A trek to the Maliau Basin is a highly adventurous way of exploring one of Borneo's most remote and pristine areas of rainforest.  Due to the remoteness of this area and difficulty of access, the Maliau Basin is known 'Sabah's Lost World', and is the place to go for someone with a penchant for expedition style adventure.  This huge saucer shaped depression is enclosed on all sides by cliffs and steep slopes of a 1,500m high mountain range.  Located at the heart of one of the most remote and pristine parts of Sabah, the awe inspiring natural beauty and breathtaking landscape make the Maliau Basin one of Borneo's greatest wilderness areas.  Talks are presently underway to designate the Basin as Malaysia's third UNESCO World Heritage as the area is of global importance.

It is one of the few remaining truly wilderness areas of not just Sabah and Malaysia, but of the world.  Only about 25% of the total area has been mapped with less than 10% has been studied intensively.  There are a number of different forest types with a high diversity of botanical species and it is a refuge for rare and endangered animals such as the Sumatran Rhino, Banteng, Proboscis Monkey and the Asian Elephant.  The Basin boasts extraordinary geomorphological features including an exceptionally high number of waterfalls - probably the highest number of any area in Malaysia.

The stunning diversity of flora and fauna within the utterly untouched interior of the Basin is staggering.  The variation in altitude means vegetation changes from rainforest to heath forest and the isolation of these forests within the 'lost world' has produced numerous endemic species.  More than 80 species of mammal reside within including Sambar, Mouse & Barking Deer, Wild Boar, small cats, the larger Leopard Cat and Sun Bears.  The calls of Bornean Gibbons are heard every morning and other primates include Red Leaf Monkeys and Grey Leaf Monkeys.

Alongside the mammals are 270 species of bird including 8 hornbill species, 9 barbets, 8 kingfishers and 3 pheasants of which one is the exceptionally rare Bulwer's pheasant.  A plethora of amphibians and reptiles have been recorded or sighted and a variety of endemic pitcher plants thrive on the nutrient deficient soils of the heath forest as well as a recently discovered orange-coloured dwarf species of Rafflesia. 

Rafflesia are the largest flowers in the world with blossoms that can attain a diameter of nearly a metre and can weigh up to 11kg.  A carrion-like stench of rotting meat accompanies the flowers when in bloom as this attracts the insects they depend on for transporting pollen between male and female flowers.  It may take up to 10 months for the bud to develop into a flower which then only lasts 5 - 6 days before the petals blacken and wither away.  It is a rare privilege to see this endangered and scarce rainforest spectacle in bloom.        

The Maliau Basin forms a single water catchment and is drained by the Maliau River which descends a magnificent series of cascading waterfalls, known as Maliau Falls.  After draining out through a gorge into the Kuamut River, it then feeds into another top-wildlife watching location, the Kinabatangan - Sabah's longest and most important river.

Aqua-Firma offers you a specialist insight into this remote, rugged and isolated area but a visit to this area is no walk in the park.  Access is strictly controlled and only camping style accommodation is permitted to keep visitor impact to an absolute minimum.  Over 6 days you will trek an average of 10km a day through rainforest enjoying the abundance of flora and fauna with opportunities to cool down and swim in forest waterfalls including the spectacular Maliau Falls.  Accommodation is based at 3 different rainforest camps including one of those set up for the Borneo Camel Trophy Challenge.  There are over 55km of marked trails in the Maliau Basin Conservation Area and a 30m high canopy observation platform is located at the Camel Trophy Camp. 

Physical Fitness is essentional for this trek

Day 1
Arrive in Kota Kinabalu and transfer to the Jesselton Hotel; a tastefully-preserved boutique hotel.

Day 2
(B,L)
White-water rafting
Overnight at the Jesselton.

Day 3
(B,L,D)
Travel overland down to the Maliau Basin. Your journey starts with a long off road journey until we reach the security gates of the Maliau Basin Conservation Area (MBCA).  Once through, you will be taken to the Agathis Camp where you will stay overnight. After dinner, enjoy a night drive in search of nocturnal animals through the 26km access road along the Agathis Camp & Belian camp (subject to weather conditions).  Animals we will be looking out for include sambar deer, bearded pigs, Malay civets and flying squirrels.

Day 4
(B,L,D)
After breakfast we will begin our trek through this remote rainforest. The hills are steep here and you will be ascending to the highest level of the Basin. Break for packed lunch and then in the afternoon, proceed to the nearby waterfalls of Giluk.  You can spend the afternoon swimming and relaxing at the waterfall. The entire trek will be 7 km.
Day 5
(B,L,D)
Today will be a longer trek of approximately 13 km through the dense forest of Maliau Basin.  You will be able to see an abundance of nepenthes plants along "Jalan Babi". When we arrive at the Ginseng Campsite, you will be able to relax and swim in the nearby cool forest waterfall and immerse yourself in the sound of the wilderness. Overnight at Ginseng Campsite.

