Maliau Basin - Borneo's Lost World!
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Maliau Basin has earned the nickname “Sabah’s lost world” for good reason. The first expeditions into this remote basin occurred as recently as 1988 and it remains very much “off the beaten path” to this day. Visitors willing to take up the challenge of hiking to it’s numerous stunning waterfalls are rewarded with a rich and diverse habitat of vine-clad old-growth forest as well as numerous wildlife spotting opportunities. It’s worth noting that the forest and jungle in Maliau Basin are so dense that larger wildlife will be harder to spot than in areas such as the Kinabatangan River but there will still be plenty of unique flora & fauna on display! Much of the area is still unexplored and whilst over 2000 species of plants and animals have been discovered, many more remain a secret.
Maliau Basin can be reached from either Kota Kinabalu or from Tawau, our standard itineraries are inclusive of transport from / to Kota Kinabalu but alternative arrangements can be made on request (extra costs may apply). The journey into the basin and to the field centre where you will spend the first night is by 4X4 and you will also get a chance to join a night 4X4 safari on your first evening. Subsequent days you will be trekking 5 to 8 hours per day between camps deep in the heart of the basin with your forest ranger and nature guide. Visitors must be physically fit and must also have travel insurance covering helicopter evacuation. Part of the beauty of Maliau Basin is that there are no high end resorts here, basic accommodation & meals are provided at jungle camps throughout the trek immersing you further into the green heart of the basin. This truly is a stunning and unique trip for the adventurous traveller – a not to be missed opportunity of a lifetime to visit somewhere truly off the grid! |
VIEW 4D/3N MALIAU BASIN ITINERARY
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DAY 1
Pick up from Kota Kinabalu (other locations including Semporna/Tawau can be arranged) around 7 am and begin the journey to Sabahs lost world, Maliau Basin. Along the way, you will pass through the Crocker Ranges scenic winding roads and through to Keningau, around 2 hours from Kota Kinabalu. There will be a brief stop in Keningau and a visit to the local market to purchase last minute supplies. Once you reach the Maliau gate, usually early in the afternoon, it is just another 30 - 40 minutes to reach the study centre, stretch your legs, check-in and have a brief orientation of the facilities. In the late afternoon, you will embark on an introductory walk of the area surrounding the centre and learn about some of the incredible biodiversity of this rarely visited part of Borneo. After dinner, you have the option to either join a night drive or night walk to spot nocturnal wildlife, both options included. DAY 2 Wake up early to enjoy your breakfast and re-pack your bag, around 8 am you will head to Agathis camp to begin the trek to Ginseng camp. The trek to Ginseng camp is 9km, comprised of mixed trails, several gentle uphill sections and a journey time of around 5 - 6 hours. Lunch will be had along the way, and with some luck, you may get the chance to glimpse a variety of different animals including Borneon Gibbons or Redleaf Monkeys. Ginseng camp is nestled in very close to Ginseng falls, this is where you can choose to spend your afternoon and take a refreshing afternoon dip before returning to the camp for dinner and lights out. DAY 3 After breakfast, you will pack your lunch and head for Maliau falls, the highlight of any trip to Maliau Basin! The trek is around 4.5km each way on a steep trail with ropes to assist you in places. It should take you around 2 - 3hours each way, so you will get plenty of time to swim, eat your lunch and enjoy the beautiful area surrounding the falls. In the early afternoon, begin your hike back up the hill to Ginseng camp for dinner and lights out. DAY 4 After you have finished your breakfast at Ginseng camp, begin 9km hike back to Agathis Camp to meet your driver. Today is around 9km and should take around 5 hours with time to have your final packed lunch along the way. Once you reach Agathis Camps, it's time to de-leech and begin the 5 - 6 hour drive back to Kota Kinabalu (other finishing locations also available- including Semporna/Tawau for additional RM550). Expected arrival back into Kota Kinabalu is around 7 pm. |
VIEW 5D/4N MALIAU BASIN ITINERARY
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DAY 1
