Explore Malaysian Borneo Inspired by Celebrity Race Across the World

As Celebrity Race Across the World returns to screens tonight (28 October), small-group adventure travel operator Explore Worldwide is spotlighting its tours of Malaysian Borneo, where the new series begins.

Returning for its fourth series, the BBC show follows four teams as they race across the globe. Covering 7,500km, this year's contestants will set off from the vibrant city of Kuching, in the Malaysian state of Sarawak in northwest Borneo, before making their way to Melbourne, Australia.

Viewers inspired to follow in the footsteps of the latest cohort of celebrities can experience Kuching, where culture, food and nature come together, before embarking on their own adventure into Borneo's vast wilderness on Explore's Borneo Sarawak Highlights tour.

The eight-day trip begins in Kuching, with visits to Bako National Park, where visitors can explore mangrove forests and spot proboscis monkeys, and to the Semenggoh Wildlife Centre, where they can encounter semi-wild orangutans.

From there, travellers can walk rainforest trails and swim by jungle waterfalls before continuing to Mulu National Park to discover vast limestone cave systems, watch thousands of bats emerge at dusk, and spot luminescent fungi and fireflies on a night-time jungle trek. The adventure concludes in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah's capital.

For explorers wanting to extend their trip, the 16-day Borneo Sarawak and Sabah Discovery tour ventures deeper into Sabah, from the foothills of Mount Kinabalu to the remote jungles of Tabin. 

Reflecting the show's focus on immersing contestants in local cultures and communities, travellers can share a traditional meal with the Dusun community, cruise the Kinabatangan River in search of pygmy elephants and hornbills, and visit the Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre in Sepilok. The adventure also includes treks to jungle waterfalls, a visit to a volcanic mud pool and overnight stays in rainforest lodges.

Standalone wildlife tours focusing on Sabah are also available, including a 10-day adventure and a nine-day family tour for families with children aged seven and over.

Michael Edwards, Managing Director at Explore Worldwide, said: “We've been sharing the natural wonders of Borneo with travellers for the last four decades, so it's fantastic to see it showcased to millions of viewers through Celebrity Race Across the World.

“The joy of this show is that it isn't just the destinations themselves being showcased, but the people and cultures the contestants encounter along the way. Rather than travelling from A to B, the teams often take less-travelled routes, gaining a real insight into everyday life. It's a brilliant celebration of the kindness, generosity and camaraderie that transcend cultural barriers – everything that travel should be about.

“As a small group travel operator, we see first-hand the impact Race Across the World has, both in the destinations people want to visit and the way they want to experience them. There's a real appetite for adventures that offer meaningful connections with local communities, which have always been at the heart of our tours.

“Our Borneo trips offer opportunities to meet local people, share traditional meals and learn about their cultures and everyday lives. It's these personal connections that make travelling so special.”

Explore Worldwide has over 40 years' experience, with 350 trips in 100 countries, including destinations featured in this year's Celebrity Race Across the World. To find out more, visit www.explore.co.uk.