The Ultimate Adventure Through Wild Borneo

Although the trip grade is classified as 'Easy', it is still an active tour and you'll need average fitness to participate comfortably. You'll be walking for three to four hours on most days, typically through dense forest on (often muddy) jungle trails and there will be a few hills to climb. The high humidity combined with the tropical heat can make activities feel more tiring than usual (you'll need to keep up your fluid intake) although there will be plenty of breaks and time to take in the surrounding views, spot wildlife and enjoy the rainforest. Some rainforest walks take place at night and there are some early starts and full days. You should feel comfortable kayaking for three hours at a time and may benefit from some upper body strength to enjoy it more. The two cycling days are suitable even for novice cyclists. You'll be pedalling on gentle forest trails and tarmac roads, climbing only a few hills along the way. The ride on Day 5 is conducted at a leisurely pace and there is a support vehicle should you prefer to skip part of it.

Marta Marinelli, raised in Italy’s serene Prosecco Hills, dreamt of global adventures, inspired by her father's travel stories. Her passion evolved into a career, backed by a decade of studies including degrees in international tourism and destination management. She’s worked in the adventure travel sector since 2012, living in Italy, the UK, and now sunny Portugal.

Over twenty years, Marta has explored over 55 countries, visiting remote areas like Ghana, Rwanda, Sao Tome and Principe, Haiti and Nepal’s Upper Mustang region. As a Senior Adventure Expansion Manager at Much Better Adventures, she focuses on creating life-changing experiences, ranging from multi-activity adventures, challenging treks to ultimate adventures in iconic places. She loves the challenge of finding the best local adventure hosts around the world, collaborating on adventures that offer genuine immersion, pushing beyond the beaten path and working on exclusive itineraries that challenge your comfort zone.

What makes her tick? Enabling people to live adventure-rich lives while positively impacting and empowering local communities around the world, generating sustainable opportunities for both the host, guides, community, and the environment.

Sure can! Over 70% of our travellers travel solo, it’s a great way to meet like-minded people.

Tips are not included in the trip cost. These are entirely at your discretion but there is an expectation to tip for good service. Of course, the amount should be reflective of your perception of service and quality – a tip is not compulsory and should only be given when you receive excellent service.

If you wish to extend your trip and climb the famous Kinabalu summit, the easiest way is to fly from Kuching to Kota Kinabalu (1.5 hr direct flights with AirAsia or other airlines). Permits need to be obtained far in advance and you can book via local agencies.

The tap water in Borneo is not always friendly on the stomach for those who haven't been in Malaysia for a while. You may find purified water in some of the accommodation which you can use to fill up each morning, so be sure to pack a reusable water bottle or two. To avoid plastic waste where filtered water is not available, we suggest bringing water purification tablets or a different purification system for extra safety. Please find more info here.

Borneo lies within the tropics and for this reason you should expect high humidity and the chance of rain at any time of the year. The best time to visit is during the dry season from March to October. During these months the climate is typically tropical, with temperatures ranging from a cool 22°C/71°F in the evenings to a sultry 34°C/93°F in the daytime. Relative humidity is consistently high and typically around 70-90%.

We recommend checking out the country specific information here and also talking to a travel nurse.

No. You'll need to have a larger bag suitable for all your belongings which will be transported for you throughout the itinerary, and then a small daypack to carry personal items during the activities each day. For two nights at the national parks (Day 2 and Day 7), it is advisable to carry only an overnight bag for ease of travel and leave your main luggage with the host.

The Semenggoh Wildlife Centre, set in a nature reserve in Sarawak, is one of the best places in Borneo to view semi-wild orangutans. The orangutans have been rescued from captivity and trained to survive in the surrounding forest reserve. The park has been around since 1975, and was established with three aims: to rescue, care for and rehabilitate endangered wildlife back into the wild, to conduct research on endangered species and captive breeding programmes, and finally to educate the general public on wildlife conservation. A variety of animals are under its care, but it is the orangutan rehabilitation programme which has been the most recognised and the most successful. Newly rehabilitated orangutans are then released into Kubah National Park.

By visiting Semenggoh and other genuine rehabilitation centres in Borneo, you are supporting projects that are working tirelessly to help save the orangutans and their habitats. This is an example of how responsible tourism can have a real, tangible benefit and how you as a traveller can help save some of the wildlife you have travelled around the world to see. You'll be asked to follow a specific code of conduct to ensure your visit is responsible (such as by keeping a safe distance from the orangutans and keeping noise levels to a minimum), and please bear in mind that sightings are never 100% guaranteed, as the animals are free to roam in the large protected forest area where they live.

On the trip you'll spend a day and night with a thriving rural Bidayuh community, the second largest indigenous tribe in Sarawak and home to one of the few remaining traditional Bidayuh longhouses in Sarawak. Upon arrival at the village, you'll walk through the farmlands with the local community host to see the rice fields, pepper farm, rubber plantation, and tropical fruit orchards – a fantastic opportunity to learn about their culture, history, and contemporary life. In the evening, you'll experience how the Bidayuh prepare dinner, cooked with simple and natural ingredients.

The homestay program is run and managed by the community itself and it is a successful example of how community-based tourism can be successful when done sensitively, facilitating cultural exchange and playing an active part in the maintenance of indigenous culture and traditions through their celebration.

Our recommended travel insurance provider is Campbell Irvine.

Travel insurance is compulsory for all of our adventures and you are required to provide your policy information before departing.

Your insurance should include adequate protection for overseas medical treatment, evacuation/repatriation, your baggage and equipment and the specific activities involved on your adventure. We also strongly recommend it includes cancellation and curtailment insurance, should you be unable to join your trip for specific reasons such as illness.

We fully endorse Campbell Irvine as their insurance offers all of the above, so get in touch with them or call on 020 7938 1734 to get your insurance sorted. We suggest that you book travel insurance as soon as you book your adventure, just to cover you for any last-minute life changes. We know you’re an active lot and injuries do happen!

We automatically convert prices from the local currency that a host receives to your chosen currency. We update our exchange rates on a daily basis so this does mean that prices displayed on the site are subject to currency fluctuations, which is why you may see them change over time.

If you wish to change the currency you pay in, head to the bottom of the page.

All of our group adventures are specially designed for adults to enjoy (18+) as we want these adventures to bring together outdoorsy people who are truly like-minded. Children can be accommodated on some private departures.

You're always in good company on one of our adventures.

Our trips are typically made up of a mixture of solo travellers and small groups of 2 or 3 friends, with most in their 30s-50s.

Our sociable adventures are solo-friendly by design and naturally attract outdoorsy people with a shared mindset; a love for adventure, a desire to push themselves and meet awesome, like-minded people along the way.

It’s this camaraderie that has so often turned a great adventure into a life-changing one.

Don't just take our word for it:

• 95% of people rate the group dynamics on our trips 5/5
• 90% of people recommend joining a trip to make new friends
• 75% of people have met people on our trips that they would now consider friends

See here for more info about the Much Better Adventures tribe.

Interested in a more exclusive experience? Opt for a 'Private Group' through the dates and prices tab to book this adventure for just you and your chosen companions.

Our team of Adventure Hunters create exclusive adventures with highly vetted, specialist hosts. We only work with independent, local in-destination experts who know the very best places to explore and how to stay safe. See here for more info about the local teams we partner with.