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 in the Maliau Basin conservation area, Sabah

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Maliau Basin

Maliau Basin Full Loop - 5D4N trek

5 days
4 nights
Departs Kota Kinabalu
Basic
Price fromRM 5,750
2 pax booking, per person, private Standard twin room at MBSC first night then jungle camps
Duration5 days
4 nights on the road
DepartsKota Kinabalu
Trips can be arranged to Maliau Basin for any dates throughout the year subject to accommodation availability (minimum 5 days notice)
Groupmin 2 pax
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About this trip

Maliau Basin has earned the nickname “Sabah’s lost world” for good reason. The first expeditions into this remote basin occurred as recently as 1988 and it remains very much “off the beaten path” to this day. Visitors willing to take up the challenge of hiking to it’s numerous stunning waterfalls are rewarded with a rich and diverse habitat of vine-clad old-growth forest. Over 2000 species of plants and animals have been discovered in this remote corner of Sabah but many more remain a secret. If your main goal is wildlife sightings then trekking in Danum Valley or taking a wildlife cruise on the Kinabatangan river may be more rewarding but for those in search of a truly remote, off the grid, jungle trekking experience, look no further than Maliau Basin. You can expect 5 to 8 hours of trekking per day in hot & humid conditions with steep and potentially slippery terrain. Visitors to Maliau Basin must be physically fit and have travel insurance covering helicopter evacuation.

Highlights

  • Full Maliau Basin trekking loop via Nepenthes camp
  • Optional trek to Takob Akob falls
  • Trek to Maliau Falls, the basin's highlight
  • Chance sightings of Bornean gibbons & red-leaf monkeys
  • Dorm & stretcher-hammock camps with a forest ranger

    • Trip facts

    Maliau Basin
    Jungle walks, Multi-day hikes, Night Drive, Night Walk, Wildlife
    5 days of travel
    Physical difficulty 5 / 5
    Departs from Kota Kinabalu
    Minimum 2 pax per departure
    Rates: Above rates are valid till 31st Dec 2026
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    Day by day

    Day 1

    Kota Kinabalu to Maliau Basin Study Centre

    Pick up from Kota Kinabalu (other possible locations include Semporna or Tawau) around 7 am and begin the journey to Sabah's Lost World, Maliau Basin, around 5 to 6 hours from Kota Kinabalu. Along the way, you will pass through the Crocker Range’s scenic winding roads and your driver can make a quick stop at the local market in Keningau if needed to purchase last minute supplies. Pass through Maliau Gate with a brief stop for registration, then continue another 30 - 40 minutes to reach Maliau Basin Study Centre, your home for the first night. Enjoy lunch on arrival, check-in and have a brief orientation of the facilities. In the late afternoon, you will embark on an introductory walk of the area surrounding the centre and learn about some of the incredible biodiversity of this rarely visited part of Borneo. After dinner, join an included night walk to spot nocturnal wildlife or add on an optional night drive (subject to weather & road conditions). Meals: L, D * Night drive RM60 per person based on min 3 pax

    Day 2

    Agathis Camp to Nepenthes Camp

    Wake up early to enjoy your breakfast, re-pack your bag then transfer to Agathis camp to begin the Full Maliau Basin Trekking loop! The 7.5km trail leading to Nepenthes camp starts with a steep incline that may have you wishing you had packed a lighter than you did! The average time to reach Nepenthes camp is around 5 hours, you will have rest stops along the way, one of which will also be your lunch break (packed lunch). Once you reach Nepenthes camp, you can drop your pack, enjoy some refreshments and explore the area. Time-depending, there is an optional 2-3 hour return trek to nearby Takob Akob falls. Return for dinner at Nepenthes camp and lights out. Meals: B, L, D

    Day 3

    Nepenthes camp to Ginseng camp & explore Ginseng falls

    Get the day started with an early breakfast, then continue the trekking loop toward Ginseng camp (around 7km / 5 hours). This will be your least challenging and most varied of the trekking days, bringing you through lower dipterocarp, lower montane and heath forests. Different pitcher plants and rafflesia can be seen, along with Borneon gibbons and red-leaf monkeys with some luck. Ginseng camp is nestled in very close to Ginseng falls where you can choose to spend your afternoon, and take a refreshing afternoon dip, before returning to the camp for dinner and lights out. Meals: B, L, D

    Day 4

    Explore Maliau Falls

    After breakfast, you will pack your lunch and head for Maliau falls, the highlight of any trip to Maliau Basin! The trek is around 4.5km each way, be warned that final stretch is a steep trail with ropes to assist you in places. It should take you 2 - 3hours each way, so you will get plenty of time to relax, eat your lunch and enjoy the beautiful area surrounding the falls. In the early afternoon, begin your hike back up the hill to Ginseng camp for dinner and lights out. Meals: B, L, D

    Day 5

    Ginseng camp to Agathis camp and return to Kota Kinabalu

    After you have finished your breakfast at Ginseng camp, begin your hike back to Agathis Camp to meet your driver. Today is another 9km and should take around 5 hours with time to have your packed lunch along the way. Once you reach Agathis Camps, it's time to de-leech and begin the 5 - 6 hour drive back to Kota Kinabalu (other finishing locations also available- including Semporna/Tawau). Expected arrival back into Kota Kinabalu is around 7 pm. Meals B, L

