Borneo is not a country, it's the largest island in Asia and it's shared by three countries: Malaysia and Brunei in the north, and Indonesia in the south.
The Stray Borneo Explorer tour visits the Malaysian state of Sabah.
Visas
You will need a visa to visit Malaysia. Visitors from most countries (including New Zealand, Australia, United Kingdom, United States and most of Europe) are issued a free 3 month visa on arrival. Your work here is done!
Currency
Malaysian Ringgit (RM) is used in Sabah. You can bring Malaysian Ringgit with you or withdraw some from the ATM at the airport in Sandakan.
Food & Drinks
Food is Malaysian style, usually with light spices and lots of vegetables. You can expect lots of fresh seafood and food to be served "Family Style", which means everyone shares and you get to try a bit of everything. Malaysian people don't typically drink so bars and liquor stores are limited but you can usually always find a cold local beer.
Climate
Borneo is similar to the rest of Southeast Asia and experiences a hot and humid tropical climate with two distinct seasons, wet and dry. The dryer, cooler season is usually October through March and the hotter, wetter season is from May through to September.
Getting to Borneo
The Borneo Explorer tour begins in Sandakan and finishes in Kota Kinabalu. Most people take an international flight to Kuala Lumpur where you can take a connecting flight to Sandkan to start the tour. Flights are several scheduled flights a day from Kuala Lumpur to Sandakan with Malaysian Airlines and Air Asia. Likewise, there are regular flights from Kota Kinabalu back to Kuala Lumpur.
CHECK OUT OUR TRAVEL BLOG:
- Borneo is a diverse island full to the brim of the world’s best, most and only. Teeming with rare and unusual wildlife, scenic hiking in lush rainforests, and epic sunsets on tranquil beaches, here are 6 reasons to put Borneo on your travel Bucket List.
- Or if you want to get off the beaten track, try exploring the Kinabatangan River.