Seek Sophie

Seek Sophie Let’s get lost. You in?
(1)

Seek Sophie is your secret guide to seriously cool experiences, the ones that make you go “Whoa, how did you find this?”

We believe in experiences that spark magic, connect you to local cultures, and tread lightly on our planet.

19/08/2026

When you work with local guides who run a one-man show, sometimes they aren’t able to respond quickly because they’re busy… getting married!

A little backstory: When we first met Mr Yoo, he was heartbroken after losing his wife. They started their jungle cooking and farmstay experience together and he was always thinking of her, so much that it even worried his daughter. When we heard his good news, we were so happy for him!! 💍❤️

We love what we do because we get to work with passionate local guides, not faceless corporations. Our local guides become friends and we get excited about their every win - from a heartfelt review to a wedding!

If you’d like to meet Mr Yoo and get to know him better, he’s one of our amazing Seek Sophie hosts, who hosts a really heartfelt jungle cooking experience in Thailand!

Follow Seek Sophie for more heartfelt stories like this 🥰

16/08/2026

Most people hear “Kinabalu” and immediately think of climbing Mount Kinabalu.

But Sabah’s highlands have SO much more to offer. This 3D2N Seek Sophie road trip takes you way beyond the usual KK + Kundasang itinerary, swapping the main roads for jungle trails, mountain backroads, rivers, waterfalls and some seriously wild landscapes.

Here’s a little look at the route 👇

DAY 1: Kota Kinabalu → rafting → Kundasang

Start in KK, then head out for some white water rafting before switching to a trusty Land Cruiser and heading deeper into the mountains.

The roads get bumpier, the views get wilder, and eventually you’ll reach the Kundasang highlands, far from the usual tourist routes.

Then it’s camp for the night, with dinner, a campfire and plenty of mountain air. ⛺️

DAY 2: Jungle trails → waterfalls → mountain views

Wake up in the highlands before heading out on a jungle hike to hidden waterfalls and natural pools.

Then back into the 4x4 to explore more of the mountains, with Mount Kinabalu popping up from all sorts of unexpected angles.

Come evening, it’s another night under the stars, with a campfire and proper Sabahan food.

DAY 3: Backroads → rivers → Kota Kinabalu

One last day of off-road exploring, crossing rivers, winding through old roads and taking in more of Sabah’s wild side before making your way back to KK.

Basically, 3 days of seeing Mt Kinabalu from every possible angle: from the water, through the jungle, up in the highlands and, of course, from the back of a very trusty Land Cruiser 😂

Follow Seek Sophie for more unique adventures in Southeast Asia!

Comment ‘ROADTRIP’ and we’ll send you the link to this experience!

🎥 𝘮𝘦𝘦𝘯 香敏 Akif

12/08/2026

Most people hear “Kinabalu” and immediately think of hiking Mount Kinabalu.

But Sabah’s highlands have SO much more to offer. This 3D2N Seek Sophie road trip takes you way beyond the usual KK + Kundasang itinerary, swapping the main roads for jungle trails, mountain backroads, rivers, waterfalls and some seriously wild landscapes.

Here’s a little look at the route 👇

DAY 1: Kota Kinabalu → rafting → Kundasang

Start in KK, then head out for some white water rafting before switching to a trusty Land Cruiser and heading deeper into the mountains.

The roads get bumpier, the views get wilder, and eventually you’ll reach the Kundasang highlands, far from the usual tourist routes.

Then it’s camp for the night, with dinner, a campfire and plenty of mountain air. ⛺️

DAY 2: Jungle trails → waterfalls → mountain views

Wake up in the highlands before heading out on a jungle hike to hidden waterfalls and natural pools.

Then back into the 4x4 to explore more of the mountains, with Mount Kinabalu popping up from all sorts of unexpected angles.

Come evening, it’s another night under the stars, with a campfire and proper Sabahan food.

DAY 3: Backroads → rivers → Kota Kinabalu

One last day of off-road exploring, crossing rivers, winding through old roads and taking in more of Sabah’s wild side before making your way back to KK.

