Sabah's Lost World

Those who make it to this pristine area of rainforest, almost entirely encircled by imposing mountains, are amongst a lucky few. A preliminary expedition team only entered the Basin as recently as 1982, and it remains one of Borneo’s least-explored rainforests, home to an abundance of rare wildlife. To date, a staggering diversity of flora and a number of brand new species have been identified. In an region which covers an area larger than the entirety of Singapore, who's to say what else is yet to be discovered?

The Maliau Basin requires special permission to visit, which our local team will be on hand to enable, and facilities are extremely basic. Accommodation is either at the Maliau Basin Studies Centre (a working laboratory and research facility), or in simple camps deep in the rainforest, and guests can expect simple food, basic beds and bunks, cold water showers and limited electricity. You’ll only be roughing it for a few nights, however, with the remainder of your trip including a few more home comforts, and if you’ve got an appetite for adventure this experience is second to none. Our destination specialists will chat with you about how best to fit the Maliau Basin into your tailor-made itinerary, and in the meantime here are some ideas to get you thinking about the shape of your journey…

Exploring the ends of the Earth...

Days in Maliau are spent traversing its wild terrain, following your guides on undulating treks through the dense undergrowth with the forest canopy towering above you. Pulling yourself up on ropes when you come to particularly steep sections, you’ll be rewarded with spectacular panoramic views over the Basin. This area has the highest density of waterfalls in Malaysia, with the 7-tiered Maliau Falls being the largest and most impressive. It’s an ideal place to picnic, take in the scenery, and cool off with a swim in the tea-coloured, mineral rich waters. Whilst this might not be everyone's idea of a relaxing holiday, it makes for an undeniably memorable experience.

Selamat datang (Welcome) to Kota Kinabalu

Whether at the start or end of your Maliau adventure, you’ll almost certainly pass through Sabah’s capital city. Often known as ‘KK’, Kota Kinabalu might lack the high profile and distinctive character of some of Asia’s better known metropolises, but is swiftly developing to take advantage of its waterside location and mountain backdrop. Although some of the architecture is a little bit ‘concretey’ and increasingly high rise, it’s one of those cities where visitors tend to be pleasantly surprised. 

Not everyone chooses to stay in the city itself, with many favouring the nearby beaches, but highlights for those who do include the Atkinson Clock Tower (Kota Kinabalu's oldest building from the British Colonial era), the iconic floating mosque, bustling markets, and a pleasant waterfront area with ample bars, night markets and restaurants serving super-fresh seafood. If you’ve still got an adventurous itch to scratch, you can attempt to reach the summit of Mt Kinabalu, one of South-East Asia’s highest peaks. Climbers with a reasonable level of fitness can ascend from tropical lowlands and mossy forests to alpine meadows, dominated by the jagged granite peaks of the mountain rising over 13,000 feet towards the sky.

It’s a jungle out there…

A few days in the wilds of the Maliau Basin, paired with a couple of nights in Kota Kinabalu and a sojourn on a nearby beach, is more than enough to fill one visit to Borneo, but for those with more time, Sabah has plenty to offer. A short flight from Kota Kinabalu takes you to Sandakan and the nearby Sepilok Orangutan Sanctuary, which is famous for its rehabilitation work with young orphaned and injured animals. Watch the youngest orangutans from behind one-way glass as they play in the nursery, and head out to the feeding platforms to spot older animals, who live wild in the reserve, venture in for a guaranteed source of food.

From there, longboats wait to glide you through some of the wildlife hotspots of the Kinabatangan River. Cruise along at a leisurely place, watching the banks for glimpses of Borneo’s diverse wildlife making its way down to the water’s edge. Alternatively, jump into a jeep and head deep into the towering rainforests of the Danum Valley to spend immersive nights in the rainforest and wander high in the canopy along treetop walkways...

Tropical beaches & island hideaways

We believe that the perfect trip is a balanced one, designed to bring you home inspired, fulfilled, refreshed and revitalised. At the end of a full-on expedition, such as this one to Maliau, we’d highly recommend including a few days’ dedicated relaxation time, which is something that Borneo’s glorious beaches provide beautifully well. Our trips are tailored around you, and not everyone is a beach person, so what we’re really aiming for with ‘beach’ is balance; there are many different ways to achieve it.

If you do opt for relaxation by the sea, the beaches on the mainland, and on nearby Gaya Island, are all within easy reach of Kota Kinabalu, with no more 4WD vehicles, trekking or longboats required! If your thirst for adventure is still going strong, you can continue the exploration by diving into the waters of the nearby Tunku Abdul Rahman National Marine Park for an insight into another very different world.