| TOUR CODE: | ABSK-MWH02 |
| DESCRIPTION: | 3D2N MISO WALAI HOMESTAY WITH KINABATANGAN RIVER CRUISE & JUNGLE EXPLORATION |
| REGION: | Sabah |
| DURATION: | 3 Days 2 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 |
More than just a place to stay, Miso Walai Homestay invites you to immerse yourself in local traditions, join daily routines, and experience true Sabahan hospitality. Live as part of a local family, sharing home-cooked meals, joining in daily routines, and gaining insight into the traditions of the Orang Sungai. Each home is different — some rustic, others modern — but all share the same warmth and sense of belonging.
Over the three days, you can enjoy a river cruise on the Kinabatangan River to spot wildlife, wander through the rainforest on a guided trek, or simply take in the sights and sounds of the village. The extra day allows you to settle into a slower pace, making it not just a homestay, but an enriching cultural journey.
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 engaging with the local community, learning about daily life along the Kinabatangan.
At 17:00 Hrs, embark on your first sunset wildlife river cruise. This magical hour offers the chance to see proboscis monkeys, hornbills, and crocodiles as the river glows in the evening light.
Return to your homestay at 18:30 Hrs. Dinner is served at 19:00 Hrs, prepared with fresh local ingredients.
At 20:00 Hrs, enjoy a meaningful evening with your host family, sharing stories and experiencing the warmth of village hospitality. Afterwards, return to your accommodation for a good night's rest.
Start the day at 06:00 Hrs with a sunrise wildlife river cruise, when the Kinabatangan comes alive with birds and primates.
Enjoy a packed breakfast at 07:30 Hrs before visiting Batu Tulug Cave at 09:00 Hrs. Discover this ancient archaeological site where centuries-old log coffins reveal the beliefs of early river communities.
At 10:00 Hrs, visit a tree nursery and learn about KOPEL’s reforestation efforts. Lunch is provided at 12:00 Hrs, either at your homestay or as a packed meal.
By 13:30 Hrs, transfer by boat to Tungog Rainforest Eco Camp (TREC). At 14:00 Hrs, choose between jungle trekking or simply relaxing amidst the peaceful rainforest.
At 16:00 Hrs, take part in a hands-on forest conservation program by planting trees to help restore wildlife habitat.
Set off at 17:00 Hrs for another magical sunset wildlife cruise along the Kinabatangan.
Dinner will be served at 19:00 Hrs at TREC, followed by a guided night walk at 20:00 Hrs, where you’ll encounter nocturnal creatures like civets, frogs, and owls before returning to your homestay at 21:30 Hrs.
Rise early to savour your final morning in the village.
After breakfast, check out and return to KOPEL Base at 09:00 Hrs, bringing with you unforgettable memories of the Kinabatangan’s nature and culture.