Borneo on a budget

After seeing a few BBC documentaries, the jungles of Borneo were somewhere I was desperate to visit. I booked a flight from Kuala Lumpur prior to researching the area, assuming Malaysian Borneo would be just as cheap as the peninsula, the subsequent research suggested otherwise. The lower end of budgeting figures I saw were between £20-30 per day, and that’s for couples sharing accommodation costs. Travelling alone, I was worried Borneo might blow my meagre south east Asia budget of £10. It then turned in to something of a challenge to succeed.

I didn't like Kota Kinabalu too much but the evening time watching the sunset and eating monstrous amounts of street food was a highlight.

So, is it possible to travel Borneo on a budget of £10 a day while visiting the national parks, travelling the region, staying in paid accomodation and not starving myself? Of course! My average daily spend was just £9.16 per day.

Looking out from my homestay in Palau Bangii

I stayed in the Sabah region for 9 nights, Brunei for 2 and Sarawak for 10, making a total of 21 nights. I paid for accommodation every night (except for one overnight bus to Kuching – the most expensive part of this trip), I ate loads of food and I travelled independently between Sabah to Sarawak via Brunei. You can see every Ringgit I spent at the end of this post.

Mount Kinabalu, the tallest mountain on Borneo. I didn't climb to the top but the trails at the base were nice.

I didn't see much wildlife in Kinabalu national park but lots of birds and nature.

Here is a quick summary of my movements in Borneo:

·         Arrived in Kota Kinabalu from Kuala Lumpur

·         Hitch-hiked to Kudat and took a boat over to Pulau Banggi

·         Transport back to Kota Kinabalu

·         Hitch-hiked to Kinabalu national park

·         Hitch-hiked back to Kota Kinabalu

·         Hitch-hiked to Brunei

·         Transport to Sarawak border then hitch-hiked to Miri

·         Transport to Niah Caves

·         Hitch-hiked to Bintulu

·         Overnight bus to Kuching

·         Flew from Kuching to Singapore

The Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddin Mosque in the capital of Brunei, Bandar Seri Begawan.

Niah caves near Miri. If you're lucky enough to find 3 other cool people you can rent a ski chalet style dorm room for peanuts. 

How did I do it? Hitch-hiking made it possible. Without hitch-hiking it would have been much more difficult to keep under my budget. I did try couchsurfing a few times but didn't secure a couch, if I had couchsurfed a few times it would have been even easier to fall below my budget. Most hostels were cheap and included some kind of plain breakfast and I took full advantage of the free food. The most expensive was a homestay in Palau Banggi at £6.15 a night not including breakfast, the cheapest was Borneo Global Backpackers in Kota Kinabalu for £3.08 with toast and jam in the morning.

The orangutans in Semenggoh Wildlife Centre were unbelievable. Easily accessible making it cheap.

Staying the night at Bako national park was an awesome experience. The wildlife was immense including this poisonous viper.

In the 3 weeks I visited the island of Bangii island, Kinabalu NP, Brunei, Niah caves, Bako NP, Semonggoh Wildlife Centre, Santubong mountain and probably a few other things that have skipped my mind.

Proboscis monkeys.

Beach over a cliff in Bako.

Despite having a small budget I packed loads into my 3 weeks here, I left wanting more but very happy with what I had seen in Borneo. If I come back with a little more money to spend I would climb Mount Kinabalu, visit Danum national park and walk the Head Hunter trail near Mulu. Something to look forward to :-)

View from the top of Santubong peak near Kuching. A great day out and a nice climb involving ladder and scrambling, a little more danger than I anticipated. 

Before visiting Malaysian Borneo I searched the internet for some tips on budget travel through this region, I didn't find too much. Hopefully this export of my expenditure might help someone:

