borneo weekend trip

Best Time to Visit

Weather & Climate

Airports in Borneo

Best Hotels in Borneo

Staying at an Iban Longhouse

Driving in Borneo

One Week in Borneo

Top Destinations in Malaysian Borneo

Sarawak vs. Sabah

Guide to Kuching

Visiting Kalimantan

Guide to the Derawan Islands

Brunei Travel Guide

Top Things to Do in Malaysian Borneo

Museums to Visit

Best Beaches

Where to Go Scuba Diving

Best Hiking in Borneo

National Parks

Where to See Orangutans

Events & Festivals

Food to Try

Your Trip to Borneo: The Complete Guide

Borneo, the third largest island in the world , is divided between three countries: Indonesia (73 percent), Malaysia (26 percent), and Brunei (one percent). Your trip to Borneo will probably be centered around taking advantage of the natural biodiversity. The reefs are home to some of the best diving in the world , and Borneo is one of only two places left where wild orangutans still roam the rainforest. Opportunities for adventure abound within Borneo’s rugged interior of almost 289,000 square miles!

You’re going to need time to explore all the big island has to offer. Use our guide for planning your trip to Borneo and enjoying one of the most adventurous places on earth.

Planning Your Trip

• Best Time to Visit : Overall, Borneo is hot, humid, and receives plenty of rain throughout the year. Sarawak is generally driest from March to September  , while Sabah tends to be driest between January and May. East Kalimantan, Balikpapan, and the Derawan Islands receive less rain between July and October.
• Language: Bahasa Malaysia is spoken in Malaysian Borneo . Bahasa Indonesia is the national language in Kalimantan, but an estimated 74 languages are spoken daily among different sub-ethnic groups! Bahasa Melayu is the official language in Brunei  ; though, Melayu Brunei—Brunei’s variant of the Malay language—is used daily.
• Currency: Malaysian ringgit (MYR) in Malaysian Borneo; Indonesian rupiah (IDR) in Kalimantan; Brunei dollar (BND) in Brunei.
• Getting Around: Borneo requires time to move around. Plan on using regional flights for crossing long distances. Traveling by boat is sometimes the best option for going overland. Taxis and ojek (motorcycle taxis) are common for getting around in cities. Grab is a popular rideshare service in Malaysian Borneo.
• Travel Tip: Doing research before the trip is prudent, but you’ll find that many independent guesthouses and small airlines don’t have an online presence. You’ll have more options for making arrangements once on the ground. When possible, book local tours and guides to directly help communities.

Things to Do

Despite damage from heavy deforestation, Borneo is one of the most biodiverse places in the world—see as much of it as you can. With mountains, rivers, thriving reefs, and a rainforest canopy that’s home to endangered species, finding memorable adventure in Borneo is easy.

• See Wildlife in East Sabah : Although you can see orangutans and proboscis monkeys in rehabilitation centers and national parks throughout Sarawak and Kalimantan, the Sandakan area in East Sabah is home to three destinations that really provide a sample of the rainforest: the Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre, Rainforest Discovery Centre, and Kinabatangan Wildlife Sanctuary .
• Learn About Dayak Culture : The best way to learn about the indigenous peoples’ way of life is to let them show you. Iban longhouse visits or overnight stays can be arranged in Sarawak, Sabah, and parts of Kalimantan. Contacting the Sarawak Tourism Board is the best way to find remote longhouse communities willing to host foreigners. If time is too short to reach the most authentic experiences, the Sarawak Cultural Village outside of Kuching is a “living” museum with model longhouses and cultural displays   spread over beautiful grounds.
• Visit the Derawan Islands: Getting to the Derawan Islands in East Kalimantan isn’t easy, but once there you’ll enjoy a wonderland of marine life. The islands are a major nesting site for hawksbill turtles and green sea turtles  . The snorkeling and diving are superb, plus visitors can swim with millions of harmless jellyfish in lakes. Some of the smaller islands are such perfect examples of paradise that friends may not believe you took the photos!
• Enjoy the National Parks : No matter which part of Borneo you choose to visit, you’ll have access to impressive national parks. Some are easier to access than others. Bako National Park is less than an hour from Kuching, but getting to Tanjung Puting in Central Kalimantan requires flying in and traveling by boat. You can see hornbills, giant butterflies, carnivorous pitcher plants, and plenty of monkeys even on relatively short hikes .

Explore more activities in Borneo with our full-length articles on attractions in Kota Kinabalu , things to do in Kuching , and climbing Mount Kinabalu .

Tyler Cave / Getty Images

What to Eat and Drink

With so many miles of coastline and rivers, Borneo is a great place to indulge in fresh, inexpensive seafood. Patrons cram into cavernous food courts and seafood restaurants built on the water. Be on the lookout for a live empurau , the fruit-eating fish from Sarawak that’s one of the most expensive edible fish in the world. Midin, a jungle fern that stays crunchy after cooked, is a healthy green not easily found outside of Borneo. Sarawak laksa is a filling, addictive variant of laksa , the noodle soup enjoyed throughout Malaysia, Indonesia, and Singapore.

Have fun trying the many unique fruits found in Borneo, especially the ones that won’t be easy to find fresh at home. Be on the lookout for mangosteens, rambutans, red dragon fruit, longans, salak (snake fruit), and langsat in markets. If you’re brave enough to sample durian —you should!—the season is roughly from June to August.

Learn more about delicious Malaysian street food, eating in Indonesia, and interesting fruit to try in Southeast Asia .

Where to Stay

Finding hotels in major cities such as Kuching, Kota Kinabalu, and Bandar Seri Begawan is easy enough. But you may need to be a little more creative in remote, smaller places. Homestays and eco-lodges are popular options in Sukau on the Kinabatangan River, in the Derawan Islands, and other settings where there are fewer choices for eateries. Dive operators usually have accommodation for guests in places such as Mabul Island. You can sometimes reserve simple huts and longhouses within the national parks.

Many options for bungalows and small guesthouses aren’t listed online—you’ll need to book them in person or through an agent.

Getting There

Flights from Kuala Lumpur to Malaysian Borneo are surprisingly inexpensive; choosing where to start your trip to Borneo is key. For the most accessible orangutan and rainforest experiences, consider flying into Sandakan in East Sabah. Jakarta is best for connecting to points throughout Kalimantan.

• Kuching (KCH): The pleasant city of Kuching is the best starting place for exploring Sarawak, but you’ll want to fly into Miri (MYY) if Mulu National Park is your first objective.
• Kota Kinabalu (BKI): Kota Kinabalu is often the busiest airport in Borneo and puts you in the heart of Sabah. It’s the best choice for getting to Mount Kinabalu or connecting to other points throughout Borneo.
• Sandakan (SDK): Fly into Sandakan in East Sabah for quicker access to orangutans, rainforest, and the Kinabantan River.
• Bandar Seri Begawan (BWN): Flying into Brunei’s capital is the obvious choice for exploring the sultanate and impressive Ulu Temburong National Park.
• Balikpapan (BPN): Balikpapan is a vibrant city in Kalimantan and hub for taking smaller planes to remote places.
• Tanjung Redeb (BEJ): Flying into Kalimarau Airport in Berau, East Kalimantan, is usually the best for accessing the Derawan Islands.

Get help choosing the best airport in Borneo for beginning your trip.

Culture and Customs

• The collective term “Dayak” is used for the more than 200 groups of indigenous peoples who call Borneo home. When you know the specific name of an ethnic group (e.g., “Iban”), use that instead.
• Visiting a longhouse is an interesting way to learn about indigenous culture, but avoid contact when not feeling well. Many communities live in close quarters far from medical help, and even a case of the sniffles could cause problems. If staying overnight, you’ll need to bring a gift for the chief and practical gifts that can be divided equally among the residents. Consumables are usually best; your guide can provide advice about what to bring.
• The left hand is generally considered unclean in local culture. Opt to pay, accept items, and eat with your right hand only. Eating with the hands is common in longhouses and some homestays.
• Shaking hands (with a looser grip than in the West) is common when meeting someone of the same sex. After the handshake, briefly touch your heart to show extra respect.
• Brunei is considered the most devout of Islamic nations in Southeast Asia. Dress conservatively when exploring Bandar Seri Begawan.
• Read about the concept of saving face to have a better understanding of culture in Borneo. Avoid public displays of anger or frustration. When possible, defer to elders and people of higher status. Pointing out that someone is wrong could cause them to lose face, so always correct people privately rather than in front of their peers. Public displays of affection with your significant other could cause strangers to feel embarrassment.

Money Saving Tips

• Check the dates for national and regional holidays before booking your trip. Big events such as Chinese New Year, Independence Day for both Malaysia and Indonesia, Gawai Dayak , Hari Raya (the end of Ramadan), the Rainforest World Music Festival in Kuching, the Jazz Festival in Miri, and the Erau Festival in Kalimantan can drastically affect prices for flights and hotels.
• For overnight stays in national parks in Sarawak, get in touch with the Sarawak Tourism Board in Kuching. The hostel-style accommodation is typically inexpensive and simple. Ask if there is a shared kitchen for cooking your own meals. Nighttime and early morning access to the park provides an extra memorable experience and costs little.
• Like elsewhere in Asia, tipping isn’t the norm in Borneo. You can round up fares for drivers and leave a small tip for guides and porters to show your appreciation for a good experience.
• Prices for many items are negotiable, especially in markets or when you’ll be purchasing a lot from one merchant. A little good-natured haggling is expected but never for common items with fixed prices (e.g., a bottle of water).

Read more about saving money on the duty-free island of Labuan in Sabah during your trip to Borneo.

Sarawak Tourism Board. " Travel Tips ." September 11, 2019.

CIA World Factbook. " Brunei ." November 4, 2020.

Sarawak Tourism Board. " Sarawak Cultural Village ." 2020.

Ministry of Tourism, Republic of Indonesia. " Derawan Islands ." 2020.

A Guide to Airports in Borneo

How to Find Cheap Flights to Borneo

The Top 8 Things to Do in Malaysian Borneo

One Week in Borneo: The Ultimate Itinerary

Where to Go in Malaysian Borneo: Sarawak or Sabah?

9 Top Destinations in Malaysian Borneo

The 10 Best Places to Scuba Dive in Borneo

Guide to Kalimantan: Planning Your Trip

The Best Time to Visit Borneo

The 12 Best National Parks in Borneo

Weather in Borneo: Climate, Seasons, and Average Monthly Temperature

5 Places to See Orangutans in Borneo

The Top 9 Museums to Visit in Borneo

The 11 Best Hotels in Borneo

The 10 Best Hikes in Borneo

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Drifting Pretty

A travel and lifestyle blog dedicated to the jet-setting, wander-lusting, road-trippin’ life

Borneo Itinerary: The Perfect 2 Week Adventure Guide

January 20, 2021

By Simone Shomaker.

I don’t know about you, but the social distancing and time spent home on the couch has me daydreaming about past travel, and feeling hopeful about travel in the future. In light of that, I wanted to write a blog post about one of my favorite trips I have taken to date…Borneo, Malaysia. Keep reading for my full Borneo itinerary, the ultimate 2 week adventure guide!

From the reefs to the jungles…

Sepilok orangutan conservation center & bornean sun bear conservation center, borneo, malaysia.

