Overview

This tour takes you to the heart of the dense forest. Starting with the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Mulu Caves which have some of the highest, longest, and widest passages in the world. The place is breathtakingly picturesque. Visit Lang’s Cave and Deer Cave, which has the world’s longest underground passage. Observe the large bat colony stream out of the caves in the evening. The trip to Mount ​Api goes through Camp 5 and some challenging trekking. You’ll enjoy panoramic views including the knife-like Pinnacles themselves. The way down is long and through lush rainforest, this is also in the footsteps of the headhunters. The local flare grows with a visit to Kota Kinabalu “land below the wind”. Admire its monuments, temples, and markets. The trip to Kinabalu Park includes a jungle trail that covers the famous canopy walkway. You will get a chance to view the unique collection of orchids and plants at the Mountain Garden. The tour then enters some relaxation mode where you take a boat ride to one of the coral islands in Tunku Abdul Rahman Park for a day of swimming, snorkeling or relaxing on the beach. 

9 Nights 10 Days Available on request Mulu Airport
Inclusions/Exclusions
What we'll give. What we won't

What is included in the tour

  • You will enjoy 6-nights in an Air-conditioned hotel accommodation on twin sharing basis. The hotel rooms will have a private bathroom
  • Camp 5 accommodation is basic, 2-nights with shared sanitary facilities
  • Meals are covered as stated in the detailed description
  • All tour and transfers are with local English-speaking driver or guides in as air-conditioned vehicles
  • All entrance fees and/or boat fees as stated in the program
  • Drinking water available on the vehicles
  • Package includes GST 6% (Good and Service Tax)

