12 independent reviews for Borneo vacation, Land below the wind
Reviews for Borneo vacation, Land below the wind
Cera McCrann review 4 Aug 2023
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your vacation?
Too many to comment! In such a short space of time, we saw Orangutans, Proboscis Monkeys, Pig-tail Macaques, Long-tail Macaques, Pygmy Elephants, A Flying Squirrel, Silver Leaf langurs and a few giant water monitor lizards! Really exceeding my expectations of what I wanted in terms of a wildlife trip. I really enjoyed the fact that it was a small group with people around my age (32) or older (only slightly)! I almost get put off as a solo traveler that I might end up with a much younger group that may want to party or I am unable to relate to as I am not on a typical "gap year" style trip so its very refreshing that there were people I could relate with and had similar interests. there was constantly something to do and see every day with different varieties. Our tour guide Beverley I cannot recommend enough! she was amazing, a really lovely approachable lady. Very knowledgeable and did everything she could to make sure we all got the best experience from the trip. We saw so much in such a short space of time such a great guide I would be happy to book another trip with her.2. What tips would you give other travelers booking this vacation?
Follow the packing list provided! it is very useful and everything listed is what I needed or used. Pack light, most accommodations have laundry facilities to use. comfortable light clothing shorts and t-shirts. Bug spray! bring it you WILL need it. Bring a reusable water bottle. battery operated hand held fan will be very valuable in the humidity I used mine all the time. Bring binoculars3. Did you feel that your vacation benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
All of our guides and tour drivers were local people and knowledgeable. our guide encouraged us daily to avoid plastic if possible and reuse water bottles. unfortunately its sad to see a lot of plastic rubbish in the ocean and rivers.4. Finally, how would you rate your vacation overall?
once in a life time!Catherine Harriss review 21 Feb 2023
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your vacation?
Seeing the different nature.2. What tips would you give other travelers booking this vacation?
Comfortable clothing is a must that covers shoulders and knees.3. Did you feel that your vacation benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
It certainly supported local tourism, conservation and local people.4. Finally, how would you rate your vacation overall?
It was excellent! Thank you.Elizabeth (Liz) Morrissey review 14 Feb 2023
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your vacation?
Although the whole trip was exciting. Our highlight was seeing the Orangutans. We visited the sanctuary in the morning and again during the afternoon. We saw a 4 day old baby with its mum a long with lots of cheeky young orangutans. Then whilst we were on a river cruise we actually saw a wild Orangutan which was totally amazing and so rare!!2. What tips would you give other travelers booking this vacation?
You definitely need sunscreen as although humid and may have cloud cover it gets very hot and you can catch the sun. A good pair of trainers/walking shoes are necessary but also a pair of sturdy sandle’s are ok for most of the trip. Definitely take an umbrella if it’s the rainy season and light weight long sleeves for the river cruises. Plus plenty of insect repellent!!3. Did you feel that your vacation benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
Definitely in all aspects!!4. Finally, how would you rate your vacation overall?
A fabulous good value for money vacation with lovely people and an amazing guide. Good accommodation and freshly cooked meals. We only had to buy a few meals as most were included with the vacation. A bucket list country now ticked off my list!!Paula Neto review 5 Dec 2019
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your vacation?
To see the the rain forest and all the biodiversity, the tall trees, all the vegetation on the different levels, impossible to photograph as good as the picture can be. The incredible camouflage of animals from the largest ones to the insects, frogs, lizards ....The canopy walks that alow to see the forest from above And of course the orangutans (2 were just a few feet away- that was really amazing), and the probiscus monkeys. The Mkinabalu, MKNP, park is worth a visit and, if possible, the climb to the top, or at least to the refuge at about 3,000 m,2. What tips would you give other travelers booking this vacation?
take binoculars, and just watch and enjoy. Be prepared for hot days, sweat, and some rain.3. Did you feel that your vacation benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
Just for buying the tour alone we help the locals, in the sense that it help them to have a job in a direct or indirect way. Visiting the conservation center and be able to see the animals in a natural habitat give us the notion of the importance, and the responsabillity, that we can have in preserving species. Despite being a reminder of the importance of biodiversity and conservation of species, whether or not in extinction, the mere presence of tourists, with the resulting internal displacement, by car and by plane, does not reduce environmental impacts...4. Finally, how would you rate your vacation overall?
