Adventure travel in Borneo

share | tweet | MORE |

 

If you are thinking of traveling to Borneo, pack a pair of sturdy boots, because you have a lot of ground to cover. Borneo is a big island, the third largest in the world, actually, and it is shared among three different countries: Brunei,  Malaysia and Indonesia.

There are interesting places in all the three regions of the island, so regardless of whether you’re heading to Brunei, East Malaysia or Kalimantan, you won’t find yourself without things to do. And since this is one of the most exotic places on earth, sitting in a hotel room is absolutely out of the questions. Here is some basic information about adventure travel in Borneo.

Brunei

Brunei is a sultanate, and despite its small size, it is very rich. There are many incredibly beautiful mosques all over the country, and it is worth seeing at least some of them. Renting a car might be a good idea, since there’s not much intercity public transport – because most inhabitants have a car.

Eco-tours are increasingly popular in Brunei, and they are a good way to see traditional loghouses, explore the forests and sail through Belalong National Park. 70% of the country is covered with rain forests, so if you are interested in the indigenous flora and fauna, your stay will not be boring at all.

East Malaysia

Malaysia is a happy mix of modern and traditional, and while the part of the country that’s located on Borneo is a bit far, it still feels like you’re in Malaysia. The Malaysian corner of Borneo is made up by two states, Sarawak and Sabah. Sabah is the most culturally diverse state in Malaysia, so if you’re looking for urban/cultural adventures, you’ll love it here.

Head into the cities and experience the local traditions and cuisine, or stay in the countryside and visit natural wonders, the jungle and rural communities. Climb Mount Kinabalu, visit the Sepilok oranutan sanctuary and the pristine forests in Danum Valley. In Sarawak, don’t miss the caves in Gunung Mulu National Park and the Iban Longhouse where you can even stay the night.

Kalimantan

Kalimantan is an adventurous destination not only because it is a fascinating place, but also because it is not very accessible. The cities in Kalimantan are few and far between, and public transport is rather expensive and unreliable at best. The easy way is to book a tour, but that takes out much of the fun of discovering Kalimantan on your own.

There are more wildlife reserves and national parks in Kalimantan than on the rest of the island, and there are lots of good treks whose only problem is that they take you far into the middle of nowhere. Trekking through the national parks is your best option.

You might also like

share | tweet | more |

 

Leave a comment on Adventure travel in Borneo

Enter your comment below, or Trackback from your own blog. You can also subscribe to these comments via RSS
 

Leave a comment:

* your name

* your email address (will not be published)

your website

 

*=required