You can imagine how excited I was when my fiancé Jacob said he wanted to take a big trip to celebrate finishing his PhD and officially becoming a doctor! After lots of research, we landed on Borneo, a rugged island in Asia boasting immediate access to remote nature. Borneo is the largest island in Asia and the third largest world wide, spanning across three nations: Malaysia, Brunei, and Indonesia. Borneo is often featured on “Planet Earth” and is known for its pristine beaches, the oldest rainforests on the planet, extensive underground cave systems, and rare wildlife. It is home to rare species such as clouded leopards, pygmy elephants, orangutans and many more…. 

Borneo Travel Tips

Before I dive into the fun part, here are a few quick things to note about traveling to Borneo. This is not a trip I would recommend to anyone if you want luxury resorts or a “sipping tropical cocktails by the pool” vacation, this is very much a remote adventure travel destination…

SHOP OUR SUITCASE

1- You can not drink the water here. Bring a water filter or buy bottled water.

2- Bring insect repellent, and lots of it! Malaria and Dengue are a concern here, we stocked up on anti malarial prophylactics as a preventative measure.

3- Be careful what you eat, as with other countries lacking water purification capabilities, the food can also transmit waterborne bacteria, especially fresh fruit and vegetables. We recommend eating cooked veggies and fruit that has to be peeled.

4- People speak some English, but not everyone does and communication can be a bit tricky, especially if you are going off the grid as we did. 

5- Bring a rain jacket and tall socks to help prevent leeches when hiking in the rainforest. 

6- Time to unplug! Wifi is spotty. It does the soul good to disconnect for a while.

7- Borneo is a really huge island, traveling around takes time. Flights are the quickest way as buses can take 6+ hours or more in some cases. Also we were not able to make it to some of the places we wanted to because flights/boats/shuttles were only offered once a week. Plan accordingly!

9- Bring binoculars so you can see all the amazing wildlife- you will be happy you did!

Borneo Itinerary

While we were on Borneo we hopped around quite a bit. Here is our itinerary:

-Arrive at Tawau Airport, drive to Semporna, Sabah (1 hour drive)

-Go from Semporna to the water house by boat (30 min boat ride)

-Return to Tawau Airport and fly to Sandakan (spend 1-2 days in Sandakan)

-Sandakan to Kinabatangan Rainforest (stop along the way at Orangutan & Sun Bear Sanctuary)

-Kinabatangan River, in Bilit, spend 3-4 days

-Kinabatangan to Sandakan

-Sandakan to Selingan Turtle Island by boat (3 hour boat ride)

-Selingan Turtle Island Conservation Center, spend 2 days here

-Return from Turtle Island to Sandakan

-Sandakan to Mainland Malaysia stay tuned for another blog post about this!

Where to Stay in Semporna, Sabah, Borneo

Semporna was the highlight of our trip. We ventured off the beaten path and stayed in a traditional water house. This was a really unique experience, which I highly recommend to anyone who loves the ocean. You can see the water below your room through the cracks in the wood floor, and hear/feel the ocean rock you to sleep. The houses are built on stilts over the water off shore. Fair warning, it is a bit rugged, but you can’t beat jumping off your porch straight into the ocean on the middle of a beautiful coral reef. To get here, we were picked up by boat from the docks of Semporna by our  Airbnb host. It was about a 20 minute boat ride along the coast and out to the reef. We found this amazing Airbnb Maglami Lami Waterhouse which is owned by a lovely family who live there as well.  They cook three delicious meals a day for you which is included in the accommodation cost. They also can arrange to charter a boat for you for fun day trips! 

What to Do in Semporna, Borneo

Visit the bajau laut, sea gypsy community.

Each day we got picked up by boat  for various day trips. One of our highlights was getting to see the Bajau Laut, sometimes known as the sea gypsies or sea nomads. This was an amazing and humbling experience. These people are nomadic and live solely off of the ocean. They live in huts over the sea and have no connection to the modern world. They are highly skilled free divers who forage for their food underwater. The ocean is their sole source of food. Scientific studies have even shown that they have evolved larger spleens to help them more efficiently carry oxygen and hold their breath. They are said to potentially be the last generation of sea gypsies because of climate change, pollution and overfishing threatening their daily existence. Getting a glimpse of their world is a very touching reminder that our impacts span far across the globe to places and people most don’t even realize exist.

Bohey Dulang Hike

From the Bajau Laut, we took a short boat ride to the famous and picturesque Bohey Dulang hike. This was one of the views we looked forward to seeing the most. When we got there we were disappointed to see an overwhelming number of boats carrying tourists. The hike itself was extremely overcrowded and regimented, each group had a guide and it was a single file line all the way up. Despite the overcrowding, the views were absolutely insane and it is still worth a visit. After the hike, enjoy the day snorkeling and freediving around the beautiful island to cool off!

Island Hopping near Semporna, Borneo

Off the coast of Semporna, Sabah has no shortage of beautiful islands and great snorkeling/freediving. We highly recommend visiting as many as possible including Mataking Island, Pom Pom Island, Mabul Island, and our next favorite, Sipadan Island.

Scuba Diving in Sipadan Island

Widely touted as one of the top dives of the world, we had to go check it out. A little about me, I love scuba diving and my fiancé is a marine ecologist. We have dove all over the world, and have been lucky enough to dive at many highly regarded sites. Sipadan definitely lived up to the hype! You have to get a lottery permit to dive here, and the government only issues a limited number of permits per day. They do this in order to preserve the marine ecosystem. We were lucky enough to score a day-of permit at the last minute, but I recommend trying to book one well in advance through one of the local dive shops in Semporna, or on Mabul Island . It is a several hour boat ride from Semporna to get to Sipadan, however it was well worth it and you won’t be disappointed. It was a dive filled to the brim with huge megafauna! For those of you without a marine biology background, think of giant bumphead parrotfish, huge green sea turtles, underwater tornadoes of giant barracuda, and reef sharks galore, what a treat! In between dives we got to relax and explore the beautiful island above water. I recommend bringing your own dive computer if you have one, the resort has a very small supply!

What to Do in Sandakan, Sabah, Borneo

Sandakan is the second largest city in the state of Sabah, and is full of history. I recommend stopping over here for one full day to take in some of the sights. It is also the gateway to get to the Kinabatangan River and Selingan Turtle Island. This was not my favorite stop of the trip, but there are some worthwhile things to see and do, and the cutest street puppies live here! We hired a driver for the day through our Airbnb host who took us all around town. This was very convenient because there are many quick stops worth seeing, and we got a local tour! We stayed right in the downtown area along the river at a no frills Airbnb which was convenient to walk to restaurants and check out some of the vegetable and seafood local markets.

Visit the Sandakan Rainforest Discovery Center and Gomantong Cave

We visited the Sandakan Rainforest Discovery Center and Gomantong Cave. The cave was very breathtaking from the outside, but if you are anything like me (and are terrified of roaches) you won’t want to venture too far inside. We were lucky enough to spot wild Orangutans on the walk to the cave which was absolutely magical.

Sandakan Memorial Park

There is a lot of history from Word War II in Sandakan. Take a walk through the beautiful and eerie Sandakan Memorial Park, this is one of the locations where the infamous death marches took place when the Japanese invaded Sandakan. Nearby, is a historical house built before the war that has been converted into a museum, and after you stroll through there you can go visit the English Tea House and Restaurant for a lovely scone and the cutest street puppies roaming the grounds (I almost brought one home with me!). 

Sam Sing Kung Temple, Puu Jih Shih Buddhist Temple and the Buli Sim Sim Water Village

Our next stops on our Sandakan day tour were two temples that our guide recommended: Sam Sing Kung Temple and my personal favorite of the two, the Puu Jih Shih Buddhist Temple. Both temples are beautiful and worth seeing. Sing Kung is a small local temple with rustic charm, compared to Puu Jih Shih Temple, which is perfectly landscaped and quite extensive. There is a large Chinese population in Sandakan, and they live in the Buli Sim Sim water village which is built on stilts over the water. This was very interesting to visit, but hard to see in some ways due to the pollution they were living in. They have a famous Sim Sim Seafood Restaurant here that is popular with tourists from Asia because of the rare items on the menu. I felt quite uncomfortable inside this restaurant to be honest but it was eye opening to see some of the seafood that was being served and considered to be a delicacy.

Have a Drink at Balin Roof Garden

After our full day of adventuring, we found a wonderful rooftop bar called Balin Roof Garden , they also double as a pizza restaurant (a welcome change up after having noodles for every meal!). The bar turned out to be my favorite one of the whole trip and they had incredible espresso martinis in the cutest atmosphere!

On the way to the Kinabatangan River, we stopped at the Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Center and Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Center . The Sepilok Orangutan Center was a wonderful experience. You can sit and watch orangutans up close and personal as they go about their daily life. We even got to see some wild ones out in the park as we walked around. Be sure to catch feeding time while you are there, it was quite a sight! Conveniently located across the street is the Sun Bear Conservation Center. The sun bear is the smallest bear on the planet, and quite adorable! They are the size of a large dog, and get their name for their love of lounging in the sun. Definitely a must see!

Kinabatangan River Cruise

Next up, we scheduled a multi day trip into the rainforest in search of monkeys, pygmy elephants, clouded leopards and crocodiles. We chose Bilit Rainforest Lodge for our accommodation, which was rustic and jungly but oh so cool, and built on stilts on the edge of the river (due to the high amount of rain/flooding the area experiences). It takes about 2 hours to get here from Sandakan by car, and then you cross the river by boat. The river is massive! Each day we went on several river cruises and even a nighttime cruise. As you boat down the river, your guide will point out all the magical wildlife. We never caught a glimpse of the rare pygmy elephant, but were blown away by so many different kinds of monkeys (orangutans & proboscis to name a few), crocodiles, pythons, many species of birds, and lush riverside landscapes. Be sure to pack your mossie repellent for this spot! During your down time there are many places to take a jungle stroll (don’t forget the leech socks!), or read a book while you sit in your private hammock!  

Selingan Turtle Island

This was one of my most favorite parts of the whole trip. We opted for a conservation based experience for our last few days on Borneo. This was quite fitting being that Jacob is a marine biologist/ecologist and my college degree was a Bachelors of Science in Marine Biology. The Selingan Turtle Island has been fully dedicated to turtle conservation. They offer packages for people to come learn about sea turtles and be a part of the conservation experience. While there, you can lounge on the beach while looking across the ocean at the neighboring islands of the Philippines. At night you are taken on guided and monitored missions to watch mama turtles lay their eggs using red lights that don’t disturb them. You then watch the process as they collect the eggs and take them to a protected hatchery. They have a guard who watches over the nursery 24/7 to make sure that no one poaches the eggs, and that no critters eat the eggs. When it’s time, they hatch into the cutest little babies and are released back into the wild. With all the threats that turtles face as a species, it was great to be a part of this and see locals who are so dedicated and invested in saving them.

Borneo Conservation

That concludes our wonderful time in Borneo. It was truly one of the coolest trips I have taken, so rugged, raw, and filled with rare wildlife. I hope that you get a chance to visit here someday! I want to take a moment to mention that deforestation is a huge concern here, and has decimated fifty percent of these ancient and biodiverse rainforests. Palm oil plantations and illegal logging are some of the biggest culprits. If you want to learn more and donate to the cause, check out World Wildlife Fund . Also consider donating to Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Center and the Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Center . I can only imagine how much these facilities are hurting with the lack of tourism from COVID-19. Thank you and stay tuned for my next post on mainland Malaysia!

