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Maliau Basin / Packages & Prices
Prices checked 25 September 2026

Maliau Basin packages and prices

Four packages, one operator, two rates. Pick your rate, pick your trip, and the number you see is the number you pay.

Per person · minimum 2 pax · Malaysian / PR rate first, international beneath

Reply within one working dayNo payment to enquireLicensed Sabah operatorPermit, guide, transfers & meals includedSame price as booking direct
Prices fromRM3,500 per person
Typical stay3–5 days, 2–4 nights
Book ahead3+ months · camps fill first
Quick answer · How much does Maliau Basin cost?

Four packages, one licensed operator. Malaysian / PR rates: 3D2N Studies Centre RM3,500, 4D3N Studies Centre RM4,050, 4D3N trekking RM4,990, 5D4N trekking on request. International rates for the two Studies Centre packages are RM3,860 and RM4,650; trekking is the same price for everyone. All per person, minimum two, including permit, guide, transfers and meals. The 4D3N trek is harder per day than the 5D4N, not easier.

Prices checked against the operator on 25 September 2026
Easiest start
Observation Tower at sunset, Maliau Basin Studies Centreimg/pkg-3d2n.jpgObservation Tower at sunset16/10
Studies Centre · Easiest

3 days, 2 nights

Malaysian / PRRM3,500Deluxe RM3,600
InternationalRM3,860Deluxe RM3,920
  • Nights
    Centre · Centre
  • Effort
    Easy
  • Sky BridgeYes
  • Maliau FallsNo

For: first visit, limited time, mixed fitness. Day walks, night walk, canopy structures, a proper bed.

Check dates Full itinerary
Best for wildlife
Avian Trail and lagoon at the Studies Centreimg/pkg-4d3n-centre.jpgAvian Trail and lagoon16/10
Studies Centre · Best for wildlife

4 days, 3 nights

Malaysian / PRRM4,050Deluxe RM4,150
InternationalRM4,650Deluxe RM4,750
  • Nights
    Centre × 3
  • Effort
    Easy
  • Sky BridgeYes
  • Maliau FallsNo

For: birders and wildlife. Adds the Manggaris and Avian trails and a second night drive for about RM550 more.

Check dates Full itinerary
Hardest per day
Giluk Falls on the four-day trekimg/pkg-4d3n-trek.jpgGiluk Falls16/10
Trekking · Compressed loop

4 days, 3 nights

All visitorsRM4,990One rate · resthouse + 2 camp nights
  • Nights
    Centre · Camp × 2
  • Effort
    Hard
  • Sky BridgeNo
  • Maliau FallsYes + Giluk

For: strong walkers short on days. Not the easy trek — day 3 is 10 km in about 7 hours.

Camp beds are capped · treks fill months ahead

Check dates Full itinerary
Our pick for the trek
Takob Akob Falls, tallest in the basinimg/pkg-5d4n-trek.jpgTakob Akob Falls16/10
Trekking · Full loop

5 days, 4 nights

All visitorsOn requestQuoted at enquiry · resthouse + 3 camp nights
  • Nights
    Centre · Camp × 3
  • Effort
    Moderate–hard
  • Sky BridgeNo
  • Maliau FallsYes, relaxed

For: most people who want the trek. Same interior, one more day, Maliau Falls as an unhurried out-and-back.

Camp beds are capped · treks fill months ahead

Request a quote Full itinerary
4 days ≠ the easy trek

Both treks cover the same interior. The 4D3N squeezes it into fewer walking days — a 10 km, seven-hour push over Maliau Falls to Ginseng. The 5D4N splits that ground and gives you a proper stop at the falls. If anyone in your group is unsure about back-to-back long days, take the 5D4N.

Which Maliau Basin package?

Your situationDo thisFrom
First visit, mixed fitness, short on time3D2N Studies Centre — Sky Bridge, tower, night walk, a proper bedRM3,500
Wildlife or birding is the point4D3N Studies Centre — two extra trails and a second night driveRM4,050
Fit, and only four days to give it4D3N Trekking — Maliau, Giluk and Ginseng Falls, one hard dayRM4,990
Want the full expedition, done properly5D4N Trekking — same interior, an unhurried day at the fallsOn request
Family with young childrenConsider Danum Valley instead — we will say so in the reply—
Genuinely not surePick “Not sure yet, advise me” in the form — you get two or three costed options, not a pitch—
Good to know before you book

The road in is five to six hours from Kota Kinabalu, the last stretch on logging tracks. Camps are dormitories with a bed and a pillow and no power. Phone signal inside the basin is minimal to none. Heavy rain can close the rope section to Maliau Falls and shorten a trek on safety grounds with no refund for the day. Wildlife is unhabituated and sightings are never guaranteed. If any of that is a dealbreaker, Maliau is not your trip; if it reads as the point, you will be glad you came.

