Overview
This action-packed, multi-activity adventure takes you cycling, trekking, and kayaking through Borneo. Hike through remote villages, breathtaking national parks, and luscious rainforest. Kayak on the Sarawak river and come across centuries-old caves and hidden waterfalls. Cycle across majestic mountain ranges and exotic coastal paths while absorbing Borneo’s rich culture with authentic homestays, meeting locals, and sampling the local cuisine. All you need to decide is whether you stay for 5 or 8 days.
Highlights
Immerse yourself in the Sarawak rainforest on a 5 or 8-day adventure combining jungle trekking, mountain biking, and river kayaking. This all-in-one expedition offers authentic encounters with nature, indigenous culture, and off-the-grid landscapes in Borneo.
Kick-start from the majestic interior mountain range, then pedal and paddle down to spectacular coastal national parks.
Meet mankind’s closest relative, the orangutan.
Trek through the highlands to visit remote villages and amazing waterfalls.
Venture into an array of national parks for wildlife spotting.
Mix active holiday with a dash of cultural experience with a stay in a native longhouse.
Indulge in a wide variety of cuisines with fresh ingredients from jungle produce and fresh seafood.
On the 8-day tour, cycle along Borneo’s picturesque mangrove coastline that ends at a seclusive seaside resort for well-deserved beach time.
Tailor-made trip
Golden Cycling Tours is a bike tour operator housing an experienced team of biking guide, bike mechanic, driver, cycling tour consultant and bicycle specialists. We can create a unique, custom-designed independent itinerary that is fully adapted to your needs, whether you are traveling solo, with family and friends, or as a group.
The itinerary above is only a sample that can be re-designed to better fit your needs and/or budget. Please click here to let us know what you are interested in adding or excluding to customize a selected itinerary or to design a completely new program just for you.
What’s Included
Included
Local, English-speaking guide
Bikes, helmets, and backup support
T-shirt & reusable water bottle
Accommodations
Meals
Support vehicle and all luggage transfers
Rain ponchos
Drinks & snacks during the rides
Other non-riding activities as per the itinerary
Entrance fees
Not Included
International Flight Connection to Borneo
Juices and alcoholic beverages
Tourism Tax RM10 / Room/ Night will be applicable for foreigners or non-Malaysians payable upon hotel check-in
Tipping / Gratuity is at your discretion
Medical / Travel Insurance
Hotel accommodation after the tour ends (not included)
Any other item(s) not on the tour itinerary
What to Bring
Essential Items
Multiple sets of cycling or sporting clothing
Multiple sets of spare casual clothing, including long trousers and shorts, hat/cap, swimming costumes, sandals, and extra walking shoes
Cycling gear: gloves and sunglasses
Personal care: small towel, toiletries, personal medication, sunscreen, and mosquito repellent
Camera and chargers, dry bag, and torchlight
Extra cash/credit card
Passport with 6 months validity and spare pages (additional immigration check at Sarawak’s entry points) and travel insurance details
For More Comfort
Padded bike shorts with something to put on over the top when not on the bikes
Cycling shoes or comfortable sports shoes
Your own personal helmet, water bottle, and raincoat
Itinerary
Immerse yourself in the Sarawak rainforest on a 5 or 8-day adventure combining jungle trekking, mountain biking, and river kayaking. This all-in-one expedition offers authentic encounters with nature, indigenous culture, and off-the-grid landscapes in Borneo.
We start off early with a transfer to visit Semenggoh Nature Reserve, a large enclosed area of rainforest which is home to endangered orangutans who have been rescued from captivity and kept for rehabilitation. We watch orangutans emerge from the rainforest during their feeding time and then, it’s time to start riding.
Using winding rural back roads, we pedal through a series of kampongs, surrounded by small-scale pepper farms, rice fields, and plantations. Join one of the host families in the longhouse to enjoy freshly cooked bamboo chicken and wild jungle vegetables on the tanju (patio) of the longhouse. After lunch, explore this harmonious Bidayuh longhouse and learn about the culture of the Land Dayaks who were once headhunters.
