The best backpacking travel tips for the Malaysian Borneo – 2024
It may be because of the wonderful Sandokan stories we heard as children, or probably because of the many documentaries we saw about this island on TV, but the fact is that visiting Borneo has always been our dream.
Simply put, Borneo was a paradise we really wanted to visit one day. Luckily that day had arrived, we visited Malaysian Borneo and it was better than in our dreams.
So now we are ready to write this post with the best advice about how to plan your Sabah tour.
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In this post we are not going to write what to see or do in Borneo, we are going to give you tips and ideas on how to organize your trip there, what you may need before you got there (vaccinations, documents, etc.), or travel tips which might help you on the road.
You might not know that the island of Borneo is divided into three countries, Indonesia, Brunei, and the Malaysian part.
We have been lucky enough to visit two of the three countries, even so, this post is exclusively focused only on Malaysian Borneo located in the Northern region of Sabah.
If you want to read the post about the other country we have visited in Borneo, the Sultanate of Brunei, click here.
On the contrary, if you need more information for your next trip to the Malaysian peninsula, you can check this post.
We hope that these tips are going to be useful for you, enjoy.
Our tip: When we travel we always make sure to have travel insurance. Our personal recommendation is Truetraveller as they have great support and health coverage around the world. And don’t worry if you forget about it, you can purchase the insurance during your trip!
1. Security – Backpacking borneo
Is it safe to travel to Malaysian Borneo in 2024?
During our two-week backpacking adventure in Malaysian Borneo, we never felt unsafe at any time. However, it’s important to note that compared to the Malaysian peninsula, there may be more visible poverty in certain areas, particularly in the eastern part of the island, where it’s not uncommon to see homeless people begging for money.
Although we didn’t have any issues in this country, we will get tired of saying that wherever you go, it is important to take basic safety precautions to avoid problems.
Using common sense and a few precautions will help you avoid problems. People in Malaysian Borneo are very good and friendly, but you can always find some desperate person who wants to take your belongings (like anywhere around the world).
Just keep in mind that you are traveling so you are outside your comfort zone, take some precautions and your trip to Malaysian Borneo should be safe without setbacks.
Even so, we recommend you to be up-to-date on the local situation at all times so that you can take appropriate measures to protect yourself in case of emergencies.
If you are interested in the topic of “travel security”, here we have a great post with our tips and tricks that have helped us to minimize problems and unpleasant surprises when we travel around the world.
Grab our Travel Checklist and Let the adventure begin!
2. Visa – backpacking borneo
Going backpacking in Malaysian Borneo is very popular among tourists, especially those interested in natural and scenic beauties, so getting a visa is a fairly simple task.
In general, if you stay in Malaysian Borneo for less than 90 days , it is likely that you will not need a visa at all, just a stamp upon arrival in the country. To get the stamp on arrival, you will need only one thing, a passport that has a minimum validity of 6 months.
To enter Malaysian Borneo for max 90 days is completely free, which was also our case (Italy and the Czech Republic). We recommend you check in advance if your country is included in this list.
Before giving you an entry stamp, customs officials may ask you for various information like if you have a departure ticket or where you will be staying during your trip. Sometimes they also ask for information about your income (if you have enough money to visit Borneo), but don’t worry, these are routine questions from customs officials.
A peculiarity of Borneo is that the residents of the Malaysian peninsula also need a stamp to be able to enter Malaysian Borneo, despite being in their own country.
While traveling with a backpack which is also our home, we try to keep everything as organized as possible. This case for electronic gadgets is a perfect travel gear that we can’t travel without, www.funfoodtravelgear.com is the best travel gear shop to find one.
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3. Vaccines – Backpacking borneo
We want to start this paragraph by saying that we are not specialists and the information is based on our experience, and it is always better to get information through medical specialists in your country of origin.
As far as we know, there is no mandatory vaccination required to enter Borneo Island. However, health authorities strongly advise several vaccinations, especially if you plan to visit rural and wild areas.
What are some recommended precautions to take when visiting rural areas and encountering wildlife in Borneo?
