Inspiration for your own tailor-made trip
A Malaysian Borneo and Singapore Combo City Buzz, Island Idyll and Rainforest Trekking
Malaysia – Singapore – Borneo – Kuching – Batang Ai – Mulu – Gaya Island
Jump into adventure in Kuching, the capital of Sarawak. Lively and coastal, this pretty city is full of markets, street food stalls, boutique shops, bars and restaurants. And, since you’re in Borneo, you’re never too far from nature, so pay a visit to Bako National Park while you’re here.
Having glimpsed the wilds of Borneo’s rainforests, delve deeper into the wilderness in Batang Ai National Park. After making some furry friends here – we're looking at you, orangutans – swap the towering trees for a sprawling network of caves in Mulu National Park. Bring on the bats...
Round out the Bornean leg of your getaway with a couple of days on the sandy shores of Gaya Island. After slurping up a string of deliciously fruity cocktails, swap Malaysia’s shores for a speedy stay exploring Singapore’s city streets. It’s time to toast to a trip well spent (with a Singapore Sling, of course).
Itinerary
100% customisable for you
Rise and shine – your adventures in Southeast Asia kick off today. Head to the airport, whizz through security and slip away to the lounge for some complimentary fizz before departure. Flights to Kuching, the capital of Borneo’s Sarawak region, connect through Singapore and take around 18-and-a-half hours in total.
You’ll land the following day, ready to grab your bags and meet your private driver for a transfer into the city centre. When you arrive, check in for three nights, divvy up the sides of the bed and do a spot of unpacking.
The rest of the day is yours to spend as you please. If you’re raring to go, hit the streets on a preliminary stroll, but if you’re tired from your travels, simply kick back and enjoy the facilities at your hotel before hitting the hay.
Fuel up on a hearty breakfast this morning to prepare for a day spent cycling the streets of Kuching. Accompanied by a local guide, head to the waterfront for a suitably scenic start.
Having taken in the views and stopped to refuel with a coffee, delve into the city to discover its temples and monuments while rubbing shoulders with the locals. Then, board a traditional boat for a cruise on the Sarawak River.
Back on dry land, perch up for a lovely lunch and sample some local street food specialities. The rest of the afternoon is free for you to focus on whatever piques your curiosity, then return to your hotel to freshen up before turning your thoughts towards dinner.
Slip away from the hustle and bustle of the city this morning to head to Bako National Park. The private transfer will take about an hour, so don’t hesitate to request some road trip tunes along the way.
Home to seven distinct ecosystems, Bako boasts a wide variety of animal and plant life. We’re talking proboscis monkeys, silver-leaf monkeys, long-tailed macaques, wild boars, flying squirrels and monitor lizards, as well as hundreds of species of birds. Eyes peeled...
In terms of flora, you can also count on seeing mangroves and strangler figs dotted around the park. Be sure to keep an eye out for the unusual geological features dotted along the coast, too. And keep your cameras to hand – this landscape is just waiting to take centre stage on your photo wall back home.
Another day, another national park. Bid the bright lights of Kuching farewell this morning as you load up the car for your private transfer to Batang Ai National Park.
On the way, stop to meet some orangutans at the Semenggoh Nature Reserve. This rehabilitation centre welcomes orphans and survivors of deforestation, guiding these gentle giants towards a return to the wild.
Having made some new furry friends, bundle back into the car to reach Lake Batang Ai this afternoon. After a two-hour boat crossing in a pirogue (a traditional wooden canoe), you’ll arrive at your lodge, where you can check in for a two-night stay.
The rest of your time here will be dedicated to Borneo’s natural beauty. Spend your days trekking to the multi-tiered Enseluai waterfall, watching local boatmen demonstrate traditional fishing methods and meeting the local Iban villagers – quite the line-up.
Enjoy one last breakfast immersed in the rich soundscape of the rainforest this morning before packing your bags and checking out. Then, climb aboard a boat to head downriver to Batang Ai Pier. After stopping for a lovely lunch, continue to Kuching, a three-and-a-half-hour drive away.
Having returned to the city this afternoon, check in for one night, drop your bags and take some time to freshen up. After a leisurely afternoon, reach out to our local Concierge for some stellar restaurant recommendations. Let’s dig in.
Hear that? The caves are calling. Wake up bright and early this morning and head to the airport for your one-hour-and-40-minute internal flight to Mulu.
When you land, meet another private driver to journey to your hotel and check in for a two-night stay. After dropping your bags and scoping out your suave new digs, join forces with a friendly local guide to start exploring the UNESCO-listed Mulu National Park.