I wanted to also thank my love Jacob Eurich @jacobeurich for all of the amazing photos he is always taking for me. If you are interested in marine conservation and photography give him a follow and check out his website https://www.jacobeurich.com/ . He is doing amazing things to change the world!

Have you been to Borneo and have any additional recommendations for us? Comment below!

Danielle and Simone

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3 Weeks in Borneo Itinerary

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Borneo is the largest island in Asia and the third largest island in the world and is divided into three countries: Indonesia , Malaysia, and Brunei. Borneo is a top destination in Southeast Asia because of its rich wildlife, various bodies of water, and fine sand.

With over 15,000 varieties of plant species, Borneo is one of the most biodiverse places on the planet. Borneo is also home to Southeast Asia’s tallest mountain, the largest flower, and the unique Orangutan species that can only be found in the rainforests here.

Since it is filled with rivers and jungles, there are tons of exceptional accommodations that you would surely enjoy. Since this region has so much to offer, 3 weeks in Borneo is ideal for exploring this area.

TIP: If you want to explore mainland Malaysia only check our 3 weeks in Malaysia itinerary

THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE GOING TO BORNEO

When planning and writin g your travel itinerary, you might find yourself with some questions on basic things such as the best time to visit Borneo, a budget range, and what to pack. To help you with that, I answered some of the most basic yet vital questions below.

When is the best time to go to Borneo

Borneo experiences rain throughout the year, so the dry season depends on the area you want to visit. Sabah is driest between January to May, Sarawak from March to September, and Balikpapan, East Kalimantan, and Derawan Islands receive less rain from July to October.

The general typhoon season for Borneo is from September to February and must be avoided, not only because it’s dangerous but also because most attractions will be closed anyway. Borneo’s peak season is during one of its hottest months, August.

Are 3 weeks enough for Borneo

There are tons of natural wonders to explore in this country, such as caves, jungles and diverse species, so you wouldn’t run out of things to do even if you stay for 20 days in Borneo. However, planning your trip might be tricky as it is less developed than the Western Peninsular. That’s why I came up with an itinerary perfect for a 3-week vacation.

What to pack

Many activities in Borneo include hiking in dense forests, visiting historical and cultural sites, and spending time on the beach. If these things are in your itinerary, here are some things that you must bring yourself instead of buying when you arrive in Borneo:

• mosquito repellent – deet-free can be hard to find in Borneo
• waterproof hiking shoes
• hiking clothes
• waterproof hiking backpack
• prescribed medications

Malaysian, Brunei, and Indonesia have a significant population practicing Islam. Many areas will require you to dress modestly, such as covering your shoulders, head, and lower body. Make sure to bring long trousers, a long shirt, and a lightweight scarf for situations like this.

We have a packing list for a 3-week trip that might help you with your checklist. You can also check our collection of different packing lists depending on the season – these are all suitable for a 20-day vacation.

How to get around

Aside from planes, other modes of transportation in Borneo include buses, taxis, boats, and ojek or Grab’s motorcycle taxis. The bus is the cheapest and the most widely used mode of transport here, but if you are in a rush and have more budget, taxis are generally faster. There are pickup and dropoff points in various establishments, and you could also hail taxis online through local e-hailing services.

Language and currency

Borneo’s most commonly used language is Bahasa Malaysia. Other widely spoken languages include Chinese, Tamil, and English.

The currencies in Borneo are the Indonesian Rupiah, Malaysian Ringgit, and Brunei Dollar. Credit cards are accepted in most cafes and major hotels, and restaurants. However, it is more advisable to bring cash as some local establishments only accept cash.

American Express isn’t widely used if you’re planning to pay via credit card, as Visa and Mastercard are Borneo’s most commonly used credit cards.

Average travel cost for 3 weeks in Borneo

Borneo is an affordable destination. This means that your travel budget for this trip can go a long way. The flight to Borneo can be expensive, especially if you’re coming from the Americas, Africa, and Europe.

But once you get here, a budget of $1,400 per person for a 3-week trip is ideal. You can enjoy a private room, guided tours, and a comfortable mode of transportation. If you’re on a backpacker budget, you can bring that number down to $800, but it means you have to sleep on a bunk bed in a dorm room.

If you have the means to go on a luxury trip, $2,000 is an ideal number. This will allow you to stay in luxury resorts and dine at nicer restaurants. Keep in mind, though, that these numbers don’t include your flights to and from Borneo, travel insurance, and travel gear.

For this trip, you will be visiting three countries since Borneo Island is shared by these governments: Malaysia, Brunei, and Indonesia. So, you should look at visa policies for each country. But don’t worry, it’s quite easy.

For Malaysia (Sabah, the northern region of Brunei) , pretty much all foreign visitors can enter and travel from 14 days up to 90 days, depending on your passport. China and countries in South Asia must get an evisa or can receive a visa on arrival , which is valid for 14 days.

The few countries that require a visa from a Malaysian Embassy or Consulate are Colombia, Afghanistan, and most countries in Central and West Africa.

For Brunei, it’s a little more challenging . Foreign travellers with passports from the US, Canada, the UK, New Zealand, the EU, ASEAN, Oman, Peru, Suriname, Turkey, Japan, and South Korea can enjoy visa-free entry to Brunei from 14 days to 90 days.

China can receive a visa on arrival for 14 days, while Australia and Saudi Arabia’s visa-on-arrival is for 30 days. The rest must get a visa from an Embassy or Consulate of Brunei.

Finally, for Indonesia (Sarawak), it’s also easy . If your nationality is from North America, Latin America, the EU, Australia, New Zealand, West Morrocco, Southeast Africa, India, Russia, Central Asia, China, Japan, and South Korea, you can get an eVOA or a regular visa upon arrival. It is valid for 30 days.

ASEAN members can enjoy 30 days visa-free . Travellers from Bolivia, Paraguay, Uruguay, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Guatemala, parts of the Caribbean, most parts of the Gulf countries, Mongolia, and most parts of Africa, you have to apply for a visa from an Indonesian Embassy or Consulate near ou.

Other travel tips

Although tourists do not run over Borneo, arranging your travel plans in advance is still recommended, especially if you wish to go during peak season. Here’s a list of my favourite travel sites to look for the best accommodations, tours, and transportation. Many offer a free cancellation which is great if your plans are yet to be finalised.

PINNED MAP OF MUST-SEE PLACES IN BORNEO

Click the enlarge button on the top right corner. Credit: map data: Google

3 WEEKS IN BORNEO ITINERARY

Northern Borneo offers heritage sites, natural sites, museums, mosques, and natural wonders featuring many endangered species under the government’s care. You can follow the itinerary as is or do it in reverse, as there’s also a flight between Kuching and Kuala Lumpur.

>> ALSO CHECK: 3 weeks in the Philippines and 3 weeks in Thailand

Sandakan for 4 days

Sandakan is a less prominent place compared to other places on this list. However, it is perfect as a starting point for your trip as there’s a direct flight from Kuala Lumpur to Sandakan, which is very convenient for locals and tourists alike. Sandakan is perfect for those who love outdoor adventures, as you can do tons of activities here, such as hiking and water activities.

Aside from that, it offers many historical sites if you are a history buff. There are also day trips from Sandakan if you have extra time.

Things to do in Sandakan

• Sandakan Heritage Trail walking tour
• Sepilok Orang-utan Rehabilitation Center
• Kinabatangan River – book a 3D2N stay
• Rainforest Discovery Center
• Sandakan Memorial Park
• Sandakan Heritage Museum
• Sam Sing Kung Temple
• English Tea House
• Puh Ji Shih Temple
• See all Sandakan tours

Accommodations in Sandakan

• Affordable to Mid-range: AeCOTEL or Sabah Hotel or The Elopura Hotel

Kota Kinabalu/Sabah for 4 days

Kota Kinabalu is the state capital of Sabah, Malaysia. It is a significant tourist destination and gateway to Borneo and Sabah. It is one of the industrial and commercial centres in East Malaysia, and it’s also where one of Southeast Asia’s tallest mountains, Mount Kinabalu, can be found.

Aside from that, this area is also filled with rainforests, hiking trails, and scenic beaches.

The fastest way to get to Kota Kinabalu is by flying, which takes more than an hour. The distance between Sandakan to Kota Kinabalu is 222 km. Other alternative options are driving or riding the bus.

Things to do in Kota Kinabalu

• Kota Kinabalu City Park – book a city tour or this park tour with hot spring
• Green Connection Aquarium
• Mount Kinabalu – read the reviews on this mountain farm day tour
• Atkinson Tower
• Bongawan Mangrove River – there’s a river cruise with a fireflies tour you can book
• Tanjung Aru Beach
• Kokol Hill Elf – check the tour price first
• Signal Hill Observatory Platform
• Go snorkelling – check this tour
• Lok Kawi Wildlife Park
• Mari Mari Village – visit a cultural village with a tour guide along Klias River
• Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park
• Seusup Mangrove – go kayaking for sunset or sunrise

Accommodations in Kota Kinabalu

• Affordable: AC Residence or A Residence or CJ Residence
• Mid-range: Jesselton Quay or Hilton Kota Kinabalu or Maison life 小居屋 The Loft Imago
• Luxury: Hyatt Centric or Le Meridien or The Aru Hotel at Aru Suites

Labuan Island for 4 days

Labuan, also known as Pearl of Borneo, is a low-lying and well-cultivated island with an extensive road network and a large airfield. This place is well-known by the locals but not among the foreign visitors, which makes it a perfect destination for those who want lesser crowds. It is also a haven for scuba divers.

Flying is the easiest way to reach Labuan from Kota Kinabalu, with an approximate flying time of 40 minutes. Other alternative options are taking the ferry or driving.

Things to do in Labuan Island

• Scuba Diving
• Labuan Marine Museum
• Labuan Clock Tower
• Ramsey Point
• Labuan Botanical Garden
• Labuan Bird Park
• The Water Village
• Pohon Batu Beach

Accommodations in Labuan Island

• Affordable to Mid-range: Mariner Hotel or Hotel Labuan Point or Labuan Avenue Hotel

Brunei for 4 days

Brunei is a country located on the north coast of the island of Borneo. It is the third-largest oil producer and is considered to be the most observant Islamic nation in Southeast Asia. There are also about 35 plant species that can only be found here.

You’ll be able to reach the port of Serasa in Brunei if you’re coming from Labuan Island via ferry. Before going to Brunei, ensure you obtain Brunei Dollars, as this is an entirely different country.

Things to do in Brunei

• Masjid Omar Ali Saifuddien
• Brunei Darussalam Maritime Museum – explore with a half-day city tour in Bandar Seri Begawan
• Kampong Ayer
• Ulu Temburong
• Proboscis Monkey – go on a tour to see these incredible monkeys
• Wreck and Macro diving
• Jerudong Park
• Water Villages – join a water village tour, see the price first
• Nurul Istana Royal Palace
• Try out their local ambuyat dish

Accommodations in Brunei (Bandar Seri Begawan)

• Affordable:

Kuching/Sarawak for 3 days

Kuching is the capital and the most populous city in Sarawak. It is a major food destination and is a member of UNESCO’s creative cities network under gastronomy. It is also the main gateway for people travelling to Borneo and Sarawak. This city is filled with biodiversity and is unique because it has many museums, historical sights, and national parks.