Side by side

Compare the four Maliau Basin packages

 3D2N Centre4D3N Centre4D3N Trek5D4N Trek
Malaysian / PR, StandardRM3,500RM4,050RM4,990On request
International, StandardRM3,860RM4,650RM4,990On request
Deluxe upgrade+RM60–100+RM100——
Nights2334
Nights in camps0023
Total walkingDay walksDay walks~32 km~33 km
Hardest day——10 km / 7 hrs9 km / 5 hrs
Fitness neededLowLowHighModerate–good
Maliau FallsNoNoYesYes
Giluk FallsNoNoYesNo
Takob Akob FallsNoNoNoOptional
Ginseng Falls (swim)NoNoYesYes
Sky BridgeYesYesNoNo
Observation TowerYesYesNoNo
Night drives1 optional2 optional1 optional1
KK pickup in scheduleArrive gate 2pmArrive gate 2pmArrive gate 2pm7am KK pickup
Suits childrenYesYesNoNo

Neither trek includes the Sky Bridge or Observation Tower. Wanting both the canopy structures and the interior means a custom itinerary, not an add-on — say so at enquiry.

Day by day

What each package actually does

Arrive, Nature Gallery, night walk

Maliau Gate around 2pm. Information Gallery and Maliau Cafe. Check in at the Studies Centre, Nature Gallery, dinner at Dalit Dining Hall, MBCA video and briefing, guided night walk.

Meals D
Stay MBSC

EE Trail, Sky Bridge, Wildlife Trail, Observation Tower

EE Trail then the Sky Bridge. Down to the tea-coloured river. Lunch, then the Wildlife Trail and the Observation Tower for sunset. Optional Maliau Safari night drive, swapped for a dawn drive if weather turns.

Meals B, L, D
Stay MBSC

Bird watching, departure

Optional morning walk, breakfast at 7am, free time, depart.

Meals B

Arrive, briefing, Nature Gallery, night walk

Gate around 2pm, check in, MBCA video and do's and don'ts, Nature Gallery. Dinner 7pm, guided night walk, lights off around 11pm.

Meals D
Stay MBSC

Wildlife Trail, EE Trail, Sky Bridge

Wildlife and EE Trails for forest plants and fungi, then the Sky Bridge. Optional night drive.

Meals B, L, D
Stay MBSC

Manggaris Trail, Avian Trail, Observation Tower

Manggaris Trail in the morning. After lunch an evening walk along the Avian Trail and lagoon, then the Observation Tower at sunset. Second optional night drive.

Meals B, L, D
Stay MBSC

Morning walk, departure

Optional guided walk, breakfast 7am, free time, depart.

Meals B

Arrive and Studies Centre

Gate 2pm, welcome drink at the Shell Building. Check in by 3.30pm, Nature Gallery 5pm, dinner 7pm, briefing 8pm. Optional night drive, paid at Maliau Basin.

Meals L, D
Stay Deluxe Resthouse

Agathis to Nepenthes, then Giluk Falls

Depart 8am for Agathis. 7.5 km up the southern rim, dipterocarp into lower montane, at least six pitcher plant species. Nepenthes Camp at 945 m around 1pm. Afternoon 3 km each way to Giluk Falls.

Distance 7.5 + 6 km
Rated Challenging
Stay Nepenthes, dorm

Nepenthes over Maliau Falls to Ginseng

The big day: 10 km and about seven hours carrying everything. Maliau Falls around 2.30pm, Ginseng Camp at 645 m around 5.30pm.

Distance 10 km
Time ~7 hrs
Stay Ginseng, dorm

Ginseng Falls, then out to Agathis

Short walk to Ginseng Falls, pack out including litter, 9 km back to Agathis by about 1pm. Check out at the Shell Building, depart 2pm.

Distance 9 km
Meals B, L

Kota Kinabalu to Studies Centre

7am pickup, 5 to 6 hours via the Crocker Range and Keningau. Register at the gate, 30 to 40 minutes to the centre. Lunch, briefing, orientation walk, night walk or drive.

Meals L, D
Stay MBSC Deluxe

Agathis to Nepenthes

Steep ascent, the hardest section of the loop, 7.5 km in about 5 hours. Optional 2 to 3 hour return to Takob Akob Falls, 38 m, tallest in the basin.

Distance 7.5 km
Stay Nepenthes

Nepenthes to Ginseng

The most varied and least punishing day, 7 km through heath forest. Gibbons, red-leaf monkeys, occasional rafflesia. Swim at Ginseng Falls.

Distance 7 km
Stay Ginseng

Maliau Falls, out and back

4.5 km each way, 2 to 3 hours per direction, rope-assisted final climb, long stop at the falls with lunch.

Distance 9 km return
Stay Ginseng

Ginseng to Agathis, back to KK

9 km out to Agathis, then the 5 to 6 hour road journey. KK around 7pm. Semporna or Tawau drop-off on request.

