Tawau: 4D3N Maliau Basin Hiking Expedition

Day 1: The Unwritten Pact

1. Tawau
   Pass by
   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!
2. 2h · Admission ticket included
   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.
3. Maliau Basin Conservation Area
   14h · Admission ticket included
   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.

Day 2: The Adventure of Mud, Sweat, and Leeches

1. 10h · Admission ticket included
   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.
2. Maliau Basin Conservation Area
   3h · Admission ticket included
   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. Maliau Basin Conservation Area
   15h · Admission ticket included
   Dinner served and sleep at Nepenthes Dormitory style only. Overnight.

Day 3: The Heart of the World – Journey to the Falls

1. 10h · Admission ticket included
   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.
2. Maliau Basin Conservation Area
   3h · Admission ticket included
   Then hike back to Ginseng Camp is a bit of a slog at 645 elevation but totally fuelled by this awesome happiness.
3. 15h · Admission ticket included
   That night, the sound of Ginseng Falls nearby is like your lullaby. Dinner served and sleep at Nepenthes Dormitory style only. Overnight

Day 4: Bringing the Lost World

1. Maliau Basin Conservation Area
   2h · Admission ticket included
   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. Maliau Basin Conservation Area
   4h · Admission ticket included
   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.
3. Tawau
   5h
   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!

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!

• 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.
• The trek involves steep hills and might be physically demanding for non-hikers.
• Backpacks must be carried by the travellers themselves, unless paid for.
• Accommodation on a basic stay and dormitory due to none private rooms being built.
• Management reserves the right to adjust the itinerary if necessary, with no refunds is possible. Eg, tour start late because of big rains or wild animals present.
• This is not luxury tour and weather conditions may affect the night safari.
• Any vegetarian and vegan are welcome.
• Ensure to carry all trash back with you.
• We are one of the few tour operators to access these basin areas with a permit.
• DSLR camera users must seek permission and rights to publish from the local government for advertising purpose, if any.
• Carry cash for any personal expense, no card payment inside the jungle.
• Not recommended for all wheelchair user.