Experience the local, authentic culture of Bhutan on this fascinating 9-day trip of hidden villages, festivals, temples and scenery. Jacada Travel create fully personalized trips from start to finish. From locations to accommodation and guides, everything is selected to suit you.

Thimphu city

From expert private tours to restaurant reservations, we take care of every detail so you can make the most of your time off. We give back to two regional charities in Indian subcontinent from the profits of each one of our trips. Use our trip ideas to inspire your bespoke experience

Discover authentic Bhutan with our expert guides on this exclusive eight night trip. Enjoy colourful festivals, meet locals and visit hushed-up villages far removed from western life.

Beginning in the capital, Thimphu, you’ll have plenty of cultural encounters on our privately guided tours. Visit ancient dzongs, temples and museums and take part in a local village festival to experience the alluring way of Bhutanese life.

Then, venture further into the country with a stay in Punakha and stunning hikes to find hidden villages, farmhouses and monasteries set in pastoral scenes. The idyllic walks continue into Paro Valley where you’ll spend your last three days. Meet a Bhutanese author and marvel at striking temples, before ending on a high with a hike up to the spectacular Tiger’s Nest.

TRIP ITINERARY

DAYS 1-4: THIMPHU – Three days enjoying Thimphu

Spend your time in Bhutan‘s capital exploring the market, Taschichho Dzong and small, chock-a-block shops. A wander around this relaxed and friendly city gives a look at a more urban side of Bhutan which accompanies a wide display of traditional art, architecture and Buddhist sights steeped in ritual. A visit to the Arts and Crafts School, the Textile Museum and the Traditional Medicine Hospital are recommended. Your Travel Designer can help you to plan your stay here according to your interests.

Half Day Tour of National Museum and Rinpung Dzong

On your way to Thimphu from Paro, you’ll visit the National Museum. The museum houses over 3000 pieces of Bhutanese art, covering more than 1,500 years of Bhutan’s cultural heritage. It has a formidable collection of antiques from Buddhist temples, and artefacts once used by both the nobility and common folk. Highlights include masks, armour, paintings, prehistoric items and natural history exhibits. A short drive from the museum takes you to the Rinpung Dzong, a large Buddhist monastery and fortress that’s regarded as one of Bhutan‘s most impressive and well-known dzongs – and perhaps the finest example of Bhutanese architecture. From the 17th to the late 19th century, dzongs served as defending fortresses and were built with strong walls, false doors, reservoirs for water and food and hidden armouries. Dzongs were also headquarters for the religious and the political administrations. Once you’ve seen inside the Rinpung Dzong, enjoy the short walk across a wooden cantilever bridge on the dzong grounds.

Full Day Tour of Buddha Hill, Textile and Folk Heritage Museum and Cheri Temple

Buddha Hill

You’ll begin the day with a sightseeing tour of Buddha Hill. Your driver will collect you from your hotel and drive you to the Kuenselphodrang Nature Park where you’ll be greeted by the massive statue of the Buddha Dordenma – one of the largest statues of Buddha in the world – sitting atop a hill overlooking the southern entrance to Thimphu Valley. Measuring 51.5 meters, the statue takes the form of Shakyamuni and is said to emanate an aura of peace and happiness to the entire world. The statue is made of bronze and is gilded in gold with 125,000 smaller Buddha statues placed inside it. The statue is a recent construction that was built to commemorate the centennial of the Bhutanese monarchy and to fulfil two Buddhist prophecies, one ancient and one modern.

Next, you’ll be brought to the Textile and Folk Heritage Museum for a glimpse into traditional Bhutanese life. This restored three-storey building has been constructed using rammed-earth and timber to replicate a traditional farmhouse and inside it’s furnished as it would have been 100 years ago. Both the house design and its furnishings reflect many aspects of both past and present rural Bhutanese life today. After a guided museum tour you’ll stop for a refreshing lunch.

After lunch, you’ll be brought on a guided hike to the Chagri Dorjeden Monastery, also known as the Cheri Temple. The temple is found at the northern end of the Thimphu Valley, roughly an hour’s walk up a steep hill. This Buddhist monastery was established in 1620 A.D. by the founder of the Butanese state Ngawang Namgyal and is now a major teaching and retreat center.

Festival at Shelmaka Village

Festival at Shelmaka Village

Today you will enjoy the merriment of the festival at Shelmaka Village. As we reach Shelmakha, the village headman will welcome you as one of the village’s chief guests. You’ll be entertained with a series of masked dances and folk performances enacted by the village youth. The festival of Shelmakha is an important event for the local people where they can meet one another and introduce newer members of the family. For younger people, it’s an opportunity for romance and to plan marriages. After a picnic lunch, we will visit some farm houses to discover the local life of the hamlet. We then drive back to Thimphu where the rest of the evening will be spent exploring the Capital City.

