Borneo Transverse

Overall the trip was good in that it combined hiking and biking, as well as some beach time at the end. The Bike Borneo guys (Christian & Hakeem) were great and they had sorted out some nice bike routes and a nice homestay.
The 3 day hike with Rosli (and Andy and Jackie who were friendly but I'm not sure why they were there) was not what we expected. It would have been best characterized as a 3 day hike where we camp in villages on wood floors and have outdoor squat toilets rather than being described as homestays. The "homestays" were much more primitive than any of our other homestays in Borneo (which had mattresses and indoor flush toilets). If we knew we'd be sleeping on wood floors we would have brought or requested padded sleeping mats. The trails were narrow and slippery with many creek crossings and the leeches were incredibly numerous. We ended up walking out on a dirt road on the third day which made for better travelling but it cost us an extra 250 ringitt for the transport out.

I was very satisfied with my kimkim experience. It's the initial ease off set up through an application but then with the human touch of an old school travel agent. Nick was well and formed and I felt safe trusting his judgment. My time was allocated very sensibly and the two places I stayed at were very well chosen.

Green Sawak was incredibly professionally run - their systems were so efficient. The room I stayed in was great value, clean, cute, well air-conditioned and with a nice hot shower. Also such a comfortable arm chair that I feel asleep on the second afternoon and missed the cultural talk!

I will say that there is a certain amount of luck with the guides. I was fortunate to be in a group led by Ikki - high energy, very funny, very informed, good English. On my last morning I took an optional cruise (NOTE: make sure to book early, they will not try to upsell, you must speak to reception), and the guide was much less involved and informed.

We saw elephants, crocodiles, monkeys, eagles, hornbills.... It was very successful.

The second stay at Borneo Sepilok Rainforest Resort, I chose to just do things by myself. The first day I saw the sun bears and orangutans (arrive at 2pm!). The second day I spent the entire day in the Rainforest Discovery Centre. The BSRR is just 2-3 minutes drive from all these attractions, and they had a little car they took me back and forth in - 1 EUR per journey. BSRR is beautiful with lovely flowers and good food.

I could have fine -tuned any of the parameters of this trip, but letting the experts do all the research worked really well. All I had to do was arrive at Sandakan airport with my cameras and the rest just happened.

Thanks kimkim and Nick for a brilliant trip.

My experience with Kim Kim and their representatives in Borneo was outstanding. I randomly chose this agency after reading a few reviews and feel very fortunate for this decision. Working with Nick was easy. He is based in Sarawak, although Kim Kim head office is in Colorado, USA. Nick was quick to respond and made changes based on our needs. We booked a private tour with Kim Kim and we got great service, accommodations, food etc. Our itinerary took us to Brunei and then Miri, Mulu and Kuching in Sarawak. Our guides, Willy, Brenda and especially Isa in Kuching, were engaging and informative. We did a lot of hikes in extremely hot and humid conditions in the national parks, so be prepared for this. My husband and I are in our mid 60s and not in top physical form but we managed most of it, but slowly. The caves in Miri and Mulu were exceptional and well worth this effort. We based in Kuching for three nights but in hindsight, I wish I had one more day there, as I didn’t see as much of the city as I would have liked. From Kuching, we drove to Bako National Park and Semenggoh Wildlife Centre, where we saw orangutans, proboscis monkeys, macaques, silver-leaf monkeys, bearded pigs, pit vipers and more. It was incredible. On a river cruise at sunset, we saw a massive saltwater crocodile, monkeys, many birds like the sea eagle and then fireflies. The latter was absolutely magical. For those deciding Sarawak over Sabah, we chose Sarawak due to warnings issued by the Canadian government for Sabah. We met other travellers who had been to Sabah and said it was fine but I was concerned and therefore extra cautious. We missed out on the sun bears but otherwise felt that we got the better experience. It wasn’t crowded in September and for the most part, we didn’t get much rain. Overall, we had an incredible visit in Borneo and would highly recommend taking a tour with Kim Kim and seeing this stunning region.

