Highlights
- Orangutan spotting at Semenggoh Nature Reserve
- Overnighting at a traditional Sarawak Longhouse
- Wildlife walks at Bako National Park
- Stunning Sematan and cycling its palm fringed coastline
- Kayaking through scenic rainforest
- Siniawan’s market and its street food delights
Itinerary
We leave home for Borneo, arriving into Sarawak’s Kuching International Airport (KCH) the next day.
- Meals: Dinner
Following arrival we transfer the short distance (30 Minutes appprox.) to our hotel in Kuching.
With most flights from Europe arriving late morning / early afternoon we’ll meet-up as a group for dinner in the early evening, which will be taken at one of the great local restaurants situated close to the hotel.
Accommodation: Modern Hotel with Swimming Pool – All rooms ensuite with A/C
- Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
- Ascent: 100 Metres Approx.
A relaxed start to the day and after breakfast it’s time to properly meet our team in Borneo and spend some time familiarising yourself with your bike.
Soon afterwards we begin our pedal through history on a heritage cycling tour of Kuching. During the ride we’ll learn more about the White Rajah whose influence shaped this part of Borneo whilst discovering the hidden gems of Kuching.
Highlights are numerous and include the lively and exotic open-air market of Kubah Ria where you can see its vividly coloured tropical fruit and discover an amazing array of weird and wonderful jungle produce, vibrant India Street and the Old Town’s bustling Main Bazaar. We’ll also sample a variety of popular authentic Sarawak local street foods and drinks along the way.
A particular favorite is our visit to Fort Margherita, built by Charles Brooke in 1879 and named after his wife. The Fort guarded Kuching’s river from approaching pirates and remains an unmistakable landmark on the Sarawak River. It now contains the Brooke Gallery which houses important historical documents and artefacts from the era of the White Rajahs and is a great place to learn more about this area of Borneo before we set off on our cycling journey tomorrow.
From here we cross the river in traditional fashion, in a flat bottomed Malay wooden boat, after which it’s a short distance to the hotel. Our evening meal is taken at a small restaurant on the riverfront with the guides on hand to answer any questions you may have about the next few days.
Accommodation: Modern Hotel with Swimming Pool – All rooms ensuite with A/C
- Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
- Ascent: 150 Metres Approx.
Starting out from our hotel we avoid the traffic by making our way through the lanes of the kampongs (village communities) and soon we’ll be cycling beside the mangroves of this coastal area. From here they’ll be great views of majestic Mount Santubong (810m) our final destination today.
Along the way we visit the Malay fishing kampong of Buntal. Its bay is a great place to spot migratory birds (especially in late September / early October) since it is a major stop-off point and refuelling site due to its nutrient rich mudflats, sandflats and mangroves.
From here the cycling gets a little more challenging for the final 9kms to Kampong Santubong where we take lunch at our lovely accommodation. Set amidst lush surroundings its small swimming pool is perfect for those looking for a post ride dip or afternoon spot of R & R.
Late afternoon we take a guided wildlife boat cruise through the spectacular mangroves tributaries close to Santubong. These waters are frequently crossed by the Pink, Irrawaddy and Bottlenose Dolphins so make sure you keep a look-out for them during the journey. It’s also a good place to spot Proboscis Monkeys who head to the edges of the mangroves to eat. Following sunset we grab our torches and spy for Fireflies and Crocodiles (from the safety of the boat!) as they glide through the water in search of food.
We’ll have dinner together at the hotel.
Accommodation: Resort / Jungle Style Chalets – ensuite facilities – A/C
- Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
After an early breakfast we take our small speedboat that will speed us along the beautiful coastline of Santubong Peninsula and Buntal Bay to Bako National Park (90 mins).
Accompanied by our expert guide we head to the best places to spot wildlife and check out the park’s plant life. Potential wildlife sightings includes Proboscis and Silver Leaf monkeys, Long-Tail Macaques, Bornean Bearded Pigs, Flying Lemurs (Colugo), snakes, tropical birds and numerous Pitcher Plants.
So as to maximize our time both lunch and dinner will be taken in the National Park, with sunset here usually a spectacular sight. Post dinner there is also the option of a night walk to catch sight of the park’s nocturnal creatures which includes the shy Civet Cat (if we are very lucky) and all manner of frogs, insects and creepy-crawlies. Please note that during stormy weather the coastal boat will be replaced with inland van transfer.
