Cycle Borneo, Malaysia - Wilds of Borneo

Introduction

Itinerary

Day 1 - Arrive Kota Kinabalu

On Day 1 people will be arriving throughout the day so the day is free to explore the sights of this outpost city. We'll meet in the evening for a trip meeting and head out for our first dinner together.

Day 2 - Kinabalu Rose Cabins

Transferring out of Kota Kinabalu, we hit the bikes for a 54km uphill ride towards Mt Kinabalu. The journey takes us past traditional Kadazandusan villages and farming land. The Kadazandusan are the traditional people of the mountain and many earn their living guiding and portering up and down the mountain tracks. On clear days we will have great views of the majestic mountain in the distance. From your cabin you'll be able to sit back and enjoy the fantastic view.

Day 3 & 4 - Mount Kinabalu Climb

Climbing Mt Kinabalu is something you'll never forget. We set out in tropical forest and as we ascend the vegetation changes and the view become more and more spectacular. Following the summit trail we hike an unrelenting 6km up to Laban Rata which sits at 3200m on the upper slopes of the mountain. We set out before sunrise and ascend by torch light; the final 2km to the summit are steep. This last section can be tough because of the altitude and cold but on arrival you'll have the chance to witness an amazing sunrise. The vast landscape of Sabah sits below with the mountain's shadow slowly edging across the ocean. The ride down the mountain is quicker than the climb up so by early afternoon we transfer to Poring Hot Springs. At Poring you'll have the opportunity to soak your tired muscles in the hot springs and celebrate the successful completion of the Mt Kinabalu challenge.

Day 5 - Sepilok

Getting on the bike might be a little difficult after the mountain climb but you'll find it a great way to loosen up your muscles. We ride 90km along an undulating highway on the way to Telupid passing through forests and villages. After the ride we'll transfer to Sepilok.

Day 6 - Orang Utans and Sukau

A short walk from our lodge is the Sepilok Orang-utan Rehabilitation Centre where orphaned and injured orang-utans are brought to be reintroduced to forest life. We will witness one of the daily feedings from a platform in the forest and learn about the program at Sepilok. In the late morning we transfer to Sandakan and take a boat cruise up into the lower Kinabatangan River Sanctuary. Lunch will be eaten in an Abai village and then we will continue cruising upriver to Sukau village in search of primates, such as the unique proboscis monkey, birds and other wildlife. In the late afternoon we take another cruise, this time up a small tributary in search of more wildlife.

Days 7 & 8 - Danum Valley

After transferring to Lahad Datu it's back on the bikes, cycling through primary rain forest and a few villages. This 66km ride is largely on unsealed forestry roads. The Danum Valley Field Centre is a world-renowned scientific facility located on the edge of the Danum Valley Conservation Area - the largest sanctuary for wild orang-utans and home to more than 275 species of birds. The evening wildlife spotting safari is not to be missed. On day 8 we ride 35km off road to Borneo Rainforest Lodge which sits in the heart of magnificent jungle by the Danum River. Some trekking will be required on this day to get deep into the jungle and access some of the local sites. In the evening we transfer back to Danum Valley Field Centre.

Day 9 - Kota Kinabalu

After an early morning jungle walk we transfer to Lahad Datu for the short flight back to the (relatively) big smoke of Kota Kinabalu. In the evening we have the final group dinner.

Day 10

Today is departure day. You are free to leave at any time.

Inclusions

• 9 nights accommodation
• All itinerised transport inc. internal flight on day 9
• Meals: 9 breakfasts, 8 lunches, 7 dinners.
• Bike & bike tools
• Support vehicle
• All water and snack food whilst cycling & trekking
• Local guides
• Tour leader (for groups of 6+)
• Entry fees and permits

Bike Asia Travel Style

We think cycling through a region for the first time with a group of like-minded people is a great way to travel in Asia. Our aim is to provide you with the opportunity to meet new people, learn about new cultures, experience different landscapes and most all to have some fun. Cycling is a major part of our trips – they are cycle tours after all. We have designed them so that they are accessible to people with a reasonable level of fitness. Different trips will require varying degrees of physical ability. Each trip dossier has specific details on terrain, cycling conditions, distances covered each day and an altitude profile. All of our trips are fully supported, so should you want or need to take a rest, there will be a seat for you and a place to put your bike. Our trips are also designed to allow you the opportunities and time to appreciate the environment, scenery and culture around you, and to participate in any activities that may be on offer.