Basically, 3 days of seeing Mt Kinabalu from every possible angle: from the water, through the jungle, up in the highlands and, of course, from the back of a very trusty Land Cruiser 😂

Book this Seek Sophie adventure here:
https://www.seeksophie.com/experiences/kota-kinabalu-4x4-off-road-expedition-jungle-trails-highland-camps-o1ojqwmkj4

07/08/2026

You’ve probably heard of Krabi, Phuket and the Phi Phi Islands… but what about Khao Sok?

It’s actually one of the most popular trips on Seek Sophie, and we get why — it’s peaceful, rustic, and incredibly beautiful! We’ve been there four times now and still find it just as magical each time we visit 🥰

Set in one of the world’s oldest rainforests, Khao Sok is home to a massive emerald lake, floating bungalows, and has the kind of quiet that’s hard to find in Thailand.

You’ll get to wake up to misty mornings over the water, go on mini adventures like caving and bamboo rafting, and spot wildlife (if you’re lucky, you’ll see wild elephants by the riverbank 🐘).

While it’s getting more popular and can be busy during peak season, Khao Sok is still far less crowded than Thailand’s usual tourist hotspots of Phuket or Krabi. Visit during the shoulder months (Sep–Nov or Mar–May) and you’ll get great weather and a quieter, more magical experience.

We’ll be sharing more about Khao Sok, so follow along Seek Sophie if you’re curious ❤️

07/08/2026

𝟭𝟬 𝗕𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗛𝗶𝗸𝗲𝘀 (in Southeast Asia!)

Hiking is easily our top fave adventure, so we want to share Seek Sophie’s 10 picks for best hikes to do in SEA — ranked from easy-peasy 🤙 to can’t-feel-your-legs 🥵

1. Mt Bromo: Most reward for the least effort - just a 20min walk up stairs and you’ll get to some of the most epic views you’ll ever see in your life.

2. Padar Island: Pretty easy if you’re used to climbing stairs. The incredible sunrise view at the top where you’ll see the tricoloured beaches is sublime!

3. Mt Batur: Bali’s iconic hike that everyone does. Nice sunrise views but SO crowded. Try Seek Sophie’s secret route (check out link in bio!)

4. Mt Ijen: A little tougher, mostly because you’ll hike in complete darkness if you want to see the blue flames. NoteL Ijen’s sulfur toxicity sometimes go beyond safe levels so do check before booking!

5. Mt Tambora: The volcano with world’s largest eruption ever recorded. Really off beaten (like 200 people a year). Your tourism money goes a long way in supporting the local community.

6. Mt Agung: Bali’s toughest climb. We did the shorter crater trek so we ranked it at 6, but if you do the longer trek it might rank tougher than even Kinabalu 🤭

7. Mt Fansipan: We know, 6-7 hrs (one way!) doesn’t sound too crazy but it’s one of the STEEPEST hikes. Tiring, but the views (if it’s not foggy) are simply amazing.

8. Mt Kinabalu: SEA’s favourite hike. Everyone comes here to tick off their bucket-list! SO MANY stairs you’ll never want to climb a stair again after.

9. Mt Rinjani: Can’t feel your legs for days kinda hike. It made us question our life choices at least 6281 times, but we have to say it’s probably the most rewarding hike in SEA.

10. Mulu Pinnacles: Steep, exposed, and requires some scrambling and ropes. Some say this is where Malaysia’s special forces train, so you can imagine just how tough it is!

These are hikes we’ve personally tried, loved, and ranked based on our own experiences. Drop your own fave hikes in Southeast Asia in the comments 🥳

06/08/2026

A couple of you sent us the viral video of the Komodo boat that recently sank. Honestly, it didn’t surprise us.

We’ve been to Komodo 25+ times now, we’ve heard countless stories of boats sinking or breaking down. We’ve even saw a tourist boat burn right in front of us, in the harbour. And sadly, there have been tragic cases where people have lost their lives.

If you’ve been on a basic budget boat and had an amazing trip, we’re genuinely so happy for you. Many people do. And we’re not saying every budget boat is 100% unsafe or that every crew doesn’t care. But when a trip is dramatically cheaper than everything else, it’s worth asking: what’s being compromised?

We made this video as a public PSA because we think the common advice to “just book the cheapest boat when you arrive” is be dangerous. If you’re planning a Komodo trip, we hope this gives you a better idea of what to look out for and what questions to ask.

