Borneo (Sabah & Sarawak)

At 4,095 meters, Mount Kinabalu is the highest mountain between the Himalayas and New Guinea — and one of the most coveted climbs in Southeast Asia. The Kinabalu National Park has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2000 and is home to an incredible biodiversity: over 5,000 plant species (including the giant Rafflesia, the largest bloom in the world), 326 bird species, and 100 mammal species.

The ascent is not a climbing tour, but a challenging hike over two days:

• Day 1: Timpohon Gate (1,866 m) → Laban Rata (3,272 m). 6 km steep uphill through montane rainforest, cloud forest, and alpine zone. 5–7 hours. Overnight in the simple but cozy Laban Rata Resthouse.
• Day 2: Departure at 2:30 AM in the dark. 2.7 km over granite rocks to Low's Peak (4,095 m) — arrival at sunrise. The view over the cloud cover at sunrise is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Descent back to Timpohon Gate on the same day.

Booking: The climb must be booked through Sutera Sanctuary Lodges — they have the monopoly on accommodation in Laban Rata. Costs: approx. 1,800–2,500 MYR (360–500 €) per person, including guide, permit, accommodation, and meals. Book months in advance! Places are limited to ~130 climbers per day.

The Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre is one of the most touching places on Borneo — and one of the few places in the world where you can observe orangutans in a semi-wild environment. Since 1964, orphaned and rescued orangutans have been raised here and prepared for a life in the wild. The center covers 43 km² of protected rainforest.

The feeding times (10:00 and 15:00) are the highlight: On a platform in the forest, bananas and milk are laid out, and the semi-wild orangutans swing in on ropes to feed. Some bring their babies — a sight that touches the heart. The animals come voluntarily — if they find enough in the forest, they stay away. This is precisely the goal of rehabilitation.

Right next door is the Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre — the world's only rescue center for Malayan sun bears (the smallest bears in the world). The endearing animals with their golden chest patch climb, play, and sun themselves in large enclosures. Less known than Sepilok, but equally worthwhile.

Also nearby: the Rainforest Discovery Centre (RDC) — a canopy walkway 28 meters high with excellent birdwatching. Hornbills, barbets, and pitta birds are regularly seen here.

The Kinabatangan River is the longest river in Sabah (560 km) and one of the best places in the world to observe wild animals in their natural habitat — no zoo, no fences, no staging. The lower reaches of the river host a concentration of wildlife unmatched in Southeast Asia.

What You Can See

• Proboscis Monkeys: The bizarre primates with their oversized noses are native only to Borneo. At the Kinabatangan, they sit in the trees along the riverbank in the evening — almost guaranteed.
• Orangutans: Wild (not rehabilitated!) orangutans live in the forest along the river. Sightings are possible but not guaranteed.
• Borneo Pygmy Elephants: The smallest elephants in Asia roam the riverbanks — herds of 20–50 animals are not uncommon. One of the most unforgettable experiences.
• Hornbills: Eight species of hornbills live here — their huge beaks and the rustle of their wings are unmistakable.
• Crocodiles: Saltwater crocodiles bask on the banks — keep a respectful distance!

How It Works: Most visitors book a 2- or 3-day package from Sandakan (2.5h transfer) with an overnight stay in a simple jungle lodge on the riverbank. Included are boat trips at sunrise, in the afternoon, and at night. Costs: from 400 MYR (~80 €) for 2 days/1 night, from 600 MYR (~120 €) for 3 days/2 nights.

Sipadan is not just a dive site — Sipadan is a legend. Jacques Cousteau called it "an untouched piece of art" and placed it on his list of the best dive sites in the world. The tiny island off the east coast of Sabah rises from 600 meters deep as a volcanic cone, and the vertical wall that drops directly from the beach creates an ecosystem of incredible density.

What Awaits You Underwater

• Turtles: Hundreds of green sea turtles and hawksbill turtles — almost guaranteed on every dive.
• Barracuda Tornado: At the dive site "Barracuda Point," thousands of barracudas form a swirling tornado — one of the most spectacular underwater phenomena in the world.
• Reef Sharks: Whitetip and grey reef sharks patrol the drop-off wall.
• Schools: Bumphead parrotfish, bigeye trevally, batfish — the schools are gigantic.
• Turtle Tomb: An underwater cave with the skeletons of drowned turtles — eerie and fascinating at the same time (only for experienced divers).

Important: Since 2004, no one is allowed to stay overnight on Sipadan. All divers stay on the neighboring islands of Mabul or Kapalai and travel by boat to Sipadan in the morning. The government issues only 120 dive permits per day — your dive resort must apply for these for you. Book months in advance!

The Gunung Mulu National Park in Sarawak is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and home to some of the world's most spectacular cave systems. The limestone landscape — shaped over 5 million years — contains over 300 km of explored caves, and scientists suspect that many more remain undiscovered.

The Highlight Caves

• Deer Cave: With an opening of 150 × 120 meters, one of the largest cave passages in the world — so large that five cathedrals could fit inside. At 6:00 PM, 3 million bats swarm out of the cave in a spiraling cloud — the "Bat Exodus" is Mulu's signature experience.
• Lang Cave: Small cave right next to Deer Cave with delicate stalactites and stalagmites — each dripstone a work of art.
• Clearwater Cave: The longest cave system in Southeast Asia (over 200 km explored) with an underground river and crystal-clear water.
• Wind Cave: Named after the wind currents that blow through the cave. Impressive pillar halls and limestone formations.

For adventurers: The Pinnacles Trek (3 days/2 nights) leads through dense jungle to the Mulu Pinnacles — razor-sharp limestone spires rising 45 meters from the rainforest. The ascent is steep and challenging (ladders, ropes), but the view from the top is surreal.

Getting there: Flight from Kota Kinabalu or Kuching to Mulu (MASwings, from 200 MYR one-way). There is no road connection — Mulu is only accessible by plane or longboat.

The Danum Valley Conservation Area in Sabah is one of the last patches of untouched primary rainforest on Borneo — 438 km² of forest that has never been logged and has existed in its original form for 130 million years. There are no plantations, no roads, no villages — just forest as far as the eye can see.

Danum Valley is the opposite of mass tourism: Only two accommodations are allowed — the Borneo Rainforest Lodge (upscale, from 1,200 MYR/night) and the Danum Valley Field Centre (researcher accommodation, from 250 MYR/night). Visitor numbers are strictly limited.

What Awaits You

• Canopy Walkway: 107 meters long, 27 meters high — a treetop path through the canopy with birdwatching at eye level.
• Night Walks: With a headlamp through the rainforest — slow lorises, flying squirrels, civet cats, and the omnipresent sounds of the jungle.
• Wildlife: Wild orangutans, Borneo gibbons, banteng (wild cattle), sun bears, and over 340 bird species.
• Swimming: Natural river pools with crystal-clear water — refreshing after a humid jungle hike.

Getting there: 2.5-hour drive on logging roads from Lahad Datu (Sabah). Transfer is organized by the lodge.