Symbiosis Custom Travel » Malaysia

Orang-utan in my bedroom

chris — Mon, 12 Nov 2018 12:05:00 +0000

Share this:

Malaysia Introduces New Tourism Tax

chris — Wed, 30 Aug 2017 09:10:30 +0000

The Federal Government has introduced a new mandatory “Tourism Tax” of MYR10 per room per night (approx: $2.35 or £1.80) for all foreign passport holders. The tax is applicable to all
foreign visitors to Malaysia, both business and leisure travellers alike. Malaysian citizens and permanent residents who hold a valid MyPR card are exempted.

The local travel industry initially believed that the tax would be postponed to 2018. However, the Royal Malaysian Customs Department recently announced that the Malaysia Tourism Tax will officially commence on 1st September 2017.

The Tourism Tax will be collected by hotels on behalf of the government. Hotels in Malaysia will not collect the tax in advance or invoice tour operators and affiliates. Instead, guests will be informed of the tax upon check-in, with the tax collected by the hotels as mandated by law.

Late check outs after 2 pm will also be subjected to an additional MYR 10.00 tourism tax for the day. The tourism tax will be indicated and itemised in a guests’ bill.

For further details, please see the Malaysian Tourism Tax website at https://myttx.customs.gov.my/CTTAX/index.html

Share this:

Late Availability Cycling Adventures in Asia

chris — Sat, 06 Aug 2016 12:39:36 +0000

In need of a getaway? We have an exciting and varied selection of tours that are guaranteed to depart. Get rolling and join a group today!

AUGUST

Bicycling Bangkok to Phuket
Ride along the Gulf of Thailand and see some of the best coastal scenery in Thailand! Rest in resorts, eat fabulous seafood, go barefoot in the sand and ride a mixture of flat road and rolling hills while enjoying the view of endless beaches.
10 days / 9 nights in August 7

Burma Heritage by Bicycle
Bike from Mandalay to the temples of Bagan and be one of the lucky few to experience this up-and-coming travel destination. Be captivated by the people, culture and landscape of Burma.
7 days / 6 nights in August 8

Saigon to Bangkok by Bicycle
Visit three of Southeast Asia’s most interesting countries on this trip- Vietnam, Thailand and Cambodia! Explore the best that all these countries have to offer with this SpiceRoads rider favorite tour!
14 days / 13 nights in August 28

Bali Mountain Biking Adventure
Ride the rims of volcanoes, enjoy great off-road tracks and chill out on some of the most beautiful beaches in the world.
7 days / 6 nights in September 4

Sri Lanka Spice trails
Explore inland Sir Lanka through a multitude of Buddhist and Hindu monuments, enjoying a resulting curious mix of ancient cities and atmospheric colonial architecture that have been influenced by ancient dynasties, Indians, Portuguese, Dutch and British.
12 days / 11 nights in September 25

Road Biking from Saigon to Angkor
See the best of two countries as you cycle from the bustling Vietnamese capital, then cross the border to the serenity of Cambodia and the temples of Angkor.
13 days / 12 nights in September 25

Sri Lanka Heritage by Bicycle
Visit five of Sri Lanka’s UNESCO World Heritage sites while cycling through the rural tranquility of local life. This tour will enrich you with the history and heritage of central Sri Lanka.
7 days / 6 nights in September 26

North of Thailand by Bike
An off-road adventure through the hills of the Golden Triangle, where Thailand borders Burma and Laos. Visit remote villages in the beautiful north of Thailand using a combination of bikes and boats.
10 days / 9 nights in October 9

Yunnan Discovery
Discover the diverse culture and ancient architecture of the southern Chinese province of Yunnan, from its snow capped mountains to lush green forests. Prepare for breathtaking scenery and an incredible cultural experience.
12 days / 11 nights in October 9

Thailand to Singapore by Road Bike
Tackle three countries and ride 1,391 kilometres in 15 days on this epic cross-country road bike trip, and discover Thailand’s scenic south, charming Malaysia, and the booming city-state of Singapore!
15 days / 14 nights in October 16

Cycling Sikkim’s Tea Trails
Rugged and remote Sikkim is steeped in history and Buddhist culture. This challenging ride through the Kanchenjunga mountain range offers breathtaking scenery and countless cultural experiences.
10 days / 9 nights in October 23
Get Inspired here!

