Borneo - need help with itinerary

[RosyCheekedBird]

I have looked at previous threads but can't find answers to my specific questions!

1. We would love to go to the Danum valley to experience ancient rainforest and wildlife - but it's out of our budget (including the Field Centre even though it's advertised as 'budget' - family of four it's over £2200 for two nights).

So - where else could we go for that type of experience, please?

Thank you in advance for any suggestions!

One bump although I know it's a bit niche 😁

You are probably better getting @MNHQ to move this to the holidays section. I was supposed to go in 2020 but hopefully going in 2024. Tripadviser is also useful their travel forums though some countries seem to only allow positive reviews.

Thanks and will do!
Will you be going to the rainforest?

Danum is incredible and I am not sure you can completely replicate it but have you looked at Tabin? Also Deramakot?

Hopefully yes. I had everything planned and booked for 2020 which of course got cancelled and after a battle in some cases got refunded apart from Air Asia which gave a 3 year credit and last chance to use it is this summer. So I have got the flights from Kuala Lumpur to Sandakan and back but nothing else at the moment.

I know where I want to go more or less, its who is going that's causing the issue here.

Danum valley is not at all out of your budget but if you want to do Malaysia/Borneo on a budget then you need to research everything and book direct yourself. Booking through agents and tour companies triples the price at least. We did a home stay in the danum valley and saw loads of rainforest for about £30 a night.

There is also this place near to the conservation area https://www.stickyricetravel.com/our-adventures/infapro/ and this one a bit further out https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Hotel_Review-g1214323-d12080692-Reviews-Kawag_Nature_Lodge-Lahad_Datu_Sabah.html

Thank you for the replies so far!! Much appreciated.

Would you mind linking to this? We couldn’t find anything but BRL and the field station in the conservation area. Thanks v. much

ps not sure uk travel is the best place for the thread!

No I am not sure why it's gone in UK travel 😂rather than the holidays thread.

@Mia85 sadly the Kawag Nature Lodge has closed down (although places still show it as an option which is annoying!).

I traveled in Borneo for a month, it was amazing, I did KK, then went on to climb Kinabalu, hot springs, climbed the pinnacles and visited orang-utans at Sepilok.
Kinabalu Park is fabulous, I stayed there in a dorm (super cheap)not sure if they still do that?

The flight into Mulu was a tiny 6 seater plane that flew right over the canopy of the jungle ❤️

I also had a dorm for climbing the Pinnacles at Mulu national park, that was an amazing part of the trip, you hike to camp 5, which is stunning, although accommodation is a wooden deck with foam mats 😂 The caves are stunning and the bats awesome.

This was all 15 years ago, so I can't give you any up to date info, I know it's got a lot more expensive now. When I climbed Kinabalu it was about £20 now it £200!!

Have you bought a rough guide? I planned everything from it. What do you want to do/see?

Mulu would mean an extra flight, but it is absolutely amazing and if you don't want to do a hard climb, or have children, there's loads to do.

This homestay was a highlight of our trip.
Very basic. Amazing food. Shrimps straight from the river! Trips on the river to spot wildlife. Fireflies in our room!
https://www.kopelkinabatangan.com/

If you look up speciality lodging in Sandakan on Trip Advisor then you'll find lots of options that are considerably cheaper!

Honestly, just splash out and go to the Danum valley. It is so worth it (we stayed at the Rainforest Lodge). Yes, expensive but you will not have that experience anywhere else.

Second best was Kinabantangan river.

I think that's what we will do!!

Hi
can I ask which of these homestays you stayed in please? Thanks!

We did this one.
www.kopelkinabatangan.com/experiences/miso-walai-village-homestay