"Best of borneo" 9-day, 1200 KM Tour
Red Lines = Motorcycle Riding, Blue Lines = Boats and Major Water Crossings, Green Stars = Indonesian Border
All-Inclusive pricing including 450cc motorcycle, support vehicle, insurance, private rooms, tours, all entrance fees, guides, tips, meals, drinks, and more from €2998 (ask us about discounts for groups)
"Best Of Borneo" 9 day, 1200 KM Tour Itinerary
Arrival In Borneo
Ideally, you will have arrived AT LEAST 2 days early for your tour. If that is the case, we will meet you at the airport, show you around the city by car, and help you set up things like SIM cards, and check you into your hotel. During this time, you will acclimate to the weather, recover from jet lag, and visit motorcycle shops to purchase any gear you didn’t want to fly with.
Day 1: Introductions
Your tour starts on Friday in Kuching, the capital of Sarawak. Ideally, you will have already been in the city, as we recommend arriving AT LEAST 2 days early to account for possible flight delays and to help you recover from jet lag.
Our morning activity is a meet-and-greet, briefing, and overview of your tour. This briefing is mandatory and required before you can be given the keys to your motorcycle. During the meet-and-greet, you will meet the other riders and our staff, listen to our briefing on the route and safety, have questions answered, be added to a WhatsApp group, and receive GPS waypoints (these will also be confirmed each day of the tour). We will double-check you have a working SIM card (we can help you get a local one for less than $10 USD) and show you how to download offline maps for the area, just in case.
After the meeting, we will take the group to a Malay restaurant for lunch. Food is a big part of Malaysian culture and the travel experience and Borneo has multiple ethnic groups. Each day, we try to showcase a new culture and/or food.
This meal gives you the energy to explore the Borneo Cultures Museum at your leisure. This modern, 6-floor, fully interactive museum opened in 2022 and is the second-largest in Southeast Asia and consistently ranks among the region’s top museums. Here you will gain valuable insight into the people, cultures, and natural environment you will encounter during your adventure.
Following the museum visit, we will explore the historic colonial district of Kuching and historic Chinatown on foot. Your hotel and many attractions are within this area. Once you have a feel for the place, you are free to spend the next few hours resting, shopping, and exploring the area on your own.
After time to rest and recharge, we will take a short walk to the waterfront to enjoy dinner at a legendary Chinese hawker center featuring some of the best seafood in town (don’t worry, they have meat and vegetables too), where you will dine like a local. We will introduce you to dishes exclusive to Borneo and teach you how to navigate a hawker center like a pro. Dinner includes 2 non-alcoholic drinks, but you are free to purchase beer.
The evening concludes with a relaxing river cruise featuring traditional music and dance performances. Juice, a soft drink, or a beer is provided along with light snacks. After the cruise, we return to the hotel for a good night’s rest in preparation for the exciting riding and activities ahead.
Day 2: Motorcycle Orientation, Orangutans, Indonesian Border, & Longhouse Stay (Riding 134km, 3 hours)
Riding Conditions:
Today's ride features around 3 hours of riding and offers a variety of roads and conditions. This will help you get more comfortable with the bike and the environment and improve your safety and enjoyment. Riding conditions are urban traffic, 4-lane highway, 2-lane (mostly) tarmac backroads, and small 1.5-lane village roads of varying condition. Think of it as an introduction to Borneo.
Itinerary:
Saturday morning, we start early with a hot breakfast buffet, featuring Asian and Western food, and we will introduce you to your motorcycle.
Our fleet consists of CFMoto 450MT motorcycles, each named with traditional Iban names. Prior to the tour, we collected rider information, including height, inseam length, weight, and riding preferences. This allowed us to customize each bike with appropriate heights, seats, suspension settings, windscreens, and luggage options to ensure optimal comfort and safety.
Once everyone is comfortable with their motorcycle, we leave the city and ride to an orangutan sanctuary, where these remarkable primates roam freely in the forest. While sightings cannot be guaranteed, they are wild animals after all, and we are successful approximately 85% of the time. The riding conditions are a mix of urban and highway as we leave the city, and winding 2-lane tarmac roads on the way to the sanctuary.
After leaving our Orangutan friends, we continue on those low-traffic, winding rural roads. We will pass through tiny villages, rainforest, and nature preserves on our way to the Indonesian border. We are now in a small but lively border town. This was once a smugglers' hub but has since been transformed into a vibrant (mostly legal) trading market. Here you will have the opportunity to shop, meet Indonesian vendors and shoppers, and learn the art of bargaining. Items range from gaudy and cheap to beautifully handcrafted. Prices are often 50% cheaper than in town. Purchases can be safely stored in the support vehicle for the duration of the tour.