Contact Symbiosis Custom Travel today to get riding.

Share this:

Late Availability Cycling Adventures in South East Asia

chris — Tue, 08 Mar 2016 19:03:06 +0000

Looking for a last minute cycle tour that departs within the next few months? We have an exciting and varied selection of tours that are guaranteed to depart now.

CAMBODIA
Mar 13 – 19: Biking Bangkok to Angkor Wat (C)
Mar 20 – 28: Wilds of Cambodia (M)

MALAYSIA
April 3 – 13: Untamed Borneo (C)

VIETNAM
Mar 8 – Mar 11: Ha Long Bay Cycle and Cruise (M)
Mar 13 – Mar 29: Saigon to Hanoi (C)
Mar 20 – Mar 30: Road Biking the Ho Chi Minh Highway (R)
Mar 21 – Mar 27: Vietnam Heritage by Bicycle (C)
Mar 22 – Mar 25: Meandering the Mekong Delta (C)
Mar 28 – Mar 31: Trails of Dalat (M)
April 5 – April 8: Meandering the Mekong Delta (C)
April 14 – April 16: Red River Delta by Bike and Boat (C)
May 8 – May 24: Saigon to Hanoi (C)
May 23 – May 29: Vietnam Heritage by Bicycle (C)
Jun 20 – Jun 26: Vietnam Heritage by Bicycle (C)
Jul 3 – Jul 19: Saigon to Hanoi (C)

PHILIPPINES
April 10 – April 22: Island Hopping the Philippines (C)

LAOS
Mar 26 – Mar 27: Luang Prabang Countryside (C)

INDONESIA
May 9 – May 11: Bali Explorer (M)

THAILAND
Mar 8 – Mar 11: Central Thailand Explorer (C)
Mar 9 – Mar 11: Hua Hin Explorer (C)
Mar 13 – Mar 22: Bicycling Bangkok to Phuket (R)
Mar 15 – Mar 18: Central Thailand Explorer (C)
Mar 22 – Mar 25: Central Thailand Explorer (C)
Mar 23 – Mar 25: Hua Hin Explorer (C)
May 16 – May 22: Thailand Heritage by Bicycle (C)
May 17 -May 20: Central Thailand Explorer (C)
Jul 3 – Jul 12: Bicycling Bangkok to Phuket (R)

Multi-Country
Mar 20 – April 1: Road Biking from Saigon to Angkor (R)
April 17 – April 30: Saigon to Bangkok by Bicycle (C)
Jul 31 – Aug 13: Saigon to Bangkok by Bicycle (C)

R = Road Bike Tour
M = Mountain Bike Tour
C = Classic Tour

Check out the Symbiosis website for more details or contact us now to start planning your trip.

Share this:

Late Availability Cycling Adventures

chris — Tue, 09 Feb 2016 11:49:36 +0000

Looking for a last minute cycle tour that departs within the next few months? We have an exciting and varied selection of tours that are guaranteed to depart now. Get rolling and join a group TODAY!

