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Small Group Tour
Travel with a local leader on this 12-day Premium adventure to uncover Borneo’s natural wonders, fascinating culture, history and ancient traditions. Journey to the jungles of Sabah and Sarawak, learn about the Iban way of life deep within Batang Ai National Park, get swept up in the frenetic energy of Kuching, connect with nature at the Kinabatangan River an...
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$6,480
From$4,800
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Overview

Trip type
Small Group Tour
Lodging level
Standard - 3 star
Physical level
Easy
Trip pace
Full schedule

Highlights

    • Surround yourself with rich wildlife and wonderful creatures during two nights at the stunning and perfectly located Kinabatangan Wetland Resort, your Feature Stay accommodation.
    • Visit endangered orangutans at the Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre, meet the Malaysian sun bear and take multiple cruises down the Kinabatangan in search of wildlife.
    • Gain unique insight into the Iban way of life during an Exclusive Experience where you stay in a rustic jungle lodge in the rainforests of Batang Ai, visit a traditional longhouse and chat to the locals about their culture.
    • Get a taste of Borneo’s diverse food scene during Exclusive Experiences, including dinner at a bustling food court that’s popular with locals, and a freshly caught seafood dinner after touring the seafood market.
    • Experience Borneo's beautiful natural surroundings with visits to local farms, waterfalls, National Parks, wildlife cruises, and more.
    • By travelling on this trip, you’ll directly support our Intrepid Foundation partner, RESPonsible Elephant Conservation Trust (RESPECT). Donations help them educate and engage local communities on the importance of conserving local habits for Borneo Pygmy Elephants.

What's this trip about?

    Travel with a local leader on this 12-day Premium adventure to uncover Borneo’s natural wonders, fascinating culture, history and ancient traditions. Journey to the jungles of Sabah and Sarawak, learn about the Iban way of life deep within Batang Ai National Park, get swept up in the frenetic energy of Kuching, connect with nature at the Kinabatangan River and visit an Orangutan rehabilitation centre in Sandakan. From dense rainforests to misty rivers and jungle valleys, this diverse island is a joy to explore.

Details

Itinerary focusClassic Highlights
Group sizeIntimate group - max of 12 people
Age range15 to 17 years
Flights and transportN/A
Start CityKuching
End CitySandakan

Travel Themes

  • High Adventure

Destinations

  • Asia
  • Malaysia

Attractions

  • Borneo
  • Kota Kinabalu

Trip includes

    • Complimentary Arrival Transfer
    • Kuching - Welcome Dinner
    • Batang Ai - Nanga Sumpa Dinner
    • Batang Ai - Lachau Bazaar Lunch
    • Batang Ai - Jungle and Plantation Walk
    • Batang Ai - Local Longhouse Visit
    • Batang Ai - Enseluai Waterfall
    • Kuching - Group Lunch
    • Mulu National Park - Sunset bat experience
    • Mulu National Park - Deer & Lang Caves guided walk
    • Mulu National Park - Wind & Clearwater Caves guided walk
    • Mulu National Park - Picnic Lunch
    • Kota Kinabalu - Sunset Cocktail
    • Kota Kinabalu - Seafood Market Tour and Dinner
    • Kota Kinabalu - Local Market Tour
    • Kinabatangan River - Afternoon Wildlife Spotting Cruise
    • Kinabatangan River - Evening Wildlife Walk
    • Sandakan - War Memorial
    • Kinabatangan River - Morning wildlife spotting cruise
    • Kinabatangan River - Evening Wildlife Spotting Cruise
    • Sepilok - Sun Bear Conservation Centre
    • Sepilok - Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre
    • Sandakan - Farewell Seafood Dinner

Popular Trips

Itinerary

Travel Map

Day 1 Kuching

Welcome to Borneo! Your adventure begins in the animated city of Kuching. You will be collected from the airport and transferred to your hotel, where you'll meet your tour leader and small group for a 6pm welcome meeting. If you arrive early, you may like to take a st...

Day 2 Batang Ai National Park

This morning, begin your journey to Batang Ai National Park where the remote and lush rainforests are alive with the calls of hornbills and gibbons. The Iban people have called these rainforests home for 400 years, with entire villages living under one roof in longhou...

