Wild Borneo

Today we depart Canada and board our flights to Kuala Lumpur.

Welcome to Kuala Lumpur! We meet with our guide and transfer to our hotel. The rest of the day is free to relax.

Shangri-La Hotel – 2 nights

Our adventure begins at the Petronas Twin Towers, with a ride up to the Skybridge and the Observation Deck for a spectacular view over the city. Then, we visit the Batu Caves, a series of limestone caves used as shelters by the indigenous Temuan people. Our city tour continues to the Sri Mahamariamman Temple, Chinatown, Independence Square and Jamek Mosque before going up to the Kuala Lumpur Tower Observation Deck. After a long day of touring, we will have a special dinner at the ORBIT, Malaysia’s highest revolving restaurant. 

We fly to Kuching, the charming capital of Sarawak on the island of Borneo. This afternoon, we visit the Sarawak State Museum, one of the oldest museums in the region, to explore the cultures, traditions and history of Sarawak’s many ethnic groups. A relaxed walk through the surrounding heritage buildings and gardens rounds out the day before dinner, where we get our first taste of Sarawak cuisine. 

The Waterfront Hotel – 3 nights 

A scenic drive to Bako Fishing Village is followed by a short boat ride along the coast to reach Bako National Park, one of Sarawak’s oldest and most rewarding natural areas. We hike trails through mangrove forests, keeping watch for mudskippers, fiddler crabs, proboscis monkeys, bearded pigs and silver leaf monkeys. Wildlife sightings here are frequent and genuinely surprising.

We spend the morning at the Sarawak Cultural Village, a living museum across 17 acres at the foot of Mount Santubong, where traditions, crafts and dance performances bring Sarawak’s seven major ethnic groups to life. At Semenggoh Wildlife Centre, rescued and rehabilitated orangutans roam freely across 740 hectares of protected forest. The centre also shelters gibbons, porcupines and river terrapins, with the sounds of wild birds and rehabilitated gibbons carrying through the surrounding forest.

Today we take a short flight to Mulu National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site renowned for its cave systems and extraordinary biodiversity. After checking in, we follow raised plank walks to Lang’s Cave, where limestone shawls, stalactites and the shimmering webs of threadworm larvae line the walls. The Deer Cave follows, one of the world’s largest cave passages, its ceilings home to millions of wrinklelipped bats. We walk as far as the Garden of Eden, where natural waterfalls cascade 30 metres to the riverbed below. We time our visit for the incredible bat exodus, when millions spiral out into the open sky to hunt for insects. 

Mulu Marriott Resort & Spa – 2 nights 

We board a longboat up the Melinau River to Batu Bungan, a Penan settlement where we browse local handicrafts and spend time with the community. The cave journey continues with Wind Cave before reaching Clearwater Cave, one of the longest cave systems in the world at over 220km, where a subterranean river emerges dramatically from the cliff face. A picnic lunch at the river’s edge caps the afternoon before free time back at the resort.

Today we fly to Sandakan on the northeast coast of Borneo. Upon arrival, we visit the Sandakan Memorial Park, a moving site commemorating the prisoners of war who lost their lives here during World War II. 

Sepilok Nature Lodge – 2 nights

We visit the Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre, the world’s first facility of its kind, to observe a feeding session and learn about the conservation work being done to protect this species. The afternoon takes us to the neighbouring Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre, home to around 40 to 45 sun bears, the world’s smallest bear species, where rescue and rehabilitation work happens daily.

The Kinabatangan River is Malaysia’s second longest river and one of Borneo’s most rewarding wildlife corridors. We settle into our lodge before heading out on an afternoon river cruise, scanning the riverbanks for proboscis monkeys, orangutans and a remarkable variety of bird species. After dinner, a guided night walk reveals a different side of the forest entirely. 

Borneo Nature Lodge – 2 nights

We rise early for a second river cruise, when the wildlife is most active and sightings of pygmy elephants and rare bird species are most likely. The afternoon is spent on a guided nature walk through the surrounding ecosystem. 

Danum Valley is one of Borneo’s last remaining areas of undisturbed ancient rainforest, and our base here sits right in the heart of it. An orientation walk introduces us to the valley’s extraordinary biodiversity. After dinner, a night safari brings out a different cast of characters altogether. 

Borneo Rainforest Lodge – 2 nights

A morning trek deepens our understanding of the rainforest, with our guide bringing the flora and fauna into context along the way. In the afternoon, the Canopy Walkway lifts us above the forest floor for an entirely different perspective on the valley and its wildlife.

We fly out of Lahad Datu to Kota Kinabalu, checking into our waterfront hotel. A free afternoon offers time to explore the nearby Filipino Market for souvenirs or simply unwind by the water. 

Hotel Grandis – 2 nights

Our final day in Borneo starts at Signal Hill Observatory, where the views stretch across the city and its surrounding islands. And at the Sabah State Museum, we learn about the region’s layered history and cultures. Tonight, we gather one last time for a farewell dinner, a fitting send-off to an unforgettable journey. 

We fly to Hong Kong for a one-night stopover, with the rest of the day free to explore the city at our own pace. 

Park Hotel Hong Kong – 1 night

Today we fly back to Canada