Responsible Travel

An integral part of travelling is to have a positive impact on the country that you are visiting. On this trip there are a number of things you can do to have a positive impact on the communities that we visit.

Dress: Borneo is still quite a conservative region. In rural areas and temples overly revealing clothing is considered offensive. You should make an effort to dress more conservatively in these situations. Walking around a village in bike shorts is not appropriate so if you wish to cycle in just bike shorts you should have something with you, on the bike, to put on over the top (long loose shorts or a skirt/sarong). When visiting temples shorts are acceptable providing they cover the knee. Singlet tops are not acceptable in temples.

Phrase Book: A highly memorable part of your travels will be the local people you meet. In the tourist areas some people will speak English but away from these areas you should learn a few words of Tibetan. We will teach you some of the basics but if you want to really interact we recommend bringing a phrase book.

Donations: Often when coming on trips overseas people like to bring items such as sweets, pens and books for children or old clothing for families. While this is a fantastic idea, if distributed in the wrong way it can actually create more problems. Giving away anything to local people can create an expectation that visiting foreigner equals free give-aways. In some communities in Asia this has created whole villages where the only interaction is the locals asking for things. If you would like to donate anything to the communities that we visit we suggest that you give the items to us and we will then pass them on to development organizations, schools or whole communities. In this way items are distributed to those really in need by those working in the communities.

Poverty: In Borneo there is poverty which you may see. If you choose to give something to a beggar you must bear in mind the value of money in the country you are visiting. There are organizations which are working to alleviate this poverty and may be able to do more good with donations that you make. Your Tour Leader will be able to provide more information about this.

Support Organisations There are a number of organizations which we hope you can support in one way or another. Your Tour Leader will provide more information on these as you travel.

For more information about Bike Asia's commitment to ethical and sustainable travel practices, please read our Responsible Travel Policy.

Group Size

Minimum 2
Maximum 16

Accommodation

3 nights comfortable hotel, 5 nights local guesthouse (with private bathroom), 1 night shared hostel.

Due the nature of cycling trips we stay in some towns where the general standard of accommodation is quite low. In these places we have chosen the best possible place to stay - trust us there's nothing better!

Transport

All transport listed is included in the trip price. For the cycling days we will have a backup support vehicle that will carry our luggage, snacks and water, and anybody not cycling. We also use boats, our feet, plane and anything else that we might see coming.

Bikes

Bikes are included in the trip cost. Our mountain bikes are entry-level standard. We keep them well-maintained and we travel with all necessary tools and spare parts. Your tour leader (or mechanic) will fix any bike problems. Supplied bikes are hard tail (front suspension) with Shimano Alivio 21 speed gears, Shimano Alivio v-brakes, off road tyres, one bottle cage, ergonomic seat, in sizes 15", 17", 19" or 21". Please specify your bike size when booking. You may wish to bring your own pedals, cleats, saddle or handlebar extensions, as we can easily fit them to our bikes.

You are of course welcome to bring your own bike. Keep in mind though, that while we offer maintenance and spares for the bikes we provide, we can’t guarantee that we can cater to your particular bicycle's needs so it would be best to bring your own parts and tools. If you are unsure we recommend that you speak to your local bike shop about what parts to bring.

To see the bikes we use go to our Bike Info page.

Because we travel with a support vehicle it is not necessary to carry many things when on the bike. You may like to carry a daypack, bumbag or handlebar bag with personal belongings, camera, sunscreen etc., or you may prefer to leave a daypack in the support vehicle and carry only a camera & rain jacket (perhaps in a seatpost bag) when cycling.

Food

Food is a very important part of any travel experience. Most of the meals on this trip are included in the cost. To see which meals are included, read the inclusions list or the itinerary. Vegetarians and vegans are well catered for and should you have any other dietary restrictions, you just need to inform us.

Money

You will need to bring money on the trip to pay for some meals, drinks, activities in the free time, departure tax and of course shopping.

