Trekking Borneo & Beyond

Welcome to Kuala Lumpur, the capital city of Malaysia, known by many simply as KL. You can arrive at the hotel at any time today. There is a welcome meeting with your tour leader this evening, a good chance to ask any questions you may have and to connect with the group. Accommodation: Santa Grand Signature Kuala Lumpur (or similar)

Malaysia is proudly diverse and this is reflected in the capital, KL, with its mix of Malay, Indian and Chinese traditions and people. One of the best ways of exploring this diversity is through a food tour of the city. We discover different neighbourhoods with distinct sights, sounds, smells and, of course, delicacies. We start our journey at Masjid Jamek and learn how the city started. What better way to enjoy the day by sampling typical food that Malaysians enjoy at a local eatery? Wandering through small streets, we uncover the cultures of the Chinese and Indian communities who came to KL to make their fame and fortune. We also visit the oldest Chinese and Indian temple in KL to understand more about these communities. Our visit to Chinatown is rewarded with tasty noodles among the local people. After, we take a short ride on the modern local transport system towards Brickfields – the local Little India. As we walk through, our senses are stimulated by colourful architecture, music and food. We sample delicious Indian dishes served on banana leaves and seek out street vendors for snacks to end our food journey. This afternoon, we take public transport to the Batu Caves. These limestone caves are a holy Hindu site and are guarded by a giant statue of the Hindu god Lord Murugan. Behind the statue are the 272 steps that lead to the caves and large numbers of monkeys. If you want a drink with amazing views later this evening, head to one of the many rooftop bars in KL and enjoy the cityscape at night. Accommodation: Santa Grand Signature Kuala Lumpur (or similar)

We aim to check out of the hotel around 6.30am to drive about 30 minutes to the start of the trail on Apek Hill, which is part of the Sungei Putek forest reserve (a popular exercise spot). We follow a loop trail, which starts with a moderate climb up to about 1,315ft (400m), where we pause for a packed breakfast before hiking down another trail back to the start (some sections may be a little slippery if it has rained). We then rejoin our minibus and transfer (five to six hours) to the Cameron Highlands with a lunch stop along the way. The Cameron Highlands is a British-era hill station and the nights are noticeably cooler here. The area is known for strawberry farms and tea plantations. For those interested, there may be time to visit one of the tea plantations or enjoy tea and scones. Accommodation: Century Pines (or similar) Update: The Apek Hill hiking path is currently closed until further notice due to restorations works. Until the path re-opens, this morning your group will instead enjoy an alternative hike on Ketumbar Hill, which is close to Apek Hill and offers a similar hike in terms of terrain, duration and wonderful views of the Kuala Lumpur skyline. Once the hike on Ketumbar Hill is completed, your group will transfer to the Cameron Highlands and follow the standard itinerary for the remainder of Day 3.