Getoff Ur Ass

Arrive in Kuching, capital of Sarawak. Meet and greet at the airport and transfer to the hotel to check in and rest. This day is for you to rest after the flight.  The city was established by Sir James Brooke, the first White Rajah of Sarawak and hoards a variety of ancient Chinese temples and colourful markets displaying the produce that first brought traders to Borneo.

Situated just 32 km from Kuching is the Sarawak Cultural Village. This 17-acre site, nestled on the foothill of the legendary Mount Santubong, fronting the South China Sea offers an excellent introduction to the local culture and lifestyles of the ethnic people of Sarawak. Share the arts, crafts, games, foods and music of the seven major ethnic groups in Sarawak. After touring the village, enjoy a multi-cultural dance performance in the village's own theatre. 

Return to Kuching making a stop at the Sarawak Museum. Completed in 1891, the museum has an excellent collection of Bornean ethnological and archaeological artefacts and is reputed to be the best in South East Asia.  (B, L)

Journey for about an hour to the Semengoh Wildlife Centre located near Kuching. Observe the feeding of Orangutans requiring rehabilitation. Then it’s off to the  Bengoh Village.

Begin your kayaking adventure on a meandering river with beautiful karst formation. Occasionally the placid waters will be punctuated with Class 1 and 2 rapids; feel free to glide or to paddle downriver. Have a picnic lunch at the river bank. (B, L)

Take an early morning drive about 35 minutes to Bako Village.  From the village, take a 25-minute boat ride to the park.  Bako is one of the best places in Sarawak to see wildlife in a natural setting. Here you can enjoy hikes, beach barbeque etc.  You will hike along jungle trails of varying levels to enjoy a beautiful sunset and swim in the sea by secluded beaches.  (B, L, D)

Following breakfast, hike to the mangrove forest for bird watching and to search for proboscis monkeys.  Return to Kuching in the early afternoon. (Schedule may depend on the tide.) (B, L)

Following breakfast, depart by 4 x 4 vehicle to Tuba Longhouse where half the journey would be taken through hilly, gravel roads. The 4-hour journey from Kuching will pass the market town of Serian and also several rubber, cocoa, and pepper plantations. Upon arrival at Tuba longhouse, be the guest of the village chief (tuai rumah) and have late lunch at the longhouse. Explore the surrounding area and learn their culture and lifestyle in the afternoon. (B, L, D)  

Day 07:  Tuba 

Trek to Tuba Hill to visit the local pepper plantation after breakfast. Explore a mysterious cave, which is said to contain water that never dries.  Later, continue the journey to visit the cave where the bats and swiftlets nest. Return to the longhouse for lunch.

In the afternoon proceed for a boat ride in search of wildlife. Monkeys, Hornbills and various other kinds of birds are often seen in this area.  Return to Tuba longhouse in the evening.  Dinner and overnight stay will be at the longhouse.   (B,L,D)

After breakfast, visit the local school before bidding farewell to your host as we proceed to Serian and continue overland to Kuching directly. Lunch enroute. Transfer the hotel.  (B, L)

Fly to Mulu via Miri with its stunning pinnacles and caves. Check into your nice jungle resort.  Around 2 PM travel by longboat or vehicle to the Park Headquarters then enjoy a scenic 3 km plank walk through primary rainforest to the entrance of Deer Cave that has the world's largest cave entrance with the largest single cave passage in the world - about 120 - 150 m in diameter.  It can fit St. Pauls' Cathedral under its massive archway. The cave has a moon-like landscape and from one vantage point, a perfect profile of President Lincoln can be observed.  Most evenings at sundown, a spectacular exodus of about 2 million bats can be seen as they leave the cave in search of food.  Next to Deer Cave is Lang’s Cave. The stalactites and stalagmites inside this cave are representative of the very best limestone formations in the park. Walk back to the Park Headquarters and drive to your jungle resort. (B,  D) 

Day 10: Mulu (Clearwater & Wind Caves ) 

In the morning, proceed by longboat upriver to Wind Cave with its impressive ‘King’s Chamber’. Here, stalactites and stalagmites with delicate lace-like patterns are found. A short walk along a plank walk suspended to the limestone cliff leads to Clearwater Cave. Like most caves in Mulu, Clearwater Cave is the habitat of unique species of plants. Clearwater Cave has a wonderful swimming area shaded by giant rainforest trees. Enjoy a simple picnic or packed lunch, swim, relax and explore the caves. Transfer to airport for flight to Kota Kinabalu.

Fly to Kota Kinabalu via Miri. Upon arrival at Kota Kinabalu International Airport ,meet and transfer to your seaside resort. (B, L)

Depart in the early morning for a 2-hr journey through breathtaking scenery to Kinabalu Park (88km from Kota Kinabalu). Take a guided nature walk with the Park’s naturalist and then explore the Park’s botanical garden which showcases some of the many species of plant that can be found within the Park. Have lunch at a local restaurant and in the afternoon enjoy a video show on the Park’s botanic diversity before returning to Kota Kinabalu. (B, L)

Free at leisure until transfer to airport for outward flight. (B)