The most recommended mode of transportation from Brunei to Kuching is flying. The flight from Miri to Kuching lasts more than an hour and covers 513 km. Other options include riding the bus or driving.

Things to do in Kuching/Sarawak

• Astana Negeri
• Bako National Park – visit with a stop at Sea Stack Rock Formation, read the tour reviews or this one with night safari walk
• Kuching City Mosque
• Semeggoh Wildlife Centre – join a half-day trip from Kuching to see orangutans
• Hiang Thian Siang Ti Temple
• Sarawak Cultural Village – check this tour or this one with a dolphin mangrove cruise
• Old Courthouse
• Rainforest World Music Festival
• Satang Island – there’s a dolphin-watching boat tour
• Fort Margherita
• Annah Rais Longhouse – book a tour for this visit with a local guide
• Ganung Gading Naational Park

Accommodations in Kuching

• Affordable to Mid-range: Imperial Hotel Kuching or Raia Hotel & Convention Centre or DeHome Boutique Hotel

Bonus Places To See

We’ve already covered many places to add to your three-week itinerary in Borneo. However, if you prefer places with fewer crowds or just want to modify some of the sites included in the itinerary above, I added a couple more areas you could explore.

Miri is a small city near the Southern border of Brunei. It is the leading tourist destination for a world-famous UNESCO World Heritage site. It is also home to numerous national parks, secret diving spots, and magical beaches that look picture-perfect because of bioluminescent planktons.

Things to do in Miri

• Grand Old Lady
• Miri City Fan Recreation Park
• Pantai Tanjung Lobang
• Tua Pek Kong Temple
• Saberkas Weekend Market
• Mulu National Park
• Lambir Hills National Park

Accommodations in Miri

• Affordable to Mid-range: Amigo Hotel or Kingwood Boutique Hotel or Pullman Miri Waterfront

Bintulu is a coastal town on the island of Borneo. Its port is the busiest in Sarawak, and the town is connected to Samalajau Industrial Park. This laidback industrial town between Sibu and Miri is well-known for producing most of Malaysia’s liquified natural gas supply.

Things to do in Bintulu

• Tanjung Batu Beach
• Taman Tumbina
• Bintulu Night Market
• Jepak Village
• Borneo International Kite Festival
• Council Negeri Memorial Bintulu

Accommodations in Bintulu

• Affordable to Mid-range: Amigo Hotel or Inn86 or The Velton Inn

Sibu is a landlocked city in the Sarawak region. It is approximately 60 km from the South China Sea and 191.5 km from Kuching. Sibu is famous for its riverine towns and Iban and Orang Ulu longhouses. The tallest building and one of the longest river bridges in Sarawak can also be found here.

Things to do in Sibu

• Wisma Sanyan
• Lanang Bridge
• Lau King Howe Hospital Memorial Museum
• Sibu Heritage Center
• Jade Dragon Temple
• Bukit Lima Forest Park
• Borneo Cultural Festival
• Sibu International Dance Festival
• Affordable to Mid-range: Starlink Hotel or OTEL Hotel Suite or Win Hotel

SUMMARY OF 3 WEEKS IN BORNEO ITINERARY

Borneo is one of Asia’s natural gems that a traveller shouldn’t miss. It has sandy beaches, dramatic mountain peaks, jungles densely covered with diverse plants and trees, and rainforests rumoured to be around 130 million years old.

Aside from enchanting natural wonders, they also have many preserved historical sites, activities, and festivals that you surely wouldn’t want to miss throughout the year. With everything this country offers, one must stay 3 weeks in Borneo.

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Borneo in 1 week

Borneo and Indonesia in 2 weeks

Top Borneo Travel Packages

Borneo in 7-10 days, borneo in 1 week (for first-timers).

The best ways to see Borneo will take more than a week, but this one-week itinerary aims to introduce travelers to the many natural landmarks that Borneo is famous for.

Travelers should consider the lengths of travel when planning their trip, as it will impact the amount of time they can spend at sites and will limit their free-time.

Days 1-3 : Landing in Kota Kinabalu, travelers can immediately immerse themselves in Malaysian culture from the comfort of the city’s museums, mosques, and parkways. Travelers are encouraged to stay in this capital city for at least a day in order to acclimate to the temperature and humidity.

From there, travelers can head west to Mount Kinabalu National Park. If proper permits are received beforehand, lucky travelers can summit its peak. Otherwise, the Kinabalu Botanical Gardens or Poring Hot Springs are great ways to spend the next two days.

Days 4-6 : From Mount Kinabalu, travelers can move further west to Kinabatangan River, where cruises will speed travelers along one of the most famous waterways in Borneo. Known for the numerous pygmy elephants that thrive on its banks along with wreathed hornbills and other waterfowl, travelers will encounter animals of all sizes that come to the water for refreshment.

Watch the tree-lines, as orangutans and Proboscis monkeys love to hang from there! Once on land again, travelers can explore the Gomantong Caves near Sandakan, which is located just north of the Kinabatangan River.

Days 6-8 : After relaxing at a hotel or lodge in Sandakan, travelers can visit the world-famous Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre that is also nearby. Permits are required, so booking guided tours of Borneo in advance ensures their availability. The orangutans may be viewed up-close, an opportunity rarely provided in the wild!

If there is time, travelers may opt to spend less time at Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre and instead fly back to Kota Kinabalu in order to visit Manukan Island. A large part of Tunku Abdul Rahman Park, coveted diving locations are found amongst a vibrant coral reef, which houses sea-turtles and other marine life. Arrangements back to home countries can be made once travelers end their journeys at Kota Kinabalu.

See all Borneo 1 Week trips  »

Two Weeks in Borneo and Indonesia

With two full weeks of time, travelers have the chance to see more than the classic tourist locations in Borneo’s rainforests and along its waterways. As the island is divided by three countries, travelers can also visit Indonesia through its Kalimantan region on Borneo and its mainland counterpart.

It is important to note that entrance visas must be acquired when applicable, as some take time to process and may not be available during the chosen guided tour.

Days 1-3 : Since Indonesia controls the vast majority of Borneo, the easiest way to access the Kalimantan region is from Indonesia’s mainland. By flying into Jakarta, travelers can not only experience one of the busiest cities in Indonesia, but also understand its history with reference to Borneo.

Flying from Jakarta out of Soekarno-Hatta International Airport to Pangkalanbun will finally bring travelers to Kalimantan. Once they are here, most guided tours opt to take travelers to Tanjung Puting National Park, one of the world’s UNESCO Biosphere Reserves. It is here that hornbills take to the skies while the elusive orangutans swing from trees along with pythons, pygmy deer, and sun bears.

Many endangered bird species make their nests along the waterways, some of which can only be found in this park. While there is more than one center for travelers to visit with the orangutans, Pondok Tanggui Camp is the most popular. Travelers can watch researchers feed and care for baby orangutans as well as interact with their larger family members. 

Days 4-6 : Leaving Tanjung Puting National Park may not be easy, but travelers must do so in order to take their next flight to Palangkaraya. From there, river cruises may be chartered to visit with the indigenous Dayak tribes.

A s these local people make their homes along the waters of the Kahayan River, travelers will immediately notice their “sandung” buildings, which are ornate final resting places for their people. Food may also be sampled, depending upon how much time ashore the guided tour allots for travelers. 

Days 7-9 : After disembarking, travelers will leave Central Kalimantan to head to South Kalimantan. The city of Banjarbaru is the next usual stop, as it is filled with lively marketplaces, local cuisine, and historical sites. Travelers may decide to visit the nearby diamond mines at Cempaka or stay in the city to see Amanah Borneo Park, a theme park that is known for its intricate landscaping.

Days 10-12 : Traveling further through South Kalimantan, travelers will encounter the small town of Negara. While it is known mostly for its swamps, it is the large herds of buffalo that populate these areas that bring the attention of international tourists. Further west is Loksado, where travelers can interact with other tribes of Dayak people who are known for their homes built on stilts.

Others can opt to fly to the city of Berau, a gateway location to the famous Maratua Island. Here, travelers can observe proboscis monkeys in mangrove trees or relax on the beaches. Still other travelers may decide to snorkel with stingless jellyfish that inhabit a small lake on the nearby Kakaban Island or see turtles make their nests at Payung Payung.

Days 13-14 : From Berau, travelers can charter flights back to Jakarta or take some time to rest. After all, exploring one of the largest islands in the world is no easy feat!

See all Borneo tours in 2 weeks  »

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Top Borneo Attractions

Mount Kinabalu

Mount Serapi

Sipadan Island

Kota Kinabalu City Mosque

Gunung Mulu National Park

Top Activities in Borneo

Witness the Garden of Eden in Gunung Mulu National Park.

Observe the “old men of the jungle,” orangutans, in their natural habits in sanctuaries.

Relax in the mineral water of Poring Hot Springs.

Interact with Proboscis monkeys as they live safely in their sanctuaries.

Hop between each of the five islands that make up Tunku Abdul Rahman Park.

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Two weeks in Borneo: Your adventurous Borneo itinerary for the best things to do in Borneo

March 1, 2018 by Karen Turner 9 Comments

Visiting Borneo was a dream of mine ever since I was a child watching National Geographic video series about the biodiversity in Borneo.  Planning my trip to Borneo took quite a bit of time as Borneo is one of the world’s largest islands with three countries.

As I only had two weeks for Borneo, I had to choose carefully what to do in Borneo.  This was my itinerary for two weeks in Borneo, focusing on Malaysia and Brunei.  I tried to include the best things to do in Borneo, which makes it easy to stretch this Borneo itinerary to four weeks in Borneo depending on your interests.

• 1 A note on choosing Malaysia and Brunei instead of Indonesia for my Borneo itinerary
• 2.1.1 Optional trip from Sandakan or Kota Kinabulu: Sipadan for diving (1-3 days)
• 2.2 Optional 2-7 days side trip: Danum Valley
• 2.3 Kota Kinabalu: Three Days, including Kota Kinabalu National Park
• 2.4 Optional day trip from Kota Kinabalu: Paragliding in Ranau
• 2.5 Optional trip from Kota Kinabalu: Mount Kinabalu Via Ferrata (1-3 days)
• 3.0.1 Bandar Seri Begawan (3 days)
• 3.0.2 Ulu Temburong National Park (1-2 days)
• 3.1.1 Optional side trip from Miri: Gunung Mulu National Park (2-5 days)
• 3.1.2 Optional day trip from Miri: Gua Pari fairy caves and wind caves (1 day)
• 3.1.3 Optional side trip from Miri: Kelabit Highlands / Bario (2-3 days)
• 4.1 Optional half day trip from Kuching: Sarawak Cultural Village
• 4.2.1 Day trip from Kuching (if you’re lucky enough) (1-2 days)
• 5.1 …And that’s it for my two week itinerary for Borneo!  
• 5.2 Have you been to Borneo? 

A note on choosing Malaysia and Brunei instead of Indonesia for my Borneo itinerary

I’m so excited to visit Indonesia, however I found that flights to/from the Indonesian part of Borneo were pricey.  SImilarly, I didn’t have the time to take slow boats around.

My friend Cherene had a fantastic experience after flying into Kalimantan seeing wild orangutans in Indonesia .  My aunt was able to take an in-depth tour to Kalimantan to learn about traditional weaving in the region and we met one person who had done some intensive jungle trekking in Indonesia. However, the Indonesian side has less infrastructure, which makes it more difficult to get around Borneo without a lot of time.

