Malaysia Eco Tours

The highlights for me were seeing orangutans (including babies!) in the wild, plus the rare pygmy elephants, alongside so much other incredible wildlife. Our local leader and guides were outstanding – not only were they brilliant at spotting animals I never would have seen on my own, but they also shared fascinating insights into Borneo’s wildlife and culture, which really enriched the whole experience. I loved the variety of activities too – from hiking through the rainforest to snorkelling in crystal-clear waters, spotting wildlife on boat trips, exploring charming towns, and relaxing on pristine white beaches. It truly offered a little bit of everything. This trip was magical from start to finish, and the orangutans in particular were such a special sight. I’d recommend it to anyone looking for adventure, wildlife, and unforgettable memories.

The tour incorporating both cultural as well as wild life aspects lived up to and even exceeded our expectations. Viewing of Orangatans, Gibbons, Rhinoceros Hornbills and many other beautiful monkeys and so forth in their natural habitats were highly delightful experiences.

Malaysia is such a rich country with so much to offer from nature to history. The main reason I loved this trip was because it felt like it gave me a full experience of this beautiful country. From seeing Proboscis Monkeys in the wild to the beautiful sites like Georgetown, this trip had it all.

We had a great time and thoroughly enjoyed the trip. We did see a lot of wildlife, though not as much as expected given the advertising for what we would see (we understand this is nature, but Borneo has definitely suffered from the palm oil plantations, the lack of birdlife was evident). The trip notes need updating - the Malaysian Rhino is extinct. Some improvement suggestions is that the tour group was too big (we had 15) for the types of activities and level of fitness needed. One less night in Kuching and instead have a night in Baku National Park would have been better. The park doesn't open til 8-9am so we missed seeing a lot of wildlife at dawn as by the time we got there it was already hot and sunny. It would have been good to know that we were changing guides half way through the tour. We found out it's because they can't work in the other state of Malaysia, (Sarawak and Sabah need different visas) but it would have been nice to know before the trip. If there was a way we could keep the same guide that would be ideal. At least if the first guide had even experienced the whole trip end to end so he could talk about what the second leg involved would have been beneficial. Other than that, we loved the holiday and the accommodation and meals were all of a high standard.

My family (husband and daughter) and I had a wonderful time on this adventure to Singapore and Malaysia. The hotels in the large cities were nicely appointed and located conveniently close to eateries and shopping malls. The breakfast in the hotels had a wide selection of delicious food to choose from, especially at the Paradox Hotel. The guides were friendly and informative. The drivers were skilled, especially the one in Malaysia who had to navigate a large bus through narrow winding roads on a stretch of mountain with motorcyclists weaving between cars. My only complain would the the meal on our 1st night in Singapore which consisted of American bar food (fries, fish sticks, fried cauliflower, quesadilla, chicken skewers). I did try a Singapore Sling. I was hoping for a Singaporean cuisine to start our trip. I also think that visiting 1 wet market and 2 villages was enough. My family skipped the 3rd village tour and 2nd wet market. Instead, we preferred spending time perusing local shops, trying local cuisine and snacks, and experiencing a foot reflexology which was popular. Luckily, we packed appropriately for the sudden daily downpour with thunder (raincoat) and hot temperature (UV umbrella, hat portable electric fan). In Malaysia, always carry toilet paper since not all restrooms have them. As a bonus, our group of 22 became close friends and watched out for each other. I would highly recommend this trip to others.

Borneo with Contiki was honestly one of the best trips I’ve ever been on. Our trip leader was amazing and made everything feel so easy and fun. I met such a great group of people, and seeing orangutans in the wild was something I’ll never forget. Every excursion was packed with adventure I had the best time!