Borneo Rediscovered
Borneo’s legend lives large in the travel imagination, so much so that it seems to come with a ready-made ‘bucket list’ of highlights! It’s very easy to see why certain experiences feel essential - from getting up close to rare wildlife, to unwinding on its impossibly pristine shores and diving deep into its azure waters, there are so many unique moments to be savoured. However, there’s more than one way to glimpse an orangutan, and this route reframes the ‘must-sees’ within a deeper, more connected journey.
Borneo is a very big island, to put it mildly, so visits often focus on one region, either following well-known paths through Sabah or alternative routes through Sarawak. But can you combine both into one trip without compromising on energy levels or enjoyment? In a word, yes, and it can create the Borneo trip of a lifetime, with plenty of wildlife spotting, rugged landscapes, beautiful coastline and engaging culture at just the right levels. However, it does require being a bit canny with how you bring it all together…
This is where our Specialists’ expertise comes into its own. This 3-week route elegantly combines Borneo’s most vivid features with a selection of our favourite lower-profile spots and moments that bring you closer to the detail of this island’s ancient landscape. Maximise your time in each place and enjoy smooth transitions at a pace that suits you.
Turning the usual Borneo route on its head, this journey begins among the quieter beaches and forests of Sarawak then winds north to offer a different angle on Sabah’s highlights. Take a closer look at Kuching’s multi-layered history (and taste some street food that’s truly worth writing home about) before stepping into the sprawling, calm wilderness of Bako National Park. Get up close with Semenggoh’s committed orangutan rehabilitation, spend the night in a remote riverside camp, and cruise across the still waters of Batang Ai Lake, getting an inside glimpse of life in this extraordinary part of the world. Further north, discover world-renowned orangutan rehabilitation in Sepilok, wander along walkways high in the rainforest canopy, and wind your way by boat up the Kinabatangan River. Venture into less-visited parts of the jungle in Sungai Kapur, and relax on the unspoilt paradise shores of Gaya Island.
Sarawak wilderness
Plunging you right into the heart of Sarawak’s wilderness, Bako National Park is one of the very best places to spot the region’s rare wildlife. Well away from any sense of humanity’s endless hurry, the park juts out on a remote peninsula, accessed by boat around the coast from Bako Village. Follow gently marked trails through the park with your expert guide, looking out for proboscis and silver leaf monkeys, long-tailed macaques, wild boars, monitor lizards and dozens of different bird species. Watch the varied landscape shift from mangrove to heath forest via cliffs and rugged beaches, and venture close to small coastal coves if the conditions are right. The perfect in depth introduction to Borneo’s distinct habitats.
City strolls & orangutans
This trip contains many contrast, and stepping out of the jungle and into the busy streets of Kuching, Sarawak’s energetic capital, is just that! Kuching is a fantastic city, with a strong cultural identity that shines out through every aspect from its heritage architecture to its celebrated street food. A few hours navigating this city’s lanes and waterside gives you a tantalising taste of its temples, monuments, food, language, and culture.
Borneo is never all about the city life for long, however, and just a hop and skip from Kuching takes you to the renowned Semengoh Nature Reserve, home to many rehabilitated orangutans that are cared for by the centre’s rangers. If you’re lucky, you might spot one or two as they come to feed at the centre’s dedicated platforms, offering a glimpse into the difficult and delicate balancing act that is wildlife conservation in Borneo.
Longboats & rainforest life
Of course, Borneo’s jungles host more than rare flora and fauna, with Iban communities having made these rainforests their home for centuries. Heading away from Kuching towards the Batang Ai Reservoir, local markets start to offer a snapshot of rural Sarawak life, and a stay at a locally-run lodge takes this experience of Iban life even further. Built in partnership with local people, these lodges provide simple yet comfortable accommodation, with raised sleeping platforms, mosquito nets, and communal dining spaces where everyone piles in to eat together.
Soak up every moment in this singular environment, taking treks through the orangutan-inhabited forests, and heading upstream by boat to hidden waterfalls, all the time learning more about Iban traditions. Away from the usual distractions of screen and urgent schedule, there’s no choice but to slow down and fall into step with a different rhythm. For a last taste of Sarawak’s nature, spend the night deep in the jungle, falling asleep to its unique symphony and waking with the sunrise…
Sabah’s first city
Heading north to Sabah means another change of pace. Borneo’s first city, Kota Kinabalu, is the setting for the second urban pause in this varied Borneo journey, providing a different perspective. Where Kuching’s mood is relaxed and historic, Kota buzzes with modernity, being the literal gateway into Borneo for many travellers. The waterfront markets have a familiar busy hum and the streets throng with the traffic of people coming, going, and making their way through the city to the beaches beyond.
Mount Kinabalu rises powerfully above the city - an ever-imposing presence on the horizon - with the wild expanse of Kinabalu National Park at its feet. Explore trails through the park, pausing for photos of the mountain when the light hits it just right, and take tentative steps along the canopy ropeway at Poring Hot Springs looking down into the dense greenery below.
Caring conservation & the Kin River
As two of Borneo’s most well-known conservation projects, the Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre and the Sunbear Conservation Centre have a lot to live up to. Although conservation on the ground can be a complex issue, with differing ideas about best practice across countries and cultures, there’s no denying the absolute dedication of these projects to caring for endangered species. Visit both to understand the methods and reasons behind how they care for the animals, see the rangers in action, and get close to some of the world’s most extraordinary wildlife.
A couple of hours away from Sepilok, you enter one of Sabah’s more remote spots at Sakau, from where you can hop in a boat and explore the winding reaches of the Kinabatangan River. The riverbank is always visible, and you can watch out for wildlife making its way down to the water from the deck of a quietly chugging boat, before venturing even further from city life in Sungai Kapur’s Virgin Jungle Reserve. Hike the Kapur Trail in the wake of gibbons and hornbills, and take a sunset cruise upriver in the hope of a glittering display of fireflies making their way into the night.
Paradise shores…
Well away from the crowded beaches around Kota, Gaya Island’s heart is full of thick greenery that gives way at the edges to soft sands, rocky shores and cool, azure waters. This is the stuff of paradise island dreams, for sure, and the perfect spot to end your trip. Relax in shady lodges overlooking the sea, snorkel in the shallows over bright coral in search of turtles and trigger fish, and spend a few days reflecting on the most memorable moments, contrasts and comparisons from an epic Borneo adventure.
A note on cost…
The guide price of £5,390US$7,090 is a per person price (not including international flights) staying 4 nights in Kuching, 3 nights in the Batang Ai area, 1 night in Kota Kinabalu, 1 night in Kinabalu National Park, 2 nights in Sepilok, 2 nights on the Kinabatangan River, 2 nights at Sungai Kapur Jungle Reserve, and 3 nights on Gaya Island, in a mixture of our favourite mid-range hotels & lodges.
