TheCrazyTourist✿ 25 Best Ecotourism Experiences in Malaysia

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20. Speed through Borneo’s jungle on a raft (Sabah)
Kiulu River

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Kiulu River

Sabah has dozens of rivers and streams creating jungle mazes.

Getting out onto the water leads you closer to the troupes of monkeys and other wildlife.

Rafting is the easiest (and funniest) way to get into these more secluded parts.

Kiulu River in Tamparuli near Kota Kinabalu has a series of easy-to-medium difficulty rapids.

Beginners can join a tour which meanders 15 kilometers (9.3 miles) along the river. The rapids split between level one and level two.

Sit back, relax and watch the jungle pass by.

More experienced rafters can head to Padas River in Beaufort which promises a higher level of thrill-seeking fun.

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21. Find rare mud volcanoes on a desert island (Sabah)
Mud Volcano Sabah

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Mud Volcano Sabah

Mud volcanoes spew freezing mud from beneath the earth.

These mysterious natural phenomena are found in only a few places including Azerbaijan, Taiwan and Malaysia.

Sabah’s Pulau Tiga formed after a mud volcanic eruption. The island is more known for hosting the first Survivor series.

Venture into the heart of Tiga Island and stand next to the bubbling mud spewing into ever taller towers.

Explore the empty beaches, spend the night in a luxury bungalow or see nesting snakes on Snake Island.

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22. Look for new species in Sabah’s Lost World (Sabah)
Maliau Basin

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Maliau Basin

Maliau Basin is about as remote as it gets.

The primary forest in central Sabah covers an area that’s almost the same size as Singapore. But only half of the forest has been mapped.

More than 70 kilometers (43 miles) of paths pass through the bowl-like basin.

Travelers can climb Mount Lotung and spend the night in a mountaintop hostel. Watch out for curious civets stopping by in the night.

Follow the trails to waterfalls, natural pools and rivers.

Scientists believe Maliau Basin contains several types of wildlife that have never been recorded.

The strange looking bug or sweet-smelling flower next to the trail may not have a name.

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23. Meet an Orangutan (Sabah and Sarawak)
Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre

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Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre

Orangutan numbers are rapidly declining in both Borneo and Sumatra.

Only one-tenth of the population remains compared to 100 years ago.

Borneo has large numbers of orangutans who either live in the wild or inside semi-wild rehabilitation centers.

Coming face-to-face with these orange-haired primates is something you’ll never forget.

Visiting a rehabilitation center is the easiest way to meet one. Head to either Sepilok in eastern Sabah or Semenggoh in Sarawak.

Danum Valley, one of Borneo’s most remote reserves, has the world’s highest concentration of wild orangutans. Sometimes a family swings in the trees as you eat breakfast.

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24. Climb with the monkeys into secret bat-filled caves (Sarawak)
Sarawak Caves

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Sarawak Caves

Sarawak has hundreds of caves.

Most visitors go to either Niah or Gunung Mulu National Park.

For a more rugged experience, check out Bau near Kuching.

Fairy Caves located near Bau village has some of Malaysia’s best rock climbing. Hoist yourself over the limestone shelves and relish in the jungle surroundings.

Explore the endless passageways and admire the geological wonders decorating the caves.

Millions of squeaking bats lurk in the inky darkness.

Rhinoceros hornbills glide high above the rocks and rainforest canopies.

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25. Meet a proboscis monkey (Sabah and Sarawak)
Proboscis Monkey Borneo

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Proboscis Monkeys

Proboscis monkeys are among the planet’s most endangered primates.

Estimates suggest only 7000 remain.

The monkeys endemic to Borneo have unusually long noses and round stomachs. Typically they hang around in small groups spread-eagled between tree branches.

Take advantage of seeing these rare creatures in their natural habitat.

Head to Labuk National Park, Kinabatangan River or Beaufort in Sabah. Or check out the small community living near Bako National Park HQ in Sarawak.