Borneo

This is the Brunei Darussalam chapter from Lonely Planet’s Borneo guide-book.

Look beneath the surface of this tightly regulated sultanate and you’ll see the wisely con-served wildness of its natural environment. Thanks to its oil money, old-growth, primary rainforest abounds, especially in verdant Ulu Temburong National Park.

However, the introduction of a strict interpretation of sharia law in April 2019 has prompted global criticism and concern. Under the new legislation, adultery and homosexual acts are pun-ishable by death by stoning, and theft is punishable by the amputation of limbs. As the world struggles to come to terms with Brunei’s new direction, the future of tourism is uncertain.

• climbing high into the rainforest canopy and cool off in a jungle stream in Ulu Temburong National Park
• maps
• visit a mosque or museum and explore the restaurants and coffee shops of Bandar Seri Begawan
• transport
• take a water taxi to charming Kampong Ayer and learn about Brunei’s heritage.
• restaurants & accommodation

Coverage includes: Bandar Seri Begawan, Tutong & Belait Districts, Tutong, Jalan Labi, Seria, Temburong District, Bangar, Batang Duri, Ulu Temburong Nation-al Park, Survival Guide.

This is the Kalimantan chapter from Lonely Planet’s Borneo guidebook.

Kalimantan – the expansive Indonesian part of Borneo – is an adventure in every sense of the word. Remote jungle, snaking rivers and interior mountains serve up endless opportunities for epic rainforest exploration, while its cities are low-key and little visited by Indonesian stand-ards.

• complete the landmark cross-Borneo trek – if you can
• maps
• meet orangutans in Tanjung Puting National Park and sailing Sungai Sekonyer
• transport
• dive into Kalimantan’s best underwater and island life in Derawan Archipelago
• restaurants & accommodation

Coverage includes: West Kalimantan, Pontianak, Singkawang, Sintang, Putussibau, Sukadana, Gunung Palung National Park, Central Kalimantan, Tanjung Puting Na-tional Park, Pangkalan Bun, Kumai, Palangka Raya, Sebangau National Park, South Kaliman-tan, Banjarmasin, Kandangan, Loksado, East & North Kalimantan, Balikpapan, Samarinda, Sungai Mahakam, Muller Mountains, Kutai National Park, Berau, Merabu, Derawan Archipelago, North Kalimantan.

This chapter contains the Welcome to Borneo, Borneo’s Top 17, Need to Know, First Time Borneo, What’s New, If You Like..., Month by Month, Itineraries, Outdoor Adventures, Diving Pu-lau Sipadan, and Regions at a Glance chapters from Lonely Planet’s Borneo guide-book.

Your journey to Borneo starts here. You’ll find the tools to plan your adventure: where to go and when, how much to budget, plus in-depth info on diving.

• tailor-made itineraries, arranged by region, themes and events
• list of highlights and best experiences
• everything you need to know about outdoor adventures
• user-friendly country overview ensures you won’t miss a thing

Coverage includes: Welcome to Borneo, Borneo’s Top 17, Need to Know, First Time Borneo, What’s New, If You Like: Trekking, Wildlife, Indigenous Culture, River Trips, Multicultural Cities, Exploring Caves, Month by Month, Itineraries, Outdoor Adventures, Diving Pulau Sipadan, and Regions at a Glance.

This is the Sabah chapter from Lonely Planet’s Borneo guidebook.

Sabah occupies a relatively small chunk of Borneo, yet packs a punch: turquoise-fringed de-sert islands with coral reefs swarming with marine biodiversity; trekkers’ paradise Mt Kinabalu reaching into the clouds; and jungles pulsing with bug-eyed tarsiers, gibbons, pythons, clouded leopards and huge crocs.

• dive among sea turtles and sharks along multicoloured reefs in the Semporna Archipela-go
• maps
• trek up Mt Kinabalu, Borneo’s highest mountain, for the ultimate sunrise
• transport
• look for leopard cats, civets and deer on night safaris in Deramakot Forest Reserve
• restaurants & accommodation

Coverage includes: Kota Kinabalu, Tunku Abdul Rahman National Park, Pulau Manukan, Pulau Mamutik, Pulau Sapi, Pulau Gaya, Pulau Sulug, Northwestern Sabah, Mt Kinabalu & Around, Kinabalu National Park, Northwest Coast, Island Getaways, Eastern Sa-bah, Sandakan, Sepilok, Sandakan Archipelago, Deramakot Forest Reserve, Sungai Kinaba-tangan, Lahad Datu, Danum Valley Conservation Area, Tabin Wildlife Reserve, Semporna, Semporna Archipelago, Tawau, Tawau Hills Park, Maliau Basin Conservation Area, Southwest-ern Sabah, Interior Sabah, Beaufort Division, Pulau Tiga National Park, Pulau Labuan.

This is the Sarawak chapter from Lonely Planet’s Borneo guidebook.

Sarawak makes access to Borneo’s natural wonders and cultural riches a breeze. From Ku-ching, the island’s most dynamic city, pristine rainforests can be visited on day trips, with time in the evening for a tasty meal and a drink by the waterfront.

• watch semiwild orangutans swing through the canopy at Semenggoh Wildlife Centre
• maps
• see the elusive rafflesia, the world’s largest flower, in Gunung Gading National Park
• transport
• stroll the waterfront promenade in Kuching
• restaurants & accommodation

Coverage includes: Kuching, Western Sarawak, Bako National Park, Santubong Peninsula, Semenggoh Wildlife Centre, Annah Rais Longhouse, Kubah National Park, Bau & Around, Lundu, Gunung Gading National Park, Tanjung Datu National Park, Ta-lang-Satang National Park, Batang Ai Region, Central Sarawak, Sibu, Batang Rejang, Bintulu, Similajau National Park, Niah National Park, Lambir Hills National Park, Miri, Northeastern Sara-wak, Gunung Mulu National Park, Kelabit Highlands, Limbang Division.

This chapter contains the Understand Borneo, Borneo Today, History, Peoples & Cultures, The Cuisines of Borneo, Natural World, Responsible Travel, Directory A–Z, Transport, Health and Language chapters from Lonely Planet’s Borneo guidebook.

All the info you need on everything from history, people and environment to flights, public transport, climate, money, the internet... you name it. Get tips for women travellers, gay and les-bian travellers, travellers with disabilities, and travellers with kids. And get the most out of your conversations with a handy language guide and glossary.

• a rundown on politics, multiculturalism and the issues facing Borneo today
• info on Borneo’s history, from its first humans to colonisation and independence
• full coverage of the rainforests and their thousands of endangered inhabitants
• details on the people and culture of Borneo

Coverage includes: Understand Borneo, Borneo Today, History, Peoples & Cultures, The Cuisines of Borneo, Natural World, Responsible Travel, Directory A–Z, Transport, Health and Language.