ECO HOST-HIGHLANDS
(Bario & Ba'kelalan)
Trekking Adventure
(5D/4N)

Begin your journey in the remote highlands of Bario, a peaceful valley surrounded by forested mountains and rice fields. This first day is designed to help you settle in, explore the village, and gently ease into the rhythm of Kelabit Highland life.

Arrival & Transfer
Arrive at Bario Airport, a small rural airstrip serving the highlands. Meet your local guide and transfer to your homestay lodge.

Home-Cooked lunch
Enjoy a traditional local meal prepared by your hosts. Experience authentic Kelabit-style home cooking using fresh highland ingredients

Free & Easy Village Exploration
Leisure time to walk around Bario village. Observe daily rural life, paddy fields, and the cool highland atmosphere. Interact with friendly locals and learn about Kelabit culture.

Visit Bario Longhouse
Explore a traditional Kelabit longhouse in Bario. Learn about communal living, heritage architecture, and local customs.

Short Hike to Arur Dalan (Penan Settlement)
Begin a short hike to the nearby Penan settlement at Arur Dalan. Walk through forest trails and small streams. Experience the lifestyle of the indigenous Penan people. Learn about their close relationship with the rainforest.

Return to Homestay
Return to your homestay lodge. End the day with a traditional highland dinner. 

Today you begin a deeper journey into the highlands of Bario, trekking through forest trails and rolling hills toward the remote village of Pa’ Lungan.

Breakfast – Trek Start: Ra’an Ukat
Early breakfast at the homestay. Begin your hike at Ra’an Ukat, a traditional trailhead connecting highland villages. Trek through rainforest paths, small streams, and cultivated highland land.

Crossing Ra’an Barit
Continue trekking over Ra’an Barit, a small hill along the route. Moderate ascent and descent with scenic views of the highlands. Total trekking duration: 4–5 hours

Arrival at Pa’ Lungan (Mid-Afternoon)
Reach Pa’ Lungan in the afternoon. Rest and settle into a local village homestay. Enjoy the cool mountain air and quiet surroundings

Cultural Visit: Megalith Sites
Visit important historical sites: Batu Ritung and Perupun Rayah (megaliths). Learn about the ancient megalithic culture of the Kelabit Highlands and their ancestral significance.

Dinner
Dinner. Overnight at the village.

Today’s journey is the most physically demanding section so far, moving deeper into the interior of the highlands around Bario toward the remote jungle area of Long Rebpun. Expect a full day of trekking, river crossings, and immersion in untouched rainforest.

Breakfast – Ritoh Monument
Breakfast. Visit the Ritoh Monument, an important cultural and historical site in the region. Learn about its significance in Kelabit heritage and traditional trail networks.

Trek to Long Rebpun
Begin trek toward Long Rebpun. Duration: 5–6 hours of challenging jungle trekking. Terrain includes fairly strenuous climb over Singkulup Hill with a few river crossings.

River Experience & Nature Stop
Pause along river sections to rest and refresh. Try your hands on river fishing and enjoy the nature.

Jungle Shelter
Arrive at Long Rebpun jungle shelter in the late evening (mid-point of the journey for you to cross over into Indonesia the next day). Simple jungle-style dinner prepared at the shelter. Overnight at a basic jungle shelter.

Today you complete one of the most unique sections of the expedition—crossing from Malaysia into Indonesia through remote highland trails, before reaching the peaceful valley of Ba’Kelalan.

Early Trek: Toward Long Midang
Begin early morning trek from the jungle shelter near Long Rebpun and head toward Long Midang, a border-side settlement area. Trek duration: approximately 5 hours through remote jungle terrain.

Crossing Ra’an Bulu (Border Ridge)
Ascend and cross Ra’an Bulu, the natural ridge marking the Malaysia–Indonesia boundary. Enter Indonesia briefly along highland trails. Experience panoramic views of the Bornean interior highlands.

Lunch at Bamboo Plantation
Stop at a bamboo plantation for rest and lunch.

Pa’ Rupai (Indonesia)
Arrive at Pa’ Rupai (local village) in Indonesia. Warm welcome by the indigenous Lun Dayeh tribe.

Transfer to Ba’Kelalan
Continue journey by 4WD vehicle from the border village. Travel through scenic highland roads toward Ba’Kelalan. Enjoy views of valleys, farms, and mountain landscapes. Arrive at lodging house in Ba’Kelalan. Dinner and overnight at the lodging house.

Breakfast at the lodge. Transfer to the local airstrip in Ba’Kelalan.