DAYS 4-6: PUNAKHA – Two days exploring Punakha

Punakha

Capital of Bhutan and seat of the government until 1955, the little town of Punakha still enjoys a serene and regal ambience left over from its stately days. Found in a fertile valley at a relatively low 12,000 metres above sea level, visitors come here for warm, sultry days filled with plenty of activities such as mountain biking, trekking and river rafting. Then step into the area’s history with a visit to the town’s show-stopping Punakha Dzong. Hike to Khamsum Yulley Namgyal Chorten and Talo village and Nalanda Monastery.

Hike to Khamsum Yulley Namgyal Chorten and Talo village and Nalanda Monastery visit

Khamsum Yulley Namgyal Chorten

Today, you will begin with a hike up through fields along the banks of the Mo Chhu River to Khamsum Yulley Namgyal Chorten, a stunning monument recently built by the one of the Fourth King’s Queens with spectacular views down the valley. Following the hike you will drive back up the valley towards Khuruthang passing Punthsho Pelri Palace and several other winter homes of the Royal family. After lunch, continue towards Talo village to experience the beautiful hamlet there. Finally, visit Nalanda Temple for a chat with the monks there.

DAYS 6-9: PARO – Three days exploring Paro

Tigers Nest at Paro

The pretty valley of Paro is one of the kingdom’s widest and is covered in fertile rice fields crisscrossed by a beautiful meandering river. While Bhutan is famous for its splendid monuments and monasteries, perhaps the most impressive can be found here. You’ll encounter the “Tiger’s Nest” Monastery, medieval style-bridges, imposing dzongs and a town filled with traditional architecture.

The main street of the town was only built in 1985 but it’s lined with cheerfully painted wooden shop fronts and restaurants in a classic Bhutanese style. Facing up the mountain, you’ll be awed by the 8th-century Taktsang or “Tiger’s Nest” Monastery, perched high on the sheer cliff face. Just outside of the town, lie both the dominating Paro Dzong – a prime example of Bhutanese architecture, and the 7th-century Kyichu Lhakhang which was one of the first Buddhist temples built in the country.

Upper Tsento Hike with Kyichu Temples Visit

Drukgyel Dzong fortress

Today, you’ll be brought on a lively hike to the Upper Tsento region, lasting for approximately 2 to 3 hours before being driven back to your hotel in a private vehicle via the ruins of the Drugyal Dzong fortress and monastery.

After lunch, you’ll be brought to visit the Kyichu Temples. This two-temple complex consists of the Jowo Temple and the Guru Temple. The Jowo Temple is one of the oldest temples in Bhutan, originally built in the 7th century by the Tibetan Emperor Songtsan Gampo. The Guru Temple was built in 1971 by Kesang Choden Wangchuck, the queen of Jigme Dorji Wangchuck.

After your visit to the Kyichu temples, you’ll have the opportunity to meet a Bhutanese author before returning to your hotel for dinner.

Full day tour with hike to Tiger’s Nest and a hot stone bath

Flags at Tigers Nest

Today you’ll experience Bhutan’s most valued attractions and one of the main reasons people come to Bhutan, the famous Taktshang monastery or “Tiger’s Nest”. This spectacular temple clings to a 1,000 foot high cliff and was built in 1692 by a prominent historical figure named Gyaltse Tenzin Rabgye. We hike for about three hours to reach the Tiger’s Nest, climbing steeply uphill from the valley floor with a break at a tea house along the way. The Tiger’s Nest is one of the most sacred sites for the Buddhists. It’s said that in the 8th century, Guru Padma meditated here for three months. Guru Padma, also known as the 2nd Buddha, first initiated Buddhism to Bhutan in the 8th century. Legend has it that Guru Rinpoche flew to this location from Tibet on the back of a tigress from Khenpajong and built this temple as a result. For Buddhists, the story of the temple is an important lesson about taming the inherent forces of Anger, Ignorance and Greed.

We then hike for approximately two hours back downhill. On your return, treat your weary limbs to an indulgent soak in a hot stone bath.

Traditional Hot Stone Bath

Paro Main Street

In the evening, explore Paro town on foot. Visit a farmhouse to soak in a herbal hot-stone bath which is known to be therapeutic and helps ailments related to joints and muscle aches, besides simply soothing your mind and body and going perfectly with the locally brewed Red Panda Beer.

