Hello guys,
Would really appreciate some advice about travelling in Borneo - me and my boyfriend are planning to go in mid September and just wanted to check a couple of things before spending lots and lots of money!!!
a) The weather - realise that being a rainforest, its unlikely that we'll get massive dry spells. But will it be extremely rainy in September or just some of the time? Would like to do snorkelling, explore the islands etc so wouldn't be ideal if it was raining constantly!
b) We are also organising the trip through a travel company here in the UK (Trailfinders - dont know if anyone has used them before?), who have organised various trips and hotels for us. Itinerary looks great to me - go to Kuala Lumpor for a few days, fly to Kota Kinabalu for 6 nights where we go to the Poring Hot Springs, Kinabalu National Park, Sandakan, Kinabatangan Wildlife Sanctuary, Gomantony Caves and Gaya Island. We've chosen to do this for pure convenience and the fact that everything will be arranged for us. However, am slightly concerned that we will just be part of a big tourist group and end up going to the touristy areas rather than seeing the hidden gems! Has anyone got any experience of this and/or would you recommend organising our trip independently? Is it lots more expensive to do so? And how easy is it to get around?
c) Sabah vs Sarawak. Any recommendations on this would be greatly appreciated!!!
Thank you ;-)
a) Not likely to be raining "constantly" in September. But do expect some torrential downpours of brief duration.
b) Never heard of this tour group. So I don't know how they run their tours? They may simply contract it out with a local Borneo operation who does this with several such foreign agencies.
The tour sounds as if i hits the tourist highlights...hidden gems are unlikely. None of the stated sites are "hidden"...every knows about them and they are visited by tens of thousands of visitors annually.
Independently organising trips are ALWAYS cheaper unless you get scammed...you are cutting out the middle men and making all the arrangements instead. You can take less expensive accomodation or transport options. But you may not get door-to-door service and spend a lot of time wrestling with reservation (e.g. Laban Rata at Mt. Kinabalu). But if they offered all of this in 6 nights the tour is pretty efficient. A backpacker on a budget could likely go to all of the sites you list with bus transport, food and budget accomodation for about US$ 250/person. But they likely couldn't do it in six days because they would have to run around making arrangements. How much are you paying?
c) 6 Days...Sarawak.
Sounds a good itinery to me , I've just returned from Borneo and the only place with loads of tourists was sepilok orang utan sanctuary - well there were about 50 or so ! at the bat cave myself plus partner ( travelling independently ) were the only visitors and the guest book looked like there had only been a handfull of people that day, there might be a small crowd like at the Orang Utang sanctuary at Poring but again it didn't seem too crowded and for your stay in the jungle ask the organisers exactly where you are to stay and check it out on the internet.
If you are being booked onto a 2 days one night stay I would ask to be put on a 3 day 2 night stay as the one night stays consist of arriving late afternoon and leaving after breakfast the next day -
Again I am also not aware of hidden gems although one trip we did was to turtle island and if watching a one metre long turtle laying eggs and watching little baby turtles loose into the sea is one of those things you have to experience before you are 30/50/54 and ten months or you die then you could ask if they could squeeze it in - maybe at the expense of the bat cave but that might be seen on your way back from the river to Sandakan
If I have not confused you enough already then go with the flow and enjoy yourselves - you are going to a tropical rain forest and if it rains the water is warm so take an umbrella and enjoy the free hairwash
Thanks for these responses! Reckon we're going to stick to this itinerary and try and squeeze in the turtle islands while we're there, just because then we know we're not going to turn up to no reservation/hotel/bed etc! Paying considerably more than that but this is for really really nice hotels etc so i dont think its a bad deal at all.
But why Sarawak over Sabah? Anyone else got anything to add on this?
turtle island has 20 rooms for 40 people - leave sandakan 9 am - snorkel in day - briefing then turtles in evening leaving 7 am and back in sandakan at 9 am BUT I tried to book through an agency a week before I arrived in May and was told it was booked up tillAugust but on arrival there was a room for the next day so if you really do want to do it then it may be advisable to try and book now.
hi annabella,
i've seen this profile of packages in sabah.. and i've contacted the advertiser.. it seems the tour can be
personally organise. and the price they are offering is quite good rate..
u can ask for discount also..
please check yourself here..
All day trip packages In Sabah Borneo
If you consider to visit Sarawak, here are some info for you:
From Sabah, you can fly to Kuching or Miri:
Kuching Guide 2007
If you want to organise experience the Rainforest, many ways in Sarawak. Go to the Nationals Parks for Trekking, join a cruise tour or go for adventurous Kayaking trip.
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