Cycling distance: 34 km
Accommodation: Annah Rais Homestay
After a quick vehicle transfer, we reach Bengoh Dam jetty, the starting point of today’s hiking adventure. Enjoy a 20-minute boat ride across the tranquil lake surrounded by a circular, scenic mountain range. We then hike uphill for 30 minutes to a homestay with a stunning view of the lake below.
After checking into the homestay, we continue with a one-hour, steep ascent that brings us to a series of spectacular waterfalls with crystal clear water, surrounded by jungle. Sunbathe on giant rocks and soak in the negative ions for a rejuvenating experience of Borneo wilderness. Here, the art of Dayak culinary skills is revealed as guests learn, first-hand, how to cook with bamboo harvested from the jungle.
After a cool dip and delicious food, we return to the village, passing through pepper farms where the host will demonstrate how pepper is harvested and processed. Return to the village house for a home-cooked dinner on the tanju (patio) overlooking the lake. Batteries may be charged up at this stop, as it is powered by the village micro-hydro and solar panel.
Hiking distance: 5 km; elevation gain: 500m; estimated hiking time: 2-3 hours
Accommodation: Highland Homestay
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
After breakfast, take a 20-minute boat ride across the lake. After a short drive, we get ready for our kayak, cave, and cycle adventure. We start the day by floating down an untouched stretch of the Sarawak River in a kayak to discover a hidden waterfall and explore unique limestone formations. After lunch at the kayaking base camp, we get on the saddle for a 28km ride to an idyllic Buddhist retreat, our accommodation for the night. Dinner will be in the old historical town of Siniawan, where the shophouses and the streets are frozen in time for a dose of nostalgia with your meal.
Distance: Kayak 7 km and cycle 28 km
Accommodation: Kuching Buddhist Village
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
After a vegetarian breakfast at the Buddhist village in the morning, we drive to the Fairy Cave. The Fairy Cave boasts an impressive huge chamber halfway up a mountain, with formations dating all the way back to the Jurassic period. Walk up a series of flights of stairs to reach the entrance of the chamber. The approaching chamber will take your breath away on first sighting and it offers spectacular view to both inside and outside the cave.
After the cave visit, we ride to Matang, ending at the day’s accommodation at Retreat Serapi. Enjoy a well-earned rest after the day’s ride. Take a dip in the stream or simply take in the scenery in the green sanctuary of the retreat.
Cycling distance: 55 km
Accommodation: Retreat @ Serapi
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
Today’s trek passes through some of the most impressive rainforest scenery in Sarawak. This trail starts at the 900 ft mark on the Gunung Serapi Road and leads to the nearby Matang Wildlife Centre, some 3 hours and 30 mins away. Along the way, we pass crystal-clear waterfalls and see dozens of fascinating plant species including rare ferns, orchids, and also numerous palms. Kubah has so many varieties that it is known as “the world of palms.”
Also prominent in the park is the carnivorous pitcher plant. Rest assured, the pitcher plant is harmless to us but remains a menace to small invertebrates, such as insects. Animals such as bearded pigs, mouse deer, squirrels, and black hornbills call this park home. Though sightings of wildlife are not guaranteed, the sight and scent of the tropical rainforest—which remains largely undisturbed—is a treat in itself! The impressive jungle trek ends at a clear jungle stream adjacent to the Matang Wildlife Centre.
Matang Wildlife Center is Sarawak’s main center for wildlife rehabilitation. The rescued animals being rehabilitated here include orangutans, sun bears, bearcats, civet cats, sambar deer, barking deer, porcupines, and crocodiles, all of which can be seen in spacious, natural enclosures. A large aviary houses a variety of hornbills, as well as Brahminy kites and sea eagles.
From here, you will either be dropped back in Kuching or left to explore the park, depending on your itinerary. The tour ends by dropping you back to your city hotel.
Hiking distance: 6.5 km; elevation gain: 280 m
Meals: Breakfast and lunch
N/B: If the Matang Wildlife Centre is closed due to the monsoon season or National Park directive, we will transfer to Permai on this day and do the hiking at Gunung Santubong National Park (Blue Pool Trail).