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This trip is just an example of the amazing vacations our experts could plan for you. Speak to one of the team today to start creating your private, bespoke trip. Start planning your tailored trip today by checking www.jacadatravel.com and enquiring online at enquiries@jacadatravel.com

Remember, this trip is just an example of what we can organize for you. Call our experts to start planning your fully-tailored trip.

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Bali Treetop entrance

I arrived at Bali Treetop Adventure Park in Bedugul on a cloudy morning, and since they were not opened yet, I took a drive along the road that runs through the Eka Karya Botanic Garden, stopping here and there to marvel at the amazing vegetation. I was so taken in by the lush and vast environment that time just flew, and by the time I was back at Bali Treetop Adventure Park, a few people were already queuing to purchase their ticket.

I took a few pictures of the facilities in the area: tall, and I mean tall, straight trees with ropes tied up to them so tense most do not move a millimeter when touched. I noticed a good selection of obstacles, some looking quite easy and straightforward, others trickier, and long zip-lines, the fun bit after the physical activity exerted when tackling the obstacles.

Fitting the harness

It was time for me to get down to task! I filled up the consensus card at the reception, placed my belongings in the locker provided, and followed my Patrol Guide to the fitting area where I got to wear the safety harness.

The Patrol Guide explained in perfect English how to use the carabiners, he made sure I understood that one carabineer is to be hooked at all times, I got familiar with the pulley, and we were ready for the Demonstration Circuit. First the Patrol Guide showed me how to go by, after which I tried the Demonstration Circuit myself, with the Patrol Guide ensuring I understood how to use the equipment. This sorted, I was free to go on any of the circuits of Bali Treetop Adventure Park, and for as many times as I wanted or could… My first experience at a treetop park had started!

My assigned patrol guide at the demonstration circuit

There are seven different courses arranged according to age and skill level at Bali Treetop, with yellow and green being mainly for kids and for starters, progressing into medium difficulty blue and orange, and finally the mighty red, already a serious high-fly, and the adrenaline black circuit, the one with the biggest of thrills and the top height of 20mt.

I started off from the blue circuit. The courses are spread out in an area of considerable size, most overlapping as being at different heights. As I was climbing, I could see and hear other people swinging and sliding above me, which created a bit of a distraction. I realized straight away that the key to perform all tasks without slipping and ‘falling’ is both a good coordination of the four limbs together with the mental exercise of being concentrated on your task without getting distracted by your surroundings. Of course, nobody really ‘falls’ since the two powerful carabiners keeping us secured can hold the weight of an elephant, or more!

Climbing wall

I saw kids up there having great unworried fun, as they come with not so much fear of consequences. I completed the orange and blue circuits, negotiating, with a mix of fun and fear, various challenges like suspended bridges, parrot ladders, railway bridges, duck footpaths, rolling swings, monkey tracks, plank footbridges, rocking steps, downhill nets and flying fox lines. I then ventured along the red circuit, with its serious fun in a Tarzan jump and spider net followed by a rewarding 160 mt long flying fox line. I sweated it up, worked each and every task out with all muscles in my body – at least it felt that way – and got higher and higher.

I took a rest, I drunk water, I took a few more pictures and after a while, when one of the Patrol Guides invited me to proceed to the final challenge, the Adrenaline black, I hesitated… I repeatedly looked up: how high the black circuit climbs, I thought. My arms ached, the palms of my hands were all red from the grabbing, my joints complained, my heart was beating fast. The whole of my body told me to stop. But my eyes were seeing people of different ages going for the black circuit with a smile, and my brain decided to go for it.

One of the railway bridges

What a mistake, I thought after only 3 obstacles. I managed to reach the Tarzan jump point, pulled the heavy rope in the center towards me, secured it to my harness with the two carabiners, and sat on the bench, looking down. That morning I had already seen a few people jumping and failing to grab the net at the end of the swing. Lots of people down there were now looking at me: I had to succeed. The Patrol Guide went 3, 2, 1… and I jumped! I leaped out, caught an amazing speed, swung so close to earth and woooooosh, back up again, and upon reaching the net I grabbed it with both hands (with both hands, the Patrol Guide kept shouting from below, with both hands).

The notorious Tarzan jump

But the heavy rope dragged me back out, and in what must have been a matter of a few seconds, the left hand lost grip, and people down there went ooooooh. I did not want to let go, so I used every inch of my body to help the right hand keep its hook to the net, I pulled my body back and finally the left hand found the grab again. I was there, but that did not mean I was through. Unhooking two carabiners from a huge and heavy rope that pulls you away and at the same time staying attached to a vertical net is not an easy task, neither is spidering along the vertical net to the left hedge. It took me ages.

