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Borneo FAQ
 
We would love to take you to Borneo - for us, it is the top destination and we are very passionate about the country, the people and everything else that is going on with deforestation, animal welfare and the future for indigenous people. We aim to enthuse and excite you with this trip as well as making you well informed. Hopefully, these questions and answers will help but we are just on the end of a phone or email and happy to answer any others. Contact us here

Why are our flights not included?

There are rules about advertising and booking flights for clients and it involves belonging to different associations. As a small company, it isn't cost effective for us to be involved in this and therefore ask you to book your own flights. We do however, work closely with a travel agents who have a dedicated operator for Let Loose customers. Click Here for more information. The proposed itineray is to fly to Kuala Lumpur (mainland) and then into Kota Kinabalu (Borneo) where we spend time in the state of Sabah. We then fly into the state of Sarawk (Borneo) for our stay in the jungle, and finally fly back to Kuala Lumpur (mainland) and then the UK. Your internal flights in Borneo, that is from Sabah to Sarawak and into the forest is included in the price. Flights from the Uk to Borneo and return are not.

 

What else is not included in the price?

Our first meal in Kota Kinabalu will be in the famous Filipino Market on the water front. This is an exciting place to eat and a good introduction to our trip. You'll be amazed with the selection of fresh food. This meal is at your expense, you can eat for about £3, which allows you to pick and chose and eat as much or as little as you want. The final meal is also at your expense, again to leave it to your choice. All other meals are included. All meals will come with some drink but extra or alcohol will be at your expense. If you want to tip local staff, or buy souvenirs, or other costs outside of the programme then these are not included. We will ask you to complete a medical questionnaire that needs to be certified by your GP. Some GPs charge for this. Your GP or travel nurse will advise on vaccinations and some of these come with a cost.

 

What will the accommodation be like?

We shall stay in a hotel on the night of arrival in Kota Kinabalu. In the jungle training camp we shall be sleeping outdoors on stretcher hammocks. At Sepilok we shall be in a hostel set inside the forest. When we travel to Miri we shall be in a hotel/hostel and then when with the Penan people, in their homes. Basic but clean and very much part of he experience.

 

How many will there be in our group?

We will need a minimum of six people for the trip to run. Our maximum will be twelve. People go on these trips from all walks of life, which makes these trips so interesting. They are likely to have similar ideas and outlook to yourself by the very nature that they have booked on this trip.

 

Will I be fit enough?

A common question, and one that often manifests itself in our heads. The heat and humidity takes a little getting used to at first but we combat that with spending time at our jungle training camp, drinking plenty of water and being involved in different activities. You have until July 2012 to improve on your fitness if you think you need to, and we can always offer advice on how to do this. On the trek, the going is steady and we take plenty of breaks, and keep hydrated. You will be asked to complete a medical questionnaire, which our doctor will advise on if he feels there are any issues. 

What happens if I get sick?

This of course can happen to anyone. We shall be using either safe or bottled water throughout our time in Malaysia. Our meals are freshly cooked and hygienically prepared. You will be advised to seek travel advice from your GP or travel clinic with regards to vaccinations and anti-malarials, and our own doctor will be there for consultations. We will have an established evacuation plan and with the ability of getting you to the closest appropriate hospital.

What clothing and equipment do we need?

You will receive a full kit list when you book as well as a discount letter for the outdoor retailers Cotswold Outdoors Ltd giving 15% discount should you need to buy any clothing or equipment. The jungle can be harsh on clothing and footware so it's not worth bringing expensive items or spending lots of money on new kit. 

 

What about toilets during the trek? And what about washing?

Many of the camps we use in the forest will have long drops or some sort of toilet. On the trek we would use a hole in the ground, and again all part of the experience and we always have plenty of toilet stories. We advise the use of anti-bacterial gel and that paper and sanitary items be placed in nappy bags and carried out with us. Washing will be done in rivers and that's an excellent way of finishing the day.

 

What about the food and will there be enough?

One of the highlights of going to Borneo, is the food - freshly cooked, beautiful ingredients, with mouth watering smells and flavours. Rice and noodles feature as the staple, and it is easy to eat vegetarian.

 

What about climbing Mt Kinabalu?

We haven't included climbing the mountain as part of this trip for two reasons. Firstly, we want to offer something that other companies are not doing. Secondly, it is expensive and the price has been increasing each year especially as it has been taken over by an organisation. If you are keen on this trip and want to climb the mountain, you could always stay on and do it afterwards and we can help you organise this.

 

I am interested, what do I do next?

Simple, drop us an email expressing an interest, it doesn't commit you, and we'll send you details on how to book, the deposit to be paid, and terms and conditions. On receiving your deposit we'll send you a receipt, and this is refundable until the trip is confirmed, that is when we have sixt or more people booked. We will then advise regarding flights, timings, clothing and equipment. We shall also be able to suggest a fitness training programme. We are always open to your questions, and aim to support you in any way we can.

 

Interested in knowing more about the rainforest and conservation?

Here is an excellent link to the Prince's Rainforest Project and an interactive booklet with plenty of information. Click on the badge below.