Our 13-day Peninsular Malaysia Explorer trip exceeded all expectations! From the moment we landed in Kuala Lumpur to our final departure from Langkawi, every detail was perfectly orchestrated.
Exceptional Service from Nick
Our local specialist Nick deserves special recognition. His expertise and attention to detail made this trip absolutely seamless. Having studied tourism in The Netherlands before moving to Malaysia, Nick brings a unique perspective that perfectly bridges Western expectations with authentic Malaysian experiences. His passion for sharing the beauty of his adopted country was evident in every aspect of our journey.
Incredible Itinerary Highlights
Taman Negara - The ancient rainforest experience was magical! The night walk revealed nocturnal wildlife we never would have seen otherwise, and the canopy walk offered breathtaking views. The Teresek Hill hike and Lata Berkoh boat trip were perfectly balanced between adventure and relaxation.
Cameron Highlands - The cool mountain air was a refreshing change. The Mossy Forest felt like stepping into another world, and the BOH Tea Plantation visit was both educational and delicious. Nick’s selection of activities here was spot-on.
Penang - Georgetown’s cycling tour was a brilliant way to explore the UNESCO heritage sites! Seeing the famous street art, experiencing traditional trades, and tasting authentic hawker food like Assam Laksa and Char Koay Teow made for an unforgettable cultural immersion.
Langkawi - The perfect finale to our trip! The mangrove kayak tour was serene and educational, and having a full free day allowed us to truly unwind on the beautiful beaches.
Flawless Logistics
Every transfer was punctual and comfortable. The local suppliers (Mr. Rizal, Mr. Jason, Mr. Ken, and Mr. Alex) were all professional and knowledgeable. The coordination between different regions was seamless - no stress, just pure enjoyment.
Why We Recommend KimKim & Nick
• Expertise: Nick’s deep knowledge of Malaysia shines through in every recommendation
• Organization: Every detail was handled professionally, from hotel transfers to activity timings
• Value: The perfect balance of must-see attractions and authentic local experiences
• Communication: Clear instructions and reliable local contacts throughout
• Flexibility: The itinerary offered both structured activities and free time to explore
This trip showcased Malaysia’s incredible diversity - from pristine rainforests to colonial heritage, from tea plantations to tropical islands. Nick and the KimKim team created memories that will last a lifetime.
Highly recommended for anyone wanting an authentic, well-organized Malaysian adventure!
Thank you, Nick and KimKim, for making our Malaysian dream trip a reality!

Activity Review

Night Walk at Taman Negara

Taman Negara

Taman Negara - The ancient rainforest experience was magical! The night walk revealed nocturnal wildlife we never would have seen otherwise, thanks to our guide Abi, how showed us spiders, snake, scorpion, fliurescerend mushrooms and lold us funny stories.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Abi as taking care of all the group, waited the other guide to finish and continued with us

Transport

by boat to the jungle

Our local specialist was Nick Jansen in Kuching, Sarawak. In a word, Nick is fantastic! He is with the tour operator, Borneo Transverse, and has extensive experience booking trips in all parts of Malaysia and was able to easily understand the trip we wanted to undertake, and provide a trip plan a couple days later. This was quite a challenge, because he had to accommodate the 14 people in our group into the rather small rainforest lodges we wanted to visit. His initial trip plan was very close to what we ended up with. After some conversations and adjustments, we finalized the trip plan less than a week later. Nick quickly set up a system for each couple to make their own payments. A couple of months before the trip we had to make some adjustments in our traveling group members. Nick was able to sort this out in a very satisfactory way.

The main thing that I want to say, is Nick and Borneo Transverse came through 100%. Everything that was specified in the trip plan was provided exactly as specified. We were a large group, and had plenty of luggage, so it was so nice to be confident that at each location we would be met with friendly personnel, who were able to get us to our destination easily. The hotels and the rainforest lodges all provided excellent accommodation. Our time on Lankayan Island was amazing.

Unfortunately, one of our team members suffered a serious medical emergency during the trip. This was rather frightening since we were at a remote location far from medical infrastructure. However, Nick and his staff and Sarawak staff were able to make appropriate arrangements, as well as to provide on-the-ground personal assistance.