Road Bike Tours
Feb 14 – Feb 24: Cycling Chiang Mai to Bangkok
Mar 13 – Mar 22: Bicycling Bangkok to Phuket
Mar 20 – April 1: Road Biking from Saigon to Angkor

Heritage Bike Tours
Feb 15 – Feb 21: Thailand Heritage by Bicycle
Mar 21 – Mar 27: Vietnam Heritage by Bicycle

Classic Bike Tours
Feb 14 – Feb 27: Burma Adventure
Feb 16 – Feb 19: Meandering the Mekong Delta
Feb 21 – Mar 2: Cycling Coastal Thailand
Feb 21 – Feb 29: Wilds of Cambodia
Feb 21 – Feb 28: Wilds of Sarawak by Bicycle
Feb 21 – Mar 3: Sri Lanka Spice trails
Feb 23 – Feb 26: Meandering the Mekong Delta
Feb 28 – Mar 12: Saigon to Bangkok by Bicycle
Mar 6 – Mar 16: Authentic South Thailand
Mar 13 – Mar 29: Saigon to Hanoi
Mar 20 – Mar 28: Wilds of Cambodia
Mar 20 – Mar 26: Cycling Colourful Kyushu Island
Mar 22 – Mar 25: Meandering the Mekong Delta
Mar 26 – April 3: Kyushu’s Hot Springs and Volcanoes (one more rider to depart)
April 10 – April 22: Island Hopping the Philippines

For full information contact Symbiosis Custom Travel today.

Share this:

Some Cycle trips in South East Asia confirmed to go

chris — Fri, 13 Nov 2015 05:08:08 +0000

BURMA
Dec 20 – Jan 2: Cycling the Burma Road (C)
Dec 20 – Jan 2: Burma Adventure (C)
Dec 31 – Jan 6: Burma Heritage by Bicycle (C)
Jan 11 – Jan 17: Burma Heritage by Bicycle (C)
Jan 10 – Jan 23: Biking from Bangkok to Yangon (C)
Jan 17 – Jan 30: Burma Adventure (C)
Feb 8 – Feb 14 : Burma Heritage by Bicycle (C)
Feb 14 – Feb 27: Burma Adventure (C)

CAMBODIA
Dec 20 – Dec 28: Wilds of Cambodia (M)
Jan 4 – Jan 10: Cambodia Heritage by Bicycle (C)
Jan 31 – Feb 13: Cambodia Adventure (C)
Feb 21 – Feb 29: Wilds of Cambodia (M)

BORNEO, MALAYSIA
Feb 21 – Feb 28: Wilds of Sarawak by Bicycle (C)

VIETNAM
Dec 20 – Dec 29: Cycling Vietnam’s Central Coast (C)
Dec 20 – Jan 5: Saigon to Hanoi (C)
Jan 10 – Jan 20: Road Biking the Ho Chi Minh Highway (R)
Jan 31 – Feb 9: Cycling Vietnam’s Central Coast (C)  PHILIPPINES
Jan 3 – Jan 15: Island Hopping the Philippines (C)
April 10 – April 22: Island Hopping the Philippines (C)

THAILAND
Dec 21 – Dec 27: Thailand Heritage by Bicycle (R) Jan 3 – Jan 12: Bicycling Bangkok to Phuket (R) Jan 3 – Jan 16: River of Kings Ride (C) Jan 10 – Jan 17: Road Cycling Southern Thailand (R) Jan 10 – Jan 20: Cycling Coastal Thailand (C) Jan 17 – Jan 27: Cycling Chiang Mai to Bangkok (R) Feb 14 – Feb 24: Cycling Chiang Mai to Bangkok (R) Feb 15 – Feb 21: Thailand Heritage by Bicycle (C) Feb 21 – Mar 2: Cycling Coastal Thailand (C) Mar 13 – Mar 22: Bicycling Bangkok to Phuket (R)

Multi-Country

Nov 29 – Dec 12: Saigon to Bangkok by Bicycle (C)
Dec 13 – Dec 26: Saigon to Bangkok by Bicycle (C)
Jan 3 – Jan 16: Saigon to Bangkok by Bicycle (C)
Jan 10 – Jan 23: Cultural Road from Hoi An to Siem Reap (C)
Jan 10 – Jan 23: The Emerald Triangle (M)
Jan 10 – Jan 23: Remote Vietnam and Laos by Bike (C)
Jan 10 – Jan 23: Saigon to Bangkok by Bicycle (C)
Jan 17 – Jan: Saigon to Bangkok by Bicycle (C)
Jan 31 – Feb: Saigon to Bangkok by Bicycle (C)
Feb 14 – Feb 27: Saigon to Bangkok by Bicycle (C)
Feb 28 – Mar 12: Saigon to Bangkok by Bicycle (C)

