My 3 Best Kept Travel Secrets

We were recently nominated to participate in Tripbase’s “My 3 Best Kept Travel Secrets” game by our great Twitter friend, Isabelle of @IsabellesTravel. You can read Isabelles best kept travel secret here.

“The aim of this game is to unite travel bloggers in a joint endeavor – to create an amazing list of top travel recommendations across the globe to share with the entire online travel community.” – Katie from Tripbase.com.

So here are our Travel Adventure Secrets.

1. Pinnacles of Borneo

Everyone seems to know about climbing Mount Kinabalu in Malaysian Borneo, but one of our favorite adventures of our life was trekking to the Pinnacles of Gunung Mulu in Sarawak.  A stone forest of white and grey limestone, jutting 45 metres out of the earth in razor sharp formations.

It is an adventure just getting there. It takes two days to trek to the pinnacles.  After flying into Gunung Mulu National Park on a twin-engine airplane, you take a 2-hour boat ride to the start of an 8km trail.  After your long trek through the jungle it is a beautiful overnight at Camp 5 where you prepare for your summit push the following morning.  The steep climb is exhilarating and to finally reach the summit and witness this rare and awe-inspiring site is an incredible life experience. It is our little secret for when you make your way to Borneo, enjoy!

2. The White Desert of Egypt

Egypts white desert, not a secret for long.

Everyone thinks of the great Pyramids, the Sphinx, Abu Simble and the Luxor Temple.  But make your way out to Egypt’s interior and you will witness a true natural wonder.

Book an overnight safari where you will camp Bedouin style among giant monoliths scattered throughout the barren landscape.  Centuries of erosion have shaped these chalk formations into gigantic mushrooms, camels, hawks and mountains.

It is one of the most unique and thrilling opportunities a person can have in their life.

3. Huacachina Peru

Peru's Giant Sand dunes

Peru has many famous sites that have intrigued and fascinated the world.  It houses Macchu Pichu, Lake Titicaca and the Andes Mountains. However for us, one of the most exciting and adventurous destinations was in Huacachina.   Located in Ica Province, you will find some of the largest sand dunes in the world as you enjoy yourself at this beautiful Oasis.

Relaxing is nice, but all the fun starts when you take a dune buggy ride out to ride the giant dunes.  It is more exciting than a roller coaster as the skilled drivers climb steep hills only to fly down near vertical drops.

Sand boarding is a must and it can be done out in the middle of the desert on your excursion or grab a board from a guesthouse in Huacachina and make the hike on your own to the top of one of the surrounding dunes.  There isn’t a more beautiful site than to stand atop a giant peak during sunset while looking out over the endless desert sands.

And that my friends are our three best kept travel secrets with a little adventure team twist.

The object of the game is to tag other Blogs to take part.

Here are our 5 tags for you to check out their sites!

• Ottsworld
• TheTravelExpert(a)
• TheQFamilyAdventures
• ApproachGuides
• TheProfessionalHobo

Mount Kinabalu, Sabah Borneo

The Legendary Rainforests of Borneo bring to mind images of towering trees, abundant wildlife and a wild foreboding rain forests filled with raging rivers.  Only great explorers would dare to go there, it was home to the Headhunter after all.

The Malaysian Borneo of today is a very different one of 50 years ago.  During the 70′s to 90′s the rain forest was cut down at an alarming rate becoming garden furniture and chopsticks.  Much of its jungle and habitat was wiped out. Sadly, forests are still being clear cut in Borneo to make room for Oil Palm Plantations and poaching of endangered species such as the Orangutan and the Clouded Leopard is on the rise; but there is a glimmer of hope.

The Endangered Orangutan

Conservation and reforestation methods are being introduced and 16% of Sabah’s forested area is protected.  And there are heavy penalties for poaching.  So, now is the time to get yourself to Borneo and see this magical land before it is too late.  Plus if there is one thing that I have learned in my travels, if people can make some money off of tourists coming to see their wildlife and nature, well, they will just work that much harder to protect it.

Our Picks for Top Things to do in Malaysian Borneo

Malaysian Borneo is broken up into two provinces. Sabah and Sarawak.

Each destination can be a trip in itself, but we want to share our top things for both provinces.

Sabah

1. Climbing Mount Kinabalu. South East Asia’s highest peak at 4095 meters in a magnificent climb over 2 days.  A two hour bus ride from Kota Kinabalu will take you to the parks gate where you can book the climb, your guide, accommodations and climb. It is recommended that you secure your permits in Kota Kinabalu before you go, but being Dave and Deb, we of course bought them on sight right after the bus let us off at the park. Not a problem though, we secured a climb for the next day with dorm accommodations at Laban Rata at 3500 meters.

• To read more about Mount Kinabalu, enjoy our post Mount Kinabalu, Two Tough Days in Borneo
  
• To see our climb click here to see our video of Cllimbing in Sabah

Dave and Deb at Mount Kinablu Borneo

By far one of the most heartwarming moments of my life was visiting our next destination in Borneo.