One of the long zip lines

Once I reached the platform I was a wreck. My body was numb from the enormous effort, my head span and my heart pounded. I looked down: I was high. I looked forward: the next three obstacles were going to take me higher and higher, to the highest platform, which looked so far up and away. Each of these tasks  took away the very last energy that was left on my body and mind. At the penultimate platform I seriously thought about asking the guys to take me down. They sure have a way to take people down, since these circuits are not designed to be backtracked..?

I just rested for what felt like ages, perched up at an height of 20 meters and enjoying the amazing views nonetheless. The wind blew, making the huge tree trunks sway. A gentle sway, mind you, but one that can feel worrying when you are perched up one of these trunks. A young guy was approaching the small platform I was resting on. I am very tired, he said. So am I, I replied. Hope to see you down there, he continued, as he tackled the last task before jumping on his last and longest zip-line reward. This did it: I was recharged, and I deserved to go on that slide too so I set off to conquer it. How rewarding and liberating it was in the end, you can only imagine.

Down a zip line at Bali Treetop

Bali Treetop Adventure Park is both a physical and mental challenge not to be underestimated, but one that can make you feel amazingly good about yourself and what you can achieve. A nice boost to your self-confidence. The danger, you realize soon after starting, is only a feeling, the feeling that gives you the adrenaline which is part of the fun. My body ached for a couple of hours and so did my hands. After that, I felt like a lion, as if I had achieved the impossible.

A highly advised experience for all ages.

To contact Bali Treetop Adventure Park or make a booking, follow this link: http://asianitinerary.com/bali-treetop-adventure-park/

Asian Itinerary stay was kindly sponsored by Handara Golf & Resort Bali !

TO BOOK A DISCOUNTED ROOM AT HANDARA GOLF & RESORT, CLICK HERE !

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Bedugul, in the Bali mountains, is home to Bali Treetop Adventure Park, a fun activity set in an open air environment. Bali Treetop Adventure Park is where both kids and adults can enjoy a fun day out tackling various tightrope courses, ranging from suspended bridges and spider nets to exciting Tarzan jumps and flying-fox lines, all for a different kind of adrenaline rush. Some of these courses let you test your agility or even zip through the air safely, high up in the trees.

Bali Treetop main entrance

All circuit platforms are held in place using an innovative compression system to protect trees from any damage. Protective half logs are used to prevent cables from cutting into trees and minimize tree trunk degradation.

Throughout the entirety of the circuits you will remain attached to a life-line support. Patrol Guides will also be situated along the circuit ready to advise and assist as needed – giving support from above and below.

Before starting the activity on the circuits, every client must follow the safety instructions by the Patrol Guides, who will explain how the circuit works, how to use the equipment, and provide all safety instructions which you need to respect at all times.

Fitting a harness

Bali Treetop Adventure Park is accessible to all, whatever their level of agility or experience. With different circuits, everyone can find the right circuits for his/her level and age, or even try the more challenging circuits. Bali Treetop Adventure Park receives clients from 4 years old to over 70 with a maximum weight of 120kg and a minimum height of 95cm.

THE CIRCUITS

There are seven different courses, arranged according to age and skill levels:

My patrol guide on the demonstration circuit

Squirrel Yellow and Squirrel Green Circuits: Carefully designed for small children four years up, minimum height 95cm. Obstacles include wooden ladders, climbing wall, foot bridges, log crossings, fishnets and flat nets, fox’s hole, monkey track, elephant steps, and a mini flying fox.

Green Circuit: Introductory circuit to get a taste of the activity. Over 6 years old. 110cm minimum.

Blue Circuit: Suitable for kids aged eight and up, 120cm height minimum. First real thrills, including flying-fox lines, parrot ladders, railway bridge, high flying swings, duck footpath, rolling swing, monkey track, plank footbridge, flying trapeze, spider net, rocking steps and downhill net.

Orange Circuit: Good for adults to get their adrenaline fix, with obstacles similar to that of the Blue Circuit, with many flying-fox and a longer flying fox line.

High platforms

Red Circuit: for some serious high-flying fun. Includes most of the obstacles above, and the great Tarzan Jump which is then followed by a rewarding 160m long flying-fox line. Over 10 years of age, 130cm height minimum.