Accommodation: Basic Chalet Style – mixture of ensuite or shared bathroom facilities – Rooms generally with no A/C
- Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
- Ascent: 160 Metres Approx.
We’ll wake-up to the wonderful sounds of the jungle and following breakfast we’ll take a 20 minute boat transfer from Bako National Park to Kampong Bako jetty from where where we start today’s ride. It’s a lovely day of cycling that takes in various Chinese, Iban and Malay communities. The scenery is a little different and more varied from the previous days as we ride through coconut husking areas, orchards, farms and mangroves. Fairly flat throughout it does have some short unsurfaced sections along the way which are non-technical and within the grading of the trip.
Along the way we stop by Beliong which means “Kiss of the Dragon” in the local Chinese dialect. Isolated on an island, Beliong is home to three vibrant communities, each with their own cultural expressions. More recently, the impressive Chinese temple here has become a local attraction for both devotees and tourists. In order to experience Beliong we’ll take a couple of short river crossings with the ride concluding close to the village of Asajaya. From here it is time to load up the bikes for the transfer to Serian Town and our hotel.
Comfortable 2 star hotel – All rooms ensuite with A/C
- Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
- Ascent: 405 Metres Approx.
Our first stop of exploration is in the form of the Serian Market. It’s very much a local market (far more than those in Kuching) with the array of wild and weird jungle produce here incredible and time spent here well worth it. Serian is just a few miles away from the Indonesian border but our ride today takes us back towards central Sarawak rather than South towards Indonesia. It’s another lovely day of riding through the lush, fertile area of this part of Sarawak. Using winding backroads, we pedal through a landscape dotted with small kampongs, rice paddies and plantations near to the Penrissen Mountains.
Our final destination today is Annah Rais. It’s here at the Bidayuh longhouse community that you’ll be able to spend some time exploring and have the chance to see the skulls that the headhunters collected during the tribal disputes of the past. You’ll also be able to buy some local handicrafts as well as Tuak, a local sweet rice wine.
The rest of the day is spent at leisure and you’ll be free to take a wander down to the river and around the village, meet the villagers and learn more about their way of life. In the evening we enjoy a Bidayuh dinner served in the Longhouse and are treated to a display of traditional dance and music.
Accommodation: Very Basic Homestay – Shared bathroom facilities – Rooms with no A/C
- Meals: Breakfast, lunch
- Ascent: 265 Metres Approx.
We start the day with breakfast at the longhouse before we set out for a river adventure.
From our accommodation it’s a short distance (around 25 minute transfer) to the village of Bengoh where we start our river kayaking. It’s a scenic gentle downstream paddle (around 12 kms) that sees us meandering through the rainforest taking in the sights and sounds along the way.
On reaching Semadang by kayak we take time to relax over a delicious lunch before getting back in the saddle. The afternoon ride is around 30kms and takes us along quiet back roads that pass through villages, plantations and farmland. We finish our ride at the manicured grounds of the Buddhist Village close to Siniawan. This will be our accommodation for the night, but the day is not over yet!
Tonight we’ll be heading to the historic town and former gold mining settlement of Siniawan for an evening of food and fun at the open-air street market. A firm favourite amongst Skedaddle customers, it’s a place that totally comes alive at night and is a wonderful spot to wander around. With a bewildering array of delicious ‘street food’ available until late in the evening, you are free to choose your own evening meal and drinks from one or more of the stalls then sit back and take it all in.
Accommodation – 2 star hotel – All rooms ensuite with A/C
- Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
- Ascent: 460 Metres Approx.
From the Buddhist Village we board our transfer vehicle for the journey (30 mins approx) to the Semenggoh Nature Reserve. Enclosed in a large area of lush rainforest it is home to endangered Orangutans who have been rescued from captivity and who are now part of a successful rehabilitation programme. During the scheduled feeding time, these amazing primates should descend from the canopy to the lower branches of trees, near the feeding area and offer us the chance to see them at fairly close quarters which for many is the wildlife highlight of the trip.
From Semenggoh we have a vehicle transfer back to the Buddhist Village from where it’s time to start cycling; a great ride that loops around the town of Bau (the oldest gold mining outpost in Sarawak).
