| TOUR CODE: | ABSK-MWH03 |
| DESCRIPTION: | 4D3N MISO WALAI HOMESTAY & KINABATANGAN RIVER ECO-ADVENTURE |
| REGION: | Sabah |
| DURATION: | 4 Days 3 Night |
| MINIMUM: | 2 Pax |
| PICK UP POINT: | Your Hotel in Sandakan City / Sandakan Airport |
| PICK UP TIME: | 10:00 Hrs |
| DROP OFF POINT: | Your Hotel in Sandakan City / Sandakan Airport |
| DROP OFF TIME: | 11:00 Hrs |
Set along the banks of the Lower Kinabatangan River, the 4D3N Miso Walai Homestay programme offers far more than a standard Kinabatangan River Cruise. With four days to explore, you’ll experience a rare combination of wildlife encounters, cultural immersion, and conservation impact. Beyond dawn and dusk river cruises, your journey includes rainforest treks, visits to caves and heritage sites like the Batu Tulug Museum, and time spent learning the traditions of the Orang Sungai.
Life at the homestay is shaped by warmth and hospitality. Hosted by families in stilted or modern homes, you’ll share meals of home-cooked dishes, join in cooking or farming routines, and learn first-hand how riverside living has been sustained for generations. The extra days give you the chance to settle in, slow down, and build genuine connections with your hosts.
What makes this experience unique is its community-driven foundation. Operated by KOPEL, an award-winning cooperative, the homestay ensures that your visit directly supports forest restoration and the livelihoods of local families. It’s not only a cultural journey but also a way to contribute to conservation while discovering the heart of Kinabatangan.
Miso Walai Homestay
The Miso Walai Homestay is based in Batu Puteh village along the Lower Kinabatangan River, home to the Orang Sungai, or “River People.” This community-based programme, established in 2000 and operated by the local co-op KOPEL Bhd, brings together more than 18 host families who welcome visitors into their homes. Each homestay is different. Some are rustic wooden stilt houses, others more modern. But all share the same warmth and hospitality. Guests are invited to live as part of the family, sharing traditional meals, joining farm activities, and learning local customs. The homestay also serves as a gateway to river cruises, forest treks, conservation programs, and cultural exchanges, making it a meaningful way to connect with both the people and natural beauty of the Kinabatangan.
Koperasi Pelancongan (KOPEL)
Formed in the late 1990s by the people of Batu Puteh village, KOPEL Bhd grew from the pioneering MESCOT Initiative, a grassroots movement to protect the last fragments of forest in the Lower Kinabatangan. Facing the loss of traditional resources to large-scale agriculture, a group of villagers came together to create sustainable alternatives through eco-tourism and forest conservation. Today, KOPEL operates as a cooperative that unites the community, restoring degraded forests, co-managing the Pin-Supu Forest Reserve, and generating income through conservation-based tourism. By staying with KOPEL, visitors directly support local livelihoods, youth empowerment, and the ongoing mission to protect one of Sabah’s most important wildlife corridors.
At 12:00 Hrs, arrive at KOPEL Base in Mengaris Village for registration and introduction. Enjoy a traditional Sabahan lunch upon arrival before heading to your Miso Walai Homestay. Afterwards, meet your Orang Sungai host family and settle into your authentic wooden home.
Spend the afternoon from 14:00 Hrs engaging with the local community, experiencing village life and learning about the traditions of Kinabatangan.
At 17:00 Hrs, embark on a sunset wildlife river cruise. This magical hour offers the chance to spot proboscis monkeys, hornbills, and crocodiles along the riverbanks as the forest glows in the evening light.
Return to your homestay at 18:30 Hrs. Dinner will be served at 19:00 Hrs, followed by an evening of cultural exchange with your host family. End the day with stories, laughter, and the warmth of rural hospitality.
Start the day at 06:00 Hrs with a sunrise wildlife river cruise, when the Kinabatangan awakens with birds and primates.
At 07:30 Hrs, enjoy a packed breakfast before taking a boat transfer to Tungog Rainforest Eco Camp (TREC) to join a guided jungle trek or enjoy some free and easy time in the camp’s natural surroundings.
Lunch will be provided at 12:00 Hrs, either as a packed meal or at your homestay. Continue the afternoon with more trekking or relaxation at 13:00 Hrs.
At 16:00 Hrs, take part in a meaningful conservation activity by planting native trees to help restore the Kinabatangan floodplain. Afterwards, embark on another magical sunset wildlife cruise along the river.
Dinner will be served at 19:00 Hrs at TREC (packed dinner), followed by a night walk at 20:00 Hrs to discover the forest’s nocturnal creatures before returning to your homestay for a good night's rest.
Rise and shine! Begin your day with breakfast at your homestay before heading out at 09:00 Hrs to visit Batu Tulug Cave, an archaeological site where centuries-old log coffins reveal the history and spiritual beliefs of the Orang Sungai.
Return for a cooking lesson with your host family at 11:00 Hrs, followed by lunch.
Enjoy a free and easy afternoon before visiting the tree nursery at 15:30 Hrs to learn about reforestation. At 17:00 Hrs, spend time with the local community before joining another family cooking session.
Dinner is served at 19:00 Hrs, followed by a relaxed evening with your host family.
Enjoy your final breakfast at the homestay before checking out at 09:00 Hrs. Bid farewell to your host family and depart with lasting memories of Kinabatangan’s nature, culture, and hospitality.