Borneo Impact Expedition: 2 Weeks

Spend time exploring one of the world’s most stunning natural gardens – Borneo. A unique ecosystem of vibrant jungle and unexplored tropical wilderness, teeming with exotic wildlife. Work side by side with the local community on projects that help transform lives.

  • Location Borneo, Asia
  • Duration 2 weeks
  • Expedition Type Impact

Experience the diversity of Borneo’s’ changing landscapes as you travel from the hustle and bustle of Kota Kinabalu to the lush peaceful regions of Bongkud and Tinangol. Immerse yourself in the history and culture of this fascinating country as you visit the Kundasang War Memorial and learn about the famous gong making cottage industry of Kampung Sumangkap. Spend time working alongside the local community on vital projects – learning an abundance of new skills and making life long friends.

A fully supported expedition, from start to finish

Your expedition cost is comprehensive and covers the incredible activities you’ll be taking part in, as well as the extensive support you’ll receive in the lead up to, and during, your expedition.

Don’t forget you’ll also need your vaccinations, visas, kit and some spending money. You can find guidance on all of these on your personal Traveller Gateway once you sign up.

  • Expedition Leader
  • All meals in camp
  • Unlimited drinking water
  • Accommodation
  • Local Transfers (excluding to and from Australian airports)
  • Project costs and management
  • 24 hour support throughout expedition

This sample itinerary will give you an insight into what you’ll be getting up to. Please note, the exact projects, activities and camps may change closer to the time of your expedition.

Day Activities More details
Day 1 Arrive in Kota Kinabalu On arrival at Kota Kinabalu, you will be met by a member of our Camps crew and will begin the 3 hour journey to Camp Bongkud. On the way there will be a short stop at the Kundasang War Memorial where you will learn about the fate of British and Australian soldier during WWII. When you arrive at camp, there will be an arrival briefing, camp orientation and village tour by our Camp Manager. You will then have dinner and will be treated to a cultural welcome performance from the local community.
Day 2 Sunrise walk Today you will have an early start as you take a walk up Bongkud hill to enjoy a spectacular sunrise across the surrounding countryside, before getting started on some community project work. You will be helping to improve the infrastructure and facilities for the rapidly increasing population in Bongkud.
Day 3 – 5 Project work Over the next few days you will be continuing your project work with the local community. In the evenings you will have the chance to get involved in some cultural activities and sports with the locals.
Day 6 Poring Hot Springs After finishing off your project work in the morning you will head to Poring Hot Springs. Here you will get a stunning view of the jungle as you walk high above the trees on the canopy walkway. When you return to camp, you will enjoy a traditional dinner and cultural farewell from the Camps crew and local community.
Day 7 Transfer to Camp Tinangol Today you will take the 3 hour transfer to Camp Tinangol. On arrival, you will be met by the Camp Manager who will give a safety briefing and orientation of the area. After a village tour, you will be treated to a cultural performance from some of the local people.
Day 8 – 11 Project work You will spend the next 3 days volunteering on projects that will provide local people with much-needed facilities. While working on these projects you will learn traditional skills and get an insight into the challenges that the villagers of Tinangol face, helping you understand the purpose of the projects you are working on.
Day 12 Visit Kampung Sumangkap – The Gong Making Village Today is a visit to the village of Kampung Sumangkap, famous for its gong-making cottage industry. Here you will be able to see how these important cultural musical instruments are made and may even be treated to a musical demonstration.
Day 13 Last night in Kota Kinabalu After breakfast, you will travel back to Kota Kinabalu where you will have time to explore the hustle and bustle of the local craft markets and enjoy a final farewell dinner.
Day 14 Departure After breakfast, you will be transferred back to Kota Kinabalu International Airport in time for your flight home.

How you’ll make a difference

You’ll work on a range of projects throughout your expedition, each aligned to the UN Sustainable Development Goals and designed to make a significant and lasting impact on the region’s most critical issues.