Date	Ringgit	GBP		Category	Notes
17/08/2013	4	0.79		Transport	Bus to santubong village
17/08/2013	8	1.58		Entrance Costs	Santubong mountain entrance
17/08/2013	3.5	0.69		Food
17/08/2013	20	3.96		Accommodation	Beds hostel kuching
17/08/2013	3.2	0.63		Miscellaneous	Duct tape
17/08/2013	4	0.79		Food
16/08/2013	20	3.96		Accommodation	Beds in kuching
16/08/2013	2	0.4		Fruit, veg and nuts	Pineapple
16/08/2013	1.2	0.24		Fruit, veg and nuts	Bananas
16/08/2013	10	1.98		Miscellaneous	Laundry
16/08/2013	1.2	0.24		Toiletries	Soap
16/08/2013	3.2	0.63		Toiletries	Toothbrush
16/08/2013	4	0.79		Food
16/08/2013	3	0.59		Food
16/08/2013	1.4	0.28		Crisps & biscuits
15/08/2013	20	3.96		Accommodation	Beds in kuching
15/08/2013	3.5	0.69		Transport	Bus from bako to kuching
15/08/2013	5	0.99		Food
14/08/2013	15.9	3.15		Accommodation	Bako national park
14/08/2013	1.2	0.24		Fruit, veg and nuts
14/08/2013	3.5	0.69		Transport	Bus to bako
14/08/2013	19	3.76		Transport	Return boat
14/08/2013	20	3.96		Entrance Costs	Bako national park
14/08/2013	11.5	2.28		Food	Dinner at national park restaurant
14/08/2013	10	1.98		Tour	Night walk
14/08/2013	3	0.59		Water
13/08/2013	20	3.96		Accommodation	Beds in kuching
13/08/2013	0.8	0.16		Fruit, veg and nuts	Bananas
13/08/2013	3	0.59		Transport	Bus to orangutans
13/08/2013	3	0.59		Transport	Bus back from oragutans
13/08/2013	3	0.59		Donations, tips & gifts
13/08/2013	10	1.98		Entrance Costs	Orangutans park
13/08/2013	3	0.59		Food
12/08/2013	2	0.4		Drinks & ice cream	100 plus
12/08/2013	2	0.4		Transport	Bus to town
12/08/2013	20	3.96		Accommodation	Beds in kuching
12/08/2013	2.5	0.5		Food	Chicken and rice
12/08/2013	3	0.59		Food	Rice with veg and chicken
12/08/2013	0.7	0.14		Miscellaneous	Notebook
12/08/2013	3	0.59		Food	Rice with veg and chicken
12/08/2013	2.1	0.42		Food	Sardines for the next day
11/08/2013	5	0.99		Transport	Shared taxi from niah to junction
11/08/2013	2	0.4		Fruit, veg and nuts	Banana
11/08/2013	65	12.88		Transport	Bus bintulu to kuching
11/08/2013	2.2	0.44		Fruit, veg and nuts	Sunflower seeds
11/08/2013	1.3	0.26		Drinks & ice cream
11/08/2013	2	0.4		Food	2 x roti
11/08/2013	1.2	0.24		Drinks & ice cream
11/08/2013	1.2	0.24		Drinks & ice cream	Ice cream
11/08/2013	3.8	0.75		Food	Pizza
11/08/2013	1.5	0.3		Miscellaneous	Headphones
11/08/2013	2.5	0.5		Food	Sandwich
11/08/2013	1.2	0.24		Crisps & biscuits
10/08/2013	10.5	2.08		Accommodation	Split chalet in niah
10/08/2013	5	0.99		Food	Noodle dish
10/08/2013	4.9	0.97		Entertainment	350ml brandy
10/08/2013	3.2	0.63		Entertainment	Bottle of coke
10/08/2013	3.8	0.75		Donations, tips & gifts	Birthday cake for agna
09/08/2013	5	0.99		Transport	Taxi to bus station in Miri
09/08/2013	10	1.98		Transport	Bus to junction
09/08/2013	5	0.99		Transport	Minivan to caves
09/08/2013	10.5	2.08		Accommodation	Shared chalet in niah
09/08/2013	2	0.4		Food	Bread
09/08/2013	2	0.4		Crisps & biscuits	Biscuits
09/08/2013	20	3.96		Entrance Costs	Niah caves
09/08/2013	1	0.2		Transport	Boat across ricer
09/08/2013	2.7	0.53		Crisps & biscuits	Bourbon biscuits