Recommended vaccinations include typhus, rabies, diphtheria, tetanus, hepatitis A and B, typhoid fever, and Japanese encephalitis.
While the yellow fever vaccine is only mandatory for individuals who reside in or have traveled from high-risk countries within the previous 12 months, we highly recommend taking malaria pills due to the likelihood of encountering wild animals and exploring the jungle.
Additionally, we suggest carrying a reliable mosquito repellent, as Borneo remains a wild area teeming with wildlife.
Once again, it is better to consult the official government websites before embarking on a trip, preferably the official healthcare websites of your country of origin.
4. Coins and Exchange – Malay – Backpacking borneo
The official currency is the same throughout Malaysia, it is called Malaysian Ringgit (MYR) and its symbol is RM.
While cards are widely accepted in many shops, it is advisable to carry cash with you as well, as you may encounter situations where cash is necessary.
Therefore, it is important to research the current exchange rates before and during your backpacking trip to Borneo, to understand their daily value and avoid any potential loss due to unfavorable exchange rates. We personally recommend using the Xe.com platform, which is accurate and helpful for obtaining the most up-to-date exchange rates.
Here are a few tips about how to change money in Borneo:
Change cash from your currency to Ringgit:
Here we leave you a couple of tips if you decide to exchange money from your currency to the Malaysian ringgit:
- Do not change all your money in the exchange shops at the airport, simply because the commissions are usually much higher.
- If you need money to be able to move from the airport to the center, change only a small amount, the rest is better to change somewhere usually in the city where you find better commissions.
- It is not advisable to exchange money in your country of origin, the commissions could be very high.
- If you plan to visit Borneo for a long time, the idea of taking all the cash with you is not the best option, nor is it the safest.
Withdraw money from an ATM:
When it comes to backpacking Borneo, we always consider withdrawing money from an ATM as the most convenient and efficient method. Despite Borneo being perceived as a remote area, the reality is different. In fact, you will find ATMs or banks in all cities, ensuring easy access to cash.
Naturally, it is difficult to find an ATM in the jungle, so it is better to check Google Maps in advance if there are ATMs in the areas you want to visit. Based on our experience it is better to withdraw money once there for a simple reason, most banks in Malaysia (domestic and international) do not charge fees when withdrawing money (a dream came true).
Here we list some banks that we have tested and that do not charge commissions: May Bank, Cimb Bank, BSN (Bank Simpanan Nasional), HSBC, and RHB Bank.
When backpacking in Borneo, having access to cash through ATMs ensures convenience and flexibility throughout your journey.
Some useful tips before withdrawing money in Malaysia:
Before using your card in Malaysian Borneo remember to notify your bank that you will be abroad. This way you will prevent your card from being blocked for security reasons and running out of money.
Although we have said that banks do not charge fees for withdrawing money, read carefully the information that is written on the ATM screen. It must be written that you won’t be charged any fees when withdrawing money.
You should keep in mind that although the banks do not charge you commissions, your bank could do so check with your bank before your trip.
It is also possible that your bank charges you extra commissions to withdraw money during the weekends (ours does) so it is better to check this in advance.
We always try to withdraw money directly from ATMs present in banks when they are open so that you can solve problems without having to call the bank’s customer service.
To minimize bank commissions on your trips, we recommend getting virtual banking cards. On our trips, we use Wise online banking and we are very happy with this company. It turns out to be virtual banking with an incredibly good exchange rate and low fees, perfect for all the countries we’ve had the pleasure of visiting so far, including Malaysia.
Pay directly with credit / debit card:
Card payment is popularly used in the largest cities (Kota Kinabalu, Sandakan, etc.), in shopping malls, hotels, and hostels. The good thing is that, unlike other countries, no extra commissions are added.
We recommend this payment method to avoid commissions and also to avoid carrying a lot of money with you.
IMPORTANT: Remember to always pay in the local currency to avoid extra commissions from your bank. We recommend always carrying a little cash to be able to pay easily if they do not accept cards.
