River Junkie – fuel the addiction
River Junkie – fuel the addiction

River Junkie Tours Sdn. Bhd. — licensed Kota Kinabalu tour operator (KPL/LN5696), MATTA member, running wildlife safaris, Mount Kinabalu climbs and cave trips across Sabah and Sarawak since 2008.

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Rainforest and longhouse country around Batang Ai, Sarawak

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Batang Ai

4D3N Nanga Sumpa & Lubok Kasai

4 days
3 nights
Departs Kuching
Basic
Price fromRM 3,650
per person, room in the Ruai wing of Nanga Sumpa Lodge for the first night, min 2 pax
Duration4 days
3 nights on the road
DepartsKuching
Trips usually depart on Tuesday & Thursday but may be available on other days of the week based on a minimum of 2 people.
Groupmin 2 pax
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About this trip

Leave Kuching behind and spend 1 night at Nanga Sumpa lodge where your Iban hosts will invite you to visit their traditional Iban longhouse for a night of rice wine and tales of their past & present. Next morning, continue upriver to the serene Lubok Kasai jungle lodge. Lubok Kasai jungle camp is surrounded by rainforest in an area inhabited by a thriving population of wild orangutans. Staying at Lubok Kasai offers the chance to relax in nature, explore the numerous jungle trails; spot local wildlife; and enjoy the clear cooling waters of the adjacent Lalang River.

NOTE: Lubok Kasai jungle camp will be closed for refurbishment from November 2026 until February 2027 and this trip will not be available over that period. Tours to Nanga Sumpa lodge will continue to run as usual

Highlights

  • Longboat ride upriver to Nanga Sumpa lodge
  • Jungle trail hike & longboat to Enseluai waterfall
  • Riverside BBQ lunch prepared by Iban hosts
  • Trek through orangutan habitat to Lubok Kasai
  • Wildlife spotting for macaques, hornbills & birds

    • Trip facts

    Batang Ai
    Cultural, Homestay, Jungle walks, Night Walk, Wildlife
    4 days of travel
    Physical difficulty 3 / 5
    Departs from Kuching
    Minimum 2 pax per departure
    Rates: Prices valid until 31st Dec 2026
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    Day by day

    Day 1

    Kuching to Nanga Sumpa

    0800 hours pick up from hotel in Kuching and drive to Batang Ai reservoir. Along the way stop at Lachau Bazaar. Stroll around the shops and the small native market and have an early lunch in a local coffee shop. Then continue your journey, arriving at Batang Ai Lake around 1330-1400 hours. Board a longboat and travel upriver to Nanga Sumpa, arriving at approx. 1530 hours, although the exact time will depend on river conditions. Settle in at lodge and have dinner. After dinner visit Nanga Sumpa longhouse. Relax on the ruai (common verandah) and spend time with the Iban people. Interact with the community; learn about their culture and enjoy some local rice wine. Overnight at Nanga Sumpa lodge. (B, L)

    Day 2

    Enseluai Waterfall – Lubok Kasai

    Following breakfast hike the jungle trails along the river. Then continue upriver by longboat. Our destination is the scenic Enseluai waterfall. Arrive at the waterfall and have time to relax, swim and enjoy the rainforest surroundings. Enjoy a riverside BBQ lunch prepared by your Iban hosts. At 1330-1400 hours proceed by boat (approx. 15 mins) to the junction of the Delok and Lalang Rivers. Then trek for 1-2 hours along a rainforest trail through orangutan habitat and arrive at Lubok Kasai jungle camp which is located on the banks of the Lalang River. Settle in at Lubok Kasai. Relax, have a swim in the river or just enjoy the rainforest surroundings. Orangutans are occasionally seen (at dusk or at dawn) in this area. After dinner spend a quiet evening at the lodge and enjoy the tranquility of the forest. Alternatively go on a short (30 mins) night walk near the lodge (weather permitting). Overnight at Lubok Kasai jungle camp. (B, L, D)

    Day 3

    Lubok Kasai

    After breakfast depart 0830-0900 hours and go trekking on one of the rainforest trails to look for orangutans and other wildlife like pig-tailed macaques, hornbills and a variety of birds. While orangutans are only occasionally spotted, their nests are often seen along the trails. Return to Lubok Kasai around 1200-1300 hours. Have lunch at the camp. Rest of the afternoon is free at leisure. Go for a swim in the river or relax in the rainforest surroundings. 1600 hours depart on a 1-2 hour walk along a trail that follows the Lalang River and search of orangutans. Dinner and overnight at Lubok Kasai jungle camp.

    Day 4

    Lubok Kasai - Kuching

    Breakfast in the camp. 0830 hours travel downriver to the Batang Ai Lake jetty, arriving around 1030-1100 hours. Then travel overland back to Kuching with lunch enroute. Arrive in Kuching approx. 1630 hours and be dropped off at your hotel.