After enjoying a traditional Indonesian lunch, perhaps Bakso (beef meatball soup) or Ayam Penyet (pressed and grilled chicken) and freshly squeezed juice from local, green-skinned oranges, we continue riding. These small, two-lane roads pass right by an ancient cave system, home to striking rock formations, bats, lizards, and the famous swiftlet bird nests, prized in traditional Chinese medicine. Local legends say the caves are watched over by protective spirits. Let's hope they bless our journey with good luck. The path through the caves is easy to navigate, and we provide each person with lights.
Back on the bikes, our journey continues to a 200-year-old gold-mining town, home to several preserved wooden buildings. The town is known for its friendly, vibrant Bidayuh and Chinese populations. Here we will relax with a drink beside a former gold mine now filled with stunning iridescent blue water, perhaps we will hear some live music, and we will give you time to explore the lake, take photos, maybe even walk across it on a floating bridge.
It's now late afternoon, and we are riding through the forest to our first longhouse.
The roads to the longhouse are tiny and may have sections of gravel, mud, and sand. This longhouse is built in a traditional wooden style and is surrounded by beautiful gardens and virgin rainforest. Thankfully, your private room includes air conditioning for comfort. Evening activities are included and may consist of:
- Learning to use a traditional blowgun
- Swimming in a nearby stream
- A short jungle walk
- Visiting hives of Borneo stingless bees and sampling honey
The day concludes with a traditional Bidayuh dinner prepared by our in-laws from a neighboring village. You will be served traditional foods such as rice cooked inside a pitcher plant, various jungle ferns cooked with garlic, grilled meats, and more. Soft drinks, water, and beer are free-flowing tonight.
Day 3: Kilometer Zero, Golden Beach Ride, night in Malay Fishing Village (Riding 265km, 5 hours)
Riding Conditions:
Today features a lot of seat time and some beautiful rides. Conditions are gorgeous 2-lane tarmac with sweeping corners and elevation changes, bumpy village roads, and several kilometers of sand beach (optional).
Itinerary:
Sunday starts with a traditional breakfast (fried rice, fried eggs, rice porridge, toast) prepared by our in-laws, we begin a scenic ride to the northwestern tip of Borneo, known locally as Kilometer Zero, the starting point of the road system in Malaysian Borneo along the Indonesian border.
This peaceful coastal village and the amazing road leading to it are popular among local motorcycle clubs but rarely visited by international travelers. The road is smooth, winding, has many gentle hills, and features very little traffic. You will see sharp tall mountains on the south side of the road and get peeks at coastal scenes on the north side. The scenery you ride through is a combination of mountains, virgin rainforests, and mangrove swamps.
Arriving at Kilometer Zero, you find yourself in a village of just 55 households. What it lacks in size it makes up for in beauty. Here you will find clear waters, fresh sea air, and a pristine beach. Guests are encouraged to bring swimwear to enjoy one of Sarawak's best beaches. Don’t worry, there are public freshwater showers to rinse off when you are finished. If swimming isn’t your thing, there are several small craft stalls, drink stands, shaded seating areas, and friendly locals to talk with. Lunch will be local style, either here or in one of the small villages along the way.
Once everyone is ready, we ride several hours on small, sometimes bumpy, village roads to Golden Beach, where riders will have the unique experience of riding directly on the hard-packed sand for several kilometers. You are free to park your bike, sit in the shade, and enjoy the breeze. This beach offers spectacular views of nearby islands, some of which we will visit tomorrow, and some of the best sunsets in Borneo.
After sunset, we continue on 2-lane tarmac to a nearby Malay fishing village, where we will stay in a traditional wooden stilt house over the water. A local family will prepare a fresh seafood dinner based on the day’s catch. Chicken can also be provided upon request. Soft drinks and water are free-flowing.
The evening is yours to enjoy at leisure—stroll along the waterfront, visit small local shops, relax on our private waterfront deck, or simply rest in your private air-conditioned room.
Day 4: Sea Turtle Sanctuary & Damai Beach Resort (Riding 103 KM, 2 hours)
Riding Conditions:
Today features an incredible morning boat tour, riding through small villages on tarmac, and a bit of traffic.
Itinerary:
Monday starts with a few choices for breakfast, but we highly recommend Malaysia's national dish “nasi lemak” (coconut rice wrapped in banana leaf). After breakfast, we board a boat for a half-day journey to a sea turtle sanctuary.
Along the way, we may see crocodiles, dolphins, proboscis monkeys, langurs, and numerous bird species. This island only allows a handful of visitors per day, and once we dock, park rangers will introduce the sanctuary’s conservation program and the turtles in their care. If the timing is right, you may even get to release baby sea turtles into the water. You are free to swim and snorkel (snorkel gear is provided) in the crystal-clear waters, and a picnic lunch will be served on the island before returning to the mainland.