2. The Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre

Lodging right beside the park, we stayed at the Sepilok Jungle Resort. A lodge right in the middle of the jungle with boardwalks twisting through the grounds. It is a short walk to the Sepilok Rehabilitation Centre where we were treated to a video explaining the centre and what it has accomplished. Very interesting indeed, but the piéce de resistance is definitely all about the Orangutans. After walking along the jungle path with monkeys playing in the trees, we come out to the feeding platform. Every day, the orangutans can choose to come back for a hearty meal of fruit and vitamin milk. They are orangutans that have either been injured, rescued or orphaned that have been nursed back to health and let back into the jungle.  To make their transition easier, they can come back any time they want for a feast.

Semenggoh Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre, Sarawak

We loved it our time at Sepilok in Sabah province so much that when we went to Borneo’s other Province Sarawak to see the orangutans again. Semenggok Rehabilitation Centre is a far less visited rehab facility, but just as effective and more fulfilling I must say. It was just Dave, Myself and another couple watching the Orangutans munch on their banana’s.  A very touching experience.

Now it is time to see orangutans in the wild

Last Day at Uncle Tans, Sabah Borneo

3. Uncle Tans Jungle Safari

This lodge in Sabah was one of the coolest trips I have ever taken. Take a boat up the The Sungai (river) Kinabatangan right into the heart of the jungle of Borneo, and stay in this rustic camp for a few days.  Your meals and wildlife safaris are included, but if you want some alcohol, bring it with you.  It won’t be needed though because the days are packed.  You can get up at 6:00 am for a morning safari on the boat to check out the life on the river. Morning is a great time to see the Proboscis Monkey.  Another trek will take you into the jungle by foot where you will learn about plant life and smaller amphibians like, the smallest frog in the world.  There is another afternoon safari where you will see a ton of wildlife such as monitor lizards, wild orangutans, proboscis monkeys and civit cats. Then it is off again after dinner for a night safari where you will look for crocodiles.

Smallest Frog in the World

4. The Pinacles of Gunung Mulu National Park

There was so much to do at Gunung Mulu National park in Sarawak Borneo, that it must not be missed.  Fly into it on a twin engine plane and you already feel that you are in the middle of nowhere. We immediately booked out trek to the Pinnalces, the star attraction of the park and settled in for the night.  The next day started with a boat ride, stopping at various caves along the way until we reached the entrance to our trail. We were let off on the shore and proceeded to hike 8 km in the jungle, with two river crossing in the process. We eventually found our way to camp 5 in the middle of the jungle once again where we stayed overnight resting for our climb to the pinnacles.

Pinnacles of Gunung Mulu

First thing in the morning, our guide took us up a rigorous climb. At first we were climbing in slippery and steep jungle, but 3/4 of the way up, we came to the first of seventeen aluminum ladders. This is where it gets fun.  Climbing on ropes and ladders over crevasse’s and drops. It can be a little hair raising, but the payoff is worth it.  Once we emerge around a rock,we are treated to a view of  dozens of jagged limestone layers reaching forty metres high. Magnificent.

To see our climb to the Pinnacles of Borneo check out our video here

Dave at the Pinnacles Lookout

Once we were back at Gunung Mulu Park Headquarters, we made our way out to Deer Cave. It is the largest cave chamber in the world and here we were treated to a view of 2 million bats flying out at dusk to feed on the insects.  It was one of the most extraordinary sights I have ever seen in my life. A giant black cloud snaked through the sky performing and arial ballet in front of our eyes.

Bats at Deer Cave in Malaysian Borneo

And that takes us to the end of our Malaysian Borneo adventure, where we finally got to see the Proboscis Monkey up close and personal at Bako National Park

Proboscis Monkey, in Bako NP

5. Bako National Park, Sarawak Borneo.

Native only to the Island of Borneo, these peculiar monkeys are an intriguing sight.  A golden brown color with a pot belly and a snout nose, the Proboscis Monkey can be found all over Bako.  Walk quietly through the trails, stop to listen for a while and soon you will find yourself amongst a family playing and feeding above.  At first we couldn’t find a single one, that is until we realised that they were everywhere above us.  We just weren’t standing still long enough to notice.

Bako National Park Entrance in Sarawak

Getting to Bako is half of the fun. Permits and accomodation be arranged in Kutching, Sarawak’s Capital City and then you hop on a bus to catch a boat to Bako..  The boat is small and we enjoy the ride, but it is at the approach that it gets fun. Riding the tide in to the shore, we almost capsize in the waves, we make it fine though and spend the night chilling out at the headquarters.

Crossing another River in Borneo

There are so many amazing things to do in Borneo, that you need months to fit it all in.

There is diving in Sipadan, The Turtle Sanctuary at Turtle Island, Hiking the Headhunters trail, visiting a longhouse, and many more national parks. I truly is one of the great adventure destinations on the planet. Let’s just hope that the Malaysian government starts taking care of it so that Borneo will be there to enjoy for years to come.

