Journeys: Best of Borneo

This escorted tour takes you through Sarawak and Sabah, starting with nature walks in Kubah National Park and a visit to a Bidayuh tribal village near Kuching. Gunung Mulu National Park offers several cave walks by day and a nightly bat exodus, along with a jungle night walk that hints at what the rainforest gets up to after dark.

Further afield, the Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre provides an up-close look at rescued orangutans, while the Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre tends to their smaller, less conspicuous cousins. The Kinabatangan River cruise offers a quieter way to spot wildlife, including the rare pygmy elephant, amid dense forest and mangroves. Tabin Wildlife Reserve rounds off the trip with jeep and foot excursions through rainforest habitats.

Transportation includes local flights, boats and hiking, keeping the pace varied but manageable. Accommodations range from hotels to lodges, some without lifts and in remote areas. The tour is led throughout by a National Geographic Expedition Leader who brings knowledge and practical support to the group.

These are the places the trip visits, in order. G Adventures publishes the day-by-day itinerary on its own site.