    Where you'll stay

    Nanga Sumpa Lodge

    Nanga Sumpa Lodge

    Delok River, Ulu Ai, Batang Ai, Sarawak
    Nanga Sumpa Lodge stands on the Delok River in the Ulu Ai region above the Batang Ai reservoir. Guests reach it by a long drive from Kuching followed by roughly ninety minutes in a traditional longboat, and stay in rooms in the Ruai Wing or in a small number of ensuite Forest rooms, with meals shared communally. The lodge is set apart from the local Iban community longhouse so visitors and residents each keep their own space.
  • Ruai Wing room5 rooms in the Ruai Wing Sleep 2 to 4 people and share communal bathroom bathroom facilities
  • Forest view roomOnly 3 rooms available, each with its own ensuite bathroom and sleeping up to 4 people
    • FacilitiesCommunal dining with local Iban food: rice, noodles, chicken, fish and jungle vegetables, with vegetarian and special diets accommodated. A shared ruai, the Iban-style covered common verandah, links the accommodation, and wooden walkways connect the buildings.
    Good to knowLeave your main luggage in Kuching and bring a small bag, as there is limited luggage space in the boats. Power is limited and connectivity is minimal. Bring a daypack, headlamp, mosquito repellent, sunscreen, rain gear, trekking shoes, swimwear, leech socks, a dry bag and binoculars. Days are spent trekking, swimming at waterfalls, visiting the local Iban longhouse and looking for wild orangutans, though sightings are never guaranteed.
    A closer look
    Lubok Kasai Jungle Camp

    Lubok Kasai Jungle Camp

    Lalang River, Ulu Ai, Batang Ai, Sarawak
    Opened in 2009 on the Lalang River beyond Nanga Sumpa in the Ulu Ai region of Sarawak. Getting there means more longboat time and, on most itineraries, a trek through forest that wild orangutans still use, which is the whole point of going. The camp is deliberately basic, with simple rooms, western toilets and mosquito nets, and communal meals of local and jungle-gathered food. The current lodge will be closed and replaced with a new structure from November 2026 till February 2027
  • Jungle camp roomSimple room with western toilet, shower and mosquito netting.
    • FacilitiesSimple rooms with western-style toilets, shower, mosquito netting and clean bedding. Meals prepared communally at the camp using fresh jungle vegetables and local Iban dishes, with vegetarian and special diets accommodated.
    Good to knowThere is no electricity at Lubok Kasai, so charge cameras and phones at Nanga Sumpa Lodge before heading out. Leeches are present, so bring insect repellent and leech socks. Also bring a headlamp, sunscreen, hat, raincoat, binoculars, a dry bag, swimwear and sturdy trekking shoes. Access involves extended longboat travel or a one to two hour jungle trek, so moderate to good fitness is needed.
    A closer look

    What's included

  • 1 nights accommodation at Nanga Sumpa lodge in Ruai Wing & 2 nights at Lubok Kasai jungle camp.
  • 3 x breakfast, 4 x lunch, 3 x dinner
  • Return transfers from Kuching & tour activities
  • English-speaking guide

    • Not included

  • Flights
  • Beverages other than tea, coffee & water
  • Guide tips / gratuities (optional)

    • Prices

    4D3N Batang Ai - Nanga Sumpa & Lubok KasaiRM 3650per person, room in the Ruai wing of Nanga Sumpa Lodge for the first night, min 2 pax
    Rate validityPrices valid until 31st Dec 2026

    Frequently asked questions

    How do I get there from Kuching?
    You are picked up from your Kuching hotel at 0800 hours and driven to the Batang Ai reservoir, stopping at Lachau Bazaar for the shops, the small native market and an early lunch. You arrive at Batang Ai Lake around 1330 to 1400 hours, then travel upriver by longboat to Nanga Sumpa, arriving at approximately 1530 hours, although the exact time depends on river conditions.
    Where will I stay?
    Your first night is at Nanga Sumpa lodge in a Ruai wing or Forest View room, and your next 2 nights are at Lubok Kasai jungle camp on the banks of the Lalang River. Nanga Sumpa is a small jungle lodge in a beautiful but relatively remote area, and its facilities are somewhat basic. Lubok Kasai is a basic jungle camp where you have your own room with a mattress on the floor, bedding and a mosquito net, with communal bathrooms.
    Is there electricity?
    A generator supplies electricity at Nanga Sumpa lodge from 6.30pm to 10.30pm to power the main lights and fans. Outside these hours there is no power to the fans or sockets in the lodge, although solar powered nightlights illuminate the public areas, walkways and bathrooms. There is no electricity at Lubok Kasai jungle camp so charge all devices and power banks before leaving Nanga Sumpa.
    Will I see orangutans, and how much walking is involved?
    Lubok Kasai is surrounded by rainforest in an area inhabited by a population of approximately 200 wild orangutans, and they are occasionally seen at dusk or dawn, while their nests are often seen along the trails. You may also spot pig-tailed macaques, hornbills and a variety of birds. Expect a fair amount of walking: a 1 to 2 hour trek through orangutan habitat to reach Lubok Kasai, a morning trek of around 3 to 4 hours on day 3, and an optional 1 to 2 hour afternoon walk along the Lalang River.
    Do I get to visit the Iban longhouse?
    Yes. After dinner on your first night your Iban hosts invite you to visit Nanga Sumpa longhouse, where you relax on the ruai, the common verandah, spend time with the community, learn about their culture and enjoy some local rice wine along with tales of their past and present.
    What will I eat?
    Meals are prepared in the lodge and feature rice, noodles, chicken, fish, fresh jungle vegetables and other local delicacies, plus a riverside BBQ lunch at Enseluai waterfall prepared by your Iban hosts. The price covers 3 breakfasts, 4 lunches and 3 dinners. Beverages other than tea, coffee and water are not included.

    Photos from this trip

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    Ready to book, or still deciding?

    Tell us your dates and we will come back with availability, the total cost and honest advice — including when a different trip would suit you better.

    Getting between destinations: we also run private van and 4X4 transfers across Sabah and a daily Kota Kinabalu to Sandakan shuttle — ask us to add either to your trip.

    WhatsApp / phone: +60 11 1265 8581
    Email: info@river-junkie.com
    Hours: 8am–5pm, Monday to Sunday
    Office: Wisma Sabah, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah

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