Back on shore, you can shower, hydrate, and snack before we take a winding coastal route to Long Beach, a coastal site supported by a local motorcycle club called Borneo Island Big Bikers. Here we will discuss some of the environmental challenges facing Borneo today and what we at Borneo Discovery Route are doing to help.
Our destination is the beautiful Damai Beach Resort, where we will stay for two nights. The remainder of the afternoon is free time to relax, swim in the pools, and enjoy music. Dinner will be served at the hotel and features an enormous buffet of local and international foods, with free-flowing juices, tea, coffee, and water. We know this place is a bit fancy, but it gives our guests the perfect chance to recharge their batteries for the long days ahead. You are free to purchase your own beers and cocktails at the hotel's friendly beach bar, or at Damai Central food center next door.
Night in a private, air-conditioned room at the beach.
Day 5: Cultural Village and Recharging Batteries
Riding Conditions:
No riding today as the next few days will be intense.
Itinerary:
Tuesday starts with a leisurely morning and an extensive international breakfast buffet.
After breakfast, we walk to the Sarawak Cultural Village, a living cultural museum representing the diverse ethnic communities of Sarawak.
During our visit, you will experience:
- Traditional dance and music performances
- Demonstrations of Sape (traditional guitar) making and playing
- Blacksmithing demonstrations producing a traditional parang
- Textile weaving using natural reeds and tree bark
- Traditional bead making and wood carving
- Making of, and fighting with, Malay spinning tops.
- A member of the nomadic Penan tribe will show you how to use a blowpipe
- Visit a traditional Chinese farmhouse and see black and white pepper being produced
The village is staffed by members of each community and works to preserve Sarawak’s rich cultural heritage. Lunch will be served in the village and features traditional dishes from each culture.
The afternoon is free for you to explore the village further, relax at the resort, stroll on beaches, swim in the pools, or visit nearby seaside restaurants and bars. Dinner will be local style at a nearby hawker center. Get a good rest because the next few days are packed with riding.
Night in a private, air-conditioned room at the beach.
Day 6: Bako National Park & Long Coastal Ride (Riding 230km, 5 hours)
Riding Conditions:
This day features a morning tour and many hours of riding on coastal roads of varying conditions. On this ride, you can expect curving, mostly flat, 2-lane roads ranging from beautiful new tarmac to a bumpy mix of tarmac, gravel, and mud. This route has been under construction for the past 6 years, and it changes each time we ride it. Keep an eye out for rollers and washboard sections. In certain sections, we may get slowed by farmers, free-roaming livestock, and overall road conditions. Riders on this section are easily distracted by the sea view, islands, animals, and the long and high bridges.
Itinerary:
Wednesday starts with an early breakfast at the large hotel buffet, we begin a scenic ride to the jetty for Bako National Park, Sarawak’s oldest national park.
From the jetty, we take a 20-minute private boat ride into the park where your expert guide will help you spot animals found only in Borneo.
Bako offers excellent wildlife viewing opportunities, including:
- Proboscis monkeys
- Bornean bearded pigs
- Long-tailed macaques
- Silver langurs
- Monitor lizards
- Various snake species
- Asian otters
Guests may choose between easy or moderate jungle trails, guided by an experienced local naturalist. The guides here communicate with each other and always know where to spot the animals you want to see.
After you have your photos of Borneo’s famous animals, we return to the mainland and continue riding along Borneo’s scenic coastline. This long stretch of riding features a variety of mostly 2-lane roads, crosses three of the largest rivers in Borneo, and passes through dozens of small villages. This is a long ride in a sparsely inhabited area, so keep an eye out for wildlife. We are free to stop at various small villages and roadside stalls to stretch our legs, drink, take photos, and use the toilet. Because this section features so much riding, and we let each group set its own pace, our lunch stops can vary. Rest assured, we know several good places along this route, and we won't let you go hungry!
We conclude the day at a comfortable air-conditioned local-style hotel. Dinner will be at a small restaurant next to the hotel. Get a good rest because we have another big day tomorrow.
Day 7: Into the Iban Highlands (Riding 220km, 4+ hours)
Riding Conditions:
Today's ride features bumpy village roads, small-town traffic, a short section of the Pan-Borneo Highway, elevation gains, winding 2-lane highland tarmac, and some light off-road (optional).
Itinerary:
Thursday starts at a local restaurant below the hotel, and choices range from rice and noodle dishes to fried eggs and toast. Today we leave the coast and head deep into the Iban highlands.