Great vacation, It is certainly a recommended destination.Don Newport review 26 Nov 2019
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your vacation?
Seeing a herd of pygmy elephants in the wild - our guide reckoned it was probably a 10% chance2. What tips would you give other travelers booking this vacation?
Just go with the flow. Take the time to absorb the people, cultures, flora and fauna3. Did you feel that your vacation benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
Yes. We did our best to avoid the tourist traps and instead visited the local markets4. Finally, how would you rate your vacation overall?
Really good!Toyah Baulk review 6 Aug 2019
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your vacation?
Our guide Edwin was fantastic! This was a vacation of a life time seeing the orangutans and the elephants in the wild.2. What tips would you give other travelers booking this vacation?
To go for it! Even if you have little ones! You will not be disappointed.3. Did you feel that your vacation benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
I think it supported conservation by us learning more about palm oil and visiting the sanctuaries4. Finally, how would you rate your vacation overall?
This vacation was literally a vacation of a life time! Fantastic company to book through and our guide was just fantastic. Couldn’t ask for a better service!Helen Bowen review 14 Aug 2019
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your vacation?
Seeing an orang-utan and Pygmy elephant in the wild.2. What tips would you give other travelers booking this vacation?
It’s very hot and humid so plenty of clean clothes. You cannot prepare yourself for the humidity. Take a copy of your itinerary to make sure it’s the same as your guides. Take good mozzie spray with you and use liberally. Extend your stay by going to Manukan island, you will not be disappointed.3. Did you feel that your vacation benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
Benefited local people as it was a local guide, although all the tours used local people other than that, not really4. Finally, how would you rate your vacation overall?
Highs and lows. We had a different itinerary to our guide which lead to some misunderstanding at the beginning as it came across to us that he possibly hadn’t done it before (he had it wasn’t until we compared itineraries we realised the misunderstandings!). Do feel we could’ve been given more helpful information for transfers (when transferring to Manukan island they had no booking for us, except they did but it was booked under Big Adventure (think it was) and not the operator). Luckily everyone over there are so nice, kind and willing to help so it got sorted but it was unnecessary stress we could’ve done without.Niamh Sherry review 5 Oct 2018
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your vacation?
The whole trip was wonderful but my highlight was the second day at the Bilit Adventure Lodge. We woke up early to the sound of the jungle and had a cruise along the river. The light quality at that time was really beautiful and we saw a surprising number of animals. We came back had a delicious breakfast and then went for a walk through the jungle. We'd done a Night Walk the previous evening so it was interesting to see the contrast. We didn't see a lot of wildlife but the complexity of the jungle and the sounds and smells were so enjoyable - even on trails that were very well worn. We had some free time to relax on the sun deck that afternoon and then had another trip on the river. Due to the excellent skill of our river guide, Kalo, over the whole stay we saw orangutans, an elephant, crocodiles, a gibbon, macaques, proboscis monkeys, rhinoceros hornbills and many more animals. Due to Kalo's reaction I think we were particularly lucky to see so much but just traveling down the river is a joy itself. We stayed on the river until sundown and saw the most spectacular sunset (that was a real 'pinch me, is this real?!' moment), and then celebrated the day with a bottle of Merlot back at the lodge. An unforgettable day.2. What tips would you give other travelers booking this vacation?
Bring binoculars, a couple of long sleeved tops and full legged trousers. We were lucky to see a lot from the boat with the naked eye but binoculars would allow you to see a bit more detail. Although it was very hot in September under the canopy of the trees it was a lot cooler and the protection of long clothing just gave me a bit more confidence when walking through the foliage.3. Did you feel that your vacation benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
Yes definitely. All of our guides, drivers and our tour leader lived in Borneo. They were able to give us a much more authentic view of the country and they were all so helpful that I was happy to tip almost everyone. Tipping is not a common custom but is appreciated from tourists. Our guide advised around 5 ringgit but some of the people were so helpful I gave up to 50. Our leader encouraged us to reduce our plastic use for the tour - there is a lot of plastic in the water surrounding the island and it's only recently become an environmental concern for the country so it was stressed to us that we should play a part. Most of the hotels had kettles so it's easy enough to boil some water, leave it to cool and refill bottles for the day ahead.We drove through a large area of palm oil plantations and our leader gave us a lot of information on the industry and the impact it has had. It's definitely encouraged me to be more aware of the ingredients in the products I use now I'm back home and I encourage others to do the same. All the interactions we had with wildlife were done respectfully and on the river our guide was very aware of not stressing any of the animals and moving away if our presence was causing upset.4. Finally, how would you rate your vacation overall?