Key: M = Mountain Bike Tour; R = Road Bike Tour; C = Classic Bike Tour

To book your space on any of these trips contact Symbiosis Custom Travel now. Most rides have a maximum participant number of 16, so don’t wait too long…

Share this:

Unsung heroes of the Sabah Earthquake: Mt Kinabalu’s guides

chris — Thu, 11 Jun 2015 07:08:47 +0000

Share this:

Sabah curfew extended once more

chris — Wed, 08 Oct 2014 04:16:13 +0000

The curfew on the East Coast of Sabah, involving the sea area starting three nautical miles from shore up to the international borders with the Philippines, has yet again been extended to the 21st of October 2014. It will be a 10-hour daily sea curfew from 7pm to 5am. This encompasses an area of some 121,270 sq miles. The length of the curfew area is about 362 nautical miles from Tanjung Pundaras in Sandakan to part of Pulau Sebatik near Tawau.

Share this:

Sabah Sea Curfew Extended again

chris — Wed, 20 Aug 2014 02:27:24 +0000

The curfew on the East Coast of Sabah, involving the area starting three nautical miles from shore until the international borders with the Philippines, has yet again been extended to 2nd September 2014. However, it will be now only be a 10-hour daily sea curfew from 7pm to 5am. This encompasses an area of some 121,270 sq miles. The length of the curfew area is about 362 nautical miles from Tanjung Pundaras in Sandakan to part of Pulau Sebatik near Tawau (please refer to map attached for more details).

Tourism activities in Sabah are not affected by this enforcement. All activities, including night and early morning activities in areas such as Sukau, Abai & Danum Valley, continue to operate as usual. Trips to Selingan (Turtle Island) are also not affected because boats travel after 5am only and there are no boat transfers after 7pm.

See press links below for more details:

The Star Daily
The Malay Mail

Share this:

Sabah Curfew Extended

chris — Wed, 06 Aug 2014 10:34:45 +0000

The curfew on the East Coast of Sabah from dusk to dawn (6pm to 6am), involving the sea area starting three nautical miles from shore until the international borders with the Philippines, has been extended to 17th Aug 2014. This encompasses an area of some 121,270 sq miles. The length of the curfew area is about 362 nautical miles from Tanjung Pundaras in Sandakan to part of Pulau Sebatik near Tawau.

Tourist activities in Sabah are not affected by this enforcement. All activities, including night and early morning activities in areas such as Sukau, Abai & Danum Valley will continue to operate as usual. We will also continue to update you accordingly.

Share this:

Qatar Airways launch flights between Edinburgh and Doha

chris — Wed, 26 Mar 2014 09:18:43 +0000

Good news for travellers from Scotland, Qatar are launching flights to Doha from Edinburgh using the new Boeing Dreamliner, starting on 28 May this year. With connections from there to numerous destinations in Asia, this should noticeably shorten travel times to this part of the world.

Flying direct to and from Edinburgh, the Dreamliner has a two-cabin configuration, comprising of 22 seats in Business Class and 232 in Economy Class seats.

Inflight amenities include individual 10.5 inch television screens on all Economy Class seats and a full complimentary food and beverage service.

Edinburgh will be the airline’s third port in the UK after London and Manchester.

Share this:

Fun facts about Borneo Wildlife

chris — Wed, 19 Feb 2014 09:01:50 +0000

Did you know that the Borneo Pygmy Elephant is the world’s smallest elephant?

Each sun bear has their own unique chest mark pattern, there are no two identical patterns. Similar to how unique our fingerprints are to us!

