Looking to get in touch with your primal instincts?

Swing into action on this 14-day orangutan conservation tour on the magical island of Borneo. By taking a walk on the wild side, animal lovers can observe these gentle giants and learn about them in their natural habitat. They can also enjoy exclusive "back stage passes" to the orangutan rehabilitation centres of Sarawak helping to sustain the orangutan population. The jungle is massive and you will have the opportunity to monkey around by hiking along the trails, exploring the rainforest's flora and fauna, and swimming in the jungle waters. So if you fancy yourself as the next Tarzan or Jane, come meet the descendants of the infamous head-hunters of Borneo and explore the Bako, Kubah and Batang Ai national parks.

Trip Highlights:

The chance to see Orangutans in the wild - a real privilege!

Experience life in Borneo's fabled rainforest and see how the Iban tribespeople live

Trekking through the rainforest

'Backstage passes' to the Ape Centre at the world leading Matang Widlife Centre

See first hand the efforts being made to rehabilitate the seriously endangered Orangutan population

Fast Facts

Project Information

Project Duration: Min 2 weeks
Project Costs: US$ 2295.00 for 2 weeks
Location of project:Kuching and local national parks on Borneo
Arrival Airport:Kuching (KCH)
Activities:Visiting with the orangutans, treks through the jungle and living with the Iban tribe in their traditional village
Working Hours:Full days on tour
Transport: Varied; bus and short boat ride
Requirements:Minimum age 18

What's Included

Accommodation:Varied; shared jungle lodge, dormitory at wildlife center and guest house accommodation
Food:All meals as per itinerary
Airport Pickup:Included on arrival date. Ask us for details if you're arriving early!
Training:In-country orientation
Support:Pre-departure helpdesk, Local in-country team and 24hr emergency support

What's not included

Flights, Insurance, Visas, Return airport transfer

Day 1: Arrive in Kuching, Sarawak, Borneo

Today you will be met at the airport and transferred to your guesthouse. Check in and settle into the guesthouse; a welcome dinner will be held at the local restaurant. Dinner is included.

Day 2: Orangutan & Animal Wildlife Centre

Enjoy a relaxing morning and head to the Matang Wildlife Centre in the afternoon. This wildlife centre is located near the Kubah National Park and you will get “back stage" passes to visit the Ape Centre. At the Ape Centre you will come face to face with the world famous Aman. On the 16th of May 2007, after ten long years in the dark, Aman became the first orangutan in the world to receive eye cataract surgery. You can also meet Aman's baby daughters. You will see first hand the efforts being made to rehabilitate orangutans back into the wild and to establish new populations in the Sarawak jungle. Breakfast, lunch and dinner are included.

Day 3: Kubah National Park

After breakfast you will journey to the Kubah National Park. You will spend the day trekking and visiting the park's beautiful waterfalls and swimming in the waters of the jungle river. You will return to the wildlife centre for lunch and have the afternoon to visit with the resident orangutans. You will spend the night at the centre. Breakfast, lunch and dinner are included.

Day 4: Kuching

After enjoying a tasty breakfast, you will travel back to Kuching. Spend the afternoon relaxing in town and doing some shopping. This is your last opportunity to purchase those last minute supplies before heading into the jungle! Breakfast, lunch and dinner are included.

Day 5: Semenggoh Nature Reserve & Bako National Park

Indulge in a filling breakfast and then travel to the Semenggoh Nature Reserve, just a short drive from the centre of Kuching. You will arrive at the Semenggoh Nature Reserve just in time to see orangutans inhale their mid day meal. In the afternoon, you will depart for Bako National Park by boat. The ride from Kuching to the park is only 25 minutes. Bako is one of the best places in Sarawak to see wildlife including the amazing proboscis monkeys. You will stay overnight in park chalets. Breakfast, lunch and dinner are included.

Day 6: Bako National Park

Welcome to the jungle! Today you will be hiking through jungle trails, enjoying the sunset, and swimming in the sea by secluded beaches. Be one with nature! Overnight accommodation is in the park chalets. Breakfast, lunch and dinner are included.

Day 7: Bako National Park to Kuching

After a peaceful morning, you will return to the guesthouse in Kuching in the early afternoon (exact time of schedule will depend on the tide). Breakfast, lunch and dinner are included.

