BORNEO / SARAWAK 3 DAYS NORTHERN HIGHLANDS – A 4-WHEEL-DRIVE ADVENTURE (NEW!) TOURCODE: MYYNOR PRIVATE TOUR WITH DAILY DEPARTURES BA’KELALAN – MERARAP HOT SPRINGS – LAWAS / KOTA KINABALU Days Tour Meals Overnight Ba’Kelalan Arrival Day 1 Arrival in Ba‟Kelalan and transfer to homestay -/ L /D Ba‟Kelalan 4-wheel-drive ride to salt spring Ba’Kelalan – Merarap Hot Springs Trek to sunrise view point Merarap Hot Day 2 B/ L /D 4-wheel-drive to Merarap Hot Springs Springs Nature walk Merarap Hot Springs – Lawas / Kota Kinabalu 4-wheel-drive ride to Lawas with en-route visit of Long Day 3 Lidung‟s riverine tagang system B/ L /- -- Option A: transfer to Lawas airport Option B: overland transfer to Kota Kinabalu B = Breakfast / L = Lunch / D = Dinner City Budget Category BA’KELALAN Homestay MERARAP HOT Merarap Hot Springs Chalet SPRINGS P a g e | 54 BORNEO / SARAWAK DETAILED ITINERARY NORTHERN HIGHLANDS & BA’KELALAN The highlands in Northern Sarawak are a series of pristine valleys, surrounded by mountains and jungle-covered peaks rising to an altitude of up to 2,400 metres above sea level. One of these beautiful valleys is Ba'Kelalan, a group of nine villages, at an altitude of 910 metres above sea level. The villagers belong to the Lun Bawang tribe, one of the Orang Ulu ethnicities that inhabit the highlands of Northern Sarawak. In the cool mountain climate, temperate fruits such as apples can be grown. Besides being famous for its fruits and organic vegetables, the area is also well known for its mountain salt obtained from the nearby hills and the fragrant highland rice which is grown in well-tended padi fields around the villages. This hidden paradise offers visitors a great blend of unique culture and nature with stunning scenery and a fresh mountain breeze. BA’KELALAN ARRIVAL (-/L/D) Day 1 Meet on arrival in Ba‟Kelalan and transfer to a homestay. After lunch at your host‟s house, depart by 4-wheel-drive vehicle on a 20 minutes‟ drive to Buduk Bui salt spring, where you will learn more about the process of extracting mountain salt. Return to the homestay for dinner. Accommodation at Ba‟Kelalan homestay (simple accommodation). Meals included: Lunch Dinner BA’KELALAN – MERARAP HOT SPRINGS (B/L/D) Day 2 06:00 hrs. – If you wish, your guide will bring you on an early morning trek to Bukit Sarui (subject to weather condition). After trekking (moderate) for about 45 minutes to 1 hour you will reach a view point with a breath-taking panoramic view over Ba‟Kelalan with its paddy fields and fruit orchards. Enjoy the beautiful scenery while the sun rises over the northern highlands! Trek back to the homestay for breakfast. 10:00 hrs. – Depart by 4-wheel-drive vehicle to Merarap Hot Springs. This journey will take about 4 hours. Enjoy the beautiful scenery, passing many Lun Bawang villages along the way. If weather permits, we will be able to view the magnificent Batu Lawi. This twin-peaked mountain is a sacred place for many native tribes in the surrounding highlands and subject of many ancient legends. It has also played an important role during the Japanese Occupation in World War II, when it served as an important landmark for pilots from the Royal Australian Airforce and Allies. Upon arrival at Merarap Hot Springs, lunch will be served. Merarap Hot Springs is one of the hidden paradises in the northern region of Sarawak. Surrounded by pristine jungle, it‟s an ideal place to seek rest and recreation. The water in the hot spring pool is piped from a nearby mountain source into dip pools with different water temperatures to ensure a complete spa experience. P a g e | 55 BORNEO / SARAWAK Your guide will bring you on a short trek to explore the surrounding area. Rejuvenate by taking a deep soak in the hot spring pool, before dinner is served. Accommodation at Merarap Hot Springs Chalet (simple accommodation). Meals included: Breakfast Lunch Dinner MERARAP HOT SPRINGS – LAWAS / KOTA KINABALU (B/L/-) Day 3 After breakfast you depart by 4-wheel-drive vehicle to Lawas. The journey will take about 2 hours and 30 minutes. En-route you will visit