Pick up from Kota Kinabalu (other locations including Semporna/Tawau can be arranged) around 7 am and begin the journey to Sabahs lost world, Maliau Basin. Along the way, you will pass through the Crocker Ranges scenic winding roads and through to Keningau, around 2 hours from Kota Kinabalu. There will be a brief stop in Keningau and a visit to the local market to purchase last minute supplies. Once you reach the Maliau gate, usually early in the afternoon, it is just another 30 - 40 minutes to reach the study centre, stretch your legs, check-in and have a brief orientation of the facilities. In the late afternoon, you will embark on an introductory walk of the area surrounding the centre and learn about some of the incredible biodiversity of this rarely visited part of Borneo. After dinner, you have the option to either join a night drive or night walk to spot nocturnal wildlife, both options included. DAY 2 Wake up early to enjoy your breakfast and re-pack your bag, around 8 am you will head to Agathis camp to begin the Full Maliau Basin Trekking loop! It is around a 7.5km trail leading to Nepenthes camp, starting with a steep incline that may have you wishing you had packed a lighter than you did! Average time to reach Nethenthes camp is around 5 hours, you will have rest stops along the way, one of which will also be your lunch break (packed lunch). Once you reach Nepenthes camp, you can drop your pack, enjoy some refreshments and explore the area, the highlight of which is the 33meter high observation platform next to the camp, where you can get a view of the tree canopy. Time-depending, there is an optional 2-3 hour return trek to nearby Takob Akob falls. Return for dinner at Nepenthes camp and lights out. DAY 3 Get the day started with an early breakfast, then continue the trekking loop toward Ginseng camp (around 7km / 5 hours). This will be your lest challenging and most varied of the trekking days, bringing you through lower dipterocarp, lower montane and heath forests. Different pitcher plants and rafflesia can be seen along with Borneon Gibbons and Redleaf Monkeys with some luck. Ginseng camp is nestled in very close to Ginseng falls, this is where you can choose to spend your afternoon and take a refreshing afternoon dip before returning to the camp for dinner and lights out. DAY 4 After breakfast, you will pack your lunch and head for Maliau falls, the highlight of any trip to Maliau Basin! The trek is around 4.5km each way on a steep trail with ropes to assist you in places. It should take you around 2 - 3hours each way, so you will get plenty of time to swim, eat your lunch and enjoy the beautiful area surrounding the falls. In the early afternoon, begin your hike back up the hill to Ginseng camp for dinner and lights out. DAY 5 After you have finished your breakfast at Ginseng camp, begin 9km hike back to Agathis Camp to meet your driver. Today is around 9km and should take around 5 hours with time to have your final packed lunch along the way. Once you reach Agathis Camps, it's time to de-leech and begin the 5 - 6 hour drive back to Kota Kinabalu (other finishing locations also available- including Semporna/Tawau for additional RM550). Expected arrival back into Kota Kinabalu is around 7 pm. |
Price per person
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The Taster 4D3N
RM4400 Based on 2 pax booking RM3550 Based on 3-4 pax booking |
Full Loop 5D4N
RM5200 Based on 2 pax booking RM4150 Based on 3-4 pax booking |
**Please enquire for special rate on bookings of 5 pax or more
Trips can be arranged to Maliau Basin for any dates throughout the year but it is normally best to give at least a few days notice. For solo travellers, drop us an email to check which dates we already have a trip to Maliau departing.
Additional info
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Included
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Excluded
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getting to maliau basin
Our trips are inclusive of transport from Kota Kinabalu (approx 6 hours drive per way). If you would prefer to depart from Semporna or Tawau or start your trip from Kota Kinabalu and finish in Tawau please just ask for a quotation.
who is this trip suitable for?
- On a typical trekking day in Maliau basin you will cover around 9km. Whilst the distance isn't that great, the terrain and humidity make this a challenging trek recommended for physically fit travellers.
- The accommodation at the camps is very basic dormitory-style jungle camps, there are no private room options.
- This a very remote trek and all visitors to Maliau must have travel insurance that covers them for helicopter evacuation in the event of an emergency. All evacuation costs are at your own expense.
what to pack
Here is the recommended items for packing to go to the jungle-
- Insect repellent (deet is best)
- Comfortable hiking backpack
- Sleeping bag (can be rented, pls advise us in advance)
- Light raincoat
- Sun hat
- Binoculars (not essential but good if you have them)
- Torch
- Sunscreen
- Comfortable shoes ("Adidas Kampung" the perfect trekking shoes for Borneo, available in KK market)
- Long sleeve shirt and long/short trousers (for mosquitoes)
- Basic first aid kit
- Money (there are no ATMs in the jungle but there isn’t really anything to buy)
- Light travel towel
- Light sweatshirt or fleece for evenings as it can get slightly cold in the huts
- Water bottle/s for 1 days trekking (3 litres recommended, can be refilled each morning)
- Some high energy snacks (chocolate, nuts etc.)
Honest Pricing
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At River Junkie, we like to keep our pricing as fair, honest and transparent as possible. If you find the exact trip that we are offering for a lower price, we will either match it or beat it - this is our guarantee in providing you with honest pricing.
*Our price guarantee is for published rates only and not applicable to flash deals or last-minute promotions
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