Borneo in two weeks itinerary

This itinerary can be easily flipped depending on where you fly into Borneo.  For me, it was cheaper to fly to Kuala Lumpur to start off my trip prior to taking an AirAsia flight to Sandakan rather than to fly into Kota Kinabalu, Kuching, or Bandar Seri Begawan (Brunei).

You’ll find international flights to/from Europe and Australia into BSB (Brunei) although you’ll also find flights into Kota Kinabalu with a transfer.  I leave this part of your Borneo itinerary up to you, but this was how I organized my personal trip to Borneo to minimize backtracking as well as flights.  You can read my packing list for Borneo . This itinerary is not strictly for two weeks in Borneo, so I hope it inspires your holiday to Borneo no matter the length.

I’ve included a bit of side trips that are easy to do from different cities, so depending on your interests, you should be able to add/cut different things.  It might not be avoidable to go to certain cities if you want to do specific activities.  I was very interested in a number of these side trips, but I ran out of time.

I hope that this information about Borneo helps anyone planning their trip to Borneo by highlighting the best things to do in the Malaysian and Bruneian parts of Borneo!  You could easily expand this itinerary for four weeks in Borneo, focused on travel in Sabah and Sarawak.

Beginning of your Borneo trip: Sandakan & the Kinabatangan Valley (3 days)

You can fly into Sandakan from Kuala Lumpur for as low as $20 USD.  After doing my research into where best to see wildlife in Borneo, I realized that the Kinabatangan region would be the best option given my limited time in Borneo. I was hoping to see wild pygmy elephants, but unfortunately we didn’t get lucky.

Most wildlife safaris that are mid-range to luxury will pick you up from the Sandakan airport as part of their package price.  I paid ~$300 (per person) for my three day two night excursion in the Kinabatangan region.

During this time, we saw hundreds of wild monkeys [including silver leaf and proboscis monkeys], spotted THREE wild orangutans, jungle trekked, and cruised along the river.

The whole experience was out of a dream and why I came to Borneo.  Some people stay longer, however I felt three days in the Kinabatangan Valley was enough time.   You can read more about my time in the Kinabatangan Valley, including where I stayed here.

Optional trip from Sandakan or Kota Kinabulu: Sipadan for diving (1-3 days)

I still don’t know how to dive, however diving in Sipadan is a must for divers.  Sipadan is routinely rated as one of the best places in the world to go scuba diving.

Be aware that they strictly limit the number of divers that can visit Sipadan each day, so you must apply in advance for a diving permit (they go quickly).  You can take a six hour bus to Somporna from Sandakan or fly from Kota Kinabalu to Tawau.   You might need to reorder your trip depending on whether you choose to take the bus to Sipadan or fly.

A related note: I skipped Sipadan as I do not know how to dive and depending on pirate activity, you might want to stay up to date on what’s going off the eastern coast of Borneo if you’ll be spending extra time in this region.

Optional 2-7 days side trip: Danum Valley

I did not include Danum Valley  in this Borneo itinerary as the prices were so exorbitant that I couldn’t justify paying it.  I heard incredible things about spending 3 days to a week hiking in Danum Valley, but it wasn’t in my budget unfortunately.  You can fly from Kota Kinabalu to Danum Valley.

Kota Kinabalu: Three Days, including Kota Kinabalu National Park

Kota Kinabalu is the largest city on Borneo and it has a lot to offer.  To see the main city sights, visit the spectacular Kota Kinabalu national park (which has its own ecosystem), learn about local culture, and snorkel/dive on Gaya Island, you’ll need about three days.

A must is going around the Kota Kinabalu night market, which is a great place to try local specialities, although I must say that I am taken with laksa.  You can read a good itinerary for three days in Kota Kinabalu here.

Optional day trip from Kota Kinabalu: Paragliding in Ranau

We spent a day going on a day trip to Ranau, which has a lot of tragic history from World War II relating to prisoners-of-war, with a day trip that we booked once we were in Kota Kinabalu.

I highly recommend stopping along the way to try fresh fruit and local indigenous specialities in the region.  Be sure to visit the memorial prior to going paragliding in the hills of Ranau.

Paragliding is one of those once in a lifetime experiences that I recommend that anyone should try out.  You’ll understand how it feels to soar in the air like a bird!

Optional trip from Kota Kinabalu: Mount Kinabalu Via Ferrata (1-3 days)

If you’re considering climbing Mount Kinabalu to do the via ferrata , you’ll need at least 2-3 day extra days and quite a bit of cash as it’s a fairly pricey activity.

I chose not to climb Kinabalu due to the cost, but it’s recommended that you take a 3D2N trip to Mount Kinabalu as your trip might be cancelled if the weather is not right and you’ll have an extra night to summit to the top if the weather is not great the first day.  Not going is a big regret of mine.

At minimum, consider visiting Kota Kinabalu National Park as a day trip. 

Brunei Darussalam (3-5 days total)

There’s a good flight connection between BSB Brunei and Kota Kinabalu as well as Kuala Lumpur. We flew Royal Brunei Airways.

I’m always shocked to hear that people spend so little time in Brunei when I found Brunei one of the most fascinating places that I’ve visited in the world.

Brunei is a great place for cultural travel as Brunei as they have their own rich culture and history in addition to a water village that deserves UNESCO recognition  The mosques are pretty spectacular too !    You can read travel tips for Brunei here.

Bandar Seri Begawan (3 days)

A lot of people rush through their time in Bandar Seri Begawan as they find it boring . (I disagree.) The capital city of Brunei Darussalam has free attractions, a UNESCO-worthy water village that is living history, friendly people, lively night markets, and delicious food .

You may not find alcohol in BSB, but Brunei is perfect for the traveler ready to immerse themselves in a different culture.   You can read the best things to do in Bandar Seri Begawan here .

Ulu Temburong National Park (1-2 days)

You’ll need to book an excursion from Bandar Seri Begawan to get to Ulu Temburong National Park, one of the most well-maintained virgin rainforests  in the world .

In order to get to Ulu Temburong National Park, you’ll take a stunning ferry ride through the rainforest prior to taking a traditional longboat.  The area around the park is home to the Iban people, who have their own culture and history.

If you’re interested in learning more about the Iban people, I recommend spending more than a day here as a day trip to Ulu Temburong National Park means that you won’t have time to properly learn about Iban culture!  Be sure to visit in time for the Harvest festival if possible.   You can read tips for visiting Ulu Temburong National Park here.

Miri (1 day)

You can take a bus from Brunei to Miri.  You’ll find the bus departing daily in the mornings.  Ask any tourist information desk for bus departure information or book your tickets online.

Thanks to Ying Ying for the fantastic tour of Miri.  I was lucky enough to have a local guide to Miri, which is where Shell was founded.  Oil is a key industry in Miri still and Shell still has a very strong presence in this city (as well as a private beach club).

Miri isn’t too large although a car is essential as the bus from Brunei comes in at an inconvenient place. Miri is a great base for various trips around Sarawak and a great place to try Sarawak laksa in case you haven’t yet…

Miri is one of the only places in the world where you can try the Bario pineapple outside of Bario as well as Kelabit food.  You’ll need to visit  The Summit Cafe  to try Kelabit food.

Optional side trip from Miri: Gunung Mulu National Park (2-5 days)

Although the flight from Miri to Mulu National Park is only thirty minutes, this flight is often canceled and delayed due to visibility.  As a result, you need at least 1-2 days built into your Borneo itinerary to ensure that you have enough time to visit Mulu with taking into account possible flight delays.  (Flights are inexpensive.) Be sure to bring enough cash to cover food and tours.

Gunung Mulu National Park is one of Borneo’s gems without question although you need to have a more flexible schedule to visit this national park.

Gunung Mulu National Park is most famous for its pinnacles, which can be seen via three days/two night trek.  Similarly, each night, you can see the bat migration out of the caves of over three million bats.

It should be noted that most of the tours require at least two people.  If you’re into caving, you must do one of the adventurous cave tours at Gunung Mulu National Park, which can be booked online in advance.  There’s also trekking that can be done from the park headquarters as well as a canopy walk.

Optional day trip from Miri: Gua Pari fairy caves and wind caves (1 day)

The Gua Pari fairy caves and the wind caves are an easy day trip from Miri. Many tours will include both caves on a day trip from Miri.   Be sure to wear good footwear as the caves have many bats (which usually means bat poop) as well as many steps. It’s possible to visit both caves independently.

Optional side trip from Miri: Kelabit Highlands / Bario (2-3 days)

For those interested in cultural travel, Bario needs to be on your list.  I was lucky enough to try Bario pineapple and rice while I was in Miri.

Bario is a remote community that can be reached by plane from Miri.  It is the main settlement for the Kelabit tribe.   It’s a great base for adventure travel if you’re interested in cultural travel as well as trekking.

We heard amazing things about Bario and I want to go to Bario on my next trip, not just for the pineapple (which was pretty delicious).  I tried Kelabit food while in Miri and it was delicious as well as quite different than what I was used to. Bario recently got electricity.

Kuching (2 days)

I was entranced by Kuching, which has a mix of ethnic groups.  I loved the blend of cultures, the architecture, the cats ( Kuching means cat in Malay ), and the food .

Kuching is the gateway to Sarawak and anyone interested in learning about the many indigenous tribes of Malaysia will be fascinated by Kuching.  You’ll also find a lot of fantastic food in Kuching!

If you intend to visit Bako National Park, you’re better off staying in the city of Kuching prior to your departure. Kuching is perfect for 1-2 days of relaxing, non-stop eating, and admiring the city’s adorable shops.

Although I’m not a fan of Uber, it was very easy getting around Kuching via Uber with lots of friendly drivers.  Take the shuttle bus to Bako National Park from Kuching!   You can easily find budget flights from Miri to Kuching.

Optional half day trip from Kuching: Sarawak Cultural Village

Sarawak Cultural Village, very close to Taman Negara Santubong, is a “living museum” where you can see traditional architecture via seven traditional houses and learn about life in the longhouses.  It’s certainly a must-see if you’re interested in cultural travel as it’s a great introduction to the rich culture and history of the region’s ethnic groups.

Optional trip from Kuching: Taman Negara Santubong (2-3 days)

We stayed outside of Kuching.  The mountain and rainforest close to Kuching (Santubong National Park) is relatively untouched and great for trekking (you need a guide), however it’s best noted that it’s expensive getting from this area to Bako National Park without a taxi.

It’s possible to hire a boat to take you from Taman Negara Santubong to Bako National Park via most of the resorts, but this is not a cheap option.   I’d recommend doing this as a day trip from Kuching instead of staying overnight.

Day trip from Kuching (if you’re lucky enough) (1-2 days)

In  Gunung Gading National Park , you can see one of the world’s largest and rarest flowers in bloom.  We were told that you need to need to ask around carefully beforehand to ensure that the rafflesia is in bloom prior to going there.  You don’t have that much time to see them if they’re in bloom, so keep an eye out.

Bako National Park (3 days)

Bako National Park is one of the gems of Borneo and you must put Bako on your Borneo itinerary.  A lot of people come here as part of a day trip from Kuching, however if you don’t stay overnight, you’ll miss out on the most incredible experience of all: 10 ringgit ($2.50 USD) wildlife night walks with the experienced rangers who will help you spot flying lemurs and other creatures of the night.