No boat trip is ever completely risk-free. The sea is unpredictable. But there’s a huge difference between accepting the risks you can’t control VS the risks that come from cutting corners.

02/08/2026

Bali has long been a place where people come searching for something - peace, clarity, a fresh start. But before the island became known for yoga retreats and wellness escapes, the Balinese had their own sacred traditions, like the Melukat.

Melukat is a centuries-old water purification ritual to cleanse the body, mind and spirit. For the Balinese, it’s a regular part of their life - not just something reserved for special occasions. Think of it as a spiritual reset: washing away negative emotions and blockages.

You’ll be guided by Seek Sophie host Putu, who comes from a lineage of Balinese priestesses. She’ll lead you gently through the ritual, sharing not just what to do, but the stories, symbolism and deeper meaning behind each step.

Ready for your own reset? Comment “RESET” and we’ll send you the link to this experience.

29/07/2026

Maju Forest isn’t just another forest. It’s about the future of Singapore.

Over the past decade, we’ve cleared mature forests like Tengah, Dover East, Kranji, Sembawang and Woodlands. Today, it’s Maju Forest, Gillman and Sembawang North. Tomorrow, it’ll be another forest that hasn’t even been announced yet.

With National Day coming up next week, it’s worth asking ourselves: What kind of nation do we want to be?

If you believe Maju Forest is worth protecting, here’s how you can help in 5 minutes. We’ve even built a ready-to-send email template so you can write to your MP in less than a minute.

🌿 Sign the petition — 1 min
🌿 Submit the EIA feedback form before 6 August — 3 mins
🌿 Email your MP using our ready-to-send template — 1 min: https://save-maju-forest.netlify.app

Less than five minutes of your time could help shape the conversation about Singapore’s future. All the links are in our bio and stories.

28/07/2026

Almost every Komodo boat does the same thing: wake you at 4am, drop you at Padar in the dark, and send you up with a hundreds of others to watch the sun come up.

It sounds magical. And it is.. for about four minutes! The rest of it is queueing to go up or come down, waiting your turn for a photo on a rock, and photos of strangers’ backs 😭

So we def prefer the less common route with much, much less people up there with you! The light is better too actually 😁 At sunrise the bays are backlit but at sunset you can actually enjoy the views of the bays + the beautiful setting sun behind!

A few Padar tips while we’re here 🍃

🥾 It’s not a difficult hike, about 30-40 minutes depending on your fitness. We’ve done in many times in sandals but you can wear shoes if you want to be safe.

🔦 Bring a head torch. Sunset/sunrise hikes mean coming down or going up in the dark, and the steps are loose gravel in places.

💧 No shade nor water up there. Bring your own bottles!

🌿 If you want the green Padar rather than the brown one, come between January and March after the rainy season! r

We’re allergic to crowds at Seek Sophie, and honestly a lot of our trip planning is just this: same place, different hour, completely different experience. It’s the kind of thing our hosts in Labuan Bajo know instinctively, and it only takes someone asking.

For more Komodo tips like these, follow us at Seek Sophie. We share our favourite boats, what to actually expect on board, and the small planning things that make a trip 💛

26/07/2026

This river in Borneo is home to some of Asia’s most incredible wildlife — pygmy elephants, orangutans, proboscis monkeys, crocodiles, hornbills and so much more.

But what surprised us most wasn’t the wildlife. It was why it’s so easy to spot them here.

Over the years, much of the surrounding rainforest was cleared for palm oil, leaving only a narrow strip of jungle along the Kinabatangan River. Today, it’s one of the last refuges for Borneo’s wildlife, which is why so many animals can still be seen from the river.

When you join a Seek Sophie Kinabatangan River Safari, you’re not just getting an incredible wildlife experience. You’re directly supporting the local communities and the ongoing conservation efforts that help keep this fragile ecosystem alive.

Need more info on Kinabatangan and how to plan a trip?

Comment “GUIDE” and we’ll send you our complete Kinabatangan Essential Guide + Best Things To Do.

Address

Labuan Bajo
Komodo
86763

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Seek Sophie posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Business

Send a message to Seek Sophie:

Shortcuts

Share