We are enroute to Gunung Mulu National Park in Sarawak, Borneo.

Malaysian Borneo’s southern province.

Here is where that my husband and I will be climbing to the Pinnacles, a stone forest jutting 45 metres out of the earth, in  razor sharp formations.

Part of the fun and challenge is getting to the Pinnacles.

Gunung Mulu is a remote National park reached only by plane and a short truck ride will take you to the parks headquarters in the middle of the jungle.

It is here that we book our dorm for the night and then look for people to trek to the Pinnacles with.  It helps to share the costs of the boat and guide otherwise it can be quite expensive.

Pulling boat on Pinnacle Trek in Borneo

The Pinnacles is not an easy undertaking. You must carry your own food to last for 3 days and carry with you on your back.

The trek itself involves a 2 hour boat ride to the start of an 8.9 km trail which takes you to camp 5 situated at the base of the Pinnacles.

We boarded our small motor boat at 7:00 am and started our journey up the Melinau River, stopping at  Wind Cave and Clearwater Caves.  The longest cave passage in South-East Asia.

The water was low at this time of year and our driver and navigator had their hands full pulling our boat through the shallow river while avoiding rocks and logs.  We were let off at the entrance to the trail,where arrangements were made to be picked up in two days.

The Trek to the Pinnacles

River Crossing in Gunung Mulu, Sarawak Borneo

Within one km of our 8.8km hike we had our first of 2 river crossings.  It was pretty deep and a rope was attached across the river as a safety line to keep from falling over as the water rushed passed.  We all made it safely and managed to keep our packs dry, but nobody could escape the leaches.  They smuggled their way into our socks and even though we did a thorough check, we still entered camp 5 a bloody mess.

We kept up a steady pace and reached our second river crossing in 2 hours.  This one wasn’t quite as intimidating.  No rope was provided, but it was only about 2 feet deep and the water was moving at a leisurely speed.

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We all did our required leach assessment and were on our way.

Camp 5, Torrential Downpour in Borneo

We made it to the Pinnacles base camp by early afternoon and had time to enjoy the views and went for a walk along the headhunters trail.

It is a beautiful location, surrounded by large cliffs,  a quiet stream and lush jungle. We made our dinner of noodle soup and crackers, played some cards and enjoyed meeting new friends.

In the early evening the rain came with a vengeance and we worried that we would not be able to climb to the Pinnacles the following morning.  The park rangers are very strict about not letting people on the trail if it is too dangerous, and this was our one and only shot.

No refund, no Pinnacles.

Needless to say, nobody slept well  in our basic accommodation of vinyl mats placed in a raised wooden platform.  The rain was relentless all night, but it managed to stop in the morning and thankfully we were allowed to climb.

We joined our guide Micheal at 6:00 to begin our climb. For the first hour Micheal kept up a furious pace and it was exhilarating to be climbing with such determination.  After a while, he fell back to stay with the slower climbers and we were on our own until we reached the upper portion of the climb, the 17 aluminum ladders.

Many people who try to climb the Pinnacles do not make it to the lookout.  It is not a high climb, it is steep, exhausting and it is technically challenging with no safety ropes.

We crossed crevasses on metal beams, balanced on rocks while holding onto a rope over head and climbed up ladders attached to the side of the cliff.  We had a blast, but I can see how some people would be very uncomfortable.

An hour later we emerged to the Awesome sight of the Pinnacles.

Giant grey and white stones, jut out of the jungle like razor sharp sharks teeth.  They were  majestically poised for our viewing.

The sight of the Pinnacles were a magnificent payoff to a difficult  and exciting climb.

Dave at The Pinnacles of Gunung Mulu National Park, Borneo

Soon the clouds rolled in bringing an ominous feel to the pinnacles.  That was our cue to leave as we had to be down before the weather rolled in .

5 hours later and a slippery and exhausting climb down, we were back at camp showering and relaxing.

The Break didn’t last for long however.

The following day we had to hike back the 8 km to meet our ride back to Gunung Mulu park headquarters.

We only had a short break upon our return as we had to hike 3 more km  to Deer Cave, the worlds largest cave opening.

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Here we witnessed the phenomenon of 2 million bats emerging from the depths of darkness to perform a ballet in the twilight sky.

2 Million bats fly out of Deer Cave in Borneo

It was all I could do to put one foot in front of the other walking along the path, but once the bats appeared, it was worth the exertion.

A giant line of bats circled above becoming longer with each pass until an endless black spiral was formed overhead. It was a wonder of nature.

To explore everything in Gunung Mulu National park could take months. The Sarawak Chamber, the largest cave chamber in the world, rock climbing,  the head hunters trail, The summit of Gunung Mulu and tthe Bario and Kelabit Highlands.  We only scratched the surface with our 5 days doing the Pinnacle Trek, but I am eagerly looking forward to returning in the near future to explore its vastness in depth.