Sullawesy to Mindanao
 

I am in East Timor and I intend to continue my journey to complete the trip around the world.
I wanted to go through Mindanao or palawan (Philippines).
I thought about making my way through Sullawesy (Indonesia) or Kalimatan (Indonesi/Malaysia), but so far I have not found a ferry connection.
Thank you for giving me some information on your experience.

Thank you very much

Lifau@hotmail.com
https://web.facebook.com/Lisboa.Dili/

+670 77267880

I toured around Sulawesi a couple of years ago and as far as I know there isnt any ferries connecting Sulawesi with any of the Philippines island. However there are passenger ferries between Sandakan on malaysian Borneo and Zamboanga in Mindanao in the Philippines. I dont know if they take bikes but I know they did a few years back. There was a spanish RTW rider who brought his bike on that ferry. Its even on youtube somewhere. I think the name of the spanish guy is Miguel Silvestre or similar.

But you should maybe research a bit about the safety issues in Zamboanga and Mindanao before you get on that ferry....

i could be paranoid...but generally the locals are avoiding southern P'pines for obvious kidnapping reason...Plus the ongoing war/skirmishes/fighting between the isil-wannabes and P'pines army is not good news.
If you do go, be alert to strangers making friends. I read every foreigner is a potential kidnapping victim.

Good luck & be safe.

Hi Lifao.
As I live in Mindanao (and before in Palawan too) I'am well informed of the ferries conecting our iland to Malaysia and Indonesia. Unluckly you have only one real,doable and legal but risky option.
Sabah to Palawan. No ferry lines. Ilegal crossing.
Sulawesi to Mindanao. Weekly ro-ro boat from Bitung to Gensan-Davao only takes cargo and no paying passengers but the trucks drivers travel on it. I'am unsure but might be possible to pay for the motorcycle as cargo and travel along. The philippine company is Super Shuttle Ferry ( google).
Sabah to Mindanao. Sandakan to Zamboanga.A weekly cargo and passenger boat that can take a bike. Besides Miguel Silvestre a friend of mine did it years ago. The problem is since two years ago have been quite a few cases of boarding by pirates (Abu Sayaff)of barges and boats in those waters. Never happen to that boat but a bit risky. The company is Aleson Shipping.
Sorry not to be of more help.

Hi,

There are frequent RORO services between Makasar (Sulawesi) and Balikpapan (West Kalimantan, Borneo). Still a long ride from there to Sandakan, but interesting.

cheers

Theres ferries from several places on Java to Kalimantan, Surabaya to Balikpapan and Benjarmasin too, if I remember correctly then....