Every year before Raya, Kaamatan and Gawai, our WhatsApp fills with the same question: "Can it arrive before the holiday?" The answer is almost always yes — if you book early. The catch is that most people wait until the last minute, when everyone wants to ship within the same window. Here is how to plan a peak-season shipment.
Short Answer
For major holidays (Raya, Kaamatan, Gawai), lock a slot 3–4 weeks ahead. Shipping to Sabah & Sarawak takes 10–14 days overall, and slots are tighter in peak season — so a last-minute booking risks slipping to a sailing after the holiday. Outside peak periods, 1–2 weeks ahead is plenty.
When Are the Peaks?
These are the windows that usually send demand spiking — especially on routes to Borneo:
| Season | When | Effect on slots |
|---|---|---|
| Pesta Kaamatan (Sabah) | 30–31 May | Peak for Sabah ports (Kota Kinabalu, Sandakan, Tawau) — many Sabahans ship their cars home. |
| Gawai Dayak (Sarawak) | 1–2 June | Peak for Kuching, Sibu, Bintulu, Miri — Sarawak slots are tightest around this week. |
| Hari Raya Aidilfitri | Per Islamic calendar | The biggest balik-kampung season — high two-way demand, slots full weeks ahead. |
| School holidays | Mid-year & year-end | Families relocating or visiting; demand rises but is more spread out than the holidays. |
| Chinese New Year | January / February | Demand rises across the main routes, especially around the holiday week. |
| Year-end (Deepavali, Christmas) | October – December | Combined holidays; book early for December slots. |
Pesta Kaamatan and Gawai are unique because they are "Borneo peaks" — not just ordinary balik kampung, but Sabahans and Sarawakians across the Peninsular shipping their cars home in the same week. That is why slots to Kota Kinabalu, Kuching and Sibu are tightest from late May into early June.
Why Slots Tighten in Peak Season
- 📆 Sailings run on a fixed schedule — the number of sailings per week is limited, so RORO deck space cannot simply be expanded when demand rises.
- 👥 Everyone ships at once — the window before a holiday is packed with customers who all want their car to arrive at the same time.
- 🔁 Two-way demand — heading home before the holiday and back to the Peninsular after — both directions get busy.
- 🏭 Busier yard — more vehicles waiting for a sailing means yard time tends to run a little longer.
When to Book
- 🎉 Raya / Kaamatan / Gawai — lock a slot 3–4 weeks ahead with a deposit. This is the most competitive window.
- 🏫 School holidays / year-end — 2–3 weeks ahead is usually comfortable.
- 🗓️ Normal season — 1–2 weeks is enough to get a good slot.
- 📄 Financed car? — the bank release letter takes 3–7 working days. Request it earlier in peak season so you do not miss a slot. See the full document checklist.
Festive-Season Tips
- 01
Book as early as you can
A deposit locks your slot. The earlier you lock it, the higher the chance of catching a sailing before the holiday.
- 02
Ship before the rush starts
If your schedule is flexible, ship a week or two before the peak — the yard is clearer and your car is ready at the destination early. See the transit timeline breakdown.
- 03
Prepare documents first
Grant, IC, valid road tax & insurance, and the bank release letter if needed — all ready before your slot date so nothing causes a delay.
- 04
Book the return leg early
Heading back to the Peninsular after the holiday? The return direction is busy too — lock your return date as early as your outbound one.
FAQ
Can it arrive before Raya / Kaamatan / Gawai?
Yes — as long as you book early. For major holidays, lock a slot 3–4 weeks ahead. Because delivery takes 10–14 days overall and vessel slots are tighter in peak season, a last-minute booking risks slipping to the next sailing (after the holiday).
Do prices go up during the festive season?
Our tariff is transparent and fixed — we do not surge prices for holidays. What changes is slot availability, not the price. So the reason to book early is to secure a slot, not to dodge a price hike.
When is the busiest season for shipping to Borneo?
Pesta Kaamatan (Sabah, 30–31 May) and Gawai Dayak (Sarawak, 1–2 June) are the Borneo-specific peaks — many Sabahans and Sarawakians working in the Peninsular ship their cars home. Hari Raya Aidilfitri is the highest national peak.
I am booking last-minute — can I still ship?
It depends on the remaining slots. If there is space on the nearest sailing, yes. But peak slots fill fast, so you may need a sailing after the holiday. WhatsApp us promptly and we will check real availability for your dates.
Is transit longer during peak season?
The overall range stays 10–14 days, but peak season tends toward the upper end (12–14 days) because vessel slots are denser and the yard is busier. Booking early gives a comfortable buffer.
Should I ship before or after the holidays?
If you can, ship a week or two before the rush — the yard is clearer, there are more slots, and your car is ready at the destination before the holiday. For the return leg (Sabah/Sarawak → Peninsular), book earlier since many people travel back at once after the holiday.
🎉 Make it before the holiday — book early
Tell us your vehicle, destination, and the date you need the car to arrive — we will confirm the nearest sailing and lock your slot before it fills.
// Rentaka Logistics — shipping vehicles since 2023
