Which means of transport to use Borneo?

More and more domestic airports are opening up, facilitating travel to several cities in Sarawak, Sabah, Kalimantan and Bandar Seri Begawan (Brunei). AirAsia and MASwings serve Borneo. Air fares are very affordable.

In Kuala Lumpur, the airport is 60 km from the city center, so it's best to take the KLIA Ekspres train (RM55), which is faster and cheaper than a cab, and above all avoids traffic jams. It drops you off at KL Sentral, the capital's bus station, right in the center of town.

In Kuching or Kota Kinabalu, it's easy to find a cab from the airport or via the Grab app to your hotel. Transport is also available from the island's smaller airports.

Borneo's only public railroad links the towns of Kota Kinabalu and Tenom, in the state of Sabah. There is also a private line, North Borneo Railway, which offers excursions in an old steam train twice a week between Kota Kinabalu and Papar.

Buses are the preferred means of transport in Borneo. They offer visitors a triple advantage: on the one hand, their network is dense and efficient (few delays...); on the other hand, they are really economical; finally, it's an opportunity to meet the locals - on the buses, your neighbors won't hesitate to ask you questions, which will make your trip much more pleasant.

Long-distance buses. These provide fast connections between many of the island's towns. Air-conditioning is often pushed to the limit, to the point of being unbearable. So it's a good idea to bundle up warmly, especially if you're taking a night bus (plastic bags are effective enough to block the icy, head-freezing air vents). There are two categories: normal buses and VIP buses, where you have more room (32 seats per bus instead of around 50; if you choose a night bus, you'll be able to sleep relatively comfortably if the TV isn't turned up loud).

Local buses and minibuses. These are not air-conditioned and cover shorter distances. Stops are frequent and the buses are often packed. The advantage is that they're very economical. If you have the time, this is an original way to discover Borneo. City buses are difficult to use if you don't really know the city. Better to take a cab, which is a little more expensive.

The same precautions apply to two-wheelers as to cars. It is recommended to wear a full-face helmet, even if this is not common practice among local populations.

In the city. In Kuala Lumpur (KL), they are yellow and black or white and red. They usually use the meter, which is not always the case in Borneo, where you have to negotiate before getting into a cab. You should also be aware that there is a surcharge between midnight and 6am. The easiest, safest and cheapest way to get around town (KL, Kuching, Kota Kinabalu, etc.) is to use an app like Grab.

Long-distance cabs, inter-city connections. Every city has a cab rank, usually next to the bus rank. In KL, it's on level 1 of the TBS bus station. It's great if you're traveling with 4 or 5 people. There are no meters here, and prices can be negotiated before you set off (they are relatively fixed).

If you've decided to travel around Borneo by car, you'll need an international driving license. The road network is fairly uneven throughout the island, but satisfactory around the major towns. Nevertheless, it's best to rent a 4x4 to simplify your task. The main dangers you'll encounter during your stay are in town: apart from the fact that driving is on the left-hand side of the road, the way the locals drive will surprise you. A flashing light doesn't mean the driver is about to turn... it means there's a police roadblock nearby, an oncoming vehicle, or that he's about to overtake another vehicle. Expect motorcyclists to pop up and disengage at any moment. On the edges of forests and plantations, animals can cross without warning. Avoid driving in heavy rain!

Apart from good-quality hotels, Borneo is very poorly equipped to accommodate disabled travellers. In the cities, little attention is paid to their needs. In remote areas, especially national parks, excursions and accommodation are very difficult to access. Check with your travel agent to find out how to accommodate your needs once you're there.