Selamat datang! Welcome to Malaysia. Kuching, meaning 'cat' in Malay, is the capital and most populous city in the state of Sarawak in Malaysian Borneo. It was home to the infamous White Rajah of Sarawak, whose mysterious rule in this remote corner of the world sparked the imagination of many people who dreamt of becoming royalty. Your adventure begins with a welcome meeting at 6 pm. If you arrive early, maybe check out the waterfront, home to local vegetable, spice and fish markets. After the meeting, maybe head out with your new travel companions to try some local dishes like Sarawak laksa and kolok mee. It’s very important that you attend the welcome meeting as we will be collecting insurance details and next of kin information at this time. If you are going to be late, please let your travel agent or hotel reception know. Ask reception or look for a note in the lobby for more information on where the meeting will take place.

Hop in a private van to the fishing village of Kampung Bako, then a local boat up the coast to Bako National Park. Bako is the oldest national park in Sarawak and features rainforest, abundant wildlife, jungle streams, waterfalls, diverse plant life, secluded beaches and trekking trails. Millions of years of erosion form a coastline of steep cliffs, rocky headlands and stretches of white, sandy bays. Waves have carved the cliffs into sea arches and sea-stacks, with coloured patterns formed by iron deposits. When you arrive, you’ll take a leader-led walk through one of the jungle trails, looking out for proboscis monkeys, silver leaf monkeys and the elusive Bornean bearded pigs. Return to Kuching in the late afternoon and spend the evening in relaxing your hotel. Your travel time today will be approximately 1.5 hours. Your trekking time will be approximately 2 to 3 hours depending on the trails chosen. Your leader will choose the appropriate trail, depending on the weather condition and the group’s capabilities.

Head to the Semenggoh Wildlife Centre – a government-funded rehabilitation centre set in lush surrounds. The centre was set up to help reintroduce these wonderful creatures back into the wild after a life of domestication or having been orphaned. Head into the jungle to a viewing platform where you can watch and photograph the orangutans as they swing into view, eating bananas and milk that’s laid out for them twice a day. Human contact must be kept to a minimum and it's essential you follow your leader's instructions. After, return to Kuching where you can freshen up. Tonight, maybe mosey down to the riverbank and watch tambang ferries glide by, or head out to one of the many Chinese-influenced hawker markets for dinner and experience the range of local seafood. Unlike in a zoo, the orangutans at the Semenggoh Wildlife Centre are semi-wild, therefore viewing these magnificent creatures can be unpredictable. They are used to watching out for the forest reserve’s caretakers during feeding time, however in the fruiting season where there’s an abundance of food in the forest, there will be a lower chance of seeing orangutans.

Fly to Mulu today. When you arrive in Mulu, head into the heart of one of the most spectacular national parks in Asia – Gunung Mulu National Park. Transfer the short distance to Mulu HQ where you’ll stay for the next two nights. In your free time, you can take a self-guided trail around the park or head to the treetops on the world’s longest canopy walkway. Or maybe simply kick back with a book and enjoy the sounds of the nearby jungle. In the evening, enjoy a home-cooked dinner prepared by the indigenous tribe here - Berawan people, trying the signature jungle dishes like Pansoh (fish or chicken cooked in bamboo) or 'Midin' (sauteed wild fern) and learning about their unique cultural insights while the family sit down and have dinner with you. Later, there’s the chance to take an optional night walk to search for some weird and wonderful insects and reptiles. The maximum luggage allowance for today’s flight is 20 kg. Excess weight will incur an extra cost to the traveller. You'll need to have a light pack that can cover your essentials and valuables for the next 4 days while your main luggage will be sent to Limbang which you'll get again on Day 7. Please note that no valuables like laptops or cameras are allowed in the cargo for your big luggage sent to Limbang. Tonight, you’ll stay in the park headquarters, which has its own restaurant and Information Centre. Accommodation is multishare cabins with private bathrooms.

Today, you have a free morning to explore or have a sleep in. Spend the afternoon strolling the walkways of this 180-million-year-old rainforest, and then catch the sunset flight of the bats at Deer Cave. This UNESCO World Heritage site has the world’s largest known system of caves, formed when surface water worked its way through the rock, carving gigantic passages through the bedrock. Deer Cave has one of the single largest cave passages, 2.2 km long and 220 m tall at its highest point. Before it was part of the park, the cave was a well-known hunting ground for deer, who were attracted to the pools of salty water. The millions of bats who call the cave home all emerge at dusk for their nightly feeding, which is a sight to behold.

Leave Park HQ behind and head into the jungle. Take a boat upriver to the Clearwater and Wind Caves, which contain Asia’s longest underwater river. The Clearwater Cave system runs for more than 200 km, over 100 of which have been explored. Wind Cave draws a cooling breeze through its lengths and features some of Gunung Mulu’s best cave formations, while Clearwater is covered in a species of bright green plant unique to the park. After exploring, take a longboat downriver before disembarking for a hike through undisturbed jungle to Camp 5, at the end of Melinau Gorge. Your trekking distance today will be approximately 9 km. During dry season, the boats may need to be pushed over certain sections of the river, so it’s advisable to wear strap on sandals that can get wet. At Camp 5, you’ll sleep on mats on raised open-air platforms in a mixed gender dormitory, with shared bathroom facilities and cold water showers. Bedding is not provided, so bring your own sleeping sheet and a warm layer for cooler nights. Mosquito nets are available to rent for a small charge. Please be aware that at certain times of the year there can be many bees around Camp 5.

Today, you’ll tackle the infamous Headhunter’s Trail. Located in an isolated area of the Bornean jungle, the trail used to be the route used by warring parties between the Tutoh and Limbang Rivers. Cross streams by rope bridges, wooden walkways and logs, surrounded by the diverse flora, bird-filled trees and the sounds of the forest – a hornbill flying overhead, the cries of monkeys and the pulse of cicadas and crickets. Then, take a boat from Kuala Terikan to Kuala Mendalam. Depending on how much rainfall there’s been, you may be required to help push the boat over shallow parts of the river. Stop at a ranger station for lunch, then travel to Limbang by private vehicle, where you can freshen up and enjoy a good night's rest after two long days of trekking. Your travel today will be approximately 6 hours, including the boat ride. Your trekking time will be approximately 5 hours or 12 km. The trek is through dense jungle along a well-defined, mainly flat track, although the way can be muddy during the rainy season.

After breakfast this morning, take a short walk to the ferry terminal for a boat to Labuan Island. When you arrive, you’ll have a free afternoon and evening at a beach resort. Relax and recover after yesterday’s trek, going for a swim, chilling out with a cold drink or reading a good book. Your travel today will be approximately 2.5 hours.

Enjoy some more free time on the island before catching a ferry and express bus to Kota Kinabalu – the capital of Sabah and a modern metropolis that rebounded from multiple bombings during WWII. Tonight, maybe head out for a final meal with your group to celebrate your Borneo adventure – the night market is filled with fresh grilled seafood. Your travel today will be approximately 4 hours.

After breakfast, there are no activities planned and your trip comes to an end. You can depart the accommodation at any time after check-out. If you’d like to spend more time in Kota Kinabalu, just reach out to your booking agent ahead of time to organise additional accommodation.