The Lost World of Maliau Basin

Tawau / Sabah

PHOTOS © PING ANCHORAGE

Tour Code : PA/057/MLB01 (Ex-Tawau)

Day 1 - (09:45am) Pick up guest at Tawau Airport, proceed on 4-wheel drive to the Maliau Basin Security Gate, 180km away. Weather permitting, journey will take about 5 hours. (13:30pm) stop at Tibow for lunch. (14:00pm) proceed to Maliau Basin Security Gate. (14:30pm) arrive at Maliau Basin Security Gate for short briefing. (15:00pm) driver on to Agathis Camp, 26km away for the night stay, settle in and enjoy the surrounding environment. (19:00pm) Dinner, weather permitting, go on a night drive in search of nocturnal animals, possible encounter/sightings of Sambar deers, bearded pigs, Malay civets, flying squirrels and Borneo’s wild ox, the Banteng, Overnight at Agathis Camp. (L/D)

Day 2 - (07:30am) After breakfast, begin the 7km trekking through the rainforest to reach the Camel Trophy Camp, this will take about 6 hours of trekking over the rim of the Basin, the first two hours is the most challenging uphill trek for this adventure. (11:30am) stop for packed lunch and relax enjoying the surrounding rich vegetation. (12:30pm) continue trekking. (14:30pm) arrive at the Camel Trophy Camp, settle in. Option A - Walk to the Giluk Falls about 1 hour away and back to Camel Trophy Camp, a dip in the pool is possible or walk to the spectacular, about 100m in height, about 10 storey building Takob Akob Falls which is about 2 hours away and back. Option B - Enjoy the surrounding at the Camel Trophy Camp, have a swim at a nearby stream. (19:00pm) Dinner, Overnight at Camel Trophy Camp. (B/L/D)

Day 3 - (07:30am) After breakfast, start trekking through heath/montane forest and further down through highland dipterocarp forest for roughly about 5 hours to reach the Luba Camp, about 8km away. The first few kilometres upon entering the heath forest discover the abundance of Nepenthes plants or locally referred to as ‘monkey cup’ and wild orchids. (12:00nn) At the helicopter pad near Luba Camp, enjoy the full view of the Maliau Basin rim which is about 25km in diameter, slightly bigger than the island of Singapore, settle in and enjoy the panaromic view of the Maliau Basin. (14:00pm) Descend for about one hour to the highlight of the adventure i.e. the Maliau Falls, have a picnic and take out a camera to snap beautiful shots and enjoy a dip in the falls. (17:00pm) trek uphill back to the Luba Camp for dinner. Overnight at Ginseng Camp. (B/L/D)

Day 4 - (07:00am) After breakfast, trek along the forest making a loop back to the Agathis Camp, this will take about 6-8 hours, settle in at the Agathis Camp for the last night of the adventure in the forest, after dinner, weather permitting, a second night drive looking for nocturnal animals. Overnight at Agathis Camp(B/L/D)

Day 5 - (07:30am) After breakfast, drive back to Tawau, through the Maliau Basin Security Gate. (B)

TIPS FOR TREKKERS TO MALIAU BASIN

1) Anti-Malaria Pills
There are few mosquitoes during the trip. You can choose not to take the pill but remember to use insect repellent. Most visitors are more worried about the leeches.

2) Physically Fit
As the trip to Maliau Basin involve three days of trekking and lots of up and down the hill, it is highly recommended that visitors are reasonable fit, at least to endure 6 to 8 hours of trekking per day. In any event we have taken visitors who did not train much, for the trip. Just remember to take it easy, pace yourself and enjoy the surrounding. There are lots of interesting vegetation, mushroom, insects for you to discover.

3) Water
Trekking in the humid jungle (not too hot as the trails are covered by dense forest canopy) you will perspire a lot and you may not realize it. It is important to bring 2-3 liter of water with you and have frequent sip of water during the trek. You may want to use dehydration salt or tablets in your water to replenish lost of mineral to avoid muscle cramp. There are water piped from Agathis Camp and Ginseng Camp. So there are plenty of water for drinking and shower. At Lobah Camp which is the highest point of the trip, the water source is in a tank collected from rain water and the water is first used for drinking and cooking, then for cleaning and shower.

4) Clothing
Personally wearing a thin t-shirt (or quick dry t-shirt) and a long pants for all the trekking is advisable. There is no need to change as you will perspire a lot within 1-2 hours of trekking and your t-shirt will be completely wet. You may want to take a dip at Maliau Fall, so be prepared to wear your swim suit or a quick dry t-shirt on the day when you are trekking to Maliau Fall. You will need a spare set of clothing for sleeping. You can bring a bag with locks to keep your clean clothing (for your trip returning to KK) in a store room in the base camp (Agathis Camp). An umbrella is very useful if it rains. Hat or cap is very useful as they will protect your head against overhanging tree branches.

5) Toenail
Make sure you trim your toenail. Usually trekkers will lose their toenail after a few days of trekking, and it is very painful going down the hill when toes are knocking on your shoes. 6) Trekking pole This will be useful to help you balance and taking some load off your feet.

7) First Aid Kit
It will be useful to bring some plaster or bandage in case of minor cuts or injury. Please bring your own medicine. If you are prone to allergy from insects bite (bees, sands flies, etc) it is useful to bring an anti-hestamine or ointment to relief itchiness or rashes.

8) Shoes
A good pair of trekking shoes is essential, preferably water proof and with "studded" sole. If it is raining the trial will be muddy and you will require a pair of shoes with heavy studs and water-proof to keep you feet dry.

9) Electricity
Both Agathis Camp and Ginseng Camp are equipped with generator set. There will be electricity supply for a few hours in the evening. You may re-charge your camera battery there. Please be reminded, in Malaysia we use 240V and three-square type of plug for electricity appliance.

10) Plastic container
Since you will be having a packed lunch, do bring along your own plastic container, spoon and cup. Cutleries are provided at all the base camp and are not allowed to be removed.