The Heart of Sarawak
- A Secret Retreats journey -
This journey has been personally designed by Lionel,
the author of this journey, who has made Borneo his home since 2005.
We can of course adjust according to your request.
Highlights of the Journey:
Highlights of the Journey:
- Experience the ancient and unchanged lifestyle of the Iban and Dayak tribes and visit their longhouses.
- Meet the ‘old man of the woods’ and see the orangutans in their natural environment.
- Visit and learn about the work of the Semenggoh Orangutan Rehabilitation Center.
- Cruise the Santubong river spotting for the rare proboscis monkey.
- Trek the forest paths of the Bako National Park and see the rich variety of wildlife within this preserved forest environment.
Experience the richness and diversity of life in Borneo. This journey will take you on Borneo’s waterways and forest pathways to witness ‘the old man of the woods’ in their natural environment and to see the work of the foundation working to protect and conserve the orangutans and their habitat. You will enjoy the beauty of Borneo’s wildlife and unspoilt natural environments and meet with the local peoples who call Borneo’s forests, home. A visit to a longhouse to meet the forest people is a must for any Borneo journey and this journey will take you to two, one the home of the Dayak people and the other the home of the Iban. The regions and rainforest you will be visiting are renowned locally for their breath-taking natural environment, stunning scenery, clean rivers and jungle streams, and refreshing waterfalls. While visiting this pristine environment you will have the opportunity to enjoy a range of outdoor activities.
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Your Journey Day by Day
Overnight at the Ranee Boutique Suites.

Along the way we will visit the ethno-botanical gardens with their unique collection of rain-forest plants. After viewing the gardens we will head to the Anah Rais Bidayuh Longhouse. This longhouse is part of a Bidayuh (Land Dayak) village. The focal point of the village is the large and well-preserved traditional longhouse which is home to dozens of families. You will be given a guided tour where you will learn about the unique use of bamboo within the longhouse and also the traditional farming lifestyle of the Bidayuh people.
Then an amazing rainforest kayaking adventure in some of the most beautiful natural settings in Kuching! A leisurely paddle from the upper reaches of Sungai Sarawak. Savour the sights surrounding you of unique limestone formations and towering riverine trees while enjoying the peace and tranquillity of the rainforest. You will discover the fascinating carnivorous pitcher plant, Nepenthes, in its natural habitat and get to know some local herbs, spices, vegetables and fruits in a native Bidayuh village along the way. After a packed lunch on the banks of the river, enjoy a cool dip perhaps. The day’s journey ends at Kampong in the Borneo Highlands from where you will return to your hotel the Ranee Boutique Suites. We will pick you up at your hotel at 8pm for dinner at Jambu restaurant Kuching. Overnight at the Ranee Boutique Suites.




Around mid-afternoon we will return to Santubong and The Village House. This evening dinner is at your leisure with no fixed dinner arrangement. Recommendations for dinner will be available. Overnight at The Village House.

End of program.

The Heart of Sarawak
The total price includes:
Accommodation on a bed & breakfast basis in the hotels as detailed in the itinerary.
All meals (lunch and dinner) when mentioned in the program.
All transportation by air-conditioned car or by boat as indicated in the program.
Entrance fees to all sites as mentioned in the program.
Local English-speaking guide for all visits mentioned in the program.
The total price does not include:
Visa fees (please ensure your passport is valid for 6 months beyond your departure date).
Other meals that are not included in the program.
Drinks, personal expenses, tips and gratuities.
Options and other activities not detailed in the program.
Recommended to Pack!
Comfortable light clothing for hiking and walking.
Binoculars.
A headtorch.
Water bottle.
Oral hydration salt and personal medications.
Comfortable walking shoes including strap-on sandals.
A drybag (for camera storage etc).
A rain-jacket or poncho.
Swimwear.
Your favorite trekking snacks (energy bars, nuts etc).
Sunscreen and insect/mosquito repellent.
Sunhat and sunglasses.
A light backpack for day use.
We provide leech socks.
Voyagez au cœur de l’Asie avec Secret Retreats
Secret Retreats est une communauté d'hôtels de charme indépendants, de villas, de croisières en mer ou sur les fleuves d’Asie, dont les propriétaires partagent tous une même passion du voyage, de leurs cultures et traditions et aiment à les faire découvrir de manière responsable.
Cette volonté de préserver l'environnement, la culture et les traditions dans lesquels nous vivons ici est essentielle pour nous tous dans un monde
où le danger est l’uniformisation et le non-respect.
Professionnels de l'hôtellerie aux valeurs communes, nous souhaitons vous offrir des expériences de voyages authentiques et originaux qui vous feront découvrir l'essence même de l'Asie.
Laissez-nous vous inspirer et prendre soin de votre portefeuille en même temps!
Réservez directement avec Secret Retreats et partez en toute tranquillité avec notre assistance sur le terrain. Contactez nos conseillers voyages et planifiez avec eux un voyage inoubliable en en Asie!