Tawau: 4D3N Maliau Basin Hiking Expedition

4 days (approximately)
Pickup offered
Offered in: English

The wild on a remarkable hiking expedition to Maliau Basin, a beautiful, bowl-shaped wilderness in the centre of Borneo that wasn't discovered until the 1980s. This excursion, which is also called "Borneo Lost World,". As the sun goes down, the forest comes to life, potential witness civets with their sparkling eyes, plodding lorises, or the magnificent flight of big squirrels while the stars sparkle above.

Walk through a lush sanctuary with tall trees, hanging lianas, and uncommon species like the stately Agathis and pitcher plants that consume other plants. The sounds of the jungle, the gibbons' calls, and the chatter of rare birds descend steeply to see most amazing natural sights: a strong, multi-tiered waterfall that crashes into emerald pools while taking in the power and beauty of this untouched paradise.

A rewarding trek expedition through a UNESCO World Heritage site with a lot of untouched species. It is made for fit people who want to see few truly wild places on Earth.

What's Included

Maliau Basin forest ranger and guide with VHF radio
Accommodation x 3 Night
Lunch (Optional[3])
Lunch
Dinner (Optional[3])
Dinner
Breakfast (Optional[3])
Breakfast
Round trip transfer pickup and drop-off
Coffee, tea, and drinking water
All national park admission and government tax
DSLR camera user must fill out the photography registration form

Meeting and pickup

Pickup points
You can choose a pickup location at checkout (multiple pickup locations are available).
Pickup details:

Your driver will be arriving to pick you up based on the name and nationality you provided in your reservation, either tawau airport, tawau city or semporna town. We kindly ask you to double-check that the hotel name or airport if correct in advance, thank you! Your driver is familiar with your name and personal details, so no worries. Please be ready at the hotel or airport accordingly. Just a heads up, the tour is shared and there might be a delay in pick-up, so we appreciate your patience! We'll definitely keep you updated if anything changes!

Itinerary

Duration: 4 days (approximately)
    Day 1

    The Unwritten Pact

    3 stops
  • 1
    Tawau

    The expedition commences with an early morning departure from Tawau Airport, tawau city or Semporna town directly, followed by a drive of around 5-6 hours that establishes the tone for the forthcoming experience, depending on your flight arrival time, hence arrival might slightly adjust itinerary or subject to the traffic, etc. The environment changes from a patchwork of rural communities to a thick forest as you leave cities behind. The final stretch to Maliau Basin is a bumpy ride on gravel roads, perfect for those trusty 4WDs that can tackle the wild side of nature!

    Admission ticket free
  • 2
    Maliau Basin Studies Centre

    When arriving at the Maliau Basin Shell Building, guests will be given a drink to welcome them, free and easy or a light snack at the Maliau Cafe. Continue to Maliau Basin Studies Centre (MBSC), The air feels nice and cool, carrying the fresh scent of wet earth and a sense of freedom often referred to as the "lungs of the world." Visit to the Nature Gallery to learn about the beautiful and unique of lost world is.

    2 hours Admission ticket included
  • 3
    Maliau Basin Conservation Area

    Experience the Nature Gallery and immerse yourself in the exquisite diversity of Borneo's Enchanted Lost World, Dining experience in the grand hall. As the sun sets and nightfall, take first dinner on bite at the halls. Maliau Safari Night Drive takes you into the dark of the lost world, where you can see wild animals that only come out at night If the weather permits, a night safari on an open-top ride may reveal some glowing wild animals eyes in the darkness. Maliau Safari Night If the weather doesn't cooperate, go on a Maliau Safari Dawn Drive the next day. Then drift off in your simple lodge bed, not to the buzz of the city, but to the sounds of frogs and crickets, ready to tackle the rim tomorrow, overnight.