Day 8 to 12: Batang Ai National Park - Orangutan Country

Welcome to orangutan country. Today you will arrive in Batang Ai National Park, passing through the rubber, cocoa and pepper plantations on the way. Stop en-route to sample some of the local delicacies and see the local wildlife. Visit the colourful native market in Serian town where you can buy a variety of jungle produce including edible ferns, bamboo shoots and unusual tropical fruit. Catch a boat through the valleys to see the Iban tribe longhouses. You will stay at the jungle lodge for the next few days. Here you can enjoy various activities including trekking through the jungle in search of wild orangutans and participating in orangutan nest counting. You will be working with the Iban tribe and truly experience the Iban way of life. If you find orangutans in the wild, do not approach them but appreciate them from a safe proximity. Breakfast, lunch and dinner are included. Note: Jungle trekking can be hard work and it is travellers do need a medium level of fitness in order to appreciate the treks.

Day 13: Transfer back to Kuching

After breakfast you will make the journey back to Kuching. You will arrive in Kuching in the afternoon and enjoy a warm shower at the hostel. Breakfast, lunch and dinner are included.

Day 14: Departure

Say your goodbyes and continue on to your next adventure. Breakfast is included.

NOTE: Please be advised that throughout the trip touching of the animals is strongly discouraged by the Borneo authorities.

Accommodation Details:

You will stay in various accommodations during your trip. While in Kuching you will stay at the Singgahsana Lodge. This guesthouse is comfortable with all the modern amenities including: internet, shower with warm water, phones and television. You will be expected to share a bedroom with a fellow traveller. While visiting the Matang Wildlife Centre, you will be staying in a basic dormitory at the centre. While in the rainforest at Batang Ai National Park, you will be staying in a basic jungle lodge. This is jungle living at its best but you should not expect luxury. The shower is run by cold water from the nearby waterfall and electricity is produced by a generator which is not switched on all the time. A mosquito net is provided - you will need it! However the geckos tend to help keep the insect population down for you!

Why the project needs visitors:

According to the World Wildlife Fund, fewer than 63,000 orangutans exist in the world today, and the majority of these call Borneo home. In the past 100 years, orangutan populations have fallen by over 90% due to destruction of their habitat, poachers, and illegal pet trading. Because orangutans give birth to a single offspring only every 8 years or so, concentrated efforts are needed to conserve current populations and to promote and protect breeding programmes to encourage orangutan population growth. This tour gives you the opportunity to see a number of different orangutan conservation organisations, focusing on education and raising awareness.

Who this trip is for:

Participants for this project should love animals. You should also have a love of the outdoors and adventure and enjoy trekking. A moderate to good level of fitness is required. Since you will be part of a group, the ability to work as part of a team is essential.

Where the project is based:

The city of Kuching in the Malaysian state of Sarawak, located on the north-western shore of the island of Borneo, will be the starting and ending point for the tour. The city of Kuching is a perfect blend of traditional and modern, and there will be plenty of time for exploring the cities colourful markets, Chinese temples and interesting museums.

When you arrive:

You should fly into Kuching (KCH) airport for this project. Please ensure that you arrive into Kuching on the start date of the tour, unfortunately early airport pick ups cannot be arranged if you arrive early.

What’s included:

Airport pick-up on arrival

All local transport related to the tour

All accommodation in shared rooms

All meals - as per itinerary

The services of an in-country team throughout your time in Malaysia

An amazing experience!

What’s not included:

Flights to Malaysia

Visa - if applicable

Any optional additional activities

What exactly do i-to-i provide?

It may seem like a strange concept to pay for your volunteer experience. You'd be right if you think you shouldn't and the truth is you actually don't! Your placement is free; it's the benefits around it that you pay for. It's important to note that i-to-i is a travel company and not a charity. We provide a professional travel service. We are responsible for finding and assessing worthwhile projects across the world, preparing you fora the volunteering experience and supporting you whilst you're there.

Here’s some more information about what your placement fee covers….

Project sourcing and assessment

We work with hundreds of locally run partner projects around the world and are constantly sourcing new opportunities. We visit all projects to check that they are worthwhile and legitimate and we also conduct a thorough safety assessment before we'll send volunteers there. More

Expert help-desk

Almost everyone who works for i-to-i has traveled extensively or worked overseas. This means we're a goldmine of information; we're always available to offer support and guidance before, during and after your trip.