The trekking in Bako National Park is fantastic, so even if you have limited time (and can only do a day trip to Bako National Park), be sure to go hiking.

The more remote parts of the island and longest hikes on Bako National Park require taking a boat with one of the rangers to the starting point of the hikes, so be sure to bring extra money for the boat ride to/from the park as well as any additional boat rides that you intend to take.

I think that Bako National Park is one of the easiest ways to experience nature in Borneo even if you’re not a big hiker as some of the trails are easy enough (boardwalk only ) that even non-hikers can enjoy some of the unique ecosystems on the island.

Within Bako National Park, you’ll find seven distinct ecosystems, remote beaches, amazing views, and  not that many people considering that this is one of Borneo’s most famous national parks.

It’s still rainforest, but I loved that the park had such drastically different ecosystems compared to other parts of Borneo that I visited during my trip.   After visiting Bako National Park, it’s easy to fly to a number of cities in Malaysia from Kuching via AirAsia as well as continue your trip deeper into Sarawak. 

You can read my tips for visiting Bako National Park here.

…And that’s it for my two week itinerary for Borneo!  

• Click for my tips on a realistic guide to pack for Borneo.
• Tips for visiting Brunei

Have you been to Borneo? 

About Karen Turner

New Yorker–born and raised. Currently living in the Hague, the Netherlands after stints in Paris and Amsterdam. Lover of travel, adventure, nature, city, dresses, and cats.

Reader Interactions

March 10, 2018 at 10:44 am

Such an extensive list and research. I’m definitely saving this later. As I live in Thailand, I might actually be able to execute this in the not too distant future.

March 10, 2018 at 6:39 pm

Borneo looks incredible! Your photos capture the colors and vibe perfectly! Thanks for sharing.

March 10, 2018 at 6:50 pm

Borneo is so high on our bucket list! Dying to get there. Bako National Park looks insanely good – and the night walk sounds like a totally unique experience. Thanks for sharing!

March 10, 2018 at 11:30 pm

What an amazing collection of experiences, especially all the time with nature and animals. And the cultural village sounds like a great way to learn more about local history and perspectives. What an incredible way to explore Borneo!

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• How To Spend One Week...

How to Spend One Week in Borneo

Borneo attracts visitors for its biodiversity, rainforest habitats and tropical islands. Here’s how to spend one week experiencing the very best of Sabah, Sarawak and Brunei , without spending a fortune.

Planning a trip and want all the details taken care of? Book yourself onto Culture Trip’s 10-day adventure to Borneo , which includes a visit to an orangutan sanctuary, organic tea farm and a snorkelling trip in Kota Kinabalu.

Day one: Fly from Kuala Lumpur to Kota Kinabalu

Take one of the regular two-and-a-half-hour flights between Kuala Lumpur and Kota Kinabalu , arriving in the late morning. Spend the first day of your week in Borneo exploring Sabah’s capital city. Check out the Floating Mosque, stroll Likas Bay – which hugs the coastline for 7km (4mi) – and snap a panoramic photo of Kota Kinabalu from Signal Hill Observatory Platform. In the evening, experience Borneo’s spectacular sunset on the beach at Tanjung Aru. Plenty of budget-friendly restaurants serving local fare, Western food and fresh seafood are along Gaya Street and the Waterfront.

Day two: Island hopping in Tunku Abdul Rahman National Park

The crystal clear water and pristine sands of five-island Tunku Abdul Rahman National Park attract snorkelling enthusiasts and beach lovers. Adventurous tourists can island hop on a day pass from Jesselton Point or stick to one and spend the day relaxing. Head to Manukan , the second largest island, for beaches and snorkelling. More adventurous travellers should head for Gaya, the largest island, and walk through a floating village, hike in the jungle and enjoy secluded coves. Sapi and Mamutik Islands get fewer visitors and are our favourite spots for diving and snorkelling. Sulag is further away and more difficult to reach.

Day three: Kota Kinabalu to Kuching

The fastest way from Kota Kinabalu to Sarawak’s capital Kuching is a one-hour-and-20-minute flight from KK Airport. After arriving in the City of Cats , explore the Old Bazaar and Carpenter Street, stroll along Kuching Waterfront and visit the Sarawak State Museum. Feline lovers can wander the streets in search of the famous cat monuments and check out the Cat Museum. All tourists should taste Sarawak Laksa during their week in Borneo and Kuching is the best place to find it (we recommend Poh Lam Laksa). Marvel at the Astana (Palace), Fort Margherita and the magnificent Sarawak State Legislative Assembly on the opposite side of the river in the evening.

Day four: Day trip to Bako National Park

A week in Borneo wouldn’t be complete without experiencing the rainforest, and Bako National Park conveniently sits an hour by bus from Kuching. Sarawak’s oldest national park offers visitors the ultimate jungle experience without arduous trips into the interior. Colour-coded trails penetrate the dense foliage, taking hikers to cliffs, hidden beaches and mangrove swamps. Wild (but gentle) proboscis monkeys live here, too. Tourists can buy food and drinks from the restaurant, but bring extra just in case.

Day five: Fly to Miri and sightseeing

It’s back to the airport for a short flight to spend 48 hours in Miri , Sarawak’s booming oil town. Explore the city, climb Canada Hill for panoramic views of Miri, and visit the Grand Old Lady oil rig replica. The adjacent Petroleum Museum is worth 30 minutes or so, too. Visit the urban Miri Fan Recreation Park in the afternoon before witnessing Sarawak’s mesmerising sunset at Brighton Beach (Tanjong Lobang).

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Day six: Day trip to Niah Caves

Miri acts as a gateway to the historical Niah Caves and Unesco-listed Gunung Mulu National Park. The breathtaking Niah Caves are approximately one-and-a-half hours south of the city by car. Highlights here include prehistoric rock art, limestone cave systems with boardwalks passing through them and canoe-shaped coffins. Archaeologists have discovered what is believed to be Southeast Asia’s oldest human skeleton here. Homo sapiens first migrated into Eurasia some 50,000 years ago, and scientists have found human remains in Niah that are over 40,000 years old, making it a vitally important site in our understanding of early human evolution.

Day seven: Side trip to Brunei

To finish a one-week trip to Borneo, take the two-hour bus from Miri to Brunei’s capital Bandar Seri Begawan. The tiny Sultanate is among the world’s least-visited countries (pro tip: double and triple check visit requirements beforehand). In the capital, visit Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddin Mosque with its artificial lagoon near the waterfront and get an insight into the Sultan’s opulent lifestyle at the free Royal Regalia Museum. Photographers love the sprawling floating village, which houses over 30,000 residents and is often referred to as the Venice of the East. Direct flights leave Bandar Seri Begawan to Kuala Lumpur, Manila, Bangkok and Ho Chi Minh City.

Alternative one-week in Borneo itineraries

After two days in Kota Kinabalu, take the three-hour ferry to Labuan, a duty-free island near both Sabah and Sarawak, for night three. Regular boats travel to Bandar Seri Begawan for day four before catching the bus to Miri and flying to Kuching. Or start in Kuching and follow the route in reverse, departing home from Kota Kinabalu.

One week in either Sabah or Sarawak

Tourists might also choose to spend their entire week in Borneo exploring just Sabah or Sarawak. A full week in Sabah allows tourists to visit and climb Mount Kinabalu, check out some of the islands on the East Coast such as Sipadan and see orangutans at Sepilok or Danum Valley . Likewise, seven days in Sarawak provides more flexibility to explore the caves and national parks as well as trekking to traditional longhouses in the jungle.

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All our travel guides are curated by the Culture Trip team working in tandem with local experts. From unique experiences to essential tips on how to make the most of your future travels, we’ve got you covered.

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12-day Borneo itinerary: the ultimate travel guide

Are you planning a trip to Borneo and not sure of the best places to visit?  If so, this 12-day Borneo itinerary will be perfect for you.  In this travel guide we share all the best places to visit in Borneo, including transport, accommodation, and top attractions.

If you’re on a quest for adventure and love wildlife, Borneo is a brilliant destination.  You’ll find ancient rainforest, stunning scenery, golden beaches, and a rich heritage.  Plus, it’s home to some of the most unique animals in the world. 

Borneo had been at the top of my bucket list for as long as I could remember.  I’d always wanted to go to the jungle and see orangutans in the wild.  So, all my dreams came true this year when my family and I were lucky enough to go.

We spent many hours planning our itinerary, to ensure we had the most amazing Borneo holiday possible.  Hopefully, you can use this information to help you plan your own unforgettable trip.

Read on for our 12-day Borneo itinerary.

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Contents: click to jump to a section

Facts about Borneo

Before we start our itinerary, here are some important facts about Borneo.

• Borneo is the largest island in Asia.
• Borneo is divided into 2 states, Sabah and Sarawak
• It is made up of 3 countries; Malaysia, Indonesia and Brunei
• The independent state of Brunei separates the two states of Borneo.
• Borneo’s official currency is the Malaysian Ringgitt (RM).
• Borneo is home to South-East Asia’s highest peak, Mount Kinabalu.
• Borneo has a tropical rain forest climate, so is hot and humid all year round, with lots of rainfall.

For our trip we went to the state of Sabah, in the northern part of the island of Borneo.

Getting to Borneo

The main airport in Sabah is the Kota Kinabalu International Airport (BKI) on the west coast of the island.

You cannot fly directly from the UK to Kota Kinabalu.   The fastest route is via Singapore, so we flew there and spent four days in Singapore beforehand. We then flew directly to Kota Kinabalu with Singapore Airlines.  This flight took 2 hours 35 minutes.  You can also fly from other major Asian destinations, such as Kuala Lumpur, Taipei, Hong Kong and Manila.

Overnight in Kota Kinabalu

We spent one night in Kota Kinabalu before starting our 12-day Borneo itinerary.  We returned here at the end of the trip for some beach time.  However, we were keen to get to see the orang-utans.  You obviously could do our itinerary in reverse.

On arrival in Kota Kinabalu, we stayed at the HotelSixty3, which we booked through Booking.com.  HotelSixty3 is a clean, safe hotel with family rooms. It is close to the Gaya Street Sunday Market and has a few restaurants within walking distance.  So, after dropping our luggage, we headed out for food.

This hotel is ideal for an overnight stop, as it’s fairly close to the airport and we were flying to Sandakan (SDK) early the next morning.  Sandakan is on the west coast of Sabah and the best area for seeing orangutangs and Borneo’s amazing wildlife.

Day 1: Sepilok & Bornean Sun Bear Centre

Getting to sepilok.

The next morning we took an early flight from Kota Kinabalu to Sandakan.  You can get a cheap internal flight with AirAsia , which takes about 45 minutes. 

On arrival at Sandakan airport, we went directly by Grab (Malay equivalent of Uber) to Sepilok.  Sepilok is about 17km from the airport and takes about 20 minutes by road.

Alternatively, you could also take a bus, which takes 30 minutes.  The bus service is operated by Local Minibus Malaysia and runs from Sandakan station.

Top Tip :  You need to get a new sim card for Malaysia if you want to make use of Grab here.  It’s easy to buy them at the airport.

Accommodation in Sepilok

Sepilok is world-famous for its orangutan sanctuary, one of the must-visit attractions in Sabah.  There are several nature lodges within a short walk of the sanctuary.

