Sarawak Wildlife & Turtle Adventure

This Sarawak adventure starts in the charming colonial city of Kuching with its cosmopolitan cafe culture and waterfront promenade perfect for browsing local merchants’ shops before delving into the heart of Sarawak’s wildlife communities.

Discover remote Tanjung Datu National Park which offers the opportunity to see, amongst other wildlife, gibbons, banded langurs, hornbills and endangered green turtles who nest here between April and September.  Stroll the beaches after dark with a park ranger in search of nesting mothers.

Journey to Batang Ai National Park, home to 3,000 Iban tribespeople who boast a headhunting culture dating back as recently as the 1960s. The communities continue to live a traditional lifestyle in communal longhouses and survive largely on subsistence farming deep in the rainforest. Explore jungle trails in search of nesting orangutans and birdlife before relaxing with the Iban people on the communal verandah with a glass or two of their fiery rice wine.

After an immersive experience in the wildlife and culture of Sarawak, fly to neighbouring Sabah and relax at the luxurious Shangri-La Rasa Ria Resort with its pristine beach, numerous activities and on-site orangutan sanctuary.

Tour Itinerary

DAY 2

ARRIVE BORNEO

Arrive Kuching. Upon arrival you will be met and transferred to your chosen hotel. Enjoy the remainder of the day at leisure, why not head to the waterfront promenade for an early evening stroll?

DAY 3

KUCHING TO TANJUNG DATU NATIONAL PARK

This morning proceed by road to the small coastal town of Sematan. Enjoy an early lunch before taking a boat to remote Tanjung Datu National Park. Arrive and take a short walk across the beach and settle in at the accommodation. The rest of the day is at your own leisure. Relax on the beach, hike the Telok Upas or Viewpoint trails, have a swim or visit the turtle hatchery. Enjoy dinner at the park HQ. After dark go on short night walk and search for wildlife such as wild boar, sambar deer, mouse deer, barking deer, civet cats and other nocturnal creatures. Return to the park HQ then take a stroll along the beach to see if any turtles have come ashore to nest. Overnight at the Park Headquarters. (B,L,D)

DAY 4

TANJUNG DATU NATIONAL PARK

This morning enjoy a jungle trek along the Pasir Antu Laut trail, destination the pristine Antu Laut beach. Gibbons, banded langurs and hornbills are sometimes spotted on this trail. Enjoy a swim at the beach before returning along the forest trail and back along the beach to the park HQ. Have a late lunch at the park HQ. The rest of the day is at leisure. There is snorkelling available near Telok Upas, alternatively go for another walk or relax on the beach. After dinner go for a short night walk and search for nocturnal creatures and laying turtles. Overnight at the park HQ. (B,L,D)

DAY 5

TANJUNG DATU TO KUCHING

After breakfast, enjoy free time to relax on the beach or go swimming before boarding a boat back to Sematan. Enjoy lunch in a local restaurant before returning to Kuching. Transfer to the Hilton Kuching for overnight. (B,L)

DAY 6

KUCHING / BATANG AI NATIONAL PARK

This morning drive to the Batang Ai reservoir located in Batang Ai National Park. The park is home to a number of rare and protected animals including a community of wild orangutans who live around the lodge and Ensulai Waterfalls area. Enjoy an early lunch in a local coffee shop before boarding a traditional longboat. Travel upriver to Nanga Sumpa, arriving mid afternoon, settle in and have dinner. The evening is free at leisure. (B,L,D)

DAY 7

BATANG AI NATIONAL PARK

Following breakfast hike the jungle trails along the river, this is an important nesting area for the resident orangutan so there is a chance of some sightings. Continue upriver by longboat towards the scenic Enseluai waterfall. Along the way your boatman may stop to demonstrate fishing Iban-style using a jala or throw net. En-route visit Jambu longhouse, a relatively small community with just 8 families and is the most isolated community on the Delok River. After visiting Jambu continue your journey upriver. Arrive at the waterfall and enjoy free time to relax, swim and enjoy the rainforest surroundings. Enjoy a riverside BBQ lunch prepared by your Iban hosts. Return to the lodge. Dinner and overnight at Nanga Sumpa lodge. (B,L,D)

DAY 8

BATANG AI NATIONAL PARK / KUCHING

Enjoy breakfast at the lodge followed by free time to relax, swim in the river or take some photos around Nanga Sumpa. Late morning have an early lunch in the lodge before travelling downriver to the Batang Ai Lake jetty. Then travel overland back to Kuching and transfer to the Hilton Kuching for the night. (B,L)

DAY 9

SEMENGGOH & KUCHING

This morning visit Semenggoh Wildlife Centre. One of just four orangutan rehabilitation centres in the world, Semenggoh offers the chance to get up close to semi-wild orangutan. Located close to Kuching, Semenggoh was set up in 1975 to care for wild animals that had been previously kept as illegal pets, orphaned or found injured in the rainforest. Return to the city and enjoy the afternoon at leisure in Kuching. (B)

DAY 10

KUCHING TO KOTA KINABALU

This morning is at leisure until you are collected and returned to Kuching airport for the short flight to Kota Kinabalu in Sabah, Borneo.
Upon arrival you will be met and transferred to the hotel. (B)

Accommodation

Shangri-La's Rasa Ria Resort & Spa

• Hotel Description

DAY 11

SHANGRI-LA RASA RIA RESORT

Spend the day at leisure to relax. The Rasa Ria’s own 64-acre nature reserve is home to indigenous plant life and native wildlife including slow loris, Western Tarsiers, many species of birds and of course the wonderful orangutans. Sabah’s Wildlife Department works together with the resort in the rehabilitation of their young orangutans. (B)

DAY 12

SHANGRI-LA RASA RIA RESORT

Spend the day at leisure. (B)

DAY 13

SHANGRI-LA RASA RIA RESORT

Spend the day at leisure. (B)

DAY 14

SHANGRI-LA RASA RIA RESORT

Spend the day at leisure. (B)