HAK’s World in the Media – Stories of Sustainable Travel & Community Impact
Discover how HAK’s World and its founders, Simon Werren and Itisha Ismail, have been featured in local and international media for their work in sustainable travel, community partnerships, and reforestation across Sabah, Borneo.
From Pedals to Purpose – A Sustainable Journey in Lahad Datu, Sabah
Discover how Itisha Ismail and Simon Werren turned a cycling adventure into a sustainable life in Lahad Datu. From HAK’s Farm-to-Table dining to SynBorneo reforestation, their journey blends tourism, food, and conservation across Sabah.
Featured in The Borneo Post – Finding Home and Purpose in Lahad Datu
In The Borneo Post, Simon Werren and Itisha Ismail share how their journey from Bike and Tours to HAK’s World evolved into a mission connecting travel, community, and reforestation in Sabah.
Featured on Astro AWANI Sabah+
SynBorneo – Creating a Sustainable Future in Sabah
Discover how SynBorneo’s Sustainable Farm in Lahad Datu is transforming agriculture in Sabah through syntropic farming — restoring biodiversity, regenerating soils, and inspiring a greener future.
Featured on Solicast
From Pedals to Purpose – An Interview with Simon Werren
In this Solicast episode, Simon shares his journey from cycling across Africa to building HAK’s Hospitality Group and SynBorneo in Sabah.
Featured on Culture Trip
Boat Safaris and Community Tourism in Sungai Kapur
Written by Marco Ferrarese, this Culture Trip feature shows how HAK’s World partners with Sulu communities in Kampung Meruap to build ethical boat safaris in Sabah’s remote Sungai Kapur Reserve.
Featured in The Datai Langkawi – IKHLAS: Defenders of the Jungle
Part of The Datai Langkawi’s IKHLAS – Defenders of the Jungle campaign, HAK’s World and SynBorneo (formerly Brothers Cycling) are recognised for their work in forest restoration and sustainable tourism in Sabah.
Featured in Nikkei Asian Review
Luxury Tours Put Eastern Sabah on Borneo’s Ecotourism Map
Written by Marco Ferrarese, this Nikkei Asian Review feature highlights how HAK’s World (formerly Bike and Tours) helped open Sabah’s east coast — from Sungai Kapur to Bukit Piton — to sustainable, community-based eco-tourism and reforestation
Featured in Perceptive Travel
The Last Village in North Borneo
By Marco Ferrarese — Photos by Kit Yeng Chan, Drone Shots by Simon Werren
Published in Perceptive Travel, this story explores Kampung Meruap, where HAK’s World (formerly Bike and Tours) partners with local Sulu communities to develop ethical tourism in the Sungai Kapur Reserve, one of Sabah’s last wild frontiers.
Featured on 8TV – Let’s Cycle!
Episode 1 – At HAK’s B&B in Lahad Datu
Hosts Baki Zainal and Rickman Chia visit HAK’s Boutique B&B, where Itisha Ismail and Simon Werren share their story behind HAK’s World (formerly Bike and Tours).
Over a signature farm-to-table breakfast, they experience Sabah hospitality at its most personal.
Featured on 8TV – Let’s Cycle!
Episode 2 – Cycling into Danum Valley
In the second part, Itisha and Simon, with their daughter Olivia, guide Baki and Rickman on the Danum Valley Cycling Adventure. They ride through lush rainforest, share Laksa Johor by the river, and encounter Borneo’s wildlife.
Featured on Bella NTV7 – Bella Unwind
Featured on Bella NTV7 – Bella Unwind: In this 2012 episode, Itisha Ismail represented Bike and Tours (now part of HAK’s World) to share ideas for weekend adventures beyond shopping and cafés. Hosted by Vanessa Chong, the show marked the company’s first national TV feature promoting eco-adventure travel in Malaysia. Read more ›
From Pedals to Purpose – The Journey Begins
Before HAK’s World, there was a journey across Africa.
In this short film, Simon Werren and his brother Philipp cycle from Switzerland to South Africa — a 23,000 km odyssey that inspired the creation of Bike and Tours and later HAK’s World and SynBorneo.