For a night of indulgence choose Sepilok Nature Resort. Please give me feedback if you book online and let me know if you encounter any problems. You can pretty much arrange a visit to Kinabatangan River from anywhere in Borneo. PLUS if there is bad weather and you cannot climb, you are not reimbursed! Visit the famous Sepilok orang-utan rehabilitation centre, near Sandakan before travelling deep into the rainforest to Sukau, to a tiny village on the banks of the Kinabatangan river, home to the Orang Sungai tribe. For more information, visit the Sarawak Tourisms website. However, I really wanted to minimise faff on the morning of the trek, so I was keen to stay inside the park so we could do one of the shorter trails in the park the night before and be right on site for the off for the Kinabalau climb the following morning. We were totally not intending to dive in Borneo and hadnt even thought of including a dive stop on our Sabah itinerary, but when we stumbled upon the paradise of Big Fin Divers, with their welcoming friendly team and their totally affordable dive prices (40 for a intro dive) my 10 year old daughter begged me to have a go. Stunning Beaches and Views at Bohey Dulang 7. Then youre in the right place! Google has its own privacy policies over which we have no control. On the next day head for Kapit, there, you can visit the fort, built in 1880 and turned into a small museum. Day trips to the surrounding national parks are also a must! This is around a $60 per day budget. The park doesnt have enough space to let them roam free, so they take turns. hey! The usual way to see the elephants is to take a boat ride down the river. Its easy to visit independently by staying in a guesthouse and booking transport, river cruises and jungle walks flexibly through them. Unsubscribe at any time. Youll pay a small viewing fee per person and take a short walk into the forest to see this incredible flower. Timor Kinabatangan River tours are the best way to see wildlife here. Sepilok Nature Resort is a simple property in Sabah, Borneo, within walking distance of the famous Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre. Spend the first few days wandering around the city, visiting places like the beautiful Masjid Bandaraya City Mosque and taking in the views from the Signal Hill Observatory. Not only that its very affordable and all inclusive of 3 meals a day & the boat trip to access the resort. The river on the other hand was absolutely fine, lots of people young and old doing the tours and can absolutely do as a solo. Fly into Sandakan, stay overnight in Sandakan or Sepilok. The park is great. There is NO discount for kids and in fact you would need to pay for two guides as the ratio increases if children are in your group. Fishermen and sellers appear from beneath your bungalows in boats selling anything from live lobsters, to crabs, coconuts and fruits. In fact, we didnt end up summiting because she found it really hard going on the second day with the altitude so we ended up stopping at the check point before the summit. You can fly direct to Kuala Lumpur from London and from Sydney. New England Hiking up Southeast Asias seventh-highest peak is certainly a challenge but one of the top things to do in Sabah! Check out the Floating Mosque, stroll Likas Bay - which hugs the coastline for 7km (4mi) - and . The lodge has an onsite naturalist who gives plenty of talks and night walks, and even has its own 440m boardwalk into the rainforest canopy. Alternatively do what we did and head to the west coast instead to dive with Big Fin Divers, The toffee coloured mighty Kinabatangan is a haven for wildlife driven to this narrow strip of protected forest from encroaching palm oil plantatations. It really did feel like you were in an aquarium with the sheer density and variety of fish! Plus internal and international flights. It is one of the budget/middle options that received positive TripAdvisor reviews. Make sure youve installed the GRAB app on your mobile (this app is similar to Uber and will save you so much money in Sabah read our other top tips to travelling Borneo here) and catch a taxi to Kota Belud. It was this level she had to reach to be able to do the Via Ferrata which she LOVED. What is great about the park is that they group you with other persons, and you go with a guide (you cannot visit without one). It might be a good idea to contact them direct and ask them. You can also do this itinerary in reverse by flying into Tawau first which is three hours from KL. We saved a packet by booking last minute, and scored some fantastic digs for both nights. Turtle Island is otherwise known as Pulau Selingan. For budget travellers, Osmans homestay comes recommended (Osman is an excellent guide & theyll happily put an extra bed in the room for kids for an extra 50RM (2-11) or 100RM for 12+). One of the pluses of staying at Sandakans 4 Point Sheraton hotel. Many visitors choose not to stay in Sandakan, flying in and then travelling directly on to either the Kinabantagan (3 hrs drive) or Sepilok (30 mins in a taxi) to visit the world famous orangutan rehabilitation centre. Visiting the Malaysian part of Borneo is one of the most exceptional experiences you could live. Take a look at our Sepilok destination guide. Pueblo Magico they can probably do 6km in roughly 3-4 hours uphill but it would not be easy for them. Food Thanks so much for responding. 