    Where you'll stay

    Overview of Maliau Basin Studies Centre, Sabah

    Maliau Basin Studies Centre

    Maliau Basin, Sabah
    Part of the beauty of Maliau Basin is that there are no high end resorts here. For the first night at Maliau Basin Study Centre you will stay in a private fan-cooled Standard twin-room (other options on request) but from the second night onwards, basic accommodation & meals are provided at jungle camps throughout the trek, immersing you further into the green heart of the basin. There is no private accommodation once you leave the Study Centre and bathroom facilities are basic.
  • Twin fan roomAt Maliau Basin Studies Centre.
  • Stretcher hammockAt the satellite camps.
    • FacilitiesReception and information building, gallery and laboratory, conference room, nature discovery centre, suspension bridge, canteen and an observation tower. There is no wifi and limited phone reception. Electricity is available at Maliau Basin Study Centre from 7am to 5pm and again from 6pm to 11pm.
    Good to knowTrekking in Maliau Basin requires a good level of fitness. You must have insurance that covers you for helicopter evacuation in the unlikely event it should be required. Bring a waterproof pack, raincoat, head torch, trekking poles, insect repellent, a first-aid kit, three litres of water capacity, a sleeping bag and leech socks.
    A closer look

    What's included

  • Accommodation in private fan room at study center and stretcher hammocks at satellite camps
  • Full board meals and snacks
  • coffee, tea & drinking water
  • Entrance fees
  • Return transfers from Kota Kinabalu
  • Nature guide
  • Maliau Basin forest ranger.
  • Leech socks

    • Not included

  • Personal porter: 168RM per day for up to 12kg, additional weight charged at RM14 per kg.
  • Sleeping bag (optional - RM50 per person)

    • Prices

    Full Loop 5D4N - Based on 2 pax bookingRM 5750per person
    Full Loop 5D4N - Based on 3-4 pax bookingRM 4350per person
    Pricing notesUpgrade to Deluxe room at Maliau Basin Study Centre, per person — RM 50 Solo traveller upgrade from dormitory to single Standard room at MBSC — RM 150 Optional night drive on day 1, per person based on min 3 pax — RM 60 Personal porter, per day for up to 12kg (additional weight RM14 per kg) — RM 168 Sleeping bag (optional), per person — RM 50
    ChildrenWe don't recommend that children below 12 years old attempt this trek, please ask us about alternative options for families that include multiple nights at Maliau Basin Study Centre with shorter hikes.
    Rate validityAbove rates are valid till 31st Dec 2026

    Frequently asked questions

    How difficult is the Full Loop?
    On a typical trekking day in Maliau Basin you will cover around 9km, and whilst the distance isn't that great, the terrain and humidity make this a challenging trek recommended for physically fit travellers. The 7.5km trail from Agathis camp to Nepenthes camp starts with a steep incline and takes around 5 hours; the following day to Ginseng camp is around 7km and 5 hours and is the least challenging and most varied of the trekking days. Maliau Falls is roughly 4.5km each way with a steep final stretch where ropes assist you, and the final day is another 9km, around 5 hours, back to Agathis camp.
    Is there anything extra to do along the way?
    Time depending, there is an optional 2 to 3 hour return trek from Nepenthes camp to nearby Takob Akob falls. Ginseng camp is nestled very close to Ginseng falls, where you can spend the afternoon and take a refreshing dip before dinner.
    Is there a minimum age for this trek?
    We don't recommend that children below 12 years old attempt this trek. Please ask us about alternative options for families that include multiple nights at Maliau Basin Study Centre with shorter hikes.
    Is there electricity in Maliau Basin?
    Generator, electricity and air-conditioning are available at Maliau Basin Study Centre from 7am to 5pm and again from 6pm to 11pm. The jungle camps are far more basic, so pack a torch and a light sweatshirt or fleece for the evenings, as it can get slightly cold in the huts. There are small generators at the jungle camps to charge devices during your trek.
    Do I need travel insurance?
    Yes. This is a very remote trek and all visitors to Maliau must have travel insurance that covers them for helicopter evacuation in the event of an emergency. All evacuation costs are at your own expense.
    How far in advance should I book?
    A minimum of 5 days notice is required to organise a trek, but as the accommodation can fill up well in advance we recommend booking as far ahead as possible. Trips can be arranged for any dates throughout the year subject to accommodation availability. Treks operate on the principle that you will be in a small group with a maximum of 8 people per guide, and you will also be accompanied by a Maliau Basin ranger.
    Are discounts available for groups?
    Yes, we offer special rates for groups of 5 or above, please enquire for a quotation
    Can I choose to just stay at the Study Centre?
    Yes. If you don't want to trek to the jungle camps we can arrange a custom itinerary for you based at the Study Centre. You can join a night walk, night drive and do shorter jungle walks - please enquire for details.

    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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