Borneo Adventure - 9 Day Trip

When in Borneo, immersing yourself in the culture is a MUST (Obvi). So that’s why next on the list is learning about history and culture through visiting the Mari Mari village. The village is set in the forest, away from all the hustle & bustle of Kota Kinabalu. You’ll meet members of the five main tribes of Sabah while learning all about their daily life and traditions. The REAL life perspective, you’ll hear all about the head hunters of Borneo, their ancestors as well as the stories of the high priestess of a tribe, also known as the Bobohizan. We told you we would immerse ourselves in the culture! For the evening, we have some time to relax until it’s sunset o’clock. This time though it’s not just any ordinary sunset, it’s one that’s been voted number one in the world! And yes, you can go tell all your friends and make them jealous, we give you permission.

Today is the day we have all been waiting for! We leave Kota Kinabalu in the morning and set off to Sepilok, the journey has a scenic view of the lush greenery as well as the small local villages before we arrive at our jungle resort. Before we go meet our orangutan friends at the Sepilok Rehabilitation Centre you can freshen up, have a little nap, or take a dip in the pool and chill, you do you boo! Just make sure you are ready to meet the 80 orangutans that live freely in the centre *cue awwww’s*. At the centre, they focus on rehabilitating orangutans so that they can be released back into the wild eventually. Don’t think it can get much cuter? Hold that thought because there are 25 baby orangutans in the centre, so see if you can spot any little ones! If you weren’t already, we can guarantee that you will have fallen in love with these incredible animals! The love does not stop there though, as we go over to the Sun Bear Conservation Centre next door, to see some of the world’s smallest species of bear. Who are also cared for just like the orangutans and then released back into the wild. We then head back to the jungle resort where you can chill with your TruFam and gush over the wonderful friends we made earlier today.

Rise and shine! Bet you’ve never had a wake-up call from gibbons or hornbills before, but that changes today! We are off to the Kinabatangan river once again to see what wildlife we can spot as some are more active in the morning! After spending our morning on the river, it’s time to head to Kundasang, Ranau. Ranau is home to the Kundasang war memorial and gardens, which is one of the first memorials to commemorate the brave Australian and British prisoners of war who died during the infamous Sandakan-Ranu Death march. Once we have immersed ourselves in Borneo’s history, it’s time to sample some local rice wines and feast at the nearby market to experience the real, local way of life! After we’ve filled our stomachs with too much rice wine & food from the market, it’s time to catch our beauty sleep for an early start tomorrow!

We’re going hiking so grab yo’ boots and lets gooo! To start the day off, we’ll explore Mount Kinabalu’s treetops, pretty amazing start we’d say. The view is incredible from the Canopy Tree Top Walk, no need to imagine what a hundred million-year-old rainforest would look like because it’s right in front of you! Definitely a memory you will cherish forever so make sure you really take in all that is around you as it’s not every day you get to see a rainforest, let alone from birds-eye view! Next up is the highest waterfall in Sabah, the Langanan waterfall stands 100m high (just a tad tall no biggie). Hope your feeling up for a challenge as we are going to go on a 3.5km trek, but trust us, it’s so worth it. Our stomachs are sure to be grumbling, so it’s time for a well-deserved lunch. You should be proud of yourself as you’ve completed the trek, high-fives all around (or elbow bumps, ya know 2020 & all)! Now, it’s time for the ultimate relaxation session at the mineral-infused hot springs, your muscles can thank you later! Ahhh, sounds dreamy right.

Wow, what a jam-packed (but epic) week we’ve had, which means it’s only right for us to have a day to relax. So the ball is in your court, you choose what you want to do today. Whether it be checking out the local markets to get those taste buds tingling, treating yourself to a massage or just taking in your gorgeous surroundings of Kota Kinabalu, maybe even catching the sunset! Whatever you fancy doing, the choice is yours (just make sure you do it in TRU style).

Divers paradise is calling! *cue under the sea - the little mermaid* Borneo is known for its unique and unforgettable marine life, as well as some 10/10 scuba diving, need some more convincing? Here’s why you need to go diving in Borneo. We’ll head to Gaya island by speed boat, where we will spend our day either snorkelling or trying out diving for the first time, take yo’ pick! However, suppose you are a bit of a pro, and you're already a qualified diver (we get it, you're cool). In that case, you can get up close and personal with the amazing marine life straight away! From reef sharks to clownfish, and fingers crossed maybe even some turtles! What a fin-tastic day (see what we did there!).

All good things must come to an end, which means it’s time to love and leave Borneo after an epic 9 days! You won’t just be going home with unforgettable memories to cherish forever but also your TruFam, it’s been real. Enjoy your last breakfast in Borneo and reminisce over the amazing sights you’ve seen. If your adventure is continuing, then our TruNinjas will be happy to help you with further travel plans! Until we meet again, Stay Tru!

*Please note, as you will be diving on the last day of your tour, you are required to allow at least 24 hours before flying to comply with PADI guidelines and for your own safety.*