Day 6
(B,L,D)
Wake up to the calls of Gibbons and the enchanting sounds of the forest in the morning before continuing your trek to the spectacular seven tier Maliau Falls.  Here you can enjoy a refreshing swim at one of the most remote places in Malaysian Borneo.  Overnight in Ginseng Campsite. Total trekking distance today 10km.

Day 7
(B,L,D)
After breakfast, leave Ginseng Campsite and trek for 9 km back to the Agathis Camp. Expected to reach Agathis Camp in late afternoon. Overnight at Agathis Camp.

Day 8
(B,L)
After breakfast, leave camp and head back to Kota Kinabalu stopping at Keningau en-route. Overnight in Kota Kinabalu at the Jessleton.

Days 9 - 10
(B,L,D)
Fly from Kota Kinabalu to Sandakan in the early morning. You will be met upon arrival and transferred to Sandakan where you will take a private speedboat transfer to the island of Lankayan.

Once on Lankayan, you can begin to explore the island or just sit back, relax and enjoy this tropical island paradise. The verdant oasis of Lankayan is one of Borneo's most idyllic verdant tropical islands - ideal for divers and snorkelers alike; with a rich diversity of marine life residing on its reefs. The occasional dugong may visit and even whale sharks, especially during April and May. Amongst its gently sloping sandy areas you can find sponges, gorgonians and corals. These play host to bamboo sharks, mandarin fish, porcelain crabs, seahorses, mimic octopuses and flying gurnards. Turtles often lay their eggs on Lankayan Island; something which you may hopefully have the opportunity to see, also.

Day 11
(B,L,D)
Transfer by speedboat back to Sandakan and then travel by road to a rainforest lodge at the Kabili-Sepilok Forest Reserve.

You can make a relaxed check-in and begin acclimatizing to the lowland rainforest environment.
In the afternoon, your guide will collect you and take you to the Sabah Forestry Department's Rainforest Discovery Centre to learn about conservation and sustainable uses of the forest, such as ethnobotany.

In the evening before dinner, a guided night walk will be arranged to spot nocturnal wildlife.
Overnight at the lodge.

Day 12
(B,L,D)
This morning you embark on an energetic trek with your guide into the forest and mangroves in search for wild orangutans, birds, snakes & frogs.  After a picnic lunch, you will be collected by motorized canoe and taken back to your lodge. You will be visiting the orangutan rehabilitation centre later in your visit, where you can see the work of dedicated staff and conservationists working with young orangutans; victims of deforestation and the palm oil industry. If you would like an additional visit, it can be arranged this afternoon for an additional £26 pp.

In the late afternoon, transfer back to Sandakan and fly back to Kota Kinabalu, where you shall overnight in the Jessleton.

Day 13
(B,L,D)
You will be collected from the hotel and driven overland through paddy fields and Dusun villages over the ridges of the Crocker Range to the foothills of Mt. Kinabalu at 5,000 ft. You will stop along the way to sample some of Malaysia's exotic fruits; rambutan and soursop are particularly nice, whilst durian provides an extremely pungent smell and strong taste that to the uninitiated requires some getting used to.

You will have the chance to visit Poring where you will be guided along a jungle trail leading up to a network of treetop canopy walkways, suspended 41 meters above the forest floor. You will have the chance to visit the Kipungit Waterfall and soak yourself in hot sulphur pools (excludes camera/video fee). Take a bathing costume to do this.

Days 14 - 15
(B,L,D: Day 14 = B,L: Day 15)
At the Kinabalu Park UNESCO World Heritage Site, you will be taken to visit the Education Centre and Mountain Garden, home to various flowering rhododendrons, carnivorous pitcher plants, orchids, ferns, oak trees and birds. Temperatures at the park are usually around 14 - 25° C. If time and weather permits, you can take a guided walk on one of the trails in the cool surrounding to observe the montane forest.

Proceed to ascend the mountain via one of the trails, viewing the unique plants and animals as you go. Staying in a mountain rest house during the ascent, you reach the summit of the 4,095m Mount Kinabalu in time to catch the sunrise and the great views of the world below. Then, after heading back down the mountain to have lunch at the park HQ, you will be driven back to Kota Kinabalu. Overnight in the Jessleton.

Day 16
(B)
You are transferred to the airport to fly back home.