3 days explore this trip The area boasts one of the highest concentrations of wildlife in Borneo, and you're almost guaranteed to spot a few animals. Whilst travelling around Sabah and Sarawak, expect to take internal flights, longer bus journeys and you may even find yourself hiring a car to get off the beaten track! If you choose to hire a car, you can easily do this from the larger airports, such as Kota Kinabalu, Sandakan or Kuching, but bear in mind that the roads throughout Borneo are not the best! As long as youre relatively fit, it is achieveable. The Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre is privately owned, and they do the best they can with the few resources they have. A two night/three day package includes three dives around Mabul/ Kapalai Island and three dives on the famous Sipadan island including the permits and all meals. For a straightforward taster of everything the region has to offer, try this three-week circuit. It also explains everything about the various tribes and their crafts. Sepilok is a great place to see orangutans and sun bears. and do one of the highest via ferratas in the world! Spend the first night at the HQ to acclimate yourself to the altitude. Another way to explore Kinabatangan is to book a package from Sandakan which will include accommodation, transport and river cruises. Here's your Malaysia & Borneo itinerary: Luxury 1 To Kuala Lumpur (Book National Parks The rainforest is so dense that river travel is the best way to spot the incredible wildlife that lives along this fragile stretch of rainforest called the Corridor of Life, Leave the Kinabatangan River & return to Sandakan. The summit of Mount Kinabalu resembles a barren moonscape. Jungle trekking in Borneo - a bucket list activity! Billabong Scuba was a great stay with simple cute bungalows perched out over the sea, which are all you need for a unique, comfy stay. It really depends how much of a confident traveller you are. We chose diving, joining Downbelow Adventures, a company with a base at Manukan and Gaya islands. In an effort to protect the fragile reef, visitors can no longer stay on Sipidan island. I also was worried about the weather, there had been a few cancellations in the weeks before we were due to climb so I actually didnt book the climb until I was in Borneo and only booked a week before the climb having checked the weather forecast constantly to make sure it would be okay. Theres a night market nearby where you can get your dinner. Packing List We didnt visit turtle Island, we didnt hear too much about it to be honest and its another flight and boat away. Begin your journey from either Kota Kinabalu (Sabah) or Kuching (Sarawak), as flights to these cities from Malaysias biggest airport in Kuala Lumpur are regular, cheap and means that you can travel from one end of Borneo to the other! Malaysia's capital offers shiny malls, showcase architecture and a mix of Muslim, Chinese and Hindu districts, with some of the best street food in the country. If you get the chance, between Sukau and Semporna, stop at the Agop Batu Tulug Caves, an ancient burial sites. 1. This comes at no additional cost to you but helps us keep the website running. Semporna, a couple of hours south of Lahad Datu is the port town destination that attracts divers from all over the world to access the islands of Sipidan and Mabul. Looking to visit Borneo and want to read more posts? Day 1 (Saturday): Visit KL Day 2 (Sunday): Traveling to Sandakan 10:30 - 13:30 (already booked). We flew in to Sandakan, Sabahs second city on the East coast but you could start on the West coast just as easily by flying direct to Kota Kinabalu. Dinners are eaten communally and the resort is eco-driven, being refreshingly big time into sustainability. Its not cheap for what you get here, but we recommend a stay at Sipadan Inn, which now has three hotels. Here you can even spot the famous Proboscis monkeys hanging out in the trees. We found the perfect place to head to just 1.5hrs north of KK Big Fin Beach Resort think rustic cabanas on a remote parcel of beach where the jungle meets the ocean . You can fill this bottle with any kind of water and it will filter out the bacterias. We would have loved to have done this but didnt have the time on this visit. Its cheaper to fly either