‘Adrenaline’ Black Circuit: Strictly for adrenaline junkies, with the biggest of thrills and breathtaking jumps. Includes most of the Red Circuit obstacles with a longest monkey track, flying trapezes, an arms challenge, upside-down ‘T’ course, and breath-taking jumps up to 20m high. Over 12 years of age, 140cm height minimum.

NUMBERS

A tricky obstacle

7 Adventure Circuits from one tree to another with height range between 2-20 meters. 95 challenges for all level and ages: Suspended bridges, Spider Nets, Tarzan Jumps, Flying-Fox, Flying Swings, and many more fun challenges.12 flying fox up to 160m long.

Duration of activity: Adults and Children: 2 hours 30 minutes, Squirrel Circuits: 1 hour 30 minutes.

Price: USD 25 for adults and USD 16 for kids

TECHNICALITIES

The official photographer at Bali Treetop

Each zip-line course and tight rope bridge stretches from tree to tree, and safety is guaranteed with the use of high-quality equipment and carabiners. The courses were designed by SkyZip Engineering, the firm behind other treetop adventure parks worldwide. The construction of Bali Treetop Adventure Park and all materials and equipments comply with European Standards EN 15567-1, and the park is built, maintained and managed by a French management.

All activities are assisted by professionals and include insurance coverage. Bali Treetop Adventure Park also provide you with company outing and team building services.

INFO

One of the patrol guides

Bali Treetop Adventure Park 

Eka Karya Botanic Garden Bali, Candikuning, Bedugul, Bali

Opening Hours: 08:30 – 18:00

Tel: +62 (0)361 9340009

Website: www.balitreetop.com

Email: info@balitreetop.com

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/balitreetop

YOUTUBE VIDEOS

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aSgJPFsSiQY

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VgyYmJkvgzI

READ ASIANITINERARY EXPERIENCE AT BALI TREETOP HERE !

Asian Itinerary stay was kindly sponsored by Handara Golf & Resort Bali !

TO BOOK A DISCOUNTED ROOM AT HANDARA GOLF & RESORT, CLICK HERE !

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Sometimes, there are days that start out the quietest and end in the greatest adventures. This is particularly true of the day I saw whale shark in Krabi, Thailand.

The amazing Railay West bay, with longtail boats docked

The fabulous Railay West beach was the starting point of the adventure. I was having my morning coffee at 8am, observing volunteers cleaning the beach of the excess of trash that comes with the night tides, when one of the locals I had met in a local bar the night before came my way. Come on the boat with us, he shouted, full of excitement. There are whale sharks right offshore here, he added, turning and racing towards the boat.

Whale sharks? I thought. These are the largest fish in the world, rarely seen from shore. This was all the convincing I needed to grab my bag and rush to catch up with him. We got on to the slim longtail boat, the traditional mean of transport in this area of Thailand, where we we were greeted by a crew of equally exuberant faces, some local and some foreign.

The Railay Bay

Soon enough, my friend prompted a loud revving of the engine and in a quick lurch we were off into the bay. As we cut through the waves I was given the details on what was going on. Earlier that morning one of the guys had been out on his boat and had caught sight of the whale sharks feeding nearby. He had never seen such a sight in all the years he’d been riding a boat, and had quickly radioed-in the discovery.

A whale shark close up

It took about ten minutes to see what we had come to see. There were massive fins coming out of the churning waves, and they looked ominous in the sunlit water. At first it looked like there where several different sharks, but as we got closer we noticed that there were only two of them, each about 7-8 meters in length. They were so close that both their dorsal and tail fins where breaking the surface. As our boat started circling them, we saw that the majestic giants were skimming the surface with their mouths wide open, feeding on microscopic plankton.

Whale sharks

Both sharks had a kind of white polka-dot pattern on their rough oily-looking dark blue skin, and with their broad faces and tiny black eyes, they slightly resembled two enormous catfish. It was truly amazing to watch them from the front of the boat as they gracefully swam around us and under the bow. The sharks seemed to be totally unafraid of the boats and even playful at times.

A whale shark close up

We all rushed to snap pictures and videos as we all knew this was probably the only time we were going to see something like this. Then my friend announced that he was going to swim with the sharks. Everybody stared in amazement and stammered protest as he donned his snorkel gear and plunged into the water not 3 meters from the giant creatures. I do not know much about whale sharks, but I do know that they are not man-eaters like the other giant predator of the ocean, the Great White Shark.

Swimming with whale sharks

These gentle giants seemed to welcome my friend into their midst. We continued to follow the sharks around, trying to reach out from the bow to touch them as they slowly swam along beside us. And as one of the foreigners also climbed warily into the water, a third shark, even bigger than the first two, was spotted far in the distance.

