Borneo - Wilds of Borneo
Borneo is an adventurers dream. From the heights of Mt Kinabalu, South East Asia's highest mountain to the amazing underwater wildlife off the beautiful coast there truly is something for every adventurer in this amazing destination - including a great cycling journey from Grasshopper to the Malaysian state of Sabah.
Have a taste of what's included: mountain bike and road cycle along the coast, past villages and through the jungle to the northern tip of Borneo, ride the slopes around Mt Kinabalu and visit the famous Sepilok Orang Utan Rehabilitation Centre to view these amazing animals up close. It's not an easy trip but it is oh so rewarding! This tour was featured in Travel + Leisure's Sept 2009 Traveling Green in Asia special as a "transformative...journey that will change your life".
Day 1 | Kota Kinabalu We start the trip arriving in Kota Kinabalu, the sleepy capital of Sabah.
Days 2--5 | Cycle Kota Kinabalu to Kudat Starting from the front door of our hotel we set out north. The riding starts out relaxing with a warm up ride to a beach resort in Tauran but then we get into the hills and some of the mountain biking sections of the ride as we wind our way along small village roads to Kota Marudu. Another day's ride brings up to the coast and weather permitting we cross by boat to Kudat the largest town in this part of the world.
Day 6 | Tip of Borneo Using Kudat as our base we take ride on beautiful quiet roads to the most northern point of Borneo. It is a perfect place to enjoy a bbq lunch on the secluded beach, body surf on the waves and take a walk to the jut of land that makes the Tip of Borneo and the meeting place of the South China and Sulu Seas.
Day 7 | Rungas Longhouse Leaving Kudat we take a fabulous backroads route through forests to a mangrove area which you can explore on the trails and bridges used by the local village to access the road. This is a place you'd never find on your own! Continuing on we take to some hilly unsealed roads on our way to our accommodation for the night, a traditional Rungas Longus, built in the same way that people in this region have lived for generations. In the evening we will join the Rungas for a traditional dance - don't worry it's quite easy.
Days 8-9 | Mt Kinabalu & Poring We leave the Longhouse by bus for the steep long drive up to the Mt Kinabalu National Park Headquarters. The afternoon is yours to relax at the hotel or wander the shorter trails that extend out from the Park Headquarters. The final day of riding is mostly downhill so hold on tight and enjoy the ride. Riding through the farmland of the Dunsan people the landscape is a tapestry of colour. By midday we should have reach the hot springs of Poring where you can soak your body after all the riding you've done.
Days 10-11 | Sandakan After transferring to Sandakan we make a visit to the Sepilok Orang Utan Rehabilitation Centre. Get up close with these amazing creatures and learn about the effects to reintroduce injured and orphaned Orang Utans back into the wild. Our final night of the tour is in Sandakan where we celebrate our wild adventure. On day 11 the tour ends and you are free to depart at any time.
The tour…..
- Style fully supported cycling
- Inclusions support vehicle, local guides, tour leader, most meals, entry fees (tour leader only included for groups of 5+ people)
- Group Size minimum 2, maximum 14
- Accommodation 6 nights comfortable hotel, 1 night local hotel, 2 nights guesthouse with shared bathroom, 1 night Longhouse (basic bamboo building with shared bathrooms).
- Meals Included 10 breakfasts, 8 lunches, 6 dinners
- Difficulty moderate/difficult
- Days Cycling 7
- Cycling Conditions We cycle on well made main highways, small village roads and some optional mountain biking sections. Borneo is generally hot and humid and the terrain includes many short steep hills. The daily distances are generally short (35-68km) so that the days can be completed by people of moderate cycling ability.
- Bikes not included - bring your own or rent one for US$150
Operated by Grasshopper Adventures
Departures: April, September & November
Contact David now for more information, current costs and to make a booking on this