Long Lidung with its riverine tagang system. The term „tagang‟ originates from the language of the Iban tribe and means „restriction‟. This system was introduced by the Sarawak government and intends to raise awareness about river pollution and overfishing. The whole village has to take responsibility to keep the river clean in order to provide the best possible environment for river fishes to flourish and fishing activities are restricted. While your guide explains the tagang system and its importance to the community to you, you may feed the fishes in the river. If the water level is low, you might even want to step into the river and feel the fish swimming playfully around your legs and taking food from your hand palms. After lunch, which will be served in Lawas, you have 2 options: Option A: Transfer to Lawas airport for your flight back to Miri or your next destination. Option B: Overland transfer to Kota Kinabalu with drop-off at hotel of your choice in the city centre of Kota Kinabalu. The journey will take about 2-3 hours. (Note: For a party of 4 person and above, the vehicle for this overland transfer between Lawas and Kota Kinabalu will be switched to air-conditioned van.) Meals included: Breakfast Lunch P a g e | 56 BORNEO / SARAWAK NOTE: MASwings currently flies three times a week from Miri via Lawas to Ba‟Kelalan and vice versa, and several times daily from Miri to Lawas and vice versa. The flights are operated on Twin Otter aircrafts and luggage allowance on these flights is limited (please refer to your flight ticket for exact information). If you overnight in Miri before and after this 3 days tour, your suitcases can be stored at your hotel in Miri. In case you just transit in Miri on the way to Ba‟Kelalan and on the way from Lawas to your next destination, we can arrange a representative of Diethelm Travel to meet you during your transit in Miri and store the luggage for you (not included in the package; charges depend on size and weight of luggage). This tour package can also be arranged vice versa, starting in Lawas and ending in Ba‟Kelalan. Guests have to sign an indemnity form for the 4-wheel-drive ride upon booking of this tour package. Each 4-wheel-drive vehicle has a maximum capacity of 3 passengers. Even if the package is booked on private basis, activities in the homestay may be on shared basis in order to minimise impacts on the natural environment or if other circumstances require so. Rooms at the homestay are private twin-share rooms. Toilets and bathrooms (dip & splash method) are on shared basis. SERVICES INCLUDED: 1 night accommodation in shared twin room with shared common sanitary facilities in Ba‟Kelalan 1 night accommodation in shared twin room with fan and private bathroom at Merarap Hot Springs Meals as stated in the programme B= breakfast, L= lunch, D= dinner Transfers and tours with local English-speaking driver guides in air-conditioned 4-wheel-drive vehicles Entrance fees and/or boat fees as stated in the programme Package includes GST 6% (Good and Service Tax) SERVICES EXCLUDED: Domestic airfare and/or International airfare to/from Malaysia (quoted separately, if requested) Optional tours Surcharges for other language guides Personal travel insurance Personal expenditure, such as drinks, souvenirs, laundry, camera fees, communications, postage, gratuities etc. Meals and services other than mentioned in the programme Drinks with meals Early check-in and late check-out at hotels, if not mentioned in the programme WHAT TO BRING: Backpack Loose-fitting summer clothing Sun hat/ cap Sun block Insect repellent Personal toiletries Flat walking shoes with good grip Raincoat Torch or flashlight Leech socks (optional; the species of leeches that do occur occasionally cause harmless bites) P a g e | 57 BORNEO / SARAWAK CONTACT INFORMATION OF HOTELS DURING YOUR STAY: Homestay/ Ba‟Kelalan & c/o Diethelm Travel (Sarawak) Sdn. Bhd Merarap Hot Springs Chalet Lot 257, 2nd Floor, Jalan Chan Chin Ann, 93100 Kuching, Sarawak Tel. (+60-82) 412 778, Fax (+60-82) 258 320 “JOURNEYS OF A LIFETIME” P a g e | 58 .