5. Internet and Sim Card – Backpacking borneo
Most of the people mistakenly think that in Borneo they won’t have any internet connection, since you are going to visit the jungle and remote places. Well, we can assure you that in remote places, like the jungle, you won’t have a stable connection. However, apart from the jungle we found a good Wi-Fi connection in all the accommodations we stayed in. We should clarify that almost all accommodations were located mostly in cities.
In Borneo, as in the Malaysian peninsula, we use the Hotlink company, and we highly recommend it. We knew that we were going to quiet remote places, so we couldn’t make a better decision, since we always had a connection when we needed it most (for Google Maps or calling a taxi, GRAB).
The SIM card costs 20 RM (just over $4 or Euros) with 5 “fast” GB per month with unlimited calls. We purchased a rate of 20 GB a month for 20 RM. Remember that to get a sim card you need to show your ID or passport copy.
Tip:
If you constantly need the internet and want to connect it to your PC, through a hot spot, remember to check if the company allows this type of option, because not all of them offer this service in Southeast Asia.
During our backpacking trip in Borneo, our Hotlink card allowed us to use the hotspot feature. However, we didn’t rely on it heavily as the Wi-Fi connections in most accommodations, restaurants, and other places we visited were reliable and fast enough. Good Wi-Fi is commonly available in cities throughout the country.
Despite that, it is important to organize yourself well if you have to work or need a stable internet connection, especially for important meetings.
We recommend staying in cities such as Kota Kinabalu, Sandakan, or Kuching in Sarawak state, where access to reliable Wi-Fi is more readily available. By choosing these locations, you can ensure a better working environment and a more stable internet connection for your work-related needs.
During our trip to Southeast Asia, we discovered that there are e-sim cards. With using an App you can get a number, data and calls without having a physical card in your phone. At the moment they are only compatible with some latest generation smartphones (iPhone, Samsung and little else). In this list of smartphones, our expensive Chinese mobiles do not enter and for now they are not compatible, although we hope only for now 😉 . That is why we have not had the opportunity to test this card in person, despite this, this e-SIM seems to be a great invention and it will be a total revolution when it comes to moving from one country to another. Here is the link that other travelers suggested to us.
6. Transportation – Backpacking Borneo
In Borneo, your means of transportation will depend on several factors, such as your budget, how much time you have available, and how comfortable you want to travel.
If you are one of those travelers who want to organize your trip in advance without spending a lot of money (not taking flights), there are a few Apps we use on the way which make it easier. We used Easybook.com. or Busonlinetickets.com, however, remember that not all companies are online so sometimes you might need to go to the bus terminal or train station.
Here is the list of the most common means of transportation:
CAB/TAXI
As in the Malaysian peninsula, also in Borneo taking a taxi is very comfortable and quite affordable service. Although there is a normal taxi, we advise you to use an app like Grab.
AVIÓN
The plane is undoubtedly most used by tourists who have little time available and who want to visit as many places as possible. There are many advantages when you use planes, they are fast, affordable (always with the prior organization) and you can find an airport in most of the cities in Borneo (Kota Kinabalu, Sandakan, Tawau, Kuching, etc.). If you are looking for cheap flights, we recommend the Air Asia company, or search engines like Skyscanner or Google flight.
BUS
The bus is the most commonly used means of long-distance transportation, especially among locals and backpackers exploring Borneo on a tight budget. It is a comfortable and affordable option, making it ideal for backpacking in Borneo
You can use the Easybook.com app to buy tickets or just go to the bus terminal and purchase tickets directly there.
MINI VAN
This, unlike the bus, is the most used transport for small / medium distances. We don’t really remember the names of the companies but it’s easy to identify them, most of the minivans are white with different colored roofs (green, red, etc.), and you will see them everywhere.
Generally, the destination is written on the windshield and most of the drivers are also calling out the name of the place where they are going. If you cannot find any minivan, just ask local people, they will surely help you.