What is NOT included in the tour

  • Air-travel Domestic or international to/from Malaysia, this can be quoted separately by us on request
  • Any optional tours you opt for
  • Charges for arranging guides for other languages if requested
  • Personal expenditure, such as drinks, souvenirs, laundry, camera fees, communications – including phone bills, postage, gratuities and the likes
  • Meals and services other than mentioned in the program
  • Personal travel insurance
  • Drinks with meals and bottled water
  • Porter charges, certificate, and the likes
  • Hotels may charge for early check-in and late check-out, this can be covered only if it is explicitly mentioned in the program
  • Luggage storage or porter fees
Highlights
What makes this tour special
  • Explore the beauty of limestone caves and the bizarre limestone formations of Pinnacles
  • Experience local flair and learn about tribal wars on the headhunter’s trail while marveling on the regions endemic flora and fauna
  • Explore the new city of Kota Kinabalu with its vibrant local markets and its monuments
  • Admire the Mountain Garden's unique plants and walk the canopy walkway 40 m above the jungle floor
  • Take a boat ride to a coral island to snorkel and swim in crystal blue waters
Itinerary
Day 1: Mulu Arrival – Mulu Caves Tour
  • You will be received at the Mulu airport, a quick transfer to your designated hotel follows. Once settled in comfortably, change into your trekking gear. We now move to the Mulu National Park Headquarters for registration. Lunch is arranged at the park’s canteen.
  • We start our adventure with a 45 min walk to the first set of caves. This walk is on narrow forest paths made of wooden planks that take you through riverine and lowland forests on limestone cliffsides.  The first cave we reach is the Lang’s cave which has an exquisite collection of stalagmites and stalactites. You are observing nature at its creative best, we recommend carrying a good camera for some stunning pictures. The next cave we visit is the Deer cave, this is famous for its passage which is the largest for any cave in the world. The Deer cave is also famous for its large (as many as 3 million) populations of bats. These caves are designated as world heritage by UNESCO.
  • Once the exploration of the caves is done we move to the bat observation platform. The site of millions of bats coming out of the caves in the dusk is simply mesmerizing. It appears like black streams emerging from the caves. You will require a good camera as the light is low when the bats finally decide to venture out in the evening.
  • We return to the park headquarters for a transfer to the hotel.
  • Meals provided: lunch
Day 2: Mulu Caves Tour – Camp 5
  • Breakfast is followed by check out from your hotel.
  • The day’s adventure begins with a half hour long boat ride. Our first shortstop is at a Penan settlement. This is your chance for understanding the old nomadic lifestyle of the people and indulge yourself in the local handicrafts market. The boat ride then takes us to the wind cave. A plank walk leads from the riverbank to the entrance of the Wind Cave. This cave is so named because of the cool breezes which you can feel at the narrow parts of the cave. This cave is part of the Clearwater system and has many impressive stalactites, stalagmites, flowrocks, helitites and rock corals. Some of these are illuminated in the ‘King’s” Room. A short walk takes us to the Clearwater springs, we take a short break here. 200 steps lead up through the forest to the mouth of Clearwater Cave. Clearwater is a fascinating cave system to scroll around, it has its own underground river system. Plank walks, paths and small floating bridges make this an easy and enjoyable experience. There are excellent photo opportunities for those who are bitten by the photography bug.
  • We now climb down the steps to the picnic area for a quick lunch.
  • We now take a one-hour long boat ride to Kuala Litut, this is the starting point for our trek to camp 5. The 2-hour trek will take us to camp 5 which is a large shelter located at the base of Mount Api. Camp 5 is really basic, and you have to carry your own sleeping bag as well. Night stay is arranged at the camp shelter.
  • Meals provided: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
Day 3: Pinnacles
  • We have a light breakfast and start our climb to Mount Api. Although this is a short distance, it will still take us 4-to-5 hour as this is a steep climb. We recommend that you carry very little (Only essentials) with you along with ample water for the climb. The flora changes with altitude, at about 850 meters you will notice a distinct change in the vegetation. The limestone lowland forest now gives way to the montane forest with pitcher plants and wild orchids. We have now reached the steepest part of our climb. Some metallic steps are placed to help climbers move over the worst of the gaping voids. 
  • The summit is 1710 meters above sea level and once you reach it you will be rewarded with spectacular views of the surrounding landscape. The famous pinnacles are everywhere, they are about 45 meters high and appear as huge knives against the trees that form the backdrop. The forest trees are a miracle in themselves, they hold on in between narrow crevices of the limestone landscape. A simple picnic lunch follows.
  • We now trek back downhill to camp 5. There is just enough time for a relaxing bath in the mountain river before we have dinner and pack for the day. Night stay will be at Camp 5.
  • Meals included: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
Day 4: Camp 5 – Limbang
  • A day of trekking and boat rides awaits us. Post breakfast we start a 12 Km trek along the Head-hunter’s trail. This will take us about 5 hours, and we will follow the footsteps of the old-world head hunting war parties. We now reach the town of Kuala Terikan.
  • From Kuala Terikan we shift to a boat and take a 2 to 3-hour long ride (Depending on water levels in the river) over the Terikan and Medalam rivers. This river ride takes us to an Iban longhouse. We now shift to an AC vehicle for a 30 min transfer to the town of Limbang.  We now check-in to our hotel for the night stay at Limbang. Dinner is arranged at a local restaurant.
  • Meals included: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
Day 5: Limbang Departure
  • A relaxed breakfast starts the morning. We have time for some exploration of the local markets with traditional native products on sale. Time for some memorabilia. Your transfer to the airport awaits you. Time to take your flight to the next Kota Kinabalu where courteous English-speaking guide will be at the Airport for facilitating your arrival, transfer by AC vehicle to your hotel of choice and hotel check-in. The rest of the day is designed to give you some time to relax. Night stay at the hotel.
  • Meals included: Breakfast
Day 6: Kota Kinabalu - City & Spice Market Tour
  • We enjoy a relaxed breakfast at the hotel and start the day with an introductory tour of the city of Kota Kinabalu – a city built after World War 2. There is a lot to explore including the Chinese Buddhist temple, the Blue Mosque, the Sabah Museum ​​and the local markets. Photo opportunities at all these locations and at Menara Tun Mustapha (Formerly known as the Sabah Foundation Building). Once we reach the city center we go on a guided walk of the historic sites of the city. We visit the central market and the spice market where your guide will introduce you to the local fruits, vegetables, fishes, and spices. He will explain how they are used in local cooking and how they make the Malaysian cuisine unique. Enjoy a cup of local coffee or tea in one of the many local restaurants, together with a local pancake called "roti canai". We return to the hotel at noon and have the rest of the day for self-exploration of the city or some relaxation. Night stay at your hotel.
  • Meals included: Breakfast
Day 7: Kota Kinabalu - Kinabalu Park and Poring Hot Spring
  • We enjoy breakfast at the hotel and take the road through the ridges of the Crocker Range to the Southern end of the Kinabalu Park. At Poring, we will join a jungle trail that will take us to the extremely pictures canopy walk made of a series of bridges built about 40meters above the ground. The Canopy bridge provides a bird’s eye view of the ancient rainforests. The hot springs are famous for the therapeutic value of the sulfur baths if time permits do take a rejuvenating dip in the hot waters.  We now break for lunch and proceed to the Kinabalu Park Headquarters. Your guide will take you to the exquisite Mountain Garden in the park. You will be able to see a large collection of rare orchids and plants endemic to Borneo in this garden. After completing the park visit we return to the city and relax at the Hotel.
  • Meals included: Breakfast and lunch
Day 8: Kota Kinabalu - Coral Island Tour
  • After a quick breakfast at the hotel, we reach the Jetty for a 20 min boat ride that takes us to one of the coral islands within the Tunku Abdul Rahman Park. The islands have shallow reefs and pristine beaches, spend the day swimming in blue waters or snorkeling amongst the corals or just relaxing on the beach. We have a simple box lunch for the day and after a quick shower return to the mainland in mid-afternoon. Please note that all boat transfers and always on a shared basis. Return to the hotel for some quiet time. Night stay at the hotel in Kota Kinabalu.
  • Meals included: Breakfast and a packed lunch
  • Please note – Boat transfers are always on a shared basis
Day 9: Kota Kinabalu Departure
  • Enjoy a relaxed breakfast and sometimes at leisure at the hotel before a transfer to the airport is arranged. Take your departure flight for onward journey from the Kota Kinabalu airport.
  • Meals included: Breakfast
Pickup point
Directions.
Mulu Airport, Sarawak, Miri, Sarawak, Malaysia View on Map