The official currency is the Malaysian ringgit which should be used for all transactions. Malaysia has a modern banking system with ATMs and money changers everywhere. When coming to Malaysia (Borneo) it is possible to use Visa/MasterCard or Cirrus/Maestro cards to access cash from an ATM. You should, however, carry travellers' cheques as a backup. Most international currencies can be exchanged so it is not necessary to bring only US dollars - AUD, EUR, CAD, NZD are all accepted at banks in major centres.

The amount you bring is going to depend on how much you plan to spend. To give you an indication of prices
Beer would cost ~ 6 R
Meal at local restaurant ~ 5-10 R
Meal at foreign restaurant ~ 10-15 R

Whilst cycling, there will be few opportunities to spend money and most of your shopping will need to be done in Kota Kinabalu.

Malaysian Ringgit (MYR) Exchange rates at the time of writing are:
1 AUD = 2.8
1 USD = 3.1
1 EUR = 4.6
1 GBP = 6.8
1 CAD = 2.5
1 NZD = 3.4

We also recommend that you bring US $100 in emergency funds, to be used when circumstances beyond the control of Bike Asia necessitate a change in itinerary.

Insurance

Obtaining your own travel insurance is required in order to participate on a Bike Asia tour. It will need to include a minimum coverage of medical expenses with emergency evacuation, personal liability and accident insurance. Your group leader will need to see a copy of your insurance at the group meeting on the first day.

Two well known travel insurance providers are: World Nomads and Covermore.

Joining Point Instructions

This trip will begin and end at the Promenade Hotel. The Promenade Hotel is located in the heart of Kota Kinabalu. There are many shops, restaurants and facilities located nearby. The hotel has comfortable rooms with private bathroom, air conditioning, TV, 24 hour reception and a great breakfast! It can be easy to get lost in any new city so make sure you take a hotel card and a map when you go out exploring.

On arrival at the Kota Kinabalu International Airport you will find a pre-paid taxi counter outside the terminal. A taxi to the hotel should cost 20 MYR (approx US$6). If you arrive by Air Asia you will land at Terminal 2 - this is the same airport, just a different terminal and the taxi situation works the same. The hotel address is:

Promenade Hotel, Api Api Centre, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia, Tel: +60 88 265 555

There is a map included in the print version (PDF).

Pre/post trip accommodation

If you would like us to organise some extra nights accommodation either before or after the trip at our start or finish point hotel, just let us know when you book the trip. Prices are:

Fitness

This trip involves some off-road riding and/or longer days over 80km on mountainous roads. Riders should be of reasonable cycling fitness. The trek up Mt Kinabalu should not be treated lightly. You will be climbing to over 4000m where altitude with have an impact on your body. The fitter you are the better able your body will be to cope. We are required to inform you that if you have a history of suffering from the following ailments it is highly recommended that you should refrain from climbing: hypertension, diabetes, palpitation, arthritis, heart disease, severe anaemia, peptic ulcers, epileptic fits, obesity, chronic asthma, muscular cramps, hepatitis, or any other disease that may hamper a climber.

Cycling Conditions

The first two days of riding are on well made highways. The two days in Danum Valley are on well maintained forestry roads and basic tracks. You should have some experience in off road riding for this trip.

Health

In order to make the most of your holiday, the healthier you are the more you will enjoy it! For a list of vaccinations we recommend that you seek advice at a travel clinic at least six weeks prior to departure. Our group leader will have Senior’s Level first aid training and will travel with a first-aid kit, however it is also recommended that individual travellers have a basic first aid kit with any personal medical requirements. Our group leader is not authorised, for legal reasons, to administer any kind of drugs, including pain relief tablets, antibiotics etc so be sure to pack a supply of your favourite pain-killers. Pharmacy products vary in different countries and you may not be able to buy products that are widely available at home. Include the following: plasters, dressings, bandage, calamine lotion (a must for soothing sunburn), oral re-hydration treatment (in case of bouts of diarrhoea), insect repellent, insect sting relief, antiseptic cream and antiseptic wipes.

For more information on travel health, you can click on the links below:

Australia - United States - United Kingdom

Visas

In Malaysia, 60 day single entry visas are free on arrival for many nationalities. Check with your local travel agent to see if you require a visa.