Overall, I would have to say it was the trip of a lifetime. It was an expensive trip, but we felt we got full value for what we paid. If you ever go to Malaysia, especially, if you are traveling to Borneo, make sure Nick Jansen is making your trip arrangements. He is the best.

***NOTE***
This paragraph provides comments to the kimkim staff at kimkim headquarters. This was my fifth trip with kimkim and was surprised at how poorly our request was initially handled. Our trip request was misinterpreted to be a partial itinerary. My initial text/chat to clarify was ignored. After the five minute initial call with the kimkim team member, it took over a week to be assigned a local specialist. I got bounced around a with a couple of different people, and only got assigned to a local specialist after making a direct telephone call to kimkim headquarters.

Hotel Reviews

Casa Del Rio Hotel Melaka

Milaca is an interesting location, absolutely full of history. The Casa Del Rio Hotel has a perfect location to learn the history. The rooms are quite nice, but have some stairs leading into the bathrooms. Can be quite dangerous to navigate at night in the dark. Recommend some Night lights.

Authenticity & Character

An older property that fits in well with his location.

Location

Very central location to start from for historical walks.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Grandis Kota Kinabalu

Kota Kinabalu

Nice hotel of fairly standard quality. Amazingly located and connected to a shopping mall. Everything could be found at this mall. We had fun checking out Malaysian KFC.

Authenticity & Character

“OK, but of fairly standard character. No special features with regard to authenticity.

Location

Perfect location adjacent to the historical quarter, shopping mall, seafood restaurants and night markets.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Danum Valley Rainforest Resort

Lahad Datu

This is the real thing. Not easy to get to, but extremely worthwhile. A rare opportunity to see unspoiled nature. The rooms are comfortable when the food is good. He had extremely qualified nature guides, Helen and Alex. We saw nature up close and personal. Lots of monkeys.

Authenticity & Character

This is the real thing. Architecturally fits in well with the rainforest.

Location

In the heart of primary rainforest. Untouched by loggers and far from palm oil plantations.

Staff

Full board, and the food was really good.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Walking City Tour Melaka

Melaka

So interesting to learn about the complicated and varied history of Melaka.

Kuala Lumpur City Tour & Batu Caves

Kuala Lumpur

A lot packed into a short amount of time, and an excellent introduction to KL.

Kinabalu Park & Poring Hot Springs

Malaysia

A long day, but really amazing. I have to say the Botanical Park, had the most amazing and varied selection of plants in a small area, absolutely authentic and we got to see Rafflesia. The canopy walkway was arduous, but interesting.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our guide Zee was the best. She took so many pictures, and shared them with the group. Very knowledgeable!

The overall trip was wonderful, beautiful and amazing. The guides were good and connections and transfers went smoothly. Accommodations were great and food was super. Overall everything was well organized.
Here are a few thoughts, my personal opinion:
A better list of what to bring for the Rainforest Resort would have been helpful. We needed long socks, long sleeved shirts and long pants. It would be a good idea for the resort to provide boots. It was very muddy and slippery. Utan Rainforest Lodge did provide boots.
The snorkel gear was not included in our stay as the information provided said.
Melaka was very interesting and I enjoyed the historical background, but it took a lot of time in transit.
I would leave out the day of the Heritage Walk and Trainride Adventure in Kota Kinabalu and substitute a day to walk around the waterfront, shops and markets.
The cooking class was great and the Kinabalu Park was great.

Hotel Review

Danum Valley Rainforest Resort

Lahad Datu

The rooms at the Danum Valley Rainforest Resort were absolutely gorgeous, and the service was good. The guides were knowledgeable and patient, providing an excellent experience. However, I felt underprepared for the jungle treks, as there were no boots or gators available to tackle the slippery and muddy terrain. A better preparation list and provision of proper gear would have greatly enhanced the experience. The food and service overall were satisfactory, with stunning room accommodations.

Activity Review

Kota Kinabalu Cooking Class

Kota Kinabalu

The Kota Kinabalu Cooking Class was a wonderful experience. Going to the market and participating in the cooking was especially nice, and it provided an opportunity to get to know some locals better. The family that hosted the cooking demonstration was very friendly and gracious, making the experience quite special.