09/08/2013	2.9	0.57		Food	5 x noodles
09/08/2013	7	1.39		Food	Rice dish
09/08/2013	4	0.79		Entertainment	Half vodka
09/08/2013	1.5	0.3		Transport	Boat back across
08/08/2013	6	3.09		Transport	Minivan from bandar to kuala beliat
08/08/2013	1	0.51		Transport
08/08/2013	22	4.36		Accommodation	Highlands - Miri
08/08/2013	1	0.51		Food	Nasi amok - rice and chicken
08/08/2013	13	2.58		Food
08/08/2013	1.2	0.24		Drinks & ice cream
07/08/2013	10	5.11		Accommodation	Pusat belia - brunei
07/08/2013	0.4	0.21		Fruit, veg and nuts	Bananas
07/08/2013	2	1.03		Food
06/08/2013	4.8	0.97		Transport	Train kk to Beaufort
06/08/2013	10	5.11		Accommodation	Pusat belia - brunei
05/08/2013	15	2.97		Accommodation	Borneo global backpackers
05/08/2013	2	0.41		Fruit, veg and nuts	Pineapple
05/08/2013	2	0.41		Fruit, veg and nuts	Papaya
05/08/2013	1	0.21		Fruit, veg and nuts	Bananas
05/08/2013	0.8	0.16		Miscellaneous	Soap
05/08/2013	4	0.82		Food
05/08/2013	0.8	0.16		Food
04/08/2013	4	0.82		Transport
04/08/2013	15	2.97		Accommodation	Borneo global backpackers
04/08/2013	5	1.03		Food
04/08/2013	1.2	0.25		Food	3 eggs
04/08/2013	1.5	0.31		Drinks & ice cream
03/08/2013	5	1.03		Transport
03/08/2013	20	4.1		Accommodation	Bayu homestay - Kinabalu park
03/08/2013	2	0.41		Fruit, veg and nuts	Bananas
03/08/2013	1	0.21		Food	2 eggs
03/08/2013	15	3.08		Entrance Costs	Kinabalu park fee
02/08/2013	10	2.05		Transport	Boat
02/08/2013	25	5.13		Transport	Bus to KK (hitch-hike fail)
02/08/2013	15	3.08		Accommodation	Borneo global backpackers - kk
02/08/2013	1.4	0.29		Toiletries	Toothpaste
02/08/2013	2	0.41		Food	6 donuts
02/08/2013	1	0.21		Food	Rice
02/08/2013	1	0.21		Food	Noodles
02/08/2013	1	0.21		Food	Banana fritter
02/08/2013	3.5	0.72		Food	5 pack noodles
02/08/2013	0.8	0.16		Food	2 eggs
01/08/2013	30	5.94		Accommodation	Homestay on palau Bangii
01/08/2013	3	0.62		Food
01/08/2013	0.8	0.16		Food
01/08/2013	0.2	0.04		Water
01/08/2013	4	0.82		Food
01/08/2013	1	0.21		Food
31/07/2013	30	5.94		Accommodation	Homestay in Palau banggi
31/07/2013	1	0.21		Fruit, veg and nuts	2 tomatoes
31/07/2013	3.5	0.72		Food	Bread
31/07/2013	30	6.15		Transport	Boat to island
31/07/2013	4	0.82		Food
31/07/2013	2	0.41		Food	Fish
31/07/2013	0.3	0.06		Water
30/07/2013	4	0.82		Transport	Bus to Tuaran
30/07/2013	2.5	0.51		Food
30/07/2013	10	2.05		Transport	Boat to pulau banggi
30/07/2013	3	0.62		Food
30/07/2013	30	5.94		Accommodation	Homestay in Palau banggi
30/07/2013	3	0.62		Food
30/07/2013	0.8	0.16		Food
29/07/2013	15	2.97		Accommodation	Borneo global backpackers
29/07/2013	1	0.21		Food	3 empanadas
29/07/2013	1	0.21		Food	Big plate of noodles
29/07/2013	1	0.21		Food	Banana fritter
29/07/2013	1	0.21		Food	3 donuts
29/07/2013	0.8	0.16		Food	2 eggs
29/07/2013	1	0.21		Drinks & ice cream
28/07/2013	1.5	0.31		Transport	Bus from kk airport
28/07/2013	15	3.08		Accommodation	Borneo Global backpackers
28/07/2013	2.4	0.49		Food	2 roti
28/07/2013	5	1.03		Food
28/07/2013	3.2	0.66		Food	5 pack of noodles
28/07/2013	1.6	0.33		Food	4 eggs