Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
While an ascent of the higher of the two rock formations, known as the 'male peak', is
only for expert technical rock climbers, ascending the lower 'female peak' - described by
one veteran trekker as 'awe-inspiring' - is possible for fit trekkers without special skills.
It's a tough, four- or five-day return trip from Bario. Be prepared to spend the second day
passing through areas that have been impacted by logging. Only a handful of guides are
experienced enough to tackle Batu Lawi - perhaps the best is Richard from Pa' Ukat.
GUNUNG MURUD
Sarawak's highest mountain (2442m), part of 598-sq-km
Pulong Tau National Park
, is
just begging to be climbed, but very few visitors make the effort to put the trip together.
This adventure is only for the fittest of the fit.
Borneo Touch Ecotour
( 013-8443861;
www.walk2mulu.com
)
offers four-day, three-night ascents for RM1500 per person (min-
imum four).
The mountain is linked by trails with both Ba Kelalan and Bario. From Bario, the more
common starting point, a typical return trip takes six or seven days. You can also walk
from Bario via Gunung Murud to Ba Kelalan (five days one-way), but as you approach Ba
Kelalan you'll have to walk along a depressing logging road.
A rough logging road links the base of Gunung Murud with the lowland town of Lawas
(five to eight hours by 4WD).
TREKKING IN THE PENAN HIGHLANDS
Community-based and sustainably managed,
Picnic with the Penan
(
www.picnicwiththepenan.org
)
is a pioneer-
ing, non-profit tourism initiative that offers intrepid trekkers a rare chance to visit remote Penan villages in the
ulu-ulu
(back-of-the-beyond) Upper Baram area between the Highland airports of Long Lellang and Long Banga.
Itineraries take at least five days and four nights. Booking is by email or through Highlands Backpackers (
Click
Limbang Division
Shaped like a crab claw, the Limbang Division slices Brunei in two and separates the di-
minutive sultanate from Sabah. Tourism is underdeveloped in these parts, but Bruneians
love popping across the border to find shopping bargains, including cheap beer smuggled
in from duty-free Pulau Labuan. As one local put it with just a hint of exaggeration, 'Los
Angeles has Tijuana, BSB has Limbang'.
