2020 GeoEx Catalog

TIM LAMAN / NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC IMAGE COLLECTION

Rivers and Jungles of Borneo DAY HIKING · RIVER CRUISING | 14 DAYS · GROUP AND CUSTOM

R ain pounds the jungle canopy. Mist hangs in the air.  Precipitation pitter-pats from expansive fronds to lower leaves. Water is the life force that keeps Malaysian Borneo abundant and alive. The atmosphere reverberates with the buzz of insects, the squawks of birds, the calls of monkeys, and the rustlings of pygmy elephants (ask this trip’s creator, Tina Liadis, about her close encoun- ter with the pachyderm). On this walking and river- cruising adventure, our naturalist guides help us uncover the unimaginable breadth of fauna that’s sheltered and nourished by the thick vegetation. Kuching, the capital of Sarawak, is our start. We explore Gambier spice street, India Street, a Muslim mosque, and the oldest Chinese temple in the state, soaking up the alluring blend of the Malay, Indian, and Chinese cultures. Then we make our first foray into the wild by boat, arriving in Bako National Park to watch for bewitching proboscis monkeys—which sport strikingly long noses and big bellies—as well as wild boar, silvered leaf monkeys, macaques, and monitor lizards. From here, we wing our way to Gunung Mulu National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Fol- lowing raised platforms through lowland rain forest and peat swamp, we walk to astounding grottoes from which bats make their daily exodus at sunset. We zip by long-tail boat to a subterranean passage that is part

of the longest cave system in Southeast Asia. After con- tinuing to Sandakan by plane and visiting with resident orangutans, we spend two days leisurely cruising the Kinabatangan River, spotting hornbills and their avian cousins and relaxing at a waterside lodge. Our final chapter takes us into the heavily forested Danum Valley, realm of gibbons, mouse deer, and clouded leopards. We keep our eyes open for animals and birds, hike to an escarpment with ancient burial coffins, and dip in the pools of a waterfall. If time permits, add a couple of blissful days on Gaya Island, known for its crystalline turquoise waters, or in UNESCO-listed Mount Kinabalu National Park, home to a diversity of flora and Southeast Asia’s highest peak.

group trip from $8945 june 7–20 also offered as custom trip mar.–nov.

Day 1  arrive in Kuching ✦  2  Kuching exploring ✦  3  boat to Bako National Park, wildlife rambles ✦  4  return to Kuching ✦  5 & 6  fly to Mulu, Gunung Mulu National Park, cave walk ✦  7  fly to Kota Kinabalu ✦  8 & 9  fly to Sandakan, Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Center, wildlife cruises on Kinabatangan River ✦  10–12  Gomantong Caves, drive to Danum Valley, rain-forest walks and bird-watching ✦  13  drive to Lahad Datu, fly to Kota Kinabalu ✦  14  depart.

ABOVE  More than 10 primate species can be found in Borneo, a hotspot for biodiversity.

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SOUTHEAST ASIA

TO CUSTOMIZE ANY OF THESE ITINERARIES, CALL 888-212-0003