Tawau: 4D3N Maliau Basin Hiking Expedition

Overview

Day by day itinerary

1. 1The Unwritten Pact⌄

   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!

   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.

   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.

   Meals: Dinner

   Overnight: Overnight at the standard private room.

2. 2The Adventure of Mud, Sweat, and Leeches⌄

   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.

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

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

   Meals: Breakfast · Lunch · Dinner

   Overnight: Overnight at the nepenthes camp, dormitory only

3. 3The Heart of the World – Journey to the Falls⌄

   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.

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

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

   Meals: Breakfast · Lunch · Dinner

   Overnight: Overnight at the Nepenthes camp, dormitory only

4. 4Bringing the Lost World⌄

   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.

   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.

   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!

   Meals: Breakfast · Lunch