Our first main stop comes after a few miles and is at the Blue Lake (an old gold mine), where we have lunch, before we continue our ride to the Fairy Cave*. This is a beautiful limestone cave whose name derives from a stalagmite structure at the entrance that is said to resemble a Chinese deity. Inside, you’ll notice the contrasts between the light entering the cave and its shadowy darkness and be accompanied by bats and swifts.
We then continue our ride (around 18kms) along country roads (6kms on a busier section) to the small village of Tondong where our hotel is located. We’ll have dinner at the hotel.
*Should Fairy Cave be closed we will visit the equally spectacular Wind Cave.
Accommodation: Basic Hotel – All rooms with ensuite facilities and A/C
- Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
A well-deserved rest day that starts with a transfer (1hr) to the sleepy fishing kampong of Telaga Ai where we take a fun boat journey to over to Satang Island.* Once on the island we visit the turtle hatchery to find out about the conservation work being carried out to help endangered Green Turtles. It’s a lovely setting and with this in mind we have set aside time to relax off the island’s white sandy beaches where many enjoy snorkelling in its tranquil clear waters.
Lunch is taken on the island and once back on the mainland we board our transfer vehicle and after a refreshment pit-stop at Serapi, we’ll head back to our hotel in Tondong.
In the evening our local team will help to prepare a BBQ banquet at the hotel.
*NB. In the event of stormy weather that makes it unsafe to cross over to Satang Island National Park we will instead visit by boat to a beautiful deserted village fronting the ocean or visit Kubah National Park for a short hike.
Accommodation: Basic Hotel – All rooms with ensuite facilities and A/C
- Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
- Ascent: 340 Metres Approx.
A fairly challenging day of coastal cycling today as we head towards the western tip of Borneo. After a quick transfer from Tondong so as to avoid a busy road section and tick off a few miles we start our day from the junction outside the Matang Wildlife Centre.
Our ride today follows a coastline that is dotted with isolated beaches and peat-swamp forests and gives us a great opportunity to spot wetland and coastal birds.
During the ride we take a small ferry across the Sampadi River and pass by some of the small farms that are dotted along the road and cultivate papaya, coconut, and palm oil. At the village of Rambungan we’ll learn about Stingless Bees at a local Honey Farm with snacks and refreshments taken at Sempadi village. At the junction on a newly completed Pan-Borneo highway, we load our bike to avoid a section of high speed traffic, and transfer for 12km, to start riding again from a Malay village.
Late lunch is at the coastal town of Lundu and just a few pedal strokes later we pass-by Gunung Gading National Park which is home to the world’s largest flower, the Rafflesia, which can grow up to one metre in diameter. Owing to the Rafflesia’s rarity and brief flowering period, we’ll be checking-in with the park staff to see if we are in luck!
It’s just a few rolling kms from here to our wonderful accommodation. Situated right on the beach and with a superb pool and bar area it’s the perfect place to unwind after a day in the saddle and enjoy the sunset with a chilled beer.
Accommodation – Beachfront Resort with pool – All rooms ensuite with A/C
- Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
- Ascent: 170 Metres Approx.
After a lazy poolside morning it’s time for our final day of cycling and what a day it is!
This is a wonderful day riding through tiny villages and beside deserted beaches lined with coconut trees. We follow the coastline for much of our time, cycling on a mixture of tranquil village backroads as we head to the picturesque town of Sematan.
Following a crossing of the river mouth of Sungai Serayan Besar we arrive at Sematan where we visit the local fish market to check-out its fresh catches before continuing to a small waterfall that is great for a cooling dip in and is the perfect location for our picnic lunch.
In Kampong Pueh we stop by the Iban Selako Longhouse of Kampong Pueh before a final few meandering kms to our accommodation.
Beautifully positioned in front of a huge stretch of unspoilt white sandy beach it’s a wonderful place to end our biking in Borneo and celebrate our cycling achievement. Sunset is usually pretty special here so time to watch the sun drop over the horizon and round-off the day with some delicious food and your favourite tipple.
Accommodation – Beachfront Resort with pool – All rooms ensuite with A/C
- Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Time to take it easy and relax and reflect by the beach or poolside in the morning prior to our midday transfer back to Kuching (2hrs).
Once back and checked in to our hotel the remainder of the day is yours to take at leisure. There’s lots to see here so whether you are a museum aficionado, like to watch the world drift by downtown with a coffee or a beer, need to stock up on souvenirs and handicrafts or fancy one more bowl of lovely Laksa you’ll not be disappointed.
We round-off the day with yet more delicious Sarawak cuisine at one of Kuching’s best loved restaurants in Bukit Mata before heading into Chinatown for a nightcap.
Accommodation : Modern Hotel with Swimming Pool – All rooms ensuite with A/C
- Meals: Breakfast
Time for one more bowl of noodles before we head to Kuching Airport (KCH) for onward flight connections (journey time to airport 30 minuets approx.).
Gallery
The Cycling
Terrain
The cycling terrain on this tour is roughly 98% on sealed roads and 2% on dirt roads and non-technical tracks and trails. The routes vary from flat to undulating , with hillier (but not overly challenging) sections on certain days.
Traffic is generally light and whilst the cycling is done at a relaxed pace you need to be alert for surprises along the way such as unexpected un-surfaced road sections, potholes, animals, vehicles and people.
Cycling Adventures Grade
Aspects of both our grade 2 and 3 holidays
Suitable for those looking for some cycle friendly routes
Some modest climbs and possibly sections of varying terrain (eg. forest tracks, gravel paths etc).
Our grading guidelines have been carefully created based on our many years of cycling experience, as well as customer feedback from our trips. Of course, if you're still struggling to figure out where you fit on the scale, do feel free to give us a quick call and we'll be more than happy to help!
For more information about our grading system click here.
Is this suitable for you?
Holidays that are graded as a 2-3, will have aspects of both our grade 2 and 3 holidays. These tours are still suitable for those perhaps who have recently got into cycling, and offer an array of accessible, cycle friendly routes, cycle paths and quiet roads, however there will be some days / sections where you may have to tackle some ups and downs, the occasional steeper climb and perhaps some varying terrain (forest tracks, gravel paths etc). Suitable for those with a decent level of physical fitness, looking for some leisurely rides with occasional (achievable!) challenges along the way.
For more information about the grading of this holiday in particular, please check out the terrain section which will give you some specifics of what to expect on this tour.
Dates & Prices
Secure Your Holiday With A Deposit
Book now with a $500 deposit and nothing more to pay until 60 days before departure. Choose a date to start your booking and see all prices, including bike hire and single room supplements.
Whats Included
A) All Accommodation (see specific accommodation section)
B) Meals as per itinerary (B=Breakfast, L=Lunch, D=Dinner)
C) Entrance fees to attractions during Heritage Ride (Day 3)
D) Entrance fees to National Parks as per the itinerary
E) Entrance fees to Semenggoh Nature Reserve (Day 9)
F) Cultural show (Day 7)
G) Kayaking – Bengoh – Semadang (Day 8)
H) Entrance to the Fairy Cave or Wind Cave (Day 9)
I) All boat journeys / river crossings (as per the itinerary)
J) Full tour service, including Skedaddle guides
K) Unless stated, at least one leader qualified in first aid
L) Support vehicle(s) and all luggage transfers
M) Airport transfers on scheduled arrival and departure days
N) Financial Protection through ABTOT
What's not Included
A) Bike rental (available if required)
B) Flights and bike carriage charges (if applicable)
C) Meals not stated in the itinerary
D) Single room (available on request)
E) Travel insurance
F) Personal clothing and equipment
G) Any tips for guides (at own discretion)
G) Personal expenditure (souvenirs, bar bills, etc.)
H) Airport transfers on non-scheduled arrival / departure days
Private Departures
Are you keen to only travel with your family or friends? Struggling to find the right date? Well, we can organise a private departure for this tour and tailor aspects to suit your group's specific needs. Contact our friendly team and we'll help you turn your dream into reality.
The Essentials
News, Reviews & Stories
Reviews
Delia, Gloucestershire, UKCouldn't have asked for more or better.For someone like me who is not a committed cyclist, there was an excellent variety of wildlife, boat trips, jungle hikes, swimming and fab food to really keep me engaged. Good support beforehand, with a member of office staff phoning prior to the trip to answer any last minutes questions we might have. All Skedaddle guides were friendly and genuinely interested in us. This was the first Borneo trip for the company, I believe, and we were well looked after to ensure there weren’t any unforeseen issues.