Share this:

LIDS special: Liveaboard Diving Sipadan, Borneo

chris — Sat, 15 Feb 2014 02:47:39 +0000

Special for the London International Dive Show: dive the famous Sipadan Island and the surrounding Semporna National Marine Park in the Malaysian Borneo state of Sabah aboard the Celebes Explorer.

6D/7N cruise: special rate of USD 1,833 per person, sharing (discount of $122)
7D/7N cruise: special rate of USD 1,964 per person, sharing (discount of $131)
Add : Entry permit fee to dive in Sipadan : USD 14 per person per day
Add : Semporna Jetty Fee : USD 3 per person per trip

Must be booked with Symbiosis Custom Travel before 14 March 2014 for travel before 31 Jan 2015.

Share this:

Late Availability: weekend dive trip to Pulau Tioman tomorrow, ex-Singapore

chris — Thu, 11 Jul 2013 04:20:45 +0000

The MV White Manta has 2 cancellations for this weekends’ liveaboard dive trip to Pulau Tioman, Malaysia, departing tomorrow (Friday) at 6pm from Singapore.

The people who have pulled out are hoping you can fill their places at S$750 per person (usually S$900). Accommodation is in double share deluxe cabin with en-suite bathroom.

Contact Symbiosis URGENTLY if you would like to jump aboard.

Itinerary:

Friday: meet 6.00pm at Tanah Merah Ferry Terminal (just inside entrance on the left), clear
immigration, welcome briefing, & sail overnight to Palau Tioman. Dinner is served on board.

Saturday: (5 dives) Pulau Jahat or Pulau Renggis, Pulau Chebeh, Tiger Reef, Pulau Labas, and night dive

Sunday: (1 dive) Morning dive at Bahara Rock or Pulau Jahat. Return ETA 9pm to TMFT

Dive Site Information
• Water Temp: 28-30 degrees Celsius
• Visibility: 10-20 meters,
• Air Temp: 28-30 degrees Celsius
• Level: intermediate to advanced,
• Best Time to Dive: start of May to end of October

What’s included?
• 2 nights’ accommodation on MV White Manta
• All meals (Western & Thai) snacks, hot beverages, coffee, tea, Milo,
• Towel, toiletries, cabin services,
• Tanks, weight belt, dive guide

What’s excluded?
• All flights & hotels stay
• Dive & travel insurance
• Massage services
• Soft drinks, alcohol, Nespresso coffee
• **Diving gear subject to availability (only 3mm shorty wetsuits available), dive computer, torch, 15L
tank rental

Share this:

Singapore/Malaysia Haze update

chris — Tue, 25 Jun 2013 01:05:35 +0000

The regional haze map released by Asean Specialised Meteorological Centre (ASMC) showed thick smoke/smog emanating from open burning for land clearing in Riau, Central Sumatra, Indonesia and wind blowing from southwest has brought haze to the central and southern parts of peninsular Malaysia. According to a statement issued by the Department of Environment (DOE), the rising of Air Pollutant Index (API) readings to “unhealthy” and “hazardous” levels was expected to persist until August.

As of yesterday (Monday, 24 June), the air quality remained at unhealthy levels in Kuala Lumpur, Selangor, Melaka and Negeri Sembilan with the API readings ranging from 157-198.
Based on the air quality index, reading of between 0-50 is categorized as good, 51-100 (moderate), 101-200 (unhealthy), 201-300 (very unhealthy) and 300 and above hazardous.

The Malaysian Government has declared a haze emergency at two places, namely the Muar and Ledang district in Johor , which are located over 184km and 174km respectively from Kuala Lumpur, as their API readings hit above 300 yesterday night.

Other than these localized areas, the rest of the country is haze-free. The air quality is moderately good in Penang, Langkawi, the East Coast of Peninsular Malaysia as well as Sarawak and Sabah.

Share this: