Borneo local tours

Hi,

We are planning a stop-over in Borneo in Feb 2007 on our way north (we live in Oz).

Has anyone booked a tour locally (not from outside Borneo) to see OrangUtans? Or better still, could anyone advise us how to stay at one of the reservations/refuges?

Booking these tours from outside Borne may be the same waste of time as booking tours for Thailand outside that country? Not sure about Borneo, but we did the latter in Chang Mai and it was half the price of Australia - and was excellent - although initially they tried to rip us off (unsuccessfully).

Please write only if you have personal experience.

Borneo local tours

Hi weltentrotter welcome to TA

Are you stopping over in Brunei or Sabah and for how long?

As far as I know the two orang sanctuaries are both in Sabah at Sepilok (near Sandakan) and Rasa Ria (near Kota Kinabalu aka KK).

Tours to both are very popular and getting to Sandakan requires booking a return flight from Kota Kinabalu. You would need to do this several days in advance, preferably thru a local tour company such as wildlife expeditions http://www.wildlife-expeditions.com/

The other sanctuary is at the Shangri-La Rasa Ria Resort and this can be booked from any hotel in KK. It is about a 45 minute coach trip to RR from KK

If you are stopping over in Bandar Seri Begawan (Brunei) you would have to fly to KK then onwards as above.

I also suggest you post you questions on the Malaysia/Sabah/Kota Kinabalu forum if you are stopping over in Sabah.

If you search this forum you will find lots of detail on orang tours.

Borneo local tours

You are right it is cheaper to book locally but the flights to Sandakan for Sepilok have to be booked about a week in advance and the Rasa Ria has to be booked at least 3 days in advance, although we showed up without booking and got in. we used2 tour companies while in Borneo and I would recomend either.

www.nature-heritage.com

www.discoverytours.com.my

I like to thank you both for your prompt replies. (Have posted a thank-you earlier, but it has not appeared.)

Thanks, bigw for the suggestion to post in the Malaysia forum - will do.

To answer your question, we would like to stay for about 2 weeks...

Maybe we visit Brunei, but basically it will be Sabah.

I actually thought we would go to Brunei, but Malaysian Airline seems to be the choice, to go to Sabah direct.

Thanks again!

Hi I just posted a detailed reply on the Sabah forum an just saw this.

Thanks for your reply.

I don%26#39;t think Malaysia airlines fly direct to Sabah. You have to go thru Kuala Lumpar or Singapore.

In march I am flying Sydney to Singapore and return with QANTAS using frequent flyer points, and Singapore to KK with Malaysia who have a very cheap fare booked over the net (SD 376 return).