| TOUR CODE: | ABSK-MWH01 |
| DESCRIPTION: | 2D1N MISO WALAI HOMESTAY & KINABATANGAN WILDLIFE RIVER CRUISE |
| REGION: | Sabah |
| DURATION: | 2 Days 1 Night |
| MINIMUM: | 2 Pax |
| PICK UP POINT: | Your Hotel in Sandakan City / Sandakan Airport |
| DROP OFF POINT: | Sandakan Airport |
| DROP OFF TIME: | To Be Arranged |
Step into the welcoming world of the Orang Sungai community with a short but meaningful overnight stay at Miso Walai Homestay. Just one night here allows you to experience the rhythm of village life along the Kinabatangan River, where every household has its own character, from traditional wooden stilt houses to more modern family homes.
Share meals of freshly prepared local dishes, learn about local traditions, and take part in simple farm activities that connect you to the land. As evening sets in, listen to stories of the community’s past and their ties to the river. Though brief, this visit offers a genuine taste of hospitality, culture, and connection that lingers long after you leave.
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’s office in Mengaris Village, Lower Kinabatangan for registration and introduction. Enjoy a traditional Sabahan lunch upon arrival before continuing to your homestay, where you will be welcomed by your Orang Sungai host family. Settle into your authentic wooden home and experience first-hand the warmth of rural hospitality.
By 14:00 Hrs, spend the afternoon with the local community, learning about their daily life and traditions.
At 17:00 Hrs, embark on a sunset wildlife river cruise along the Kinabatangan. Watch proboscis monkeys, hornbills, and crocodiles emerge as the evening light sets the river aglow.
Return to your homestay at 18:30 Hrs, just in time to freshen up.
Dinner will be served at 19:00 Hrs, prepared by your host family with fresh, local ingredients.
At 20:00 Hrs, spend a meaningful evening engaging with your homestay family, sharing stories and experiencing village life before returning to your room for a good night's rest.
Rise early for a serene sunrise river cruise 06:00 Hrs. Witness the Kinabatangan awakening with bird calls and the first wildlife activity of the day.
Afterwards, enjoy a packed breakfast at Tungog Rainforest Eco Camp (TREC), surrounded by the peaceful jungle setting.
At 09:00 Hrs, choose between jungle trekking, birdwatching, or simply enjoying some free time at camp. Alternatively, take part in a meaningful forest conservation program by planting native trees and contributing to habitat restoration.
By 12:00 Hrs, enjoy a packed lunch at TREC before preparing for departure.
At 13:00 Hrs, cross the river by boat back to KOPEL Basecamp.
Arrive at 13:30 Hrs for check-out before continuing with your onward journey.