Announcing Our 2015 Group Tour

Sometimes, this blog doesn’t share the experience enough. 

I try to take good photos. I try to write awesome descriptions of durians. But I know in my heart that it’s a flat, 2-dimensional representation of a magical, overwhelming sensory experience.  So often Rob and I talk about you, our wonderful readers, as we munch our durians.  If only they could be here with us right here with us now, we sigh. 

This year you can.

Last year I took a small group of five friends to one of my favorite places in Thailand. It was such a blast I started considering taking another group to my favorite places in Malaysia. Rob thought it was a great idea, and so we’ve spent the last few months whittling down our favorite places into an 8-day tour that will introduce you to the most amazing durians Malaysia has to offer.

This tour isn’t like any other tour offered anywhere. 

It’s 850 miles of durian degustation. 

It’s for hardcore durian lovers only. You better believe the rental van is going to smell like durians and durian burps from day one. In fact, we’ve accounted for the cleaning fees in the price of the tour! 

Our aim is to help you experience the best durians in Malaysia. Our hunt will lead us to the best of Malaysia’s four most popular durians (Red Prawn, Black Thorn, Musang King and D24) as well as to the more obscure durian species (D. graveolens, D. lowianus, D. pinangianus) and everything in between. 

Between durian meals (because you can’t eat all the time), we’ll explore all the things that made me fall in love with Malaysia. In addition to experiencing a unique side of popular tourist attractions like Taman Negara and the Cameron Highlands, we’ll visit an archaeology site, an elephant conservation center, a canopy walk, and if you want to you can go white water rafting. 

I’ve posted the short version of the itinerary below, but for complete details and booking information (including our refund policy and payment plans) go to the official tour page.

The tour is limited to only 8 durian fiends to keep it intimate, fun, and to make sure we each get our share of those rare, numbing gems. Come explore Malaysia with us, durian-style!

Itinerary Overview 

Day 1: Introducing Penang’s Durians 
Meet in Georgetown for transfer to Balik Pulau, where the durian smorgasbord begins. Munch durians at two organic durian farms with a beach break in the middle to renew your appetite.

Day 2: Tasting at Bao Sheng’s Durian Farm
Become a durian connoisseur at Bao Sheng’s Durian Farm. Learn from the Master Seng how to taste different types of durians as well as sniff out different flavors. Bring your appetite and a keen sense of curiosity!

Day 3: Sampling Borneo’s Durians
Take a gustatory leap today by tasting some rare jungle durians native to Borneo and planted in this little known orchard. Marvel at the wide range of shapes, colors, textures, and flavors of durians quickly disappearing from the Malaysian jungles.

Day 4: Jungle Canopy Walk, Black Thorn Durian Farm 
Discover exotic native fruits and a native durian species at Sungai Sedim National Park. For lunch sample some traditional ways of cooking with durian before an all-you-can-eat durian buffet of the original Black Thorn, a new market favorite.

Day 5: Kuala Kangsar, Cameron Highlands, Native Durians
Step back into the history of Malaysian durian by tasting a native species, Durio lowianus, as well as the best example of D24, the first commercial durian variety. Cool off in the Cameron Highlands with a cup of tea.

Day 6: Taman Negara, Musang King Farm 
Spend the day swimming, hiking, and relaxing at this quiet entrance to Taman Negara National Park. Save your appetite for the evening camping out at the original Musang King farm.

Day 7: Raub and Kuala Gandah Elephant Sanctuary
Rise with the durian farmer to harvest and pack Musang King and D24 durians for shipment to Singapore. Enjoy a well-deserved durian buffet in Raub and taste a regional favorite, Tekkah. Spend the afternoon at Kuala Gandah Elephant Conservation Center before relaxing in the Bentong Hot Springs.

Day 8: Bentong Sunday Market and Last Durian Feast
Look for new fruits, durians and street foods at the bustling Sunday Market. Enjoy one last durian lunch together with your new durian accomplices before driving to Kuala Lumpur. The tour ends in Chinatown.

For more details, check the official tour page. If you can’t find what you’re looking for there, please send your questions to us at [email protected]