1

Two weeks between Kuching and Semporna is not much, actually nothing. You can easily spend two months in Sarawak and Sabah without running out of places to see:
http://www.molon.de/galleries/Malaysia/Sarawak/
http://www.molon.de/galleries/Malaysia/Sabah/

If you have only two weeks you need to set some priorities and decide on what you want to do. Basically in this area you can experience wildlife, local culture (tribes), national parks and nature in general, caves (Mulu, Niah and elsewhere), trekking (Bario and Mt Kinabalu), even some beaches and islands.

The highlights not to be missed would include the Mulu NP, the Kinabatangan river area, Mt Kinabalu if you want to do the clímb, Kuching and the Rejang river area if you are into local culture. The islands off Semporna are gorgeous.

2

Hi OP,
Yup... agreed with #1 that two weeks is not enough. Take note that the roads in East Malaysia is not as fantastic as the ones you find in the Peninsular. The East is not as developed as the West, for sure.

Things not to miss out:

1. Mulu - don't rush this. If you're in for an adventure, hike up to see the Pinnacles. You won't regret!
2. Sipadan - get your bookings done early, there's limited divers allowed a day. My suggestion is to go with Scuba Junkies. Good guys, there!
3. Hiking up Gunung Kinabalu
4. Kinabatangan Wildlife River Safari - this is my personal fav! Don't miss it.
5. Longhouse experience

Hope this help!

3

Thanks both for your replies,

Well basically as you said i should stay longer..I won't climb mount kinabalu however i'll visist the park, neither i'll stay in a host family in a longhouse, because of the money, but do you thing it's worthy visiting Bario or any other place where i can soak up the local culture just visiting the place?

4

The Rejang river area or Bario are good for soaking up the local culture. By the way, you don't have to stay in a longhouse. There are hotels and guesthouses everywhere.

5

There are quite a number of hotels in the towns along Rejang River. In Kapit (3 hours express boat from Sibu) hotels cost RM50+ onwards and Belaga (5 hours express boat from Kapit which is last town upriver) hotels cost RM20 onwards

6

Enter at Kutching as planned but fly airasia from Miri to KK. You say you'll have to book your tickets early so why not book a cheap airasia one also. You'll skip Brunei of course but unless you are visiting friends or have a connection with the place which means you must visit you won't be missing a lot.
In fact I would fly from Kutching up to Miri also as you are pressed for time. From there Niah caaves are interesting and Mulu is fantastic. Bario is also great but I don't think doable in your amount of time. Of course you will then have to move quickly from KK to Semporna so no mount Kinabalu. I enjoyed the hike up the top, although walking around KK for a couple of days afterwards was hard, but it doesn't compare to Mulu in my opinion.

7

Day 1 Arrive Kuching

Day 2 Sightseeing Kuching and area within. recommend Semmenggoh Orang Utan Sanctuary and Sarawak Cultural Village

Day 3 Express boat to Sibu, 4.5 hours, RM48, morning depart 8.30am
Sightseeing Sibu - Native market, night market, hawker stalls

Day 4 Morning express boat to Kapit, plenty of these departing at 5.45am, 6.15am, 7.30am, 9am and so on
3 hours to arrive at Kapit. Express RM25, 30, 35 depending on class. Hotels here cost RM50+ onwards
Can arrange with the local van operators to visit Iban longhouses, Rumah Bundong (30 minutes) or Rumah Jandok (1 hour) and also others further away

Day 4 Depart by express boat to Belaga, the last small town up the Rejang river. Departure 9am, RM30 - 35, about 5 hours journey. Got a few hotels in Belaga, RM20 for fan-cooled and RM30 - 40 for air-cond

Day 5 Can do daytrip or overnight to longhouses of Orang Ulu minorities group eg. Kenyah, Kayan, Kejaman, Lahanan, Sekapan, Sihan, etc.

Day 6 Can continue with daytrips or overnight
Or proceed by 4WD depart at 8am to Bintulu RM50/pax
Or by 4WD to Niah National Park to visit Niah Cave for day visit and then continue to either Bintulu or Miri but overnight at the park also possible (have to do the reservation first at national park booking office in Kuching which is at the Visitors Information Centre)

Day 7 or 8 From Miri can fly to Kota Kinabalu or to Mulu National Park

can PM me for full details, I'm a local guide at Belaga

Thank you

8

If the National Park service office at the Kuching Courthouse (nr. the Waterfront) says there is a Rafflesia blooming at Gunung Gading you definitely would want to take a day trip there to see it. National Park accomodation nr. Kuching are as cheap as any hostel in town.

9

Thanks everyone for all your replies.

Well i gotta say that i can stay longer there, and i guess that according to your answers i'm going to do it. But as i'm travelling later on around Indonesia (Sulawesi and Kalimantan included) i have to decide whether visiting things around Sarawak and Sabah, or spend more time around Sulawesi and Kalimantan, so...what do you recommend me to do about:

• Orangutan reserves; which one is better in Sabah o Sarawak, is this better than Tanjung (or anyone else) in Kalimantan ??
• Soaking up the culture: however i understand that there're differences between people, ethnics and culture in Borneo or Sulawesi, do you thing it's worthy spending time in both places or would you limit my time just in one?

Thanks everyone in advance

10

Saying 'neither i'll stay in a host family in a longhouse, because of the money' is something that would cause many reader's to conclude that either you are on a tight budget (because staying with a host family is extremely cheap unless you sign up with one of the touristy tours) or host families are suddenly these days charging big time in the longhouses? But then you are diving in Sipadan which is not exactly cheap.

• Orangutan reserves; which one is better in Sabah o Sarawak, is this better than Tanjung (or anyone else) in Kalimantan ??

This is a question that can only be answered by someone who has been to all three, but with a little bit of research on here you will find the answer. My personal opinion is that if you are going to be visiting Sabah and Sarawak then visiting the orangutans are within easy reach and very reasonably priced when compared to making a trip to Tanjung Puting in west kalimantan, Indonesia, more so when you are on a tight budget.

• Soaking up the culture: however i understand that there're differences between people, ethnics and culture in Borneo or Sulawesi, do you thing it's worthy spending time in both places or would you limit my time just in one?

Do your research on the area's and see what tickles your fancy. How can we compare Borneo and Sulawesi when they are both very unique and diverse in their own right?