direct to Kota Kinabalu and reverse the itinerary we followed, or fly to Kualar Lumpar and book a cheap Air Asia flight over to Borneo. For more on Kota Kinabalu, check out our location guide! Hi Jan. A beach curfew at 6pm signals the start of the evening with the arrival of the first female turtles. This growing city is home to about half a million residents and has been an inportant transportation hub since it was known as Jesselton under British . Take a look at our Sepilok destination guideand book accommodation in Sepilok here! The app Grab is widely used in Malaysia and Indonesia, so get a local SIM and you can travel all over the city easily and cheaply. We booked our Mount Kinabalu climb with Amazing Borneo, who we would definitely recommend. Borneo is one of my favorite trips You should definitely try to go! Amazon and the Amazon logo are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates. We need to choose one and are torn between this two locations. Thank you to Downbelow Adventures for hosting A Lovely Planet. Crawl. There is no installation of cookies from Google until you consent to Google policies. Take a six-hour coach from KK to Sepilok. Order a GRAB cab and, with a tear, leave Big Fin Divers on the mainland bound boat. If we had had just one extra day she could have done her junior padi. It may be a little pricey, but here you can get the chance to watch baby turtles hatch and take their first steps into to sea, and its even possible to stay overnight on the island. Yes some of the dive companies in Sipidan offer snorkelling tours, and there are some beautiful things to see. Bursting at the seams with incredible wildlife, natural wonders and diverse jungles to explore, Malaysian Borneo has got to be on every adventurous backpackers must-visit list! It requires zero mountaineering knowledge and is basically steps the entire route up to base camp (where youll stay the night), followed by an early morning summit bid. You can find huge Cuttlefish here along with colourful and interesting nudibranch. For middle of the range, go for Nak Hotel which has the best views from its very cool roof top terrace bar. Scuba Diving at Sipadan One-Week Itinerary for Sabah, Borneo If youre more of the discrete type, just pull your pants over them. Tip: You can explore this area two ways! Will and Ellie are the UK travel bloggers behind Tapp and Bear Travel. Summiting this peak at sunrise will be one of the highlights of your Borneo trip. Check out the following services we use! Hope you have a great trip! For more ideas, check out our Miri destination guide. The vibe here is very inclusive. I've done a bit of research and have come up with a loose plan as follows: Day 1 - Arrive kuching late . Borneo Malaysia Itinerary: 7+ Days. Cameron Highlands Hiking Guide Malaysia. Staying in a traditional longhouse in the middle of the jungle at Paganakan Dii Tropical Retreat, near Sepilok was a fabulous experience on our first night and a definite draw of our itinerary in Sabah. Family Travel We flew direct into Sandakan but often its cheaper to fly direct to Kota Kinabalu, in which youd do this section of your Sabah itinerary first. we are from montana USA, very close to glacier national park. Tip: Kudat is the main town up here and there are many options for accommodation, however the best things to do and see in this part of Borneo are north of the city. Book a return ticket to KL and then book your other flights in and out of Borneo separately. The riverboats in Sarawak are called flying coffins, because of their shape. Sepilok is an area just outside of the east coast city of Sandakan somewhere youll be visiting later on in the trip. During the time between dives, the island of Sipadan was relaxed and quiet, especially if you take a walk away from the pit stop area where all the dive shops serve lunch. Very hard. She ended up doing 3 dives with easy going Rich who was just the most brilliant instructor for my 10 year old. Looking to book your next trip? Home to some of the oldest dipterocarp rainforest in the world, Danum Valley is one of the best places in Borneo to visit if youre a serious naturalist. The currents are strong there, so its not fit for beginners. Road Trip We took a private taxi (100RM) from Kinabalu National Park to Poring to spot one. You have the opportunity to adopt an orangutan for around 30 a year. On day 7 its time to head back down the mountain roads towards the animal encounters of Sepilok! As a female traveller I would try and connect with a group. We left these dive sites buzzing and wanting more! To search for the best hotels in Sepilok, click here, The Kinabatangan River, 560km long, is home to crocodiles, hornbills and only one of two places on earth where 10 primates live together, Visit the world famous Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre. Including