Thorough project briefing materials

Once you book on to a project you'll receive a Welcome Pack that contains loads of general information about volunteering, about your chosen country and how to have fun and stay safe. We'll also give you advice on visas and inoculations.

TEFL training

If you are volunteering on a Teaching project then a 40-hour Online TEFL course is included in your placement fee. This is an internationally recognised and accredited certificate that will help you to make the most of your time overseas. More

Airport pickup

It can be pretty daunting arriving in a different country for the first time - especially after a long flight! If you arrive on your project start date, there'll be a welcoming face at the airport to pick you up and take you to your accommodation.

Arrival orientation

Soon after you arrive you will attend a thorough orientation with our in-country team. This is to cover important safety and security information. You'll also get some tips about sight-seeing options for your time off and maybe even learn some of the local lingo!

Accommodation and meals

Accommodation is included with all projects and meals are even included with some. We only use locally-owned and operated accommodation so that part of your placement fee is filtering back into the local economy. Most projects offer homestay, guesthouse or shared volunteer houses as standard accommodation, but some offer the chance to upgrade to a more comfortable living standard. More

Local in-country coordinators

Your in-country team will arrange a pick-up for you at the airport and will conduct your orientation upon arrival. All coordination teams are English speaking and are locals of your destination country. They won't be at your project every day, but will be on call 24 hours a day, seven days a week if you need them. More

24/7 emergency support

Aside from the local support from your in-country team you'll be given access to a 24/7 emergency phone line manned by our response team in case any problem should arise while you're overseas. We also hire crisis management professionals to be on hand in case of a situation that requires additional expert support. More

Ongoing training

The safety and security of our volunteers is paramount. For this reason we provide ongoing crisis management and emergency response training to our local teams around the world. We also fly in our in-country coordinators to the UK regularly for thorough training to help them offer the best safety to the thousands of volunteers they support each year. More

Supporting our projects

We don't fund our projects directly from the project fee that you pay us. Instead we choose to support a number of projects every year through a grant scheme for tangible long-term initiatives. In the last 3 years we have distributed over US$250,000 to our most needy projects to help them in the great work they do.

Recruiting people like you

We make no secrets of the fact that part of your placement fee is reinvested in to recruiting volunteers just like you! The volunteers recruited in one week will typically deliver over 2000 man-days of service. The difference this makes to projects overseas is immeasurable. Many of our overseas projects rely on assistance from international volunteers, so it's necessary for us to put together brochures and websites to find the people who can support them. This recruitment process is vital to ensure programs have a constant stream of reliable volunteers.

The intangible benefits

Volunteering through a company like i-to-i has a lot of intangible benefits to developing overseas communities and the individual projects that we work with. To find out more about our placements. click here

What we will do after you've booked:

Once booked on you will instantly receive a welcome email confirming your booking with access to your online account

We will send a Welcome Pack in the post containing further information and a t-shirt, the information in this pack should answer most things you need to know

Teaching customers will receive an email introducing them to their Online TEFL course

Community Development and Teaching customers will be requested to complete a police check (where relevant)

We will contact you if we require anything else e.g. CV/resume for some projects, doctors note for medical conditions etc.

We will prepare for your trip and send you an email with confirmation of your project and accommodation 2 weeks after you've booked

We will ask you to complete your forms and pay your final balance if they are still due when required

We are available for any questions you may have on 800 985 4852 or support@i-to-i.com

What you need to do after booking your place with us:

Book your flights

Arrange suitable travel insurance

Fill out some extra details through our online interface:

Application from
Travel details
Insurance details
Medical information
Emergency contacts

Complete your police check if requested

Do your Online TEFL Course (where relevant)

Make final payment at least 90 days before you go

Make sure you have a visa for your trip if it's needed

Visit a nurse or travel clinic for advice on inoculations and malaria prevention

Read all details and prepare as much as you can for your trip

Take contact details of the in country team and where you're going in your hand luggage - just in case!

Get on the plane!

Orientation Information

You will arrive on the Arrival Date and will be met at the airport on that day. You will be taken to the Singgahsana Lodge (see contact details below) where you will have the first day/night to recover from your flight.