Day 3 Batang Ai National Park

After a peaceful breakfast surrounded by nature, take a 2-hour walk through the jungle, passing local farms, orchards, and plantations as your leader shares stories from the region and teaches you about foraging for edible delights and local medicinal plants. Next, ta...

Day 4 Kuching

Wake up to the songs of birds under a luxuriant canopy of trees. After breakfast, take a longboat out of the rainforest and make the journey back to Kuching, stopping off for lunch at a local coffee shop along the way. Spend an evening at leisure in Kuching. The name ...

Day 5 Mulu National Park

Say goodbye to Kuching and take a flight to Mulu National Park. The national park is unbelievably diverse and spectacular to look at, full of rainforests, mountains, caves and karst formations. Your leader will be able to provide insight on how the park’s weird and wo...

Day 6 Mulu National Park

Today, join your leader for continued explorations of Mulu National Park where they will help you uncover more of the unusual and varied landscape. First head to Wind Cave – located along the Melinau River, the cave is named for the cool breeze that blows through it. ...

Day 7 Kota Kinabalu

Today you will take a flight to Kota Kinabalu, the bustling capital city of the Sabah state. With a modern metropolis, traditional charm and charismatic locals, Kota Kinabalu has something for everyone. In the late afternoon, head to one of the city’s rooftop bars and...

Day 8 Kota Kinabalu

Enjoy a free morning in Kota Kinabalu, a city overflowing with possibilities. You may like to go snorkelling in Tunku Abdul Rahman Park and search for marine life, or perhaps take a tour to the cultural village. If you’d prefer to stay in the city, you can visit the c...

Day 9 Kinabatangan River

Take a flight to Sandakan, then visit the Sandakan War Memorial. Here you will learn about the city's past as you stand on the same ground of the former Japanese POW camp. This site also marks the starting point of the tragic Sandakan Death Marches. Next, head to the ...

Day 10 Kinabatangan River

You might awake to the call of a Bornean gibbon, or perhaps a hornbill. Enjoy an early morning cruise through the fog as the sun rises, including light refreshments on board while searching for more birds and wildlife. Keep an eye out for long tail macaques and pig ta...

Day 11 Sandakan

Return to Sandakan by boat and visit the orangutans at the Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre. Watch and photograph these delightful creatures as they swing into view on ropes and vines. It is important not to interrupt the orangutans, to aid in their successful ...

Day 12 Sandakan

Your adventure comes to an end after breakfast. If you would like to extend your stay, we can arrange additional accommodation (subject to availability). Flights depart most days from Sandakan to Kota Kinabalu or Kuala Lumpur.

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Dates & Availability

Price From $4,800
Price per day$400
Last Updated: 4/22/2024
Start Date
Finish Date
Base Price
Availability
04 May 2024
15 May 2024
$5,515
1 spots left
11 May 2024
22 May 2024
$5,515
1 spots left
25 May 2024
05 Jun 2024
$5,515
Sold Out
08 Jun 2024
19 Jun 2024
$5,070
6 spots left
15 Jun 2024
26 Jun 2024
$5,120
5 spots left
22 Jun 2024
03 Jul 2024
$5,210
11 spots left
29 Jun 2024
10 Jul 2024
$5,210
11 spots left
07 Jul 2024
18 Jul 2024
$5,210
9 spots left
20 Jul 2024
31 Jul 2024
$5,315
5 spots left
27 Jul 2024
07 Aug 2024
$5,315
8 spots left

Check Current Availability, prices, specials with Intrepid Travel.

The total tour cost includes the tour price (regular or promotional) and the compulsory local payment. The promotional price is subject to change. Check directly with the operator for the latest price offer. The tour operator requires you to pay only the tour price to purchase your travel. The compulsory local payment will be paid when you join the trip. All prices are based on double, twin or triple share occupancy. Solo passengers will be accommodated in a double, twin or triple room according to availability with a passenger(s) of the same gender. Single supplement only needs to be paid if the passenger does not want to share and requests their own room. Discounts can only be applied at the time of booking and cannot be added at a later date, regardless of any changes made to the original booking.

Prices may vary due to local taxes and trip seasonality. Click "Request Info" to inquire directly with the tour operator for the final trip price.

