Condé Nast Traveller

Discover Borneo with Nomadic Road, as featured in Condé Nast Traveller by Paul Brady

An unscripted overland expedition to Borneo, organised by Nomadic Road, was an attempt at reassuring explorers of a need to search beyond the regular appeal for adventure.

Perhaps, that's why Paul Brady, a journalist from Conde Nast Traveller, New York, decided to join us in this overlanding adventure across Borneo and experience our self-drive expedition in person.‍

If you’ve stayed a fan of Pink Floyd, you have had to come across a profound lyric that tells us that all we touch and all we see––is all our lives will ever be. At Nomadic Road, overlanding adventures have implored questions that lead to discoveries––of what lies inside and outside, slowly piecing together an understanding of the indescribable feeling of being one with nature.

We orchestrated a motoring expedition, a nomadic off-road experience, into the oldest rainforest in the world with a small group of explorers, all in search of an adventure that feeds their soul. 

We set out our self-drive expedition through the impenetrable rainforests of Malaysia, crossing the state of Sabah––a place that had remained unexplored by even seasoned travellers before this. 

While trying to make sense of a mystical place through the help of blaring walkie-talkies, we managed to reveal some mint experiences to a menagerie. Nomads on-board made a group of well-travelled individuals that had turned them into gripping storytellers. Sharing their passion to explore, through rugged roads running across rarely spotted canyons and ever rarer flowers, revealed a romantic island.

Our orchestration did not include an unforeseen barrage that diluted the roads into an absolute pulp. Nor did it plan for exceptional moments of watching orangutans swing from tree-to-tree, inviting themselves to breakfast at the table with us. Travelling with Nomadic Road has always been about anticipating the unforeseen moments––where you learn to invent and use a tool, all in the exact moment. We hope to stir an interaction that compels you to look beyond what you already know. Self-drive expeditions are made for exactly that. We hope to keep learning to live as a part of nature, as opposed to separating ourselves from it. It is a tactic every explorer should chisel with each overland expedition. 

Overlanding adventures are thrilling to say the least. But as Paul mentions, an overland expedition to Borneo has given us all some serious bragging rights. After all, it was an experience of firsts––a nomadic off-road leaving us pungent-smelling fruits and rotten smells of gigantic flowers to remember for the rest of our lives. 

If any of this tickles a travelling bone, do read Paul's article on Conde Nast Traveller.