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Indigenous Borneo: An Expedition for the Intrepid Day 1: Arrive in Miri, Sarawak from Kuala Lumpur or Singapore, where your guide will escort you to your hotel. Miri is a coastal city in northern Sarawak, which is a hub to the interior of Borneo. Check into your hotel. Over dinner, participate in a trip/cultural/safety briefing and review the objectives and highlights of your upcoming adventure.
Day 2: Fly from Miri to Long Lellang (45 minute flight) in the Upper Baram area, and then walk for an hour to arrive at the Penan village of Long Kapang. Settle in for the afternoon and evening in your home stay and begin to immerse in local culture and cuisine. If you do not wish to carry your own packs, porters can be arranged for the duration of trip.
Day 2-3: Set off towards Long Kerong. We will hike for approximately 3 hours before making camp along a pristine jungle stream and settle in for the night. Sleeping will be in expedition Hennessy Hammocks that are very comfortable. You’ll have the option to do some night walking to explore the nocturnal flora and fauna of the rainforest. The next morning, we will arrive at Long Kerong, a beautiful Penan Village surrounded by the vast jungle. Get settled into a home stay, which will be your accommodation for the next four nights.
Indigenous Borneo: An Expedition for the Intrepid Logistics Getting There Your journey into the villages will depend on your particular itinerary. Most visitors must take a flight from Miri to Long Banga airport. Once there, they take a 4-wheel drive to Long Siut, which is a logging town. From Long Siut, they will take a boat ride to Long Kerong and Long Spigen villages. Some visitors may opt to hike across to the villages from Long Lellang airport instead of flying into Long Banga. In either case, you will be met at the airport by your guide. You should be aware that whenever a boat ride is required, the time it takes will depend a great deal on the height of the river. If the river is high, the boat ride will be fast and easy. If the river is low, however, you may have to get out and help push! This is all part of the reality of going into a remote Penan village. Accommodation In the villages: In the forest: Activities There are a wide variety of activities available to suit a wide mix of interests and abilities. More adventurous activities include jungle trekking, camping, swimming in rivers and waterfalls, and rafting. There are day walks to nearby villages, community projects and flower gardens, as well as five-day jungle survival treks. For visitors who would like to learn about Penan culture, there are activities such as blow pipe making, Penan food gathering and cooking, Penan traditional music, rattan basket making, fishing, and learning about Penan traditional medicines and Penan folklore. What type of food is offered to travellers/volunteers in the community or communities? Local food will be served in the home stays and on the forest treks. This will be primarily rice, vegetables, and meat. Vegetarians should bring supplementary food products (like protein bars, peanuts, dried tempeh, etc). Food can be repetitive, so we suggest that you bring snacks to be shared with the other travellers and guides. Although not strictly dry, the villages generally do not drink, and you should respect this and avoid bringing any alcohol with you. What items will visitors need to bring? Bring: Sleep sheet, mosquito repellent, flashlight, local rubber walking shoes (Adidas Kampong), candles, lighter, dry bag, ear plugs, first aid kit, sarong/towel, toiletries (biodegradable), and medication. Travel insurance is highly recommended and the information should be left with the organizers prior to departure. Bring/available to hire: Hammock (expedition quality Hennessey), mosquito net, and leech socks. These are available in Miri or the village; a deposit is required, and it is suggested that you reserve hammocks in advance as numbers are limited. Any unwanted items of clothing or equipment are most welcome. You are asked to leave them at the project base in Miri, so that when there is a suitable amount it can be equally shared. What type of bathing and toilet facilities are there? Bathing: River using biodegradable soap. Is there electricity? Rarely (from a generator) when in the villages. 
Indigenous Borneo: An Expedition for the Intrepid Day 11: Descend back to Long Kerong for a village night of cultural dancing and food, with music from the Penan nose flute. In the morning we will walk through flat forest along the river for four hours to arrive downstream at Long Spiegan. Along the trail, you will have an opportunity to see the new tree nursery for the forest restoration project. We will stay the night in Long Spiegan in home stays.
Day 12: Wake up early to ride in a traditional longboat to Long Siut. The river trip is great for bird watching. From Long Siut, 4x4 transport will take you to Long Akah (one-hour drive) to catch a plane back to Miri. Once back in Miri, check into your hotel and enjoy a farewell dinner.
Day 13: Transfer to airport to catch flights home.
Indigenous Borneo: An Expedition for the Intrepid Day 9: Pack up for three days in the jungle, and head for Batu Laiyut, a 4,100 ft ridge that has the most spectacular views overlooking primary rainforest thousands of feet below. We will set up camp near the ridge.
Local Penan will cook and teach you the ways of the forest. Dinner will consist of rice, vegetables, and possibly wild boar or deer (the prize hunt of the Penan). The forest is all virgin primary rainforest, filled with old-growth trees.
Wildlife such as maroon-leaf langurs, hornbills, wild cats, and pig-tailed macaques inhabit the forest. After dinner, enjoy a night walk to see the true beauty of the mega fauna of Borneo. Nocturnal inhabitants include cevit cats, western tarsiers, tree frogs, mouse deer, and other creatures.
Explore the ridge higher to about 5,000 feet, where the forest becomes filled with orchids, rare birds, and more wildlife. Enjoy a picnic lunch overlooking the valley before returning to the campsite. Later in the evening, we can take another night trek to search for wildlife.
Indigenous Borneo: An Expedition for the Intrepid Days 4 - 8: Participate in a community service project. Depending on the needs of the community, projects might include forest restoration; teaching English to the community; working in the community headquarters; planting a community garden; cataloguing medicinal plants; or conducting forest and wildlife surveys.
You will be working hand-in-hand with locals and immersing yourself in the lovely Penan culture. The Penan are the true experts of the rainforest and have incredible knowledge of the ecosystem that they live in. You will get to experience the everyday life of a Penan and participate in their daily activities.
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