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Tour Operator

Intrepid Travel

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The Intrepid Travel Experience

If you’re looking for adventure, you’ve come to the right place. For the past 25 years, we’ve been taking small groups of travelers on unforgettable trips around the world. What makes them unforgettable? Take a look for yourself and discover the Intrepid experience.

Our travelers have three styles of tour to choose from: Basix, Original and Comfort. Each has a different level of inclusions and accommodation, but all have unforgettable real life experiences as part of the package. Travellers can also choose themed trips, such as Family, Sailing or Food, to suit their interests.

Our group size has an average of just ten travellers, which allows us to get off the beaten track, use local accommodation and transport, and really get to know the culture. It also ensures we are contributing to the local economy; by choosing local suppliers we were able to keep AUD 60 million in local economies in 2012. We’re also working hard to reduce our carbon footprint and were the first in our sector to introduce carbon offset trips. This, along with our many corporate sustainability activities, has meant we’re one of the travel industry’s leaders in responsible travel.

Why Intrepid?

  •   Small groups - average of 10 people per trip
  •   Sustainability - pioneers for the industry
  •   Local leaders - authentic perspectives
  •   Local transport - get close and personal
  •   Local accommodation - experience real living
  •   Intrepid travelers - like-minded companions 

History

Intrepid Travel has come a long way since its beginnings in 1989. From two university friends, a typewriter and a kitchen desk, it is now a proud member of The Intrepid Group, taking over 100,000 travelers every year.

Intrepid Travel is part of The Intrepid Group of companies, alongside leading small group adventure companies Peregrine, Urban Adventures and PEAK DMC.

Despite growing into a global business with over 1,000 staff based all over the world and over 800 different trips across every continent, we’ve remained devoted to the same grassroots values and responsible travel philosophies that we had at the very beginning.

 

Values

On every trip we operate and in every interaction we have with a client, supplier or local, we live our core values everyday:

  • Integrity – Doing the right thing
  • Responsible – Think global, act local
  • Growth – Stakeholders in our own success
  • Innovation – Thriving on new ideas and embracing change
  • Fun – It’s engrained into who we are and what we do
  • Passion – We are inspired by the work we do and the trips we offer

 

Why we love this operator
They’re very committed to sustainable and responsible tourism and contribute to important initiatives like climate action.
What they’re known for
Small group tours for active and adventurous travelers at a range of different price points and service levels.