Arrive in the capital of Sarawak to the charming town of Kuching. The group will meet with the tour leader in the late afternoon for a briefing, a chance to try out the bikes, and then we head off onto the heritage trail of the White Rajah. Pedal into history to explore the main bazaar of the picturesque Old Town and cross the river in the traditional fashion on a ‘sampan’ ferry. Enjoy a sunset dinner on the banks of the Sarawak River.
Cycling distance: 12 km
Accommodation: The Marian Boutique Lodging House
Meals: Dinner
We start off with an early transfer to visit Semenggoh Nature Reserve, a large enclosed area of the rainforest which is home to endangered orangutans. These beautiful animals have been rescued from captivity and kept for rehabilitation. We watch orangutans emerge from the rainforest during their feeding time.
After leaving the Nature Reserve, we hop onto our bikes to start cycling. Using winding rural back roads, we pedal through a series of kampongs surrounded by small-scale pepper farms, rice fields, and plantations. Join one of the host families in the longhouse to enjoy freshly cooked bamboo chicken and wild jungle vegetables on the tanju (patio) of the longhouse. After lunch, explore this peaceful Bidayuh longhouse and learn about the culture of the Land Dayaks who were once headhunters.
Cycling distance: 34 km
Accommodation: Annah Rais Homestay
Meals: Lunch and dinner
After a quick vehicle transfer, we reach Bengoh Dam jetty, the starting point of today’s hiking adventure. Enjoy a 20-minute boat ride across the tranquil lake surrounded by a circular, scenic mountain range. We then hike uphill for 30 minutes to a homestay with a stunning view of the lake below.
After checking into the homestay, we continue with a one-hour, steep ascent that brings us to a series of spectacular waterfalls with crystal clear water, surrounded by jungle. Sunbathe on giant rocks and soak in the negative ions for a rejuvenating experience of Borneo wilderness. Here, the art of Dayak culinary skills is revealed as guests learn, first-hand, how to cook with bamboo harvested from the jungle.
After a cool dip and delicious food, we return to the village, passing through pepper farms where the host will demonstrate how pepper is harvested and processed. Return to the village house for a home-cooked dinner on the tanju (patio) overlooking the lake. Batteries may be charged up at this stop, as it is powered by the village micro-hydro and solar panel.
Hiking distance: 5km; elevation gain: 500m; estimated hiking time: 2-3 hours
Accommodation: Highland Homestay
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
After breakfast, take a 20-minute boat ride across the lake. After a short drive, we get ready for our kayak, cave, and cycle adventure. We start the day by floating down an untouched stretch of the Sarawak River in a kayak to discover a hidden waterfall and explore unique limestone formations. After lunch at the kayaking base camp, we get on the saddle for a 28km ride to an idyllic Buddhist retreat, our accommodation for the night. Dinner will be in the old historical town of Siniawan, where the shophouses and the streets are frozen in time for a dose of nostalgia with your meal.
Distance: Kayak 7 km and cycle 28 km
Accommodation: Kuching Buddhist Village
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
After a vegetarian breakfast at the Buddhist village in the morning, we drive to the Fairy Cave. The Fairy Cave boasts an impressive huge chamber halfway up a mountain, with formations dating all the way back to the Jurassic period. Walk up a series of flights of stairs to reach the entrance of the chamber. The approaching chamber will take your breath away on first sighting and it offers spectacular view to both inside and outside the cave.
After the cave visit, we ride to Matang, ending at the day’s accommodation at Retreat Serapi. Enjoy a well-earned rest after the day’s ride. Take a dip in the stream or simply take in the scenery in the green sanctuary of the retreat.
Cycling distance: 55 km
Accommodation: Retreat @ Serapi
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
Today’s trek passes through some of the most impressive rainforest scenery in Sarawak. This trail starts at the 900 ft mark on the Gunung Serapi Road and leads to the nearby Matang Wildlife Center, some 3 hours and 30 minutes away. Along the way, we pass crystal-clear waterfalls and see dozens of fascinating plant species including rare ferns, orchids, and also numerous palms. Kubah has so many varieties that it is known as “The world of Palms.”