As the morning wore on, more boats had gotten word of the spectacle and were racing out to see the beasts, which would probably put a great deal of stress on them, so we reluctantly decided our time to leave had arrived. All returned to the boat at once, and my friend turned the bow away from the rising sun and headed east back to shore.

What a spectacular adventure, which was born just out of an ordinary, unplanned day.

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Green Discovery Laos

Green Discovery Laos

Hang Boun Road, Ban Hay Sok, Vientiane, Laos

Phone:+856 21 264680

info@greendiscoverylaos.com

http://www.greendiscoverylaos.com

Green Discovery Laos is the most well-known and highly regarded adventure and Eco-tourism tour operator and one of the few social enterprises in the country.

Green Discovery Laos team

Green Discovery Laos is Laos’ pioneer in Adventure Travel and Ecotourism since 2000. Green Discovery Laos offers more than 80 unique tour programs all around the country, involving rafting, kayaking, trekking, rock climbing, mountain biking, cycling, caving and river trips. We also organize and help design self-guided caving, river trips and motorcycle expeditions.

If you prefer the comfort of a car, the thrill of a 4 – wheeling or just want to hang out and do the tourist thing, Green Discovery Laos also provides caravan holidays and classical tourism vacations.

Green Discovery Laos kayaking

Green Discovery Laos has been pioneering adventure travel and ecotourism in Laos since 2000, and offers more than 100 tour programs around the country. In addition to the listed tour programs, Green Discovery can customize itineraries, with or without guides, to meet your exact requirements.

Safety remains a top priority for Green Discovery, who is proud of its 100% safety record. All adventure equipment is imported and of highest European and American standards, and undergoes a regular maintenance and replacement program. Many of the guides are internationally certified in whitewater rescue, first aid and CPR.

Green Discovery Laos cycle tours

Green Discovery places great emphasis on Socially Responsible Tourism, and is committed to engaging the local communities as true business partners in developing and operating the tour programs and equitably sharing in the profits.

READ ABOUT ASIAN ITINERARY BICYCLE AND KAYAK TOUR OF VIENTIANE HERE !

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Leading us to the waterfall

Villagers are slowly appearing behind open doors of wooden houses. Roosters sing repeating songs and cats roam around, occasionally showing a fight or an act of love. This is Annah Rais village, so near town, so easily reached by road, yet so much a world apart. Staff looks like a really nice, quiet guy; he tights his knife holder around his waist, lights a cigarette and prompts us to start the walk.

Staff and Cato on a traditional bridge

We leave the village small lanes and enter a muddy terrain, climbing steps made up of bamboo branches. The ascent is steep. The undergrowth around us is so full of humus, with vast forests of amazingly tall and thick bamboo and the occasional ferns and palms. Sweat runs copiously from my head and from every pore of my body, and we are forced to make several stops in order to rehydrate. Staff uses his machete skilfully to make walking sticks out of bamboo for us to aide our walk, and we surely appreciate it!

As the vegetation gets denser and the humidity higher, we slowly start to realize the challenge of walking along these leech-infested paths. It is advisable to wear long trousers and proper socks in order to avoid the bloodsuckers banqueting with your vital juice. Also, remember to carry plenty of water supply even if your guide carries some for you. You will use it!

Rafflesias carnivore plants in bloom

Staff occasionally clears the path with his sharp machete, moving falling bamboo branches, logs and overhanging vegetation. He tells us these paths are used only by local farmers to reach their cultivations of tapioca, banana and various other vegetables. We cross craftily-made bamboo bridges over suspended small streams, and occasionally stop to observe and take a picture of colourful wild flowers, orchids, pitcher plants and unique mushrooms, with only the sound of nature accompanying us.

We keep on walking for about two hours; the last section of the track is so wet from the night rain that our boots sink in the muddy terrain, making us loose balance. The reward is indeed worth the effort: the three-tiered waterfall has jumps of at least 30 meters each, the last two discharging water in natural ponds that call for a dip!

Lunch is cooking the natural way

Staff makes camp, lights a fire and cuts huge chunks of hollow bamboo branches in which he places the chicken he has carried from home together with stems of various ferns and palms picked up during the walk, closing the top with fresh leaves and placing the natural container right inside the fire.

The waterfalls tiers

Meanwhile I climb to the upper tier, take off my soaking wet clothes, place them to dry on a sun-hit stone and free my ankles from small sucking leeches clinging to my skin and hiding inside my shoes. Job done, I enjoy a dip in the cold, refreshing pond. I then decide to daringly sit on a wet stone right below the waterfall and linger a while under the powerful wall of water hitting my back. The impact is so violent that I cannot bear more than a few minutes in that position.

