The Ultimate Adventure Through Wild Borneo

Marta Marinelli, raised in Italy’s serene Prosecco Hills, dreamt of global adventures, inspired by her father's travel stories. Her passion evolved into a career, backed by a decade of studies including degrees in international tourism and destination management. She’s worked in the adventure travel sector since 2012, living in Italy, the UK, and now sunny Portugal.

Over twenty years, Marta has explored over 55 countries, visiting remote areas like Ghana, Rwanda, Sao Tome and Principe, Haiti and Nepal’s Upper Mustang region. As a Senior Adventure Expansion Manager at Much Better Adventures, she focuses on creating life-changing experiences, ranging from multi-activity adventures, challenging treks to ultimate adventures in iconic places. She loves the challenge of finding the best local adventure hosts around the world, collaborating on adventures that offer genuine immersion, pushing beyond the beaten path and working on exclusive itineraries that challenge your comfort zone.

What makes her tick? Enabling people to live adventure-rich lives while positively impacting and empowering local communities around the world, generating sustainable opportunities for both the host, guides, community, and the environment.

Tips are not included in the trip cost. These are entirely at your discretion but there is an expectation to tip for good service. Of course, the amount should be reflective of your perception of service and quality – a tip is not compulsory and should only be given when you receive excellent service.

If you wish to extend your trip and climb the famous Kinabalu summit, the easiest way is to fly from Kuching to Kota Kinabalu (1.5 hr direct flights with AirAsia or other airlines). Permits need to be obtained far in advance and you can book via local agencies.

The tap water in Borneo is not always friendly on the stomach for those who haven't been in Malaysia for a while. You may find purified water in some of the accommodation which you can use to fill up each morning, so be sure to pack a reusable water bottle or two. To avoid plastic waste where filtered water is not available, we suggest bringing water purification tablets or a different purification system for extra safety. Please find more info here.

The Semenggoh Wildlife Centre, set in a nature reserve in Sarawak, is one of the best places in Borneo to view semi-wild orangutans. The orangutans have been rescued from captivity and trained to survive in the surrounding forest reserve. The park has been around since 1975, and was established with three aims: to rescue, care for and rehabilitate endangered wildlife back into the wild, to conduct research on endangered species and captive breeding programmes, and finally to educate the general public on wildlife conservation. A variety of animals are under its care, but it is the orangutan rehabilitation programme which has been the most recognised and the most successful. Newly rehabilitated orangutans are then released into Kubah National Park.

By visiting Semenggoh and other genuine rehabilitation centres in Borneo, you are supporting projects that are working tirelessly to help save the orangutans and their habitats. This is an example of how responsible tourism can have a real, tangible benefit and how you as a traveller can help save some of the wildlife you have travelled around the world to see. You'll be asked to follow a specific code of conduct to ensure your visit is responsible (such as by keeping a safe distance from the orangutans and keeping noise levels to a minimum), and please bear in mind that sightings are never 100% guaranteed, as the animals are free to roam in the large protected forest area where they live.

On the trip you'll spend a day and night with a thriving rural Bidayuh community, the second largest indigenous tribe in Sarawak and home to one of the few remaining traditional Bidayuh longhouses in Sarawak. Upon arrival at the village, you'll walk through the farmlands with the local community host to see the rice fields, pepper farm, rubber plantation, and tropical fruit orchards – a fantastic opportunity to learn about their culture, history, and contemporary life. In the evening, you'll experience how the Bidayuh prepare dinner, cooked with simple and natural ingredients.

The homestay program is run and managed by the community itself and it is a successful example of how community-based tourism can be successful when done sensitively, facilitating cultural exchange and playing an active part in the maintenance of indigenous culture and traditions through their celebration.

This trip visits locations where daytime temperatures can be extremely high during the times of year when this trip operates. High humidity and limited access to shade can also be factors, and warm temperatures can continue into the nighttime, which additionally influence the body’s ability to cool down. Personal care should be taken to keep cool as best possible in the conditions, such as wearing appropriate clothing and proper hydration. Very high temperatures can impair an individual’s physical abilities to perform an activity that they may otherwise be able to do competently at cooler temperatures. People may experience symptoms associated with dehydration and Heat Stroke. Your guide(s) are trained to mitigate the risks associated with high temperatures, by carefully managing the intensity of the activity, and to provide the appropriate support response should someone feel ill during the trip. Should you experience health issues during your trip you should inform your guide immediately so the proper care can be provided.

Sure can! Over 70% of our travellers travel solo, it’s a great way to meet like-minded people.

Our team of Adventure Hunters co-create exclusive adventures which are run by highly vetted, specialist hosts. The trip is run by our trusted host partner in the destination. We only work with independent, local, in-destination experts who know the very best places to explore and how to stay safe. Read more information about the local teams we partner with. You’ll be introduced to the host straight after making a booking via the Much Better Adventures platform.

Much Better Adventures refer to the UK Government’s official travel advice when designing trips and monitoring trip operations. We recommend that all customers are familiar with the practical information provided on the Government’s FCDO website, where current travel advice can be found by searching for the applicable destination(s).

For customers joining this trip from other international destinations – please also read the official travel advice applicable to your country of residence/origin, as this may differ.

Our recommended travel insurance provider is Campbell Irvine.

Travel insurance is compulsory for all of our adventures and you are required to provide your policy information before departing.

Your insurance should include adequate protection for overseas medical treatment, evacuation/repatriation, your baggage and equipment and the specific activities involved on your adventure. We also strongly recommend it includes cancellation and curtailment insurance, should you be unable to join your trip for specific reasons such as illness.

We fully endorse Campbell Irvine as their insurance offers all of the above, so get in touch with them or call on 020 7938 1734 to get your insurance sorted. We suggest that you book travel insurance as soon as you book your adventure, just to cover you for any last-minute life changes. We know you’re an active lot and injuries do happen!

We recommend checking out the country-specific information and also talking to a travel nurse.

We automatically convert prices from the local currency that a host receives to your chosen currency. We update our exchange rates on a daily basis so this does mean that prices displayed on the site are subject to currency fluctuations, which is why you may see them change over time.

If you wish to change the currency you pay in, head to the bottom of the page.

All of our group adventures are specially designed for adults to enjoy (18+) as we want these adventures to bring together outdoorsy people who are truly like-minded. Children can be accommodated on some private departures.

You're always in good company on one of our adventures.

Our trips are typically made up of a mixture of solo travellers and small groups of 2 or 3 friends, with most in their 30s-50s.

Our sociable adventures are solo-friendly by design and naturally attract outdoorsy people with a shared mindset; a love for adventure, a desire to push themselves and meet awesome, like-minded people along the way.

It’s this camaraderie that has so often turned a great adventure into a life-changing one.

Don't just take our word for it:

• 95% of people rate the group dynamics on our trips 5/5
• 90% of people recommend joining a trip to make new friends
• 75% of people have met people on our trips that they would now consider friends

See here for more info about the Much Better Adventures tribe.

Interested in a more exclusive experience? Opt for a 'Private Group' through the dates and prices tab to book this adventure for just you and your chosen companions.