Also prominent in the park is the carnivorous pitcher plant. Rest assured, the pitcher plant is harmless to us but remains a menace to small invertebrates, such as insects. Animals such as bearded pigs, mouse deer, squirrels, and black hornbills call this park home. Though sightings of wildlife are not guaranteed, the sight and scent of the tropical rainforest—which remains largely undisturbed—is a treat by itself! The impressive jungle trek ends at a clear jungle stream adjacent to the Matang Wildlife Center.
Matang Wildlife Center is Sarawak’s main center for wildlife rehabilitation. The rescued animals being rehabilitated here include orangutans, sun bears, bearcats, civet cats, sambar deer, barking deer, porcupines, and crocodiles, all of which can be seen in spacious, natural enclosures. A large aviary houses a variety of hornbills, as well as Brahminy kites and sea eagles. We will stay overnight at the park accommodation.
Hiking distance: 6.5 km; elevation gain: 280 m
Accommodation: Retreat @ Serapi
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
N/B: If the Matang Wildlife Centre is closed due to the monsoon season or National Park directive, we will cycle to Permai on Day 6 and do the hiking at Gunung Santubong National Park (Blue Pool Trail).
Enjoy your morning ride along a beautiful mangrove coastal way taking in great views of Mount Santubong, our final destination today. Along the way, we will visit the Malay fishing kampong of Buntal and lovely village poses as a great opportunity to spot migratory birds along the spectacular coastline. After lunch at a local seafood restaurant, we ride the final 13-km scenic stretch to Damai Beach. Upon reaching Damai Beach, you will have the opportunity to relax on the beach at our jungle resort.
Cycling distance: 57 km
Accommodation: Permai Rainforest Resort
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
On our final day, after breakfast, we take you back to Kuching airport for your return flight.
Meals: Breakfast
.webp "5-Day or 8-Day Trek, Pedal, & Paddle the Sarawak Rainforest")
.webp "5-Day or 8-Day Trek, Pedal, & Paddle the Sarawak Rainforest")
.webp "5-Day or 8-Day Trek, Pedal, & Paddle the Sarawak Rainforest")
.webp "5-Day or 8-Day Trek, Pedal, & Paddle the Sarawak Rainforest")
.webp "5-Day or 8-Day Trek, Pedal, & Paddle the Sarawak Rainforest")
.webp "5-Day or 8-Day Trek, Pedal, & Paddle the Sarawak Rainforest")
.webp "5-Day or 8-Day Trek, Pedal, & Paddle the Sarawak Rainforest")
.webp "5-Day or 8-Day Trek, Pedal, & Paddle the Sarawak Rainforest")
.webp "5-Day or 8-Day Trek, Pedal, & Paddle the Sarawak Rainforest")
.webp "5-Day or 8-Day Trek, Pedal, & Paddle the Sarawak Rainforest")
.webp "5-Day or 8-Day Trek, Pedal, & Paddle the Sarawak Rainforest")
.webp "5-Day or 8-Day Trek, Pedal, & Paddle the Sarawak Rainforest")
.jpg "13 Days Ho Chi Minh Cycling To Halong Bay - Hanoi")
.jpg "Luang Prabang Bike to Kuang Si Waterfall & Cruise the Mekong River 1 Day")
.jpg "Mekong Delta Cycling Tour 4 Days")
.jpg "3 Days Luang Prabang Cycling and Trekking in Chomphet District")
.jpg "Cycling Trip Northern Vietnam 4 Days")
.jpg "Sapa Cycle Tour 2 Days")
.jpg "7 Days The Southern Cycling Laos Loop Tour")
.jpg "Hanoi Mountain Bike Tour Ba Vi National Park 1 Day")
.jpg "Northern Vietnam Bike Trip Sapa, Bac Ha, Si Ma Cai 5 Days")
.jpg "Siem Reap Cycling To Hue Vietnam 16 Days")
.jpg "Bac Ha Biking Tour 2 Days")
.jpg "Bac Ha Cycle Trip 3 Days")
.jpg "Bac Ha Cycling Tour from Lao Cai 3 Days")
.jpg "Bicycle Ride Hanoi Thanh Chuong Viet Palace 1 Day")
.jpg "Bicycle Tour Hanoi Mai Chau Pu Luong 4 Days")