We stayed at the Sepilok Forest Edge Resort , which was absolutely spectacular.  This nature resort has luxury chalets set in their own natural environment, including an open-air shower.  For those on a budget, they have a mixed dormitory room too.  

Alternatively, you’ll find several other choices for luxury accommodation, including Sepilok Nature Reserve , Sepilok Jungle Resort, and Nature Lodge Sepilok .

For budget accommodation, you’ll find plenty of homestays, but none of them are in walking distance.

Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre and the Sun Bear Centre

From the Sepilok Forest Edge Resort it is only 10 minutes’ walk to Sepilok’s main tourist attractions, The Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre and The Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre .

The two wildlife centres are opposite each other and provide a wonderful opportunity to see orphaned orangutans and sun bears.

Sepilok is a world-famous rehabilitation centre for orang-utans and you can guarantee that you will see some.  It is an unmissable visit for any animal lovers and was one of the highlights of our 12-day Borneo itinerary.

A visit to Sepilok Orangutan Centre is undoubtedly one of the best things to do in Borneo.  Although it is a conservation centre you have an excellent chance of seeing orangutans in their natural environment.  Plus, you get to see the baby orangutans in their nursery.    We loved our visit so much we went twice!

Day 2: The Rainforest Discovery Centre

Another fantastic place to see wildlife near Sepilok is at the Rainforest Discovery Centre.

The Rainforest Discovery Centre (RDC) is about 20km away from Sandakan and just a short distance from the Sepilok Centre.  It is set in 4,300 hectares and is managed by the Sabah Forestry Department.

The Rainforest Centre is primarily an environmental education centre, where you can learn about the jungle habitat and wildlife.  It offers a number of jungle trails, which are marked with signboards.  It also has a 347m canopy walk with two observation towers, where you can observe more wildlife and tropical flora.  The Rainforest Centre also offers night hikes.

Days 3-4: Jungle Safari, River Kinabatangan

On day 3 of our Sabah itinerary we headed to the rainforest for a jungle adventure.

We booked a 3-day 2-night safari adventure at the Nature Lodge Kinabatangan in Kampung Bilit.  Our package included transport, accommodation, food and activities.  As transfers were included, a minibus collected us from the Sepilok Forest Resort and drove us to the Nature Lodge.

The Nature Lodge is set in lush forest on the banks of the River Kinabatangan, so is perfect for seeing the wildlife in its natural environment.  Over the course of 3 days, we did 4 river cruises, 2 night walks, and a guided jungle walk. 

Overall, we saw orangutans, proboscis monkeys, macaques, an elephant, crocodiles and plenty of beautiful birds.  It’s an unforgettable wildlife experience and a brilliant thing to do with nature-loving kids in Borneo.

Click here to book the Nature Lodge in Kinabatangan .

Another similar accommodation in the jungle is the Kinabatangan Wildlife Lodge , which also offers wildlife tours.

A wildlife tour on the River Kinabatangan is one of the best ways to see orangutans in the wild in Borneo.

What to wear on the Kinabatangan River Cruise

For the river cruises, we wore shorts and tops (and a life jacket).  There was a refreshing breeze on the boat.

In the evenings, it is essential that you wear long trousers and long sleeve tops.

If you go on a jungle walk, you must wear wellies, as it can get extremely muddy.  We hired our wellies from the Nature Lodge.  They have plenty to suit all feet sizes.

It is essential that you spray with a good quality insect repellent with deet, like this one from Jungle Formula .  I bought the children some mosquito repellent bracelets to wear and sprayed our clothes with an anti-mosquito spray before we left.  None of us got bitten, so something must have worked.

If, like me, you want to be extra precautious about malaria, several brands of clothing offer a range with anti-insect protection.  You can get these in most good outdoor shops.

For full details of our stay at Nature Lodge Kinabatangan, read our post:-

A trip to the Borneo rainforest

Day 5: Sandakan

Day 5 of our Borneo travel itinerary is all about Sandakan.

Our wildlife package in Kinabatangan included a return transfer to Sandakan.  Here, we checked into The Four Points by Sheraton.  We loved this 5* hotel, which had a rooftop infinity pool overlooking the sea.  Unfortunately, it has now closed. 

However, an alternative would be the Elopura Hotel , which is close to the waterfront.  If you’re looking for budget accommodation in Sandakan, try the Orang Utan Guest House or the Sandakan Backpackers Hostel , which both have good locations.

Sandakan is the secpnd largest town in Sabah, but is compact and easy to explore on foot.  We had some downtime at the pool and then went for a self-guided walking tour of Sandakan.

If you have time, try to to visit  Buli Buli Sim Sim Water Village, a community of fishermen’s houses on the water.

Day 6: A visit to Turtle Island

On day two of our stay in Sandakan, we made an overnight visit to the awesome Turtle Island Park. This is another amazing wildlife experience and a must-do tour when visiting Borneo.

It’s best to pre-book your visit to Turtle Island, as they limit numbers to 50 visitors each day.  You can book directly through Crystal Quest by email.

The package to Turtle Island includes transfers, accommodation, food and a chance to see the turtles laying eggs.

Firstly, a speed boat takes you out to the island, where you’ll spend the day at your leisure.  We spent our day at the beach and took our snorkel gear so that we could go snorkelling.  If you don’t have any, you can also hire snorkelling equipment on Turtle Island.

Then, after dinner, you wait until the ranger alerts that a mother has come ashore.  Now, you’ll have a unique opportunity to see mother turtles giving birth in their natural environment.  You will also see the hatchery and baby turtles being released to the sea.

I’d highly recommend a visit to Borneo’s Turtle Island.  Seeing the turtles birthing is an amazing wildlife experience and one of best things to do in Borneo.  Read more:  A visit to Turtle Island

Day 7: Sandakan, Heritage Trail & English Tea House

On day 7 of our Borneo itinerary, we returned from Turtle Island to further explore Sandakan .  Our morning started at Sandakan Market, a wet and dry market, selling fish, vegetables and all sorts of household goods. 

Afterwards, we followed the Sandakan Heritage Trail.  This is one of the best ways to explore Sandakan, as it leads to all the key heritage and cultural sights in Sandakan.  Halfway along it’s a steep climb up 100 steps to the English Tea House.   This is quite exhausting on a hot day, so makes an ideal stop for afternoon tea.

Next door is Agnes Keith House, former home to the American author.  On your return to Sandakan, you can other attractions like the Chinese temple, Sam Sing Kung and the Malaysian Fountain.

Day 8: Kota Kinabalu

After 3 days in Sandakan, we flew back to Kota Kinabalu and checked into the Nexus Beach Resort , in Karambunai.

In Kota Kinabalu, you can choose accommodation in the city centre or further out at one of the luxury beach resorts.  Although accommodation in the city centre is more convenient for days out and activities, you can enjoy better beaches in the resorts. 

The Nexus Beach Resort is 30 km north east of Kota Kinabalu, but offers luxury accommodation, pristine beaches and a more relaxed, exotic location.

Nexus Beach Resort is set in over 65 acres of natural surroundings.  It has a great pool complex and beautiful, pristine gardens.  As you wander around, you can enjoy Bornean wildlife, such as monitor lizards, birds and monkeys.  Another of most luxurious resorts in Borneo is the Shangri-La Ras Ria .

If you want luxury accommodation near the city centre, check out the Hyatt Centric or the Hilton .

Alternatively, if you want budget accommodation, you’ll find plenty of cheaper apartments and home suites.

Day 9: Snorkelling Trip at Tunku Abdul Rahman National Park

One of the best things to do in Kota Kinabalu is snorkelling at the Tunku Abdul Rahman National Park.

Tunku Abdul Rahman National Park consists of a group of 5 islands off the coast of Kota Kinabalu.  We booked a snorkelling trip for our first day with Diverse Borneo from the UK.  The diving tour package included a private boat with an instructor.  He took us to 3 different diving sites away from the crowds of the other boats.

Each session lasted 45 minutes in the water and we had lunch at an island. The boys had the most awesome time swimming around with the fish and even spotted a green turtle passing by.

Day 10: White Water Rafting on the Kiulu River

On day 10 of our 12-day Borneo itinerary, we went white water rafting on the Kiulu River , which is 1 hour north-west of Kota Kinabalu.  We booked our white-water rafting with Riverbug and it was a fantastic day out for everyone, despite the rain.

White-water rafting took us about 15km down River Kiulu.  This boat trip took about 1 ½ hours, though some of this time we were playing in the water.

This trip is a stage 1-2, which means it is a ideal trip for families or beginners, as it never gets too rough.  However, it’s still a lot of fun.  There are a few zones, where it gets faster and your heart starts racing.

Additionally, there was a lot of competitive racing with the other boats and splashing, which the children loved.  As we made our way down the river, there were several stops to get out and swim.  The water was fairly shallow and warm.

There are more advanced white-water rafting packages available in Sabah for more experienced adults.  It’s a really fun trip and one of the best activities in Kota Kinabalu.

Days 11-12: Nexus Beach Resort

Nexus Beach Resort is set in lush, landscaped grounds and has loads of recreational activities.  After a very busy itinerary and lots of early mornings, we were all looking forward to relaxing.

Nexus Beach Resort has amazing facilities and the kids loved the 3 outdoor pools.  The resort offers a programme of activities laid on by the Recreation Club, including crafts, batik painting and tae kwondo.

For younger children, there is a kids’ club and adults can take advantage of the golf course or spa facilities.  Nexus Beach Resort has its own private beach; ideal for those who like playing in the sand or sea.

This was the last day of our Borneo itinerary, before heading back to Singapore and then onwards to the UK.

Click here to book the Nexus Resort & Spa Hotel . 

Other luxury resorts along this coastline are the Shangri-La Rasa Ria or the Borneo Beach Villas .

Are you planning your own trip to Borneo?  Find all the information you need in our

Borneo Travel Guide

Travel resources for Borneo

Here are some of the websites we use when planning our trips.

Discover accommodation to suit all budgets at  Booking.com

Get some of the most affordable prices on flights with  Expedia

Discover some of the best things to do with the Lonely Planet Travel Guide

We'd love to hear from you

Let us know if you like our 12-day Borneo itinerary or if you have any questions about it.  We’d be happy to help.  Or, maybe you have some suggestions to add?  Please share in the comments below.

PIN FOR LATER: 12-day Borneo itinerary: the ultimate travel guide

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Borneo is on our list to do and this itinerary looks incredible. I’m definitely going to save this! Did you take malaria tablets?

We were advised that we didn’t need malaria tablets for the areas we were visiting. We did use a lot of insect repellent though!

Amazing itinerary! I would love to go to Borneo :). Thanks for sharing such a detailed post!

There’s such a lot to do there. We just wanted to cram in as much as possible in the time we had.

Borneo was such a highlight for my SE Asia trip! Loved the wildlife and diving, oh wow!

I agree – the wildlife was amazing.

Oh this looks absolutely brilliant! No wonder it was the trip of a lifetime. We did something similar last summer when we went to Vietnam. Borneo is very much on our wishlist too – the snorkelling, the orangutans, the sun bears. This is a really helpful guide, thank you for linking it up to #farawayfiles. I had no idea that Borneo was such a big island.

Yes, I am sure there is plenty more to explore too.

This makes me want to go to Borneo more than ever! We keep talking about it but still haven’t done it. Might go off and remind my other half how amazing this place looks… #FarawayFiles

It really is a great trip. So much to see and do.

