OROU SAPULOT

Venturing into the lesser-known Sapulot means encountering Murut hospitality – drink bottomless rice wine from huge ceramic jars and chat about their headhunting ancestors. The Muruts were the last of the ethnic groups in Sabah to renounce headhunting.

Scale an 800-foot limestone pinnacle, explore mysterious caves, and sleep on stretcher hammocks in a jungle camp perched high on a riverbank. Enjoy traditional Murut food and navigate rivers that run through pristine rainforest in traditional longboats. Cross a river and trek to reach a hidden waterfall, and sleep in a rustic hut. Want more? Go rapid shooting and cross the border into Kalimantan to see sleepy villages and isolated longhouses deep in the heart of Borneo.

Sapulot is tucked inland from the coast and is one of Sabah’s best-kept secrets when it comes to discovering villages, nature, and culture. Not many venture here, but if you do, it is likely that you won’t see another tourist or traveler.

Accommodation

• Pungiton Camp 
Basic but very comfortable camp perched high up on the riverbank. Equipped with western toilet & showers, eating area, and sleeping area. You will sleep on stretcher hammocks with full bedding and mosquito netting. 

• Kabulungou Waterfall 
Basic but very comfortable wooden hut located right next to the waterfall. Equipped with western toilet and showers, eating area and sleeping area. You will sleep on sleeping mats with blankets, or in tents. 

• Romol Modern Longhouse 
Very comfortable family home, equipped with western toilet and showers. Sleeping is in communal room with mattresses on the floor with full bedding.

Food

Delicious local food – vegetarians and special diets catered for.

Facilities & Services

Comfortable jungle and village accommodation.

Guides

You will be accompanied by your host throughout the entire duration of your visit, supported by other members of the community who partake in the tourism project/venture.

3D2N Orou Sapulot

Day 1

Pick-up at your Kota Kinabalu hotel at 7:30 AM and transfer to Keningau town (2.5 hours). Upon arrival at Keningau, switch to your host vehicle for your onward journey to Labang village in the interior for a short boat transfer to Pungiton Eco-Camp. Settle in and enjoy lunch at the camp. After lunch, embark on a short walk to discover and explore the multi-leveled Pungiton Caves. Walk through the cave with an underground stream and wonder at the formation of stalactite and stalagmite. Continue trekking to explore more of the cave system if you want. Return to camp for a refreshing swim by the river. Enjoy dinner and watch the night sky from the eating area before falling asleep to the sounds of the jungle.

 Lunch / Dinner

Day 2

Early wake up for breakfast. Check out of the camp and go on a short river cruise for your excursion to Batu Punggul, an 800 foot limestone pinnacle, rising out of the jungle. For the adventurous, scramble and climb up to the top for a magnificent view of the jungle canopy below. Upon your descent, enjoy a picnic lunch by the riverbank before your transfer to the MunorAulai Guesthouse at Romol Eco Village where you will spend the evening. After you have settled in, take a stroll to their farm beds and vegetation crops to understand integrated farming practices. Evening is spent feasting on Murut food, wine and local dancing.

 Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner

Day 3

Early wake up for breakfast. Get transferred to a Hidden Waterfall with some jungle trekking involved. Spend the morning swimming at the multi leveled waterfalls. Light refreshments will be served at the waterfall. Get transferred back to Romol Eco Village house for a quick lunch and bid goodbye to your lovely host at 1:00 PM for your transfer out to Keningau, concluding your adventure in Sapulot. At Keningau town, you will be met by your driver for your journey back to Kota Kinabalu. Expect to be back around 5:00 PM.

 Breakfast / Light refreshment /Lunch 


 

4D3N Orou Sapulot

Day 1

Pick-up at your Kota Kinabalu hotel at 7:30 AM and transfer to Keningau town (2.5 hours). Upon arrival at Keningau, switch to your host vehicle for your onward journey to Labang village in the interior for a short boat transfer to Pungiton Eco-Camp. Settle in and enjoy lunch at the camp. After lunch, embark on a short walk to discover and explore the multi-leveled Pungiton Caves. Walk through the cave with an underground stream and wonder at the formation of stalactite and stalagmite. Continue trekking to explore more of the cave system if you want. Return to camp for a refreshing swim by the river. Enjoy dinner and watch the night sky from the eating area before falling asleep to the sounds of the jungle.

 Lunch / Dinner

Day 2

Early wake up for breakfast. Check out of the camp and go on a short river cruise for your excursion to Batu Punggul, an 800 foot limestone pinnacle, rising out of the jungle. For the adventurous, scramble and climb up to the top for a magnificent view of the jungle canopy below. Upon your descent, enjoy a picnic lunch by the riverbank before continuing your journey to a Hidden Waterfall. Afternoon is spent exploring the waterfall area and swimming. Rest well in a tent at the Vangkakon Camp overlooking the Vangkakon Waterfall.

 Breakfast / Picnic Lunch / Dinner

Day 3

Spend the first half of the day relaxing at the waterfall before transferring to Romol Eco-Village for check-in, where you will sleep in a MunorAulai Guesthouse. The day is spent learning about the farm beds and various vegetation crops and understanding integrated farming concepts and activities. Evening is spent feasting on Murut food, wine and local dancing.

 Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner

Day 4

Early wake up for breakfast and bid goodbye to your lovely host at 7:30 AM for your transfer out to Keningau, concluding your adventure in Sapulot. At Keningau town, you will be met by our driver for your journey back to Kota Kinabalu. Expect to be back around lunch time.

 Breakfast

Included

Return land transfers from Kota Kinabalu, meals, accommodation, local guide, drinking water, coffee & tea, snacks, activities and all land and boat connection within Sapulot, community fee.

Excluded

Tips and gratuities.

What to Bring?

Head lamp, mosquito repellent, sunscreen, hat, your favorite trekking snacks, raincoat, sunglasses, binocular, leech socks, dry-bag, gloves, good walking/trekking shoes, personal toiletries including towel, personal medication, basic first aid kit, swimwear, and cash (no ATM).

Departure

Minimum booking of 2 pax for departure.

Recommended for

Couples, families and group of friends who are interested in discovering off the beaten places and local culture. This program also combines the experience of local interaction with adventurous activities such as caving, jungle trekking, climbing a limestone pinnacles and traditional wooden boat travels up and down river.

Give Back

Orou Sapulot is doing wonderful things in southwestern Sabah. Support a community-run tourism initiative in one of the poorest regions in Malaysia. Your trip costs go directly into the local economy and create an alternative livelihood for the local population.

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