The Adventurist

If there’s one thing the adventure traveller seeks, it’s for life to never be boring. Mapped out urban landscapes are deal-breakers – they prefer to seek thrills in nature, in discovering new terrain, and recording new experiences.

Brunei

The exciting buzz of a city has no place in Temburong, Brunei’s less populated district that is home to the Ulu Temburong National Park – the green jewel in Brunei’s prized green spaces. And what a jewel it is: a sprawling 50,000-hectare expanse of undisturbed primary rainforest that is considered one of the most diverse ecosystems in the world.

If an adventure is to be had, then that adventure should be in the rainforest – bursting with flora and fauna with little thought for the humans who are coming for a visit.

The district accessible now by the newly opened Temburong Bridge that would easily take you from Kota Batu Road to Bangar Town, reaching Temburong has never been as easy as now. But this is an adventure, so go the traditional route: hail a boat from one of the jetties at the city center, haggle over prices, and take a boat ride down mangrovelined waterways where you might be lucky enough to spot proboscis monkeys and most likely some (eek!) crocodiles.

Accessing Sumbiling Eco Village requires another boat ride down a river – on a sampan that will take you along fast shallows and swirling rapids. An eco-lodge located smack in the middle of the rainforest, you can ‘glamp’ here in eco-friendly wooden structures located right alongside the Temburong River.

Sumbiling Eco Village is managed with the local Iban community, and if this is where you want to begin your rainforest adventure, they offer plenty of nature-based activities that that includes foraging, river fishing, sunrise and night walks, river tubing and cooking sessions.

Trendy hotspots and fine-dining establishments have no business in the rainforest – here there is a jungle-totable approach that ensures whatever you dine on is organic and fresh. Local delicacies will be prepared under your watchful eye and your rumbling stomach, before you can dig into hearty meals like the Bamboo Chicken – a local favourite. Located nearby is the Freme

Rainforest Lodge, a place that definitely puts the fun in adventure. While you can certainly take a walk across their suspension bridge and start hiking up the rainforest nature trails, have some fun at their

‘Adventure Park’ – an obstacle course that includes a soaring flying fox zipline that will take you past nature trails, over the river and right back to the steps of the lodge.

Sabah

Of the myriad adventures that can be had in Sabah, the ultimate has always been the climb to the top of Mount Kinabalu –the Everest of every Bornean adventurer. This World Heritage Site takes a minimum of two days to scale, and stands at a tall 4,095m above sea level.

Mount Kinabalu is considered to have some of the most accessible peaks in the world, and anyone ready to check ‘mountain climbing’ off their list should definitely attempt it. You can’t just get to the mountain and climb it, of course, with only 165 permits issued per day and mandatory overnight stay at a mountain accommodation, bookings need to be made at least 30 days in advance (there are plenty of local tour operators who can help, visit the Sabah Tourism Board website for more information).

Spectacular views are to be expected when scaling the tallest mountain in Malaysia, but what about off it? On the way to Mount Kinabalu, stop by Tamparuli

Town to visit Bukit Perahu (or Bukit Ruhiang) – one of the more difficult hiking spots in Sabah. Climbing up this hill is no casual hike, even at only 300 meters high, but reaching the summit by sunrise will earn you some of the most spectacular views of Mount Kinabalu, and other arresting vistas bathed in cloud and fog.

There are plenty of resorts around for you to rest up your climb-weary (or ready) feet, and the Mountain Valley Resort, a boutique resort located in

Kundasang, is one of many of those places. Only recently renovated in 2019, this resort is set on a hill surrounded by natural landscapes at 1200m above sea level, and epitomises serenity among the wilderness. Depending on the rooms you choose, you can wake up to a view of Mount Kinabalu or the Bundu Tuhan valley.

Sarawak

If you’re going to have an adventure in Sarawak, then we’ll be directing you to go to Miri, take a Maswings flight to Mulu, and pay a visit to UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Mulu National Park.

There’s plenty of adventure to be had in the 544 sq km of Sarawak’s largest national park, which contains a tropical rainforest, river rapids, a limestone mountain range, thousands of species of flora and fauna, and the world’s most extensive cave system. Within its boundaries lay three of the region’s and the world’s largest and longest caves: the Deer Cave (the world’s largest cave passage), the Sarawak Chamber (the world’s largest natural chamber) and the Clearwater Cave (the longest cave in Southeast Asia), and adventure caving can be continued through the ancient river passage in Lagang Cave, and climbing up and down passageways in the Racer Cave.

But let’s talk about that gorgeous rock formation: the world famous Mulu Pinnacles. A series of 45 meter high, razor sharp limestone spikes that tower above the rainforest like jungle skyscrapers, the trekking to its summit is not for the amateur climber, and as hard as the climb is, apparently the descent is even tougher. It must absolutely not be attempted without an official park guide (for more information, visit mulunationalpark.com).

There are a few options for accommodation around the area, but we would recommend pampering yourself before and after your adventures by checking into the Mulu Marriott Resort

& Spa in Sungai Melinau – an absolute oasis amid the rainforest.