Happy and refreshed, I sit on a moss-covered stone to dry myself under the scorching sun, disturbed only by the sudden call from Staff: lunch is served. We sit on a bench made of bamboo and eat generous servings of rice in banana leaves, chicken and palm hearts cooked in bamboo and boiled tapioca leaves. Delicious!

The stream below

The walk back is a bit of a photocopy of the walk there, only we walk faster with a fewer stops. By the time we reach back Annah Rais, where Miss Karum receives us with a smile and a couple of ice cold beers, 7 hours have passed! We are exhausted but so happy to have achieved a wonderful adventure in the foot of the ancient Borneo mountains: a trek to the waterfall!

Homestay official program license

Special thanks go to Karum Bidayuh Homestay and to Staff (a few shots of rice wine that evening made him more than happy!). We highly recommend this tour; yet, if you are about to embark on this adventure, please remember that a few people walk half of the way and decide to walk back… The hike lasts 2 hours each way and it is de-man-ding. The weather is hot and humid and the copious sweating can take its toll, especially on a hot day. The ascents/descents are steep. If you are concerned, you are not physically fit enough, you are not used to trekking in the jungle or have a medical condition, ask Miss Karum to arrange a car to cover at least half of the trek and leave you to a nearer starting point, or opt to nearby hot springs, still a nice experience but not so hard.

Karum contact details

For information and bookings, contact Miss Karum or Jenny at Karum Bidayuh Homestay

tel. (+60) 0168981675

email yeominghua@yahoo.com or t_weiyu86@hotmail.com

or check their website at www.longhouseinborneo.com

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Paradesa Borneo Adventure, established in 2013, offers Paradesa Brands of tourism experience for visitors to Borneo, new and pioneering tourism experience to the Malaysian Borneo area. Their signatory and pioneering bicycle tour in Kuching is the first starting point.

Director JC Chua recently returned home after more than 30 years of oversea studying, backpacking and exploring in Europe, US and Asia, soaking in different experiences, cultures, food, outdoor discoveries, wild adventures and meeting travellers from all walks of life. Most notably, he spent the past 15 years working in the tourist boom town of Yangshuo in China, where most sightseeing and adventurous activities such as mountain biking, hiking climbing, caving and kayaking was virtually just outside the doorstep of the resort he managed, the Paradesa Yangshuo Resort! Participating in these outdoor activities and drinking obscene amount of rice wine was the reason how he managed to remain sane in China for so many years! He is now back in Borneo and loves the great diversity of outdoor activities here, that many locals like him take for granted.

Realizing these outdoor discoveries has become his passion and excuse for going out and mixing pleasure with work. That’s why he has decided to mortgage his children’s education fund to start this tour business and hope to share the discovery of Borneo with all. Open up your senses to authentic Sarawak: exciting on and off road cycling tours, hiking, kayaking and many other local tours.

Paradesa Borneo Adventure office shop is conveniently located in the middle of the Kuching heritage district and has a chill out cafe with self-serving value refreshments and nourishment, free internet and free wifi, free information desk, and an amazing hang-out floor with free games and activities, as well as rooms for rent.

Paradesa Borneo Adventure

One Wayang Tours Sdn. Bhd.
Co. No. 1031151-X, KPL/LN7174

No1. Wayang Street, 93000 Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia

Tel : +6082 238801
Fax : +6082 231808

Email : info@paradesaborneo.com

www.paradesaborneo.com 

Daily Operating Hour : 8am – 8pm (365 days)

http://www.youtube.com/user/paradesaborneo 

https://www.facebook.com/paradesaborneo

http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Attraction_Review-g298309-d6031379-Reviews-Paradesa_Borneo-Kuching_Sarawak.html

The post Paradesa Borneo Adventure appeared first on Asian Itinerary.

The day looked quite dull when I awoke, a real change from the previous sunny and humid week I had just spent in Sarawak, in the lush Malaysian Borneo. I showered and realized the time would not be enough for breakfast so I made my way to the Paradesa Borneo Discovery office, located near the Kuching waterfront area, where I met my two kayaking companions, two young British girls on a Malaysia backpacking tour. We were ready for our kayaking in the Sarawak River Tour.

