Belaga to Bintulu/Miri

Hi guys, thanks heaps for all the good travel advice. Im travelling through sarawak and sabah for a month or so in dec/jan. Just a quick question regarding transport from Belaga to the coast (either Bintulu or Miri). Does anyone know if there is any public transport or private companies that take travellers overland? Or do you have to rely on catching a lift with locals? any advice would be great. Thanks

Belaga to Bintulu/Miri

I am also doing the same route at the same time - Starting in Kuching - Sibu - Kapit - Belaga - Bintulu - Miri - Mulu - Miri - Kuching.

This is what I have on Belaga (from travel blogs and e-mail exchange with an ex tourism manager who lives in Sibu):

WARNING - you will be approached at the jetty by a mute girl who takes you to Daniels corner, a hotel listed in the LP. Here Daniel (Daniel Levoh) will offer over priced day trips to long houses or jungle treks.

Avoid John ';Eddie'; Belarik. He drinks to excess and overcharges for services not delivered. WOMEN TRAVELLERS MUST AVOID JOHN BELARIK! And male travellers should do the same as there is a risk of violence.

';I have made some enquiries regarding the three tour guides based in the town, and not one of them are registered tour operators with Sarawak Tourism. Therefore, should anything happen to you whilst you engage on these tours, you are not covered.';

There is one Malay guide called Hamdani. He also has a place where he sells hamburgers, so the children in town call him Ham Burger.

Hamdani may not be the most efficient guide you%26#39;ll meet on your travels, but chances are you should have a good time.

A 4WD operated by Hamdani leaves at 8am to Bintulu, or if you wish to be dropped off at the junction, you can easily catch a bus heading to Miri.

AVOID: The man with the jeep with licence plate QAC 9926 (He is NOT the guy that usually does the run to Bintulu). He will wait till the boat and the other jeep has gone then ask for 250 RG to go Bintulu instead the usual 50 RG.

IN MALAYSIA, LOOK FOR LICENCED GUIDE. Just ask for their badge and licence no. which is issued by the Malaysia Ministry of Toursim.

BELAGA HOTEL: not clean (very dirty), small dinge rooms and has rats. Cockroaches are all over the place.

Hotel Sign Soon - seems to be highly regarded. Have washing machines that you can use for free if you do it yourself, or you can get their staff to do it for a small fee. He can also organise a 4WD trip to the junction of the Bintulu-Miri road. From here you can catch a bus to Miri or Bintulu.

Jeep or 4WD(about MYR50 p.pax) leaves everyday at about 8am from Belaga to Bintulu.

Please visit Sarawak Tourism Information Centre(Kuching/Miri/Sibu) for further info and person to contact in Belaga.

Kuching (Mr.Ozie or Mr.Gustino)

Miri (Mr.Yusof)

Sibu (Jessie)

Hope this helps - it you see and %26#39;old%26#39; man with his 17 year old son - say hello.

Belaga to Bintulu/Miri

Sorry - should have included this e-mail I was sent:

KAPIT

Accommodation - New Rejang(RM65 - RM120), Hiap Chong(RM35 - RM65)

Guide - Alice Chua - +6-019-859-3126

If you want to visit Iban longhouse without guide also possible but most of the local in longhouse can%26#39;t speak English.

Rumah Bundong is one of the eldest and still keep the skull in the house. From the town

of Kapit will take you about 45 minute to 1 hour by van and cost you RM70. You can look

for Mr. Raju +6-013-817-0157, he can speak a bit of English and maybe you can hire him

as your guide if you need it.

*Don%26#39;t try to call Joshua*

BELAGA

Accommodation - Belaga B%26amp;B (RM22-RM28) is a new hotel. Hock Chiang Inn (RM35 - RM45)

Guide - Go to shop No.6 from Hock Chiang Inn and look for LUTEP USAT, he use to be my asst. for guiding. He%26#39;s good and you can stay with him in the longhouse too if you want to

skip a night in hotel. His longhouse will take you about less than 10 minute by boat.

JEEP to Bintulu or junction to Miri/Niah- Mr Ah Kiat(No.6 Belaga Bazaar)

There%26#39;s few guide in the town will come to you, but they use to arrange a trip for you but

they will ask other non English speaking guide to lead your tour and they will get more than

30% of they tour price.

If Lutep is not available, then you must look for HAMDANI

Thats the best advice next to the LP! Thanks.

I%26#39;ll keep an eye out for you- but if you see two aussies in their mid twenties come and say hello. We%26#39;%26#39;ll be hanging around Kuching/Bako till just after New years, so probably be going down the Batang Rejang from the 2nd of Jan.

Get back to Kuching on Dec 31st from Miri - will be there until Jan 5.

Staying Harbour View

We%26#39;ll be following in your footsteps then. We get back from Bako on the 31st- just in time for a couple of New Years drinks in Kuching! No doubt you%26#39;ll be exhausted but let us know if you want to re-tell your adventures over a beer on the 31 Dec or 1st Jan. Have a good trip.

Have you been cheated by John Belarek before? I heard a lot about him too. Daniel also seem to have less favorable comments on the net.

Most of the guide in rural areas such as Belaga don%26#39;t have license. Anyway it wasn%26#39;t cheap to get one and the tourism board didn%26#39;t provide incentives for rural people to be licensed tourist guide.

No, not been cheated by anyone as we traveled with knowledge of what may happen or what may not happen.

look here

tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic-g298308-i9317-k246…