Village enhancement projects

Borneo – Village enhancement projects

You’ll get involved in a number of projects to improve facilities for the rapidly growing population of Bongkud. Projects may include constructing a youth centre, improving the drainage system to ensure cleaner and healthier living and establishing a community farming programme to improve food security and encourage self-sufficiency within the village, without needing to transport supplies from larger towns.

UN Sustainable Development Goals
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Zero hunger

End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture

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Good health and well-being

Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages

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Industry, innovation and infrastructure

Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization and foster innovation

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Climate action

Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts

Community care construction

Borneo – Community centre construction

Community centres (‘Balai raya’ in Malay) are commonplace in Sabah and form an integral part of village life. A well-used and maintained community hall is often a good indicator of the health of the community itself. You’ll be getting involved in a long-term project to construct a community centre for the local community, who currently do not have one.

UN Sustainable Development Goals
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Decent work and economic growth

Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all

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Industry, innovation and infrastructure

Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization and foster innovation

Experience the local way of life in our authentic camps

Our camps are the heart of our expeditions. Built and staffed by locals in the traditional style, and located within the heart of communities, they are the perfect place to relax after a day of project work. You’ll get to stay in a number of camps during your expedition, which could include those featured below.

Camp Bongkud

Camp Bongkud

Set in the shadows of the mighty Mount Kinabalu, Camp Bongkud is surrounded on all sides by lush picturesque scenery. Its hillside location gives it a pleasant breezy climate which makes it the ideal hillside retreat after a hard day’s project work.

Being in the heart of the village also has its advantages; all your project sites are only a short walk away and you can challenge the locals to a friendly game of volleyball on the community court during your downtime.

  • Location: 127 km (3-3.5 hours drive) from Kota Kinabalu Airport & 160 km from Kudat
  • Accommodation style: Traditional longhouses
  • Bed type: Comfy mattresses & bedding including mosquito net.
  • Toilets: Flushing toilets,
  • Showers: Cold water showers & sinks
  • Power: Mains electricity backed up by generator (between 18:00 – 22:00). British 3 pin power sockets
  • Social area: Chilling hut, volleyball court, badminton & board games
  • Signature dish: Banana fritters & steamed banana cake
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Camp Tinangol

This charming camp is situated just beyond the rural Rungus community of the same name and is in keeping with the rest of the village, giving you a really authentic experience and immersing you fully in the local culture. In no time at all this will feel like your home away from home and the hospitality and friendliness of the locals will make you not want to leave!

Each longhouse has a corridor running the length of the structure. On one side there is communal space for chilling out and socialising, on the other side are sleeping rooms. Traditionally entire families would live in a single longhouse that may be up to 100 ft long.

  • Location: 150 km (3 hours drive) from Kota Kinabalu Airport & 40 km from Kudat
  • Accommodation: Traditional longhouses
  • Bed Type: Comfy mattresses & bedding including mosquito net
  • Toilets: Flushing toilets
  • Hygiene: Cold water showers & sinks
  • Power: Mains electricity. British 3 pin power sockets
  • Signature dish: Sweet & Sour seafood dishes/BBQ
  • Social area: Volleyball court, badminton & board games. Small community shop nearby

Throughout my Borneo trip all the camps staff made me feel as though I was at home, there was not one point on the expedition where I wished at was at home. Camps international made me build confidence, integrity, kindness and leadership within myself. This expedition gave me a new outlook onto things and memories to never be forgotten. I would recommend any expedition with camps international to anyone, it was truly the best thing I have ever done.

Sophie, Camp Borneo 2018

Our local camp legends

Our camps are staffed by members of the community who will make you feel like a local in no time. These legends will make your expedition spectacular and will show you the very best of their home country.

Eve

As a Camps traveller, you’ll get to learn about our rich Bornean culture and experience its spectacular beauty – from mountains to coasts and jungles full of flora and fauna. Many people in rural villages in Sabah don’t have the opportunity to travel to other countries, so having travellers come to stay at camp is an amazing opportunity for cultural exchange (both ways!) and inspires the younger generations to study hard and see the world.

Interested in this expedition?

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