Home to a whopping 183-mile-long cave system, Mulu National Park is a treasure trove of geographical oddities... and bats. While it would be impossible to see everything, over the next few days, you’ll visit the most famous spots.
Start with a trip to Lang’s Cave, followed by an exploration of Deer Cave, the largest underground passage in the world. Then, on your second day, head to the Clearwater and Wind Caves, before taking a boat trip to see the Penan longhouses (temporary huts built on stilts by the locals).
Having delved into the caves of Mulu, it’s time to swap Borneo’s dense interior for its sandy shores. After breakfast this morning, you’ll be privately transferred to the airport to catch a one-hour internal flight to Kota Kinabalu.
After landing, hop in another private transfer (lucky you) to journey to the Jesselton Point Ferry Terminal, where you’ll be whizzed across to Gaya Island in a speedboat. After docking, head to your idyllic island resort to start settling in.
This evening calls for a welcome drink – or two – and a mouth-watering meal. Afterwards, sink into a plush stack of pillows and start dreaming up how you’re going to spend the next few days.
The rest of your time on Gaya Island can be spent however you please. After all that wilderness exploration, it’s time to kick back island style.
When you’re not sipping umbrella-topped cocktails by the pool, you can explore Gaya’s lush interior and its hidden coves and beaches. For something a little more active, you could even roll up your sleeves for a cookery class – yum.
Calling all water babies: there’s also the option to wade into the water on a guided snorkelling adventure while you’re here. Or, if you’d prefer to keep your head dry, guided kayaking trips through the mangrove forests are on the cards, too.
However you choose to spend your days on Gaya Island, just be sure to top it all off with one last seafood-centric dinner and a farewell toast to Borneo – and Malaysia, for that matter.
Luxuriate in one last breakfast overlooking the shore this morning before packing your bags and hopping back in a speedboat to cruise to Kota Kinabalu. From here, you’ll be privately transferred to the airport to fly to Singapore, two-and-a-half hours away.
When you land, glimpse the grandeur of Singapore’s Changi Airport before hopping in a car for your private transfer to the final hotel of your trip. Check in for two nights and freshen up before heading back out this afternoon.
To kick the final leg of your far-flung adventure off with a bang, delve into the bustling streets of Singapore in search of a tasty dinner. Whether you’re looking for a sit-down meal at a fancy restaurant or street food specialities, this city is sure to deliver.
Sample Singapore’s booming coffee (or kopi) culture this morning before meeting a friendly local for a private tour of the city. It’s time to let curiosity lead the way...
Stroll through a string of hawker centres (that’s food courts to us Brits), bustling markets, verdant parks and vibrant neighbourhoods to discover the beating heart of the ‘Lion City’.
Having racked up some steep step counts, return to your hotel this afternoon to kick back with a Singapore Sling – a classic gin cocktail created in the iconic Raffles Hotel – and scroll through your camera roll.
To ensure your trip ends on a high note, ask our Concierge to nab you a table at the swankiest spot in town tonight. Bonus points if it’s in a skyscraper.
Like all great adventures, your time in Southeast Asia must sadly come to an end today. Indulge in a slow start this morning, eking out as much enjoyment as you can from Singapore’s breakfast delights, before checking out.
Bags packed and goodbyes said, hop in a car for the private transfer to the airport and board your flight home. The journey back to the UK takes just over 14 hours, so you’ll spend the night on board and arrive the following morning. Nothing left to do but kick back, slip on an eye mask and start dreaming up your next far-flung adventure...
Suggestions
Everything in this itinerary is entirely customisable, down to the smallest details. Here are some more suggestions of what could be included
PRIVATE FOOD TOUR OF KUCHING
Spice up your final night in Kuching with a private food tour of the city. Accompanied by an expert guide, set your sights on the waterfront to catch a traditional water taxi to Petanak Central Market. Having stopped at a few of the stalls, head to the lively district of Padungan before settling down for a cooking class. This is your chance to prepare – and, of course, taste – some traditional Sarawak dishes. Yum.
Why visit Malaysia with Original Travel ?
Each of our trips is entirely tailor-made with originality, quality and cultural immersion in mind. Our team of destination specialists will craft itineraries based on your tastes, using their first-hand knowledge and the help of our in-country team of Concierges and guides. All trips are accompanied by a wide range of additional services, including a 24-hour helpline, the Original Travel app, fast-track airport services and much more.
Enquire nowA few of the benefits of travelling with us to Malaysia
- Our local Concierges
- The Original Travel app
- Wi-Fi router and e-Sim
- Destination Dossier
- 24-hour helpline
- Expert guides
- 100% carbon absorption