Breakfast with James

James the driver turned up at 8,30, we made introductions and we were soon on our way on his brand new Chinese-made14-seater minivan. James is a kind middle aged man of Chinese origins, talkative and friendly. He suggested stopping in an eatery to have breakfast, a suggestion that I happily embraced! The sun was timidly attempting a feeble appearance from behind a curtain of black clouds as we sat and ordered coffee and fried dough from a food stand in a residential area on the outskirts of town, a welcome respite for my hungry belly.

The drive that followed was smooth; the road was flanked by lush vegetation and the traffic was scarce. James stopped at the Semangoh Wildlife Center to pick up a family of four from the USA taking part in the tour before heading towards hilly Padawan, an area where Bidayu tribes live. There the limestone mountains get higher, with impressive pointed peaks. James told us that we were so close to the border with Indonesia that trekkers can easily find themselves in a different country without even realizing it. Wow, I thought.

James’ 14 seater minivan

These valleys are densely cultivated: bananas, ferns, tapioca, corn, sloped paddies, fruit orchards. Villagers from this area are economically productive and depends mainly on agriculture, selling their produce at the local weekend markets. At the village of Semadang – a few wooden houses with tin roofs, a catholic church, a school, and all around cultivated fields – we picked up Biko our guide for the day. James drove another 10 minutes along a road sided by plantations of dragon fruit, pepper and rubber, the main cash crops in this area, before reaching Kampong Benoh, our starting point for this kayak expedition.

The group ready for some paddling

We got geared up with lifejackets, dry-bags and paddles, received a briefing on how to maneuver the kayak and walked down a path to the small river below, where the water was quite shallow due to the dry season. I was assigned a single kayak, and while the other customers seated on their vessels, I got quite worried of the small size of the stream, only to reassure myself after a few meters when we reached the main river, the Sarawak Kiri, which means ‘left’. This tributary joins the Sarawak Kanan – ‘right’ – downriver to become Sungai Sarawak, or Sarawak River, an important source of water and transportation for the inhabitants of southwest Sarawak.

I paddle and paddle

I paddled nonchalantly as we passed a few small rapids; we negotiated small whirlpools, avoiding logs sticking out of the water. The kayaks bumped into rocks and occasionally got stuck in sandy banks, where we had to get off and push it out into deeper water. I looked up at huge and tall durian trees with spiky fruits, observing the clouds building up and eventually discharging a wall of water that caught us unprepared. The alternate bursts of heavy rain forced me to take refuge under the thick canopy of trees and overhanging bamboos growing along the river bank, more than anything to ensure my camera did not get wet.

I motioned the group to paddle forward and stopped a while to listen to the sound of nature, to smell the vegetation and to enjoy the silence. Nature is at its best when it rains so I did not mind getting wet. The sky finally opened up a little, I rejoined the group and we soon stopped for a break, parking the kayaks in a sandy beach that marks the entrance of the Bidayu village of Kampung Danu.

A deserved lunch break

Women picked veggies from the gardens and dogs roamed freely as we approached the local house where we had our lunch: kolo mee noodles, chicken on rice, curry puffs and juicy pineapple and yellow watermelon. A well deserved meal after all the padding. Kampung Danu is home to 300 people and has recently won the price for the ‘Best Dayak Village’ in the area. Its villagers depend mainly on agriculture, while earning a bit from tourism as well. From here it is in fact possible to arrange activities such as rafting, fishing and visiting the nearby caves, and they even have a very picturesque suspension bridge crossing the Sarawak Kiri river.

Rain rain rain

On to the second leg of the journey we endured more rain, saw a baby monitor lizard on the shore, marveled at amazing rock formations and had another break. We then paddled past some kids swimming naked and Biko informed we were pretty near the ending point, though the black menacing clouds that had been approaching from behind did not give us enough time: the sky opened when we were at only 200m from arrival. The rain was so think and violent that paddling in itself was an issue, let alone keeping the eyes opened. The rive current got stronger and the full force of nature was against us, soaking us wet and making us struggle to paddle the last 50 meters. At the jetty, the staff was there to help us disembark our kayaks and lead us to a parking area where James was waiting with his minivan. We felt cold and exhausted but happy: we all looked at each other and you could tell there was a satisfaction feeling at having been at one with nature, nearly powerless against it, and at having reached destination safely.

Rain or sunshine, dry or wet season, if you are in Kuching and have a day to spare, do try this amazing experience: you will not be disappointed and will feel the real adventure. Kayaking tours can be combined with a visit to the Semangoh Wildlife Center to see the orangutans, or with a jungle trek.

Read about Kampong cycling tour with Paradesa HERE !

For bookings Paradesa Borneo Discovery tours, CLICK HERE !

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