayuh tribe. The longhouses are built entirely of bamboo and all houses are interconnected. Eighty families live in this one house we will visit. Lucky us, we will also get to devour freshly cooked traditional lunch with one of the families on their home patio (Tanju). Mostly the menu comprises of bamboo chicken and wild jungle vegetables. Your tour guide will give you insights into the culture of the age-old tribe and the marvels of the longhouse.
  • It is a relaxed afternoon, enjoy the clean and pollution free rural air, go swimming in freshwater mountain streams. In the evening enjoy an authentic longhouse meal. Your night stay will be arranged at the longhouse keeping due comfort in mind.
  • Meals provided: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
Day 8: Anah Rais – Sarawak Kiri River – Bau - Siniawan
  • We start the day early with breakfast at the longhouse. A short introduction to the equipment, safety instructions and basic guideline around the eco-friendly requirements of our expedition are done before we start our kayaking trip. Paddle the waters, experience the twists and turns of the mountain river. The dense forest gives a spectacular tree canopy cover to the river. The jungle is alive with a variety of birds and you can hear their songs. Your guide will explain the local fauna, most of the things here are not seen anywhere else on the planet.
  • We now change gears and hit the mountain road on our bicycles. This will be a sideroad travel through some ups and downs, along with a bit of off-road cycling. We cycle up to Bau, the oldest gold mining outpost in Sarawak. A brief stop for lunch and we are back exploring the old gold mines. The ride is moderately challenging with off-road stretches.
  • The limestone landscape is spectacular. We visit two natural caves, the Wind Cave which has its own bat population and the majestic Fairy Cave chamber. The winding ride ends in the evening at the beautiful and historic shop-house town of Siniawan. The evening’s highlight is the traditional dinner at a simple but distinctly Asian shop-lot guesthouse. 
  • The night is arranged at a homestay in Siniawan.
  • Meals included: breakfast, lunch, and dinner
Day 9: Siniawan – Matang Wildlife Centre - Kuching
  • We start early, a good and healthy habit which gives us some spectacular morning views of the landscape of Borneo. A traditional noodle breakfast at a kopitiam (Local restaurant) in Siniawan is a must before starting our cycling exploration of the forests. We will cycle up the slope and across the streams, we will even cross a suspension bridge. The activity is moderate and will help rejuvenate you.
  • A traditional boat ferry across a river and we again cycle on shaded mountain backroads to a jungle waterfall. We stop here for some rest and a well-deserved lunch. You can also indulge in a very relaxing dip in the waterfalls. Your guide will help you understand the success story of eco-tourism that has helped conserve the forests and the traditional habitats here.
  • We now reach Matang wildlife center. The center not only has Orangutans but also boasts of other endemic Borneo species like the Sun Bear, Sambar Deer, and the Hornbills. If you are in luck you will get some rare sightings too. Keep your camera ready for that ultimate capture. Your guide will help you identify and spot the animals.
  • This ends our pedal and paddle Sarawak tour. Your vehicle for transfer to Kuching is waiting. It will take you to a hotel of your choice.
  • Meals Included: Breakfast and lunch
Pickup point
Directions.
Kuching International Airport (KCH/WBGG) (KCH), 900B, Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia View on Map