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Logistics

Accommodation

Lodge (4 nights),Hotel (5 nights),Resort (2 nights),

Transportation & Flights

Boat,Plane,Private Mini Van,

Transportation & flights

Boat,Plane,Private Mini Van
Guides
All group trips are accompanied by one of our group leaders. The aim of the group leader is to take the hassle out of your travels and to help you have the best trip possible. Premium leaders are Intrepid’s most experienced, with in-depth knowledge and extensive local networks to make it a trip of a lifetime. Your leader will provide information on the places you are travelling through, offer suggestions for things to do and see, recommend great local eating venues and introduce you to our local friends. While not being guides in the traditional sense, you can expect them to have a broad general knowledge of the places visited on the trip, including historical, cultural, religious, and social aspects. At Intrepid we aim to support local guides who have specialised knowledge of the regions we visit. When not already included in your trip, your leader will be able to recommend a local guide service who can share more detailed or specialised information at specific sites should you be interested in delving deeper.
Travel Insurance
Travel insurance is compulsory on all our trips for those travelling internationally. We require that at a minimum you are covered for medical expenses including emergency repatriation. If you are travelling within your home country or region please confirm before travel that you are entitled to access the public medical system easily should an accident occur. We strongly recommend all travellers have a policy that also covers personal liability, cancellation, curtailment and loss of luggage or personal effects. For international trips, you will not be permitted to join the group until evidence of travel insurance and the insurance company's 24-hour emergency contact number has been sighted by your group leader or local representative. If you have credit card insurance your group leader or local representative will require details of the participating insurer/underwriter, the level of coverage, policy number, and emergency contact number rather than the bank's name and your credit card details. Please contact your bank for these details prior to arriving in-country. For travellers who reside within the European Union, Switzerland or USA the requirement to purchase travel insurance cannot be compulsory. However the purchase of travel insurance is still highly recommended, and travellers from these regions who decline travel insurance when travelling outside of their home region must sign a Travel Insurance Waiver Form at the Group Meeting, recognizing personal responsibility for emergency medical and repatriation costs should they arise. For assistance with travel insurance or other services, please visit the link below: https://www.intrepidtravel.com/booking-resources/our-services
Visa requirements
PASSPORT You’ll need a valid passport to travel internationally and most countries require your passport to have a minimum of 6 months validity, so remember to check the expiry date. We need your passport information to get everything ready for your trip so it’s important that the information on your booking matches your passport exactly. Please take care to provide the correct details. We recommend carrying a copy of the photo page of your passport while travelling and leaving a copy at home with family or friends. VISAS & ENTRY REQUIREMENTS Many countries require a visa and obtaining the correct visa for your trip and any countries you may transit through is your responsibility. We recommend you check your visa requirements as soon as you have booked your trip. This will ensure you have time to prepare your documents and for your visa application to be processed. You can check the entry requirements for your nationality on your government's foreign travel advisories, consular websites or on our page here:  www.intrepidtravel.com/visa-entry-requirements
Health & Safety
Most national governments provide regularly updated foreign travel advice on safety issues involved with international travel. We recommend that you check your government's advice for their latest travel information before departure and ensure that your travel insurance covers you for all destinations and activities on your trip. Please refer to our website's safety page for links to major travel advisories and updates on safety issues affecting our trips here: https://www.intrepidtravel.com/travel-alerts We strongly recommend the use of a neck wallet or money belt while travelling, for the safe-keeping of your passport, flight tickets, cash and other valuable items. Leave your jewellery at home - you won't need it while travelling. Many of our hotels have safety deposit boxes, which is the most secure way of storing your valuables. A lock is recommended for securing your luggage. Your group leader or local representative will accompany you on all included activities, however, during your trip you'll have some free time to pursue your own interests or relax and take it easy. While your group leader or local representative will assist you with the available options in a given location, please note that any optional activities you undertake are not part of your Intrepid itinerary, and Intrepid makes no representations about the safety of the activity or the standard of the operators running them. Please use your own good judgement when selecting an activity in your free time. Please also note that your group leader or local representative has the authority to amend or cancel any part of the trip itinerary if it's deemed necessary due to safety concerns. Intrepid's operational safety policies can be viewed on our website at the link below. We recommend that you take a moment to read through this information before travelling, and would appreciate any feedback on how safety is being managed on our trips. https://www.intrepidtravel.com/safety-guidelines FIRE PRECAUTIONS: Please be aware that local laws governing tourism facilities in this region differ from those in your home country and not all the accommodation which we use has a fire exit, fire extinguishers or smoke alarms. SEAT BELTS: Please be aware that local laws governing transportation safety may differ from those in your home country and not all the transport which we use is able to provide seat belts. PETTY THEFT AND PERSONAL SAFETY: While travelling there is always the risk of pick-pocketing and petty theft, particularly in the more touristy cities. We recommend that you exercise caution when walking alone at night and encourage you to walk together and only on main, well-lit thoroughfares. Be particularly vigilant on public transport. Simple measures like carrying your day pack on your front, not hanging your bag over the back of your chair or on the floor and wearing a money belt will reduce any chance that your valuables should go missing. MOTORBIKE BAG SNATCHING: Be particularly aware of motorbike bag snatching, especially in the bigger cities. FOREIGN TRAVEL ADVICE FOR EASTERN SABAH Some governments currently have increased foreign travel advice in place for Eastern Sabah. Insurance coverage may be affected by this level of advice. Travel insurance that covers all destinations and activities within your itinerary is compulsory to join this trip. Please check your government’s foreign travel advice before departure and contact your insurance provider to ensure you have the appropriate level of coverage for travel to all destinations and activities within your itinerary.
Age Requirements
15 to 17 years
Additional Information

Finish point

  • Sabah Hotel
  • KM 1, Jalan Utara, P.O. Box 275 90703 Sandakan, Sabah
  • Sandakan
  • MALAYSIA
  • Phone: +6089 213299
Trip ID
intrepid-TMPB

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