Your Gateway to the Malay Archipelago
The Art of the Curated Journey
Our story began in 2013 with a passion for exploring Borneo on two wheels. Today, Paradesa Borneo is a premier curator of travel across the Malay Archipelago. We bridge the gap between standard sightseeing and deep discovery to show you the true soul of the region.
As a licensed operator and proud MATTA member, we pair local expertise with a commitment to sustainable travel. We do more than show you landmarks; we introduce you to the heart of the community.
Whether you wander historic colonial streets or drift through ancient rainforests, we provide the local knowledge that turns a holiday into a true cultural experience.
Our Curated Journeys Include:
- Heritage Discovery: We offer award-winning walking tours in Kuching and heritage storytelling that brings the history of the White Rajahs to life. Our guides share the local legends that shaped the city, ensuring every street corner tells a story from the past
- Cultural Immersion: We lead purposeful, sustainable visits to traditional longhouses designed to foster genuine connections. These journeys allow you to share stories with local communities and experience the authentic rhythms of life in the heart of Borneo.
- Regional Connectivity: Our seamless, multi-destination travel stretches across the Malay Archipelago, from Sarawak and Sabah to Singapore and West Malaysia. We weave together the region’s iconic wildlife, ancient rainforests, and vibrant cultural tapestry into one effortless journey.
- Active Exploration: From scenic cycling to relaxed multi-activity holidays, we move at a pace that allows you to truly soak in the landscape. We believe the best way to see the world is to slow down and experience the environment with all your senses.
Our Team
We are a team of proud Sarawakians who are passionate about sharing our stories with the world. Young, dynamic, and multi-ethnic, we take great pride in delivering the most authentic experiences in Borneo.
We have grown by recruiting individuals who pair a fantastic service attitude with deep local knowledge. To keep our edge, we avoid the typical tours that have remained unchanged for years. Instead, we put immense thought into every route and every story to ensure your journey is both interesting and memorable.
Our core team works alongside a trusted network of local partners, from community homestays and boatmen to professional national park guides. We emphasize long-term partnerships with these local suppliers to ensure they meet our high standards. This collaboration allows us to provide a seamless experience while supporting the communities that make the Malay Archipelago so unique.
Team Members
JC Chua – Founder & Director
For me, everything started far away from home, 10,164 km away from home in fact! I had just returned home after more than 30 years studying overseas in the UK, backpacking and exploring in Europe, the US, and Asia, soaking up different, mostly good, experiences, and meeting travelers from all walks of life. Before coming back home, I spent 15 years working in the tourist hotbed, Yangshuo, China. In Yangshuo, most sightseeing and adventurous activities such as mountain biking, hiking, climbing, caving, and kayaking were on the doorstep of the resort I was managing (Paradesa Yangshuo Resort)! Participating in these outdoor activities and drinking obscene amounts of rice wine was how I managed to remain sane in China for so many years!
After the Chinese resort was “harmonized” (ie. we were kicked out) by the local government officials, I returned to Borneo. I often found myself amazed by the exciting and diverse range of outdoor activities in Borneo, and how many of us locals take it for granted! These outdoor activities became my passion and regular weekend excursion (or sometimes even weekday). As a way of getting my wife off my back, I decided to mix pleasure with work. That’s why I decided to mortgage my children’s education fund to start this humble tour business and I hope to share the discovery of Borneo with all!
These days, my passion for discovering Borneo continues unabated. I have since cycled the full length of Malaysian Borneo and Brunei, as well as trekking into different parts of the interior of Sarawak whenever opportunities arise. We continue to pioneer more unique tour experiences inspired by these personal adventures. My ultimate dream is a Borneo island cycling tour of Malaysia, Brunei, and Indonesia.
“Home is where the heart is.” – Pliny the Elder
SK Law - Operation
Often, the only adult in the room, He makes sure that operations and tours run smoothly. As a non-cyclist and someone who hates the sun, he can be a pain at times when announcing new operation rules. An experienced tour operator and professional guide for over 15 years, he also gets the boring but necessary things done while we’re out having fun!
Estee - Multi-Tasker
The project leader for long tours, she is experienced in coordinating guides, community homestays, and always looks after her guests with a positive attitude. In the office, she helps update the website and the booking system, and she also manages to get out to assist tours now and again. From a nearby Bidayuh village not far from Kuching, she came back after her tourism college in Sabah because, obviously, Sarawak is better. A trouble maker who regularly instigates office parties and karaoke.
Del - Multi-Tasker
An interesting mix of both Iban and Bidayuh culture in her blood, but luckily, she retained the best of both cultural traits. Attending the tour desk duty and assisting on cycling day tours, she has a great rapport with customers who are often won over by her open and fun personality. Del joined us as a tourism student intern, and stayed after graduation because we sometimes offer free beer!
Lister - Bike Mech
How many people does it take to change a bike tire? Ask Lister, he has tried hard to train us all. A trained cycling mechanic who keeps our fleet of bikes in good working condition. A valuable team player on our support vehicle on our long tours who helps solve all kinds of guest requests. Our jungle tour starts from his village and he also assists on some of the off-road adventure cycling tours. Another team member who joined us as a tourism student intern and stayed!