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: A modern, comfortable 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 It now contains the Brooke Gallery which houses important historical documents and artefacts from the era of the White Rajahs and is a great place to learn more about this area of Borneo before we set off on our cycling journey tomorrow.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: A modern, comfortable 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. We will enjoy a seafood lunch at one of the village’s seafood restaurants.

From here the cycling gets a little more challenging for the final 9kms to Kampong Santubong. 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 – “Tropical” Stylish lodge accommodation with a lovely pool – 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 Chalets – mixture of ensuite or shared bathroom facilities – Rooms generally with no A/C and potential for non-heated showers

• Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
• Ascent: 120 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 final boat crossing to Pengkalan Beliong. From here, we’ll ride to a local school in Kampong Sebandi Ulu, and then transfer to Asajaya for lunch. After lunch, we’ll transfer to Serian Town and our hotel.

Accommodation: Comfortable 2 star hotel – All rooms ensuite with A/C

• Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
• Ascent: 400 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 “Longhouse” Homestay – Shared bathroom facilities – Rooms with no A/C – Sleeping arrangements will generally be basic (mattresses) – most rooms have a small fan and expect showers to be unheated (although some are electric). This is the most ‘basic’ accommodation, but a great experience, ran by people with the best “tribal longhouse” hospitality Sarawak has to give

• Meals: Breakfast, lunch
• Ascent: 285 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, before finishing our ride at the town of Siniawan.

Tonight we’ll take a short walk 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 – A comfortable hotel – All rooms ensuite with A/C

• Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
• Ascent: 610 Metres Approx.

From Siniawan 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 Siniawan 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 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 make our way back to the Siniawan hotel, riding along scenic country roads, with the last few kilometers retracing part of the morning route. Tonight, we will transfer to Bau Town for dinner, and possibly some shopping and even laundry.

*Should Fairy Cave be closed we will visit the equally spectacular Wind Cave.

Accommodation: A comfortable hotel – All rooms ensuite with 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, if you are lucky and conditions are favourable, you many enjoy snorkelling in its warm tranquil clear waters. Please note that Sarawak is more famous for its mangroves than its coral reefs and beaches, hence why Sabah is the more tourist visited state. Sarawak’s coastal waters tend to be more murky and so getting clear waters is more the exception rather than the rule. Having said that the beaches of Satang Island are idyllic!

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 towards Santubong to check-in for the second time at the comfortable Village House, where you can enjoy the pool.

*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: Resort – “Tropical” Stylish lodge accommodation with a lovely pool – ensuite facilities – A/C

• Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
• Ascent: 345 Metres Approx.

A fairly challenging day of coastal cycling today as we head towards the western tip of Borneo. After a quick transfer from Santubong (40 mins), 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 / chalets 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 (some chalet style) 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 : A modern, comfortable 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.).