The route follows mostly quiet rural roads passing old and new longhouses, villages or various sizes, rice fields, and jungle landscapes, offering a glimpse into everyday life in rural Borneo. This is also Borneo’s buffalo and cow country so keep an eye open for these free-roaming beasts. Fences are not popular here, and these beasts often wander across roads or even use them as warm beds.
Our first major stop is the town of Betong, where approximately 85% of residents are Iban. We will visit Fort Lily, a colonial fort built in 1858, to learn about Sarawak’s colonial history and Iban heritage.
Betong is a small, but full-service town, so we give you a chance to shop for any needed supplies. We will have lunch at a large hawker center featuring Iban, Chinese, Malay, and even burgers.
Once our shopping is done and our stomachs are full, we ride through winding, hilly, tarmac roads to the highland border village of Lubok Antu. Here we check-in to our riverside guesthouse and give you time to freshen up.
It's simple yet comfortable, you will have a private room with air conditioning and warm water for showers. You are free to swim in the river, and it's within walking distance of this small town. Feel free to explore on your own; it’s a very safe area, and locals are extremely friendly here, but English use is very limited.
From Lubok Antu, we ride about 20 kilometers on tiny village roads, with sections of gravel, dirt, and even old wooden bridges, to a traditional wooden longhouse belonging to our “Mentua," the Iban word for a respected in-law. This ride is optional, and you are welcome to leave your motorcycles at the homestay and ride in the support vehicle.
Dinner tonight is an Iban BBQ at his longhouse. Our Mentua is not only a resident, but also the Tuai Rumah (Headman) of this longhouse, and no other tours visit it. You are getting a window into a world most tourists never see. Iban tradition means you will be welcomed with homemade “Tuak and Langkau”(rice wine and distilled spirits), and you will witness a traditional “Ngajat” performance (Iban music and dance). A few notable foods that you will try are “pansoh” (chicken cooked inside large bamboo tubes), grilled pork, and whatever vegetables our auntie found in the jungle that day. We may even have grilled fish from the lake we will visit tomorrow. Water, soft drinks, and beer are free-flowing. Some Tuak and of Langkau will also be provided. Additional bottles are available for purchase directly from the maker. We will stay at the longhouse until late.
Drinking alcohol is NOT required. No riding will be performed after drinking ANY alcohol. If you consume alcohol during the longhouse experience or just don’t feel like riding back to our guesthouse at night, don’t worry, we will take you back in the support vehicle and reunite you with your motorcycle in the morning.
Night will be spent in your private, air-conditioned room, in the riverfront guesthouse.
Day 8: Batang Ai Highland Lake & Sri Aman (riding 292 kilometers, 5+ hours)
Riding Conditions:
The longest day in the saddle. Today's ride features a bit of everything, so be prepared. Winding highland roads, small village and town roads, beautiful tarmac highway, and some bumpy backroads.
Itinerary:
Friday, we will have a bit of a late start to recover from our longhouse experience the night before. Breakfast will be served at a local-style hawker center before we ride to the spectacular highland lake of Batang Ai.
This vibrant blue lake winds through valleys and mountains and is fed by clean mountain rivers. It's hours from the nearest city and sits at a higher elevation, so the water quality and cleanliness is superb. Its fish are highly prized throughout Southeast Asia. Empurau fish from these waters can fetch thousands per kilogram in Singapore, and even the simple Tilapia from these waters commands double the normal price.
We will take a short boat tour with an Iban guide, hearing stories, folk tales, meeting fishermen, and experiencing life along the lake. The vibrant blue waters and virgin rainforest surrounding them make for spectacular photography. There is also a small chance to encounter wild orangutans and the ultra-rare Rhinoceros Hornbill.
Back on land, we ride winding roads, a bit of highway, and small streets down to the river town of Sri Aman. Here we explore preserved colonial buildings, the central market, and enjoy an excellent lunch of your choice.
In the afternoon, we ride a section of the Pan-Borneo highway and some local roads to a 170-year-old Chinese frontier town, once nearly abandoned but now famous for hosting one of the most vibrant night markets in Sarawak. This town is where we will spend our last night together.
Accommodation will be in a clean, air-conditioned hotel, and your evening is free to explore the lively market, enjoy local food, music, and photography opportunities. We will provide a meal of your choice, but you will likely want to continue snacking and drinking all night. This town has lively bars, an enchanting river walk, and even a small sampan that crosses the river to another village. Stay up as late as you want.
Day 9: Goodbyes?
Riding Conditions:
No Riding Today (*option to extend motorcycle rental for €40 per day)
Itinerary:
Saturday, we wake up with a hot breakfast of your choice. If you don't need to rush to the airport, we will spend time telling stories, sharing photos, and having some laughs. When you are ready, we provide you with transportation to the airport or any hotel in town.
*Motorcycles can be extended based on availability. This option is only for guests booking a full tour.