Distance 9 km
Meals B, L
Before you compare quotes

What is in the price, and what catches people out

Included, all four

  • Accommodation for the nights stated
  • Conservation fee
  • All land transfers
  • Meals as per itinerary
  • Non-DSLR camera fee
  • Guided jungle trekking

Not included

  • Tourism tax RM10/room/night, foreign visitors only
  • DSLR camera fee — separate charge
  • Night drives where marked optional
  • Travel insurance
  • Flights, beverages, tips

The Malaysian rate needs your IC

Malaysians and permanent residents pay RM360 to RM600 less per person on the Studies Centre packages, and are exempt from tourism tax. Both require a valid identity card at check-in.

Deluxe is a cheap upgrade

RM60 to RM100 per person for the whole stay. One of the smaller upgrades in Sabah tourism.

Book months out, not weeks

Camp space at Nepenthes and Ginseng, not the permit, is what usually decides your dates. Popular months fill first. How permits work.

Solo?

Minimum is two, but solo travellers can usually join an existing departure instead of paying single occupancy. Ask early.

Common questions

Maliau Basin package questions

How much does a Maliau Basin trip cost?

Malaysian rates start at RM3,500 per person for the 3D2N Studies Centre package and RM4,050 for the 4D3N. International rates for the same trips are RM3,860 and RM4,650. The 4D3N trekking package is RM4,990 per person for all visitors, and the 5D4N full loop is quoted on request. All prices assume a minimum of two people.

Why do Malaysians pay less than international visitors?

Tiered pricing for residents is standard across Malaysian conservation areas. At Maliau the gap runs from about RM360 on the 3D2N to RM600 on the 4D3N Studies Centre package. A valid identity card is required at check-in. The trekking packages are priced the same for everyone.

Is the 4D3N trek easier than the 5D4N?

No. Both cover the same interior, and the 4D3N compresses it into fewer days with a 10 kilometre, roughly seven-hour third day over Maliau Falls to Ginseng. The 5D4N splits that ground across two days. Per day, the 4D3N is harder.

Do the trekking packages include the Sky Bridge?

No. The Sky Bridge and Observation Tower are on the Studies Centre itineraries only. The trekking packages head straight for Agathis Camp. Wanting both needs a custom itinerary.

What is not included in the package price?

Tourism tax at RM10 per room per night for foreign visitors, beverages, travel insurance, airfares and airport taxes, tips, and personal expenses. Only the non-DSLR camera fee is included, so a DSLR attracts a separate charge.

Can one person book a Maliau Basin package?

The published minimum is two people. Solo travellers can often join an existing scheduled departure instead of paying a single-occupancy premium, depending on what is already booked.

Why is the 5D4N price on request?

The operator does not publish a fixed rate for the full loop. Enquire with your dates and group size and you will get a written quote. We would rather show "on request" than print a number we cannot stand behind.

How booking works

1

Send the form

Dates, group size, which package. Thirty seconds, no payment details.

2

Written quote in one working day

A day-by-day itinerary and an exact price for your dates and rate — a quote, not an estimate.

3

Change anything

Add a night, switch packages, bolt on Danum Valley, Kinabatangan, Sepilok, Sipadan or Mount Kinabalu. The quote is adjusted until it fits.

4

Confirm with a deposit

Balance before travel. Until then, no obligation at all.

Same price as booking direct — no middleman markup

Your enquiry goes straight to Remarkable Borneo Travel & Tours, the licensed Sabah operator running these packages. We help you choose; they quote and book you directly. Everything by email — no sales calls, and no follow-up pestering if you go quiet.

MOTAC licence KPK/LN: 10223

What guests say about the operator

4.9out of 5
★★★★★

31 Google reviews for Remarkable Borneo Travel & Tours — 30 five-star, one three-star, none lower. Verified through Trustindex, last checked 25 September 2026.

Google reviewsTrustindexTripadvisor
★★★★★

Two sons fell ill mid-climb. The operator kept in touch, sent updates and coordinated with the mountain crew until both were down safely.

“Responsive and attentive from first enquiry to post-climb.”

Zhanna P. · Google · July 2024
★★★★★

A group aged 16 to 82. Two guides at different paces; one member carried down with a stomach bug, another with altitude sickness taken to lower ground and looked after.

“We felt we were very well looked after.”

Othman L. · Google · July 2024
★★★★★

Booked in January for a May trip on dates other agencies could not offer. Every question answered promptly, transport and climb details sent ahead.

“Any questions I have, they have responded very promptly.”

Twinkle D. · Google · May 2024
Check availability

Get a quote for your dates

Tell us your dates and who is coming. You get a day-by-day itinerary, an exact price for your package and rate, and honest advice on which trip fits — including if it is Danum rather than Maliau.

  • Operated by Remarkable Borneo, licensed Sabah tour operator
  • Permit, registered guide, all meals and 4WD transfers included
  • Malaysian / PR and international rates, every room grade
  • Danum Valley, Kinabatangan, Sepilok, Sipadan, Semporna, Mount Kinabalu, Tabin, Deramakot and flights — all bookable in the same itinerary

Remarkable Borneo emails your itinerary and exact price within one working day — everything by email, no sales calls. We do not share your details. Privacy.

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