tips! Tip: if youve got more time, pay a visit to The Kelabit Highlands or take the 15 hour bus between Miri and Kuching, with a stop off in Sibu the gateway to the Upper Rajang River along the way to break up the journey. The main reason we were in Sabah was to dive Sipadan! Apart from the more touristy Longhouses, you cannot just show up uninvited, thats why youll need to have a guide. We took a flight from Kuala Lumpur to Kuching, where we stayed a few nights. check out this helpful page for more information. It is SOOO eye wateringly expensive to climb that I was in two minds about whether we should bother. Air Asia also do ridiculously cheap flights between KK Sandakan (we paid less than 50 for two of us from Sandakan to KK booking only 48 hours in advance). Read more about the Kelabit highlands here. Visitors stay in lodges, walk the river trail, and take boat cruises (morning and night) to observe wildlife. Although the park pass is for visits up to 5 days, 2 or 3 days is a great amount of time to trek through the jungle and explore the show caves of the national park you can even take on some more extreme adventure caving! The jungle is full of fire ants too, so put your pants inside your socks. did you think to visit the turtle island at all? Our Borneo itinerary covers just 2-3 weeks in Sabah, one of the best regions to explore ancient rainforest, encounter incredible wildlife, discover world class dive sites and bag a 4000m peak. A Lovely Planet offers itineraries, destination guides and tips to plan your next adventure. The government here has taken action in this area and for years palm trees have only been allowed to be re-planted in the same spot so that the rainforest isnt being lost to more plantations. The Times accompanied him on a tour. Check out these great options! Mount Kinabalu my advice is not to climb with a 5 year old. im debating doing the same since i dont know if we can have my hubby and i split dive days in sipidan while the other watches the kids. Seeing a real life rafflesia in real life was something we really really wanted to so we made an extra special effort to include it on our Sabah itinerary and this was our best chance following our Kinabalu climb. On day 1, arrive in Kota Kinabalu and let the journey around Borneo begin! Its one of the top ten dive locations in the world, so we were anxious to see if it lived up to the hype. How to Get Around Malaysia If you have one more day to spare on your Borneo itinerary, you can visit and spend the night at the Bawang Assan Longhouse Village, youll need to arrange a tour with one of the travel agency in Sibu, or you can try to find the phone number for the Bawang Assan Homestay Programme and contact them directly (once again you cannot show up uninvited). To search for the best lodges and homestays in Sukau, click here, A boat wildlife tour on the Kinabatangan River is a must. Semporna is an unassuming stop before heading off to your chosen island. Sadly its the result of encroaching palm oil plantations that are driving wildlife to the banks of the Kinabatangan River which is now a protected area known as the Corridor of Life. From Mulu, fly directly to Kota Kinabalu, from there you can easily take a bus to Kinabalu Park Headquarters. Borneo is the third largest island in the world and is shared by Malaysia, Indonesia, and Brunei. Ask the driver to stop in Kundasang, the nearest town to Kinabalu National Park, to withdraw cash from the ATM and stock up on cheaper snacks and fruit. If you visited Danum Valley we would LOVE to hear from you in the comments! I was looking at Paganakan Tropical Retreat that you recommended. Turtle Island Borneo The Ultimate Guide to BORNEO Diving Kota Kinabalu Big Fin Divers. Fall Thank you for your kind words. Like most people, we would always prefer a wild encounter (which we had, luckily) however it was great to learn about the work the centre is doing. The ones below are a great way to avoid leeches while making a fashion statement. Local taxi drivers will know the current whereabouts of a flowering rafflesia. Head back to Sandakan from the Kinabatangan (or Danum Valley or Sipidan if youve extended your Borneo itinerary) to access Palau Selingan. the kids cant dive. You need to arrange for a permit in advance. . Java Dont expect to see lots of orangutans. This bustling city is a great place to explore, and if youre lucky enough to be there on a Sunday, head to the Gaya Street Sunday Market for an interesting look into local life. Couple Getaways This Malaysia trip guide takes you to the best of the state of Sabah. Sipidan is one of the worlds top 10 dive spots. Money well spent and a great way to support this fantastic cause. West Coast Diving here can be an expensive trip, and shopping around can be time-consuming and exhausting.
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