Note: If you're arriving early we are not able to arrange a meet and greet for you and you should make your own way to the accommodation on the start date.

Singgahsana Lodge No 1

Temple Street

Kuching

93000

Sarawak

Borneo

Tel +060 082 429 277

Fax + 60 082 429 267

Your tour will start the next day.

Malaysia

A little bit of history...

Kuala Lumpur - Malaysia Malaysia was created in 1963 when Sabah and Sarawak (north Borneo states), and for a brief time Singapore, joined Malaya to form the 13 state federation that exists today. The earliest Malay settlers are believed to have arrived around 10,000 years ago on the Malaya Peninsular from the north. Malaya’s prime maritime position made it an attractive location for traders and colonists alike. While Indian and Chinese traders had long held an attachment to the country, by the early 16th century Portuguese colonists lay claim to the land. In 1641, the Dutch gained control until they were overthrown by the British in1795. Malaya achieved independence by 1954 but not before the country was occupied by the Japanese during WW II and Chinese communists attempted to gain power.

Initially, the formation of Malaysia was marred by external and internal tensions; during the late 1960s conflict between Indonesia and escalating racial tensions, mainly between the Malay and Chinese, threatened the country’s stability. Steps were made to ensure economic and political security when in 1968 Malaysia became a founding member of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and in 1971 a new economic policy was devised to give Malays a greater economic foothold. During the 1980s and early 1990s, Malaysia experienced a strong economy and the rapid development of its manufacturing and industry sectors. It continues to have a stable economy despite the Asian economic crisis in 1997 and the effects of the Tsunami in 2004.

Best time to go...

Malaysia enjoys a constant hot and humid climate, averaging at around 30°C, with the highland areas several degrees cooler. The main hindrance to enjoying all that the country has to offer is the monsoon season which pelts the east coast of Peninsular Malaysia, Sabah’s north east region and the west of Sarawak with heavy rains from November to February. During this time, many resorts close and boat services come to a halt. A scattering of thunderstorms can occur on the Peninsular’s west coast during April and May. Weather wise, April through to October are the best times to visit.

The country is at its most populous with an influx of tourists from early December to late January and during the peak summer season which runs from June to August. It’s advisable to book travel and accommodation in advance if visiting during these times.

Getting around...

Flying is the only practical way of crossing the South China Sea to get to the Peninsular from East Malaysia and back. Main domestic carrier Malaysia Airlines and Air Asia fly between the two regions and it tends to be cheaper to fly to East Malaysia from Johor Bahru than from Kuala Lumpur.

Train services are comfortable and efficient, albeit limited. Peninsular Malaysia has two rail lines, one running from Singapore to Thailand via Kuala Lumpur and a line branching out at Gemas and running to the north east of the country; it’s also known as the Jungle Train. There is also a line that runs from Tenom to Kota Kinabalu in East Malaysia.

An extensive system and cheap fares makes bus travel a top choice for long distances. There are a number of bus companies such as Transnasional which run regular services to major towns in air-conditioned comfort. But you can sometimes have too much of a good thing and the air-con can feel like an artic chill so it’s advisable to travel with a thick jumper or blanket.

With a well developed highway system and the presence of major car rental firms in towns and cities, driving is a feasible option. There are different packages available with some agencies offering unlimited mileage, while some rentals include a driver. Petrol prices are comparatively reasonable and tolls are charged on some roads. Parking spaces in major cities is limited.

For travelling shorter distances, there are regular bus services between the main cities, while 4 wheel drive vehicles are the vehicles of choice in the rural areas of Sabah and Sarawak. There’s an abundance of taxis, which can also be hired for long distances, and most are metered. Bicycle rickshaws are a novel way to get around and appear to be in existence primarily for the tourist trade; you’ll be pressed to find them in Kuala Lumpur, though they can be found in Penang and Malacca. It’s advisable to negotiate a fare before you board.

We work in partnership with hundreds of established projects that are run by local communities. The information on our website comes directly from the projects and we work with them to ensure this information is as accurate as possible. However, due to the very nature of the projects themselves the exact details of what happens on a daily basis can change with little or no notice. If you have travelled with us and have any updates to this information, please let us know.

The Malaysian Orangutan experience

Trip Notes

Project Info