SHIP/BOAT
There are many fantastic islands in the Malaysian peninsula and also in Borneo, so boats are widely used for transport. We tried to go to the Sultanate of Brunei from Kota Kinabalu, however the service was temporarily suspended so we decided to take a different transport.
MOTORCYCLE
You can rent a motorcycle for short distances, in Kota Kinabalu the price was around 30/35 RM per day. We recommend getting an international card before visiting this country, to avoid fines and problems. In addition, we always recommend wearing a helmet, which although it may seem uncomfortable, can save your life.
Remember that the car driving license (B) is not valid in Malaysia to drive motorcycles. The only valid license to drive motorcycles is type A.
RENT A CAR:
This is an option that you should consider if you are traveling in a group. Due to the long distances and affordable prices, it often turns out to be profitable, and very comfortable, since it gives you complete freedom to move and discover the island at your own pace.
Just remember one thing, if you need the car to visit Brunei, ask the rental company if you can go to Brunei with the rental car (Brunei as a country requires a registration document that not all rental companies are willing to give you).
7. Accommodation – Backpacking borneo
If you read our post about tips for visiting Malaysia, you know what we think of accommodation in this country. Well, in Borneo the situation is almost the same, but more expensive than in the Malaysian peninsula.
Borneo is mainly focused on tourists who are on vacation and there are only a few accommodations dedicated to backpackers or travelers on a low budget. We always found reasonable accommodation but just keep in mind that you will probably spend a few more euros/dollars when visiting Borneo.
On average, a double room with air conditioning costs between 22 and 40 EUR/$, a bed in a hostel in a shared room between 10-15 EUR/$, or if you want a capsule hotel at 8-10 EUR/$.
It’s easy to book accommodation in Malaysian Borneo since you can use Booking.com, Agoda, Airbnb and Hostel World.
8. Food – Backpacking borneo
What is the main food of Borneo?
Once you start your Borneo backpacking tour you will find that the food is the same as in the Malaysian peninsula, but it is often of inferior quality.
You can also appreciate the cuisine of different cultures, including Chinese, Indian, Malay and Filipino, so it will not be difficult for you to try new dishes.
By lower quality we don’t mean that the food is bad, it is just more difficult to find good quality restaurants with great food.
The good part of Borneo is that you will find a lot of exotic fruit and products that you probably have never seen before. For us it was quite a discovery, for example, we saw a golden eggplant or green honey.
As in the Malaysian peninsula, also in Borneo, we didn’t have any stomach problems and we can say that we have eaten everything including street food. Just use your common sense when deciding where and what to eat.
What if I don’t want to eat local food?
If you don’t want to eat local food, in the main cities you can find the classic international fast food chains and some western restaurants.
In major cities you can even find restaurants from other Asian countries like Japan, Korea and Thailand.
Remember that restaurants usually charge 6% service charge. This surcharge does not apply to street food places or local restaurants.
9. Insurance – Backpacking borneo
In our opinion, the only useful thing we would recommend to have when you go traveling is travel insurance. Many countries no longer require travel insurance to enter the country so it’s quite common that people decide not to invest in it and that for sure is a big mistake. We do not travel anywhere without travel insurance, it is a basic and essential thing that you can’t do or ignore. We assure you that in case of health problems having travel insurance will get you out of trouble and save you a lot of money.
Our insurance is True Travelers. We strongly recommend it, because it is a very serious company, super organized and with good conditions. It is also one of the few insurance companies that you can get while traveling, so it is perfect for travelers and digital nomads like us.
10. Cultures and Habits – Backpacking Borneo
Although officially the Malaysian peninsula and Borneo are considered as a single country, in reality, they are two completely different places. The locals in Borneo are very attached to their land and their origins, in fact the majority are descendants of ancient tribes that have lived in contact with nature for ages.
The largest indigenous tribe on the entire island is the Dayak ethnic group. This tribe lives not only in Malaysian territory, but also in Indonesia and the Sultanate of Brunei.
Currently, there are more than 2 million people who are part of this tribe supporting themselves by producing rice, hunting and fishing.