Before you travel check your passport to ensure that there is room for a visa and entry/exit stamps (at least 3 pages) and that it has at least 6 months validity remaining.

Luggage / Packing List (Guide Only)

We strongly advise against using a hard shell suitcase for this trip. Tibet is not suitcase or wheelie-bag friendly country. We will be camping most nights and the ground will be grass and earth. A soft backpack would be the most suitable, and the easiest to transfer in/out of the trucks in the morning and evening. Keep in mind when you are packing that often our local crew are lifting our bags before we cycle into camp, so try to pack as lightly as possible. Please check our climate charts to assess your clothing requirements, or contact us if you are unsure.

Tipping

One of the reasons that our trips run so well, and are so much fun is the effort and energy put in by our local crew. On this trip, we will have drivers, and a local guide. Their mix of professionalism, enthusiasm and sense of fun are infectious. We recognise that the wages in an economically developing country are vastly different to ours and ask that if you are satisfied with the service you show your appreciation with a tip. Your group leader will collect this at the end of the trip and organise a small thankyou presentation. As an indication only, we recommend you allocate USD 20. Tipping is NOT compulsory and it is meant to be a reward for good service.

Safety

Our cycling tour leader has the authority to change or cancel all or part of this trip if it is deemed necessary due to safety concerns. This decision would not be taken lightly, and where possible it would be made in consultation with our local crew, local operator and Bike Asia management. Your leader will be present on all included activities, staying at all the same hotels, guesthouses and of course cycling with you. During free time, should you choose to participate in any optional activities that are not part of our itinerary, please note that we cannot give any representations or guarantees about the safety of the activity, the standard of the operators running them or the equipment that they use.

In the group meeting on day 1, your tour leader will run a session on cycling safety. Whilst some travellers will have had years of touring experience, for others this might be their first cycling trip. We need to cater for a range of abilities and experience and it is in everyone’s interest to learn about the particulars of cycling in this region from someone who has already done it. It goes without saying that by running and participating in a cycling trip, both parties accept an inherent level of risk. However, we take the safety of our passengers very seriously and we ask that you cycle in a safe and responsible manner and that you look out for the well-being of your fellow travellers. Cycling helmets must be worn by all cyclists at all times whilst cycling.

Most national governments provide a regularly updated advice service on safety issues involved with international travel. We recommend that you check your government's advice for their latest information before departure. The links for some major travel advisories and updates are listed below

Australia - United Kingdom - Canada - New Zealand - United States

We recommend the use of a neck wallet or money belt while travelling in cities, for the safe keeping of your passport, money, credit cards and traveller's cheques. Utilise the hotel's safety boxes or safe where these are available.

Communication

In Kota Kinabalu you will be able to access email, phone, fax and post offices. Elsewhere there will be fewer chances to email and the main communication will be phone. You should leave your family or friends the Bike Asia contact details. Our office staff will be able to get in touch with us in an emergency.

Cycling Tour Leader

Our leaders are passionate about Asia and cycling... phew! They love what they do and take their job seriously. They will make every effort to ensure you have a safe, enjoyable trip with as much fun as possible. They bring many qualities and skills to this role; knowledge of group cycling, safety, management, and liasing between you and the local crew. In working for us, they have made a commitment to learning as much about the culture, language and customs of Borneo as possible, and they are happy to share any of this knowledge with you. However, please keep in mind that they are not local and will not know everything.

Rules

We don't have many, but the ones we do have are important. We always abide by the laws of the country that we are travelling through. This means you are not to use any illegal drugs or use prostitutes. Any passenger who does so will be asked to leave the tour immediately.

Feedback

After you have completed the trip, we want to know what you thought about it. This is important to us, as it is through your feedback that we monitor our trips and make improvements for the future. Log on to our website and click on the feedback link. It will take you a minimum of 3 minutes, or should you feel like writing in more detail, then a little longer. If you fill in the feedback form, we’ll give you an automatic 5% discount on any of our trips in any other region.

Photos

We are always looking for good photos of the regions which we travel through. If you have some that you would like to send us, we would love to have a look.

Newsletter

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