I can't rate this vacation, the company, our tour leader or the country highly enough. I had an unforgettable time and would have done the whole trip all over again without any hesitation. When I'm traveling to this part of the world again I will definitely travel with Responsible Travel and this company.Eleri Roberts review 2 Oct 2018
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your vacation?
Seeng the Orangutans in their natural habitat. Also the lucky sighting of the Borneo Gibbon and Pygmy elephant.2. What tips would you give other travelers booking this vacation?
Read up about your itinerary and enjoy every minute.3. Did you feel that your vacation benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
Our vacation was certainly environmentally friendly. We tried to support local activities as far as possible and bought their produce when available. I was aware of the impact of the Palm Oil industry but I am certainly leaving Borneo with a more informed commitment to avoid products containing Palm Oil.4. Finally, how would you rate your vacation overall?
I had planned this vacation for post retirement and to see my adopted Orangutangs. The vacation far surpassed my expectations- and this was made so special by Sheila (our leader)’s passion and commitment to her “work”.Linda Beviss review 10 Apr 2018
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your vacation?
Probably seeing orang-utans in the wild and up very close at Sepilok rehabilitation center but the whole trip was both memorable and exciting!2. What tips would you give other travelers booking this vacation?
No need for any warm clothes. The temperature doesn't drop much at all at night. Shorts are fine most of the time - we took too many long trousers.3. Did you feel that your vacation benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
Definitely supported local people and that was stressed by our guide. although our guide encouraged us to refill our water bottles - which we did when we could - there were always extra plastic bottles available in the rooms. Water coolers in all hotels/lodges would be better.4. Finally, how would you rate your vacation overall?
Wonderful! A really inspiring, eye-opening trip.Julia Thornely review 7 Mar 2017
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your vacation?
Seeing endangered orangutans up close in the sanctuary and watching their interactions. Visiting the sun bear sanctuary to watch the bears. Cruising up the Kinabatangan River seeing monkeys and hornbills in the trees. The night walk with Jasper, one of the guides at Mulu, with his infectious humour and enthusiasm! Watching the nightly exodus of 5 million bats from the caves in Mulu. Snorkelling with beautiful and extraordinary fish on the reefs off Manukan island.2. What tips would you give other travelers booking this vacation?
Travel light, bring long sleeves and long trousers. Enjoy squelching through the mud on the night walks at Kinabatangan, for which you rent wellies! Keep close to the guides on the walks, or you won't see the wildlife and you won't hear what they say. Deet spray works well if you have a leech you want to remove. Although there weren't many leeches apparent, leech socks probably saved a few bites and the guides wear them too. Talk to the national park guides, they are interesting people.3. Did you feel that your vacation benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
It was great to be in a tiny group and not to feel we were 'invading' in a large group, so having a much smaller impact. Visiting the national parks and small enterprises provided funding to support them. We stopped en route to shop from local people for snacks, drinks, etc. We were able to support the orangutans through various projects there. I was shocked at the degree of destruction of the rainforest and the massive impact of the palm oil plantations on the wildlife and their habitats.4. Finally, how would you rate your vacation overall?
Very enjoyable! Fairly much on the go most of the time, which suited me, until the free time on the island. Transport and transfers were seamlessly efficient. Our guide was cheerful and sociable and did his best to keep us happy. A couple of our events (Garden of Eden trip and the BBQ) were cancelled and one of our meals was very poor, but the company more than made it up to us when we contacted them.Sallieann YOounf review 23 Oct 2016
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your vacation?
Trekking through the Borneo rain forest and the boat trips to looking for the wild life. We saw many variety of monkeys, birds and also orangutans one of which was feeding outside our jungle lodge. Our guide was also EXCELLENT2. What tips would you give other travelers booking this vacation?
Take loads of insect, repellent a good camera and binoculars . And be prepared for an adventure, if you want a quite relaxed vacation then you've picked the wrong trip!!3. Did you feel that your vacation benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
Yes, our guide, transport and meals were all provided by local people.4. Finally, how would you rate your vacation overall?
THE TRIP OF A LIFTIME. EXCELLENT (feels like a massive understatement)Holiday Reviews
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