Although these ethnic groups are quite big, the dominant religion is Muslim. We want to mention that as in the Malaysian peninsula, also here in Borneo, all religions and cultures live peacefully.
11. Other tips and curiosities – Backpacking Borneo
- The locals are very friendly and also quite curious people.
- Borneo is mainly green with a wild ecosystem, however we saw too much land cultivated with palm oil plantations.
- We understand that these plantations feed many people, however, seeing all these palms is devastating.
- The climate can be divided into two seasons, the dry season and the wet season.
- Borneo is the third largest island in the world.
- During the wet season, it usually rains every day so it makes it more difficult to travel and move around.
- Our tip is to check the weather forecast in advance and organize your trip based on it, especially if you plan to visit the jungle and some islands around Borneo.
- In Malaysian Borneo you drive on the left, so just keep it in mind in case you want to rent a car.
- The price of gasoline is super cheap, less than 0.5Euro per liter, which is good for the locals, but bad for the environment.
- As in the other countries of Southeast Asia, haggling over the price is a normal practice used by everyone on a daily basis. Remember that you should not haggle the price of food in restaurants and street food stalls.
- Check the main holidays in Malaysia before organizing your trip, simply because some services might be interrupted on these dates (e.g. Chinese New Year or Ramadan).
- Remember that the locals are expected to receive the same treatment that they offer you, so respect their traditions and cultures.
11. General prices – Malaysian borneo
The prices are based on our travel experience of backpacking in Borneo (Sabah state). When we made this list, the exchange rate was: 1$=4.40 RM or 1€=4.71. Due to various factors, prices could change (up or down) so these prices are only informative since they are based on an approximate average.
Street food: 1.5 – 15 RM or 0.30 – 3.50$
Local Restaurant: 15 – 35 RM or 3 – 7.5$
Roti Canai: RM2 or 0.40$
International restaurants (pizza, ramen, etc.): <RM40 or < 8$
Water 0.5 lt: +- 1 RM or 0.20 $
Water 1.5 lt: +- 2.5 RM or +- 0.5 $
Espresso coffee: RM8 or 1.7/$
Local coffee (kopi o): RM2 or 0.4 $
Teh tarik: RM2 or 0.4 $
Fruit smoothie: 8 RM or 1.8 $
Fresh coconut: = 2 – 4 RM or 0.4 -1 $
Local beer (shop): 9 RM or 2 $
Intercity buses (120 km): 20 RM or 4 $
Scooter (motorbike) 125cc: 30/35 RM or 4-5 $ per day
Gasoline x lt: 2 RM or 0.45 $ per lt
Accommodation 2 pax/day with a/c and private bathroom: 105 – 215 RM or 17-45 $
Bunk bed in a shared room: RM 38 – 70 or 3-15 $
SIM card: 20 RM or 4 $ card + 5 GB x one month
Laundry (automatic washing): 10 – 12 RM or 2.5 $ x kg
Conclusions – Backpacking Borneo
Backpacking Borneo was a dream we had since we were children. We remember watching documentaries of this wild and virgin land, full of strange animals and tropical fruits, and we were dreaming of visiting this island one day. We finally had the opportunity to see with our own eyes how beautiful this part of the world is.
Now we know for a fact that to be able to visit all the beauties that Borneo has to offer you need a lot of money, and it is definitely not a place for backpackers on a low budget.
For sure you can visit Borneo without spending a fortune, however, to be able to appreciate the animals, the surrounding islands, or just Mount Kinabalu, you will need a totally different budget than 10-20 USD a day.
This is our own conclusion and we did explore so many things in Borneo traveling on a budget, you just have to take your time and travel slowly.
We hope that our tips will be useful on your next trip to Borneo. If you want any additional information or more tips, just leave it in the comments or send us an email.
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Thanks for reaching the end of this article, if you are interested in more travel and food tips around the world, every month (more or less) we come out with a new post in Spanish and one in English.
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Our Tip: Wise is a great card when you are travelling to a country with a different currency than yours. We use this online bank during our trips and we never had problems, even in remote places around the world.
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