    14 hours Admission ticket included
  • Day 2

    The Adventure of Mud, Sweat, and Leeches

    3 stops
  • 4
    Maliau Basin Studies Centre

    Morning munchies at the grand hall! Morning munchies at the grand hall! A quick trip gets you to Agathis Camp, which is entrance of the lost world starts. Set out on foot to reach Nepenthes Camp after a trek of approximately 7.5 km (or 4 to 6 hours) through the wilderness. A series of steep hills will be crossed as walk along the rim of the southern basin. Explore the transition from a mixed dipterocarp forest to a lower montane forest with 7km climb up over the basin's edge, characterised by a decrease in the number of tall trees, expected to arrive at Camel Trophy Camp at 945 meters elevation before get a rest.

    10 hours Admission ticket included
  • 5
    Maliau Basin Conservation Area

    Begin your journey to explore another wondrous 3 km trek to Giluk Falls, trail branch off northeast before heading back to the nepenthes camp.

    3 hours Admission ticket included
  • 6
    Maliau Basin Conservation Area

    Dinner served and sleep at Nepenthes Dormitory style only. Overnight.

    15 hours Admission ticket included
  • Day 3

    The Heart of the World – Journey to the Falls

    3 stops
  • 7
    Maliau Basin Studies Centre

    Another morning munchies at the hall! Pack the bag and get ready to trek 10 kilometres (7 hours) to the 7-tiered Majestic Maliau Waterfalls. The trail goes further into the basin, crossing streams and wandering through ancient forests where you might just expect to spot some dinosaur tracks.Expected to get to Maliau Falls, the Murut tribe said that the amazing seven tiers of cascading water were home to a mythical water-dragon. These waterfalls, riverine stairways, and roads are one-of-a-kind and some of the most beautiful things in the Basin. The Basin is thought to have more waterfalls in its 390 square kilometres than anywhere else in Malaysia, and maybe even the world! The Maliau River's tributaries drain the Basin. The Maliau Falls are beautiful, and then the river flows through a gorge out of the southeast of the Basin into the Kuamut River, which feeds the Kinabatangan, the longest river in Sabah.

    10 hours Admission ticket included
  • 8
    Maliau Basin Conservation Area

    Then hike back to Ginseng Camp is a bit of a slog at 645 elevation but totally fuelled by this awesome happiness.

    3 hours Admission ticket included
  • 9

    That night, the sound of Ginseng Falls nearby is like your lullaby. Dinner served and sleep at Nepenthes Dormitory style only. Overnight

    15 hours Admission ticket included
  • Day 4

    Bringing the Lost World

    3 stops
  • 10
    Maliau Basin Conservation Area

    Last morning munchies at the hall! Continue embarking on a 15 minutes’ walk to Ginseng Waterfall. One of the many wondrous waterfalls in Maliau Basin and trek back to Ginseng. Put everything you have, even your trash, in a bag and make sure you leave nothing behind.

    2 hours Admission ticket included
  • 11
    Maliau Basin Conservation Area

    Expected to arrive at Agathis Camp with a packed lunch and then proceed to the Maliau Shell Building to check out Chilling at the MBSC, a laid-back lunch feels like a total win.

    4 hours Admission ticket included
  • 12
    Tawau

    As heads back to Tawau, you see the scenery change: the endless green fades into neat rows of plantations, then into towns in semporna or tawau, and finally to the airport if required. Ending the adventure!

    5 hours Admission ticket free

Additional info

  • Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
  • Not recommended for pregnant travelers
  • Suitable for all physical fitness levels
  • All drone flights require approval from the Secretariat Unit through the government of Malaysia within the national park reserve.
  • Maliau basin is a scientific research base and a wild rainforest located in the centre of borneo island.
  • The ticket is valid for the activity date specified in your reservation, and changes to the date are not permitted.
Supplied by Wadi Rum Fire Camp
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Nature and Wildlife Tours
Multi-day Tours
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4WD Tours
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Involves Animals
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Cancellation Policy

All sales are final. No refund is available for cancellations.

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