The food was nearly always delicious, freshly cooked, tasty and perfect to keep energy levels up for cycling in the heat. Particularly loved breakfast on day 6 at the noodle cafe run by a friend of the guides, and the food cooked by a guides wife, which covered breakfast and dinners over two days – superb. Best lunch was after the kayaking when we reached Semadang – top marks for simple, tasty food. Refreshments provided as we cycled every day were spot-on. There was always the regular opportunity to re-hydrate with water or isotonic drinks and fresh fruit. Cloud 9 bars were great for an energy boost, too! Couldn’t have asked for more or better.
Difficult to choose one favourite day as many of the days were amazing, however: Day 8 – Borneo Highlands to Siniawan. I loved the variety of the day, especially the kayaking (which I hadn’t been looking forward to beforehand!). Bau is beautiful and the bat caves interesting. Finishing in Siniawan was perfect and the opportunity to enjoy the street food and the buzzy atmosphere of the town in the evening was amazing. The best bit was that this then extended in to the perfect start on the next day as we crossed the river with our bikes in a setting that was serene and magical.
I enjoyed my bike immensely. I’m not a particularly experienced cyclist so it might not suit some who is, but I felt confident in the bike given to me which allowed me to get up some hills that for me were a little challenging and feel confident in my ability to make it. Our tour leader was an important component as his explanations of routes and the itinerary at times made an important difference. All the guides worked well individually and as a team and nothing was too much trouble for them. Need some super glue for a sole that was coming off a shoe? It was there the next day. Factor 50 not enough in the extreme heat? Higher factor sun lotion, again, there for us the next morning. All the guides were friendly, enthusiastic and supportive and just lovely people to be around. The highlight has to be them going to the trouble of getting a birthday cake (and a balloon!) for my husband, late at night when they hadn’t known in advance that it was a special occasion. As I say, just lovely people.The vehicle was fine for what we needed and the drivers were always friendly and amenable.
Loads of info given pre departure and being phoned by the company prior to departure was a nice touch. Well organised, friendly and the opportunity to experience a holiday that leaves you with great memories of places you might not otherwise see in quite the same way.
Anne, Oxon, UKThe history and culture of Sarawak...I had many favourite days! Day 1 – Excellent introduction to Kuching and the history and culture of Sarawak which, in my view, enhanced the whole trip. Day 5 – Wildlife walks in Bako National Park with a guide; seeing a flying Lemur fly was a real highlight. Days 10-11 – It was great to have a guide at Matang Wildlife Centre and a privilege to be shown around as a private group. Day 12 – The tour guides additional diversion for a “geography lesson” and intriguing bee hives.
The tour leader has lots of energy, good humour in abundance, is keen to please and I’m sure a willingness to learn and become one of the best. The whistle she adopted for bringing everyone to attention was a novel and great idea!
Julia, SurreyAmazing trip - thank you Saddle Skedaddle- I highly recommend this adventureAll the days were wonderful and different – cycling was largely on tarmac roads. Cycling was exceptionally hot due to temperature but we stopped every 10km or so for refreshments or a paddle in the river. I think actually seeing a young Orang Utan, and the newly hatched turtles on the island was a high point and not guaranteed for all visitors.
Nothing was too much trouble for for our Tour Leader – she was a ‘font of knowledge’ and really interesting to listen to – she set the scene each day for us and was very patient.
Richard, West Sussex, UKOne of the best trips I've been on.Thank you for taking time out to make sure I was okay during my recent trip, whether it was saving me from being consumed by jungle crevices or doing all the work during our kayaking! It was all part of one of the best trips I’ve been on.
Catherine, SurreyExcellent!Delilah was outstanding as our guide. She was consistently professional, smiley and enthusiastic and so knowledgeable about her country. She took a lot of trouble to look after our wellbeing and to make our experience the best it could be.
Paul, CumbriaEverything was organised brilliantlyVariety of people, places and experiences. We saw life in Borneo as it is, not a sanitised “luxury“version. A group of 8 was the perfect size for cycling as a peloton, getting to know the others and travelling in one minibus together. The local partner organised everything brilliantly.
All days were really good in their own right, in different ways. There was enough cycling to keep us happy and busy, with the other experiences like the parks, cave, wildlife and boat trips enhancing greatly the trip.
Euan, SurreyExcellentMy favourite was day 4: Kuching to Santubong For me, this had everything: a great breakfast, riding, wildlife, a beautiful sunset and fabulous dinner at lovely accommodation. Our Tour Leader was terrific. She took care to be equally supportive to each member of the group and her leadership made me feel safe, relaxed and happy in a part of the world which was uncharted for me.