This sounds like a hugely memorable trip! I’ve already clicked through to read about your visit to the Sun Bear Conservation Centre too. What a fabulous experience for all of you. #FarawayFiles

Yes, it was fantastic. We all had a great time.

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Borneo Itinerary – Two Weeks in Malaysian Borneo

A Lovely Planet contributors Sarah and James offer their perfect two week Borneo itinerary.

Disclosure: This article contains affiliate links. This means that if you click a link and purchase something I’ve recommended I may earn a small commission. This does not affect the price you pay but helps me to run this site. You can read my full affiliate disclosure here.

Getting to Borneo

This two week Borneo trip starts and ends in Kuala Lumpur. You can fly direct to Kuala Lumpur from London and from Sydney. Book a return ticket to KL and then book your other flights in and out of Borneo separately.

Kota Kinabalu – Four Days

Getting to kota kinabalu.

Hop on an easy two and a half hour flight into Kota Kinabalu (KK) from Kuala Lumpur (KL). You can also do this itinerary in reverse by flying into Tawau first which is three hours from KL.

Arriving into KK, head to the city; a gateway to beaches, rainforests, watersports and so much more. The app Grab is widely used in Malaysia and Indonesia, so get a local SIM and you can travel all over the city easily and cheaply.

Where to Stay in Kota Kinabalu

For a ‘splash the cash’ option stay at Shangri-La’s Tanjung Aru Resort & Spa  , or for a comfy low-key stay with all you need, choose Homy Seafront Hostel .

Find accommodation in Kota Kinabalu

Get Stuck into Local Cuisine

KK is filled with busy streets, local eateries, shops and markets as per most Asian cities. What makes Malaysia unique is the fusion of Indian cuisine. The simple Roti Canai is a delicious no-frills dish, our personal go-to for a tasty snack.

This town is bursting at the seams with seafood restaurants! The harbourfront is packed with restaurants cooking fresh fish by the weight at reasonable prices.

Ice Tea or Teh Tarik can be found anywhere. Beer is harder to find as Malaysia is predominantly a Muslim country. Generally, you will only be served in high-end bars or hotels.

If you love coffee we recommend trying the local “Kopi”, however, we always find ourselves drawn to more western coffee places for a ‘treat’ and to enjoy the AC. But here you’ll pay western prices, so make sure it’s a good one. We vouch for Nook Cafe .

Diving or Island Hopping in Kota Kinabalu

For a day trip take a ferry from the harbour. Gaya, Sapi and Manukan islands are only a ten-minute boat ride away. We chose diving, joining Downbelow Adventures , a company with a base at Manukan and Gaya islands.

Meeting at the harbour, we were taken to Gaya Island, where the dives depart from. It’s a quiet island with beautiful views looking out into the ocean and back to the city. Here you can even spot the famous Proboscis monkeys hanging out in the trees.

The variety of soft coral here is impressive for reefs so close to the mainland. We highly recommend hiring a torch so you can experience these in all their colourful beauty.

Downbelow adventures also have an office at Manukan island resort. A perfect place for a lovely surface interval in their relaxing pool, bliss!

You can find huge Cuttlefish here along with colourful and interesting nudibranch.

What we particularly liked about the team at Downbelow adventures was their active involvement in preserving and protecting the marine environment by supporting the national park with clean-up operations such as ‘ghost nets’.

Kota Kinabalu Activities 

You can climb the famous Mount Kinabalu, the tallest mountain in Malaysia with a peak of 4095m. Or try whitewater rafting or take a wildlife tour to the Kinabatangan river to spot those famous Orangutans.

Sepilok – Two Days

Getting to sepilok.

Take a six-hour coach from KK to Sepilok.

Where to Stay in Sepilok

The Sepilok Edge Lodge is a beautiful stay amongst the trees. Their food is amazing with some great veggie and vegan options.

There’s a beautiful nature walk where you can spot monkeys, rainforest birds and creatures like this quirky guy below.

Find accommodation in Sepilok

Meet the Orangutans

The lodge is only a ten-minute walk from the Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre .

Aside from the nursery area, this is an open rainforest area where the orangutans are free to roam. Food is left every day for those wanting to supplement their food from the wild, however, the rangers leave the same food (so they become bored with it) to encourage the Orangutans to rely on natural food sources in the rainforest.

The Orangutans are brought here for many reasons; sick, orphaned or because they are affected in some way by the reduction in their natural habitat caused by the palm oil industry.

We had a very close encounter when this curious Orangutan swung over to us to say hello. Like most people, we would always prefer a ‘wild’ encounter (which we had, luckily) however it was great to learn about the work the centre is doing.

Borneo is known for its Palm Oil. The government here has taken action in this area and for years palm trees have only been allowed to be re-planted in the same spot so that the rainforest isn’t being lost to more plantations.

Kinabatangan River – Three Days

Getting to kinabatangan river.

You can pretty much arrange a visit to Kinabatangan River from anywhere in Borneo. It took us around two hours in a minivan from Sepilok (included in the tour price).

Book a Kinabatangan River Tour.

Where to Stay in Kinabatangan River

We stayed at The Sukau Bilit Resort .

A two night/three day stay includes; a two night stay in a lodge in the rainforest, five river cruises, two night walks, one trek and all meals.

We’re here to spot the Borneo ‘Big five’:

• Pygmy Elephants
• Proboscis monkeys

We were very lucky to see all five! What a fantastic experience.

Sipadan & Mabul Diving – Five Days

About sipadan.

The main reason we were in Sabah was to dive Sipadan ! It’s one of the top ten dive locations in the world, so we were anxious to see if it lived up to the hype.

Diving here can be an expensive trip, and shopping around can be time-consuming and exhausting. Lucky for you we’ve done that for you!

Getting to Sipadan

Usually, you’ll need a night in Semporna, the closest airport is Tawau (a two-hour bus ride). Semporna is an unassuming stop before heading off to your chosen island. It’s not cheap for what you get here, but we recommend a stay at Sipadan Inn , which now has three hotels.

Staying here you’re surrounded by dive shops, and after lots of research and only two roads away from our hotel, we chose to dive with Billabong Scuba. It is one of the budget/middle options that received positive TripAdvisor reviews.

Where to Stay in Sipadan

The Billabong office in Semporna is a little underwhelming, but so are most others it seems as the dive accommodation is based on Mabul Island.

Mabul, a fishing town mainly home to the Baja Laut ‘Sea gypsy’ people, provides a variety of accommodation options from very basic to high-end.

Billabong Scuba was a great stay with simple cute bungalows perched out over the sea, which are all you need for a unique, comfy stay.

The huge buffet restaurant looks out onto open water and serves three meals a day (included in the price). It stretches out further than most other accommodation giving it one of the best outlooks for a sunset beer.

Fishermen and sellers appear from beneath your bungalows in boats selling anything from live lobsters, to crabs, coconuts and fruits.

A two night/three day package includes three dives around Mabul/ Kapalai Island and three dives on the famous Sipadan island including the permits and all meals.

Find accommodation in Mabul

Diving in Sipidan

Neighbouring Mabul and Kapalai islands are mostly for the macro (small) critters. We found the weird and wonderful here, which we absolutely love!

A rare moment caught in this picture as a Giant Frogfish yawns. Frogfish camouflaged as coral are difficult to spot, we’ve never actually spotted one ourselves, one day!

We were in awe of these unusual animals. We left these dive sites buzzing and wanting more!

Sipadan Island, however, is the main reason scuba divers come to these parts. Permits to dive here are limited to 125 people per day (divided between the various dive shops), so it’s wise to book your spot early.

The island formed from coral growing on an extinct volcano. Now surrounded by depths up to 600m, the island attracts large numbers of well…everything!

It didn’t disappoint, delivering what felt like fish soup…..everywhere!

It really did feel like you were in an aquarium with the sheer density and variety of fish! This included curious reef sharks and huge turtles passing by.

The coral and reef were in good health with huge sea fans and tubular sponges, an indicator of a mature healthy ecosystem.

During the time between dives, the island of Sipadan was relaxed and quiet, especially if you take a walk away from the ‘pit stop area’ where all the dive shops serve lunch.

To confirm….YES, this is a bucket list dive site.

This really is a place that pictures or videos cannot do justice to.

Malaysian Borneo is a nature lover’s dream and it is possible to do either on a budget or a ‘splash the cash’ vacation. It gets a huge thumbs up from us.

Thank you to Downbelow Adventures for hosting A Lovely Planet .

18 comments

Thank you for sharing this information.

This year we would like to do more or less the same trip, but I have a few doubts. Have you pre-booked everything (Sipadan tour) or is there a chance to do it directly in Semporna? Do you know how snorkeling looks like there?

Best Regards Krzysztof

Yes some of the dive companies in Sipidan offer snorkelling tours, and there are some beautiful things to see. It’s a good idea to book a package in advance as there are only a limited number of permits allocated per day.

Hi, I loved the article. When did you travel to Borneo please? I want to see the Pygmy Elephants so will book the same tour as you. Thank you Leanne

It was October/November time. Have a great trip!

Thanks for this great post! Did you worry about pirates at all? That’s my big concern while planning my summer trip…

As far as I’m aware I don’t think pirates are an issue in this area – but I would definitely check the local advice before you travel. Enjoy!

Hi, great post really enjoyed reading about your adventures! We are currently planning our trip around Borneo for a few weeks time. Did you travel straight from Kinabatangan River to Semporna? We have provisionally booked at diving package for Sipadan and Mabul and are wondering the best way to get to Semporna following the route you mentioned above? Is there a minibus or anything other than flying that you are aware of? Thanks in advance 😀

Thanks Susan. We flew from Sandakan airport (Kinabatangan) to tawau as it was really cheap at the time and then got a bus from tawau to Semporna which is the starting point for heading to Sipidan & Mabul Islands for diving. When we were there, there was no direct bus from the Kinabatangan river to Semporna unelss you have an organised private trip. It’s about 5 hrs drive. Perhaps you could speak with the company you have booked your diving with to see if a transfer could be arranged through them?

Hello, thank you for the info. We are visiting Borneo this September. I saw that you did some diving in Kota Kinabalu area and in Sipidan. We need to choose one and are torn between this two locations. Can you tell me which one you enjoyed more? Sipidan is more famous but as well more expensive and remote. Thanks!

Definitely Sipidan. Kota Kinabalu is more of a stop on the way to Sipidan. Have a great trip!

hey! thanks for providing this blog post. did you think to visit the turtle island at all? As a solo female backpacker would you think an itinerary similar to this would be safe/duable? Thanks in advance!!

Hi Niki, We didn’t visit turtle Island, we didn’t hear too much about it to be honest and it’s another flight and boat away. As a female traveller I would try and connect with a group. It really depends how much of a confident traveller you are. If you are doing things like diving you have the security of the dive shops etc.. but if not I would suggest getting in with a group or planning ahead definitely. Kota Kinabalu can be quite hectic as can around Mabul and Sipidan. The river on the other hand was absolutely fine, lots of people young and old doing the tours and can absolutely do as a solo. Hope you have a great trip!

Hi! Thank you so much for this. We are just starting looking at Borneo for our honeymoon. And this will be so helpful. One question about diving. Do you know if you need any diving qualifications? Or can we do the same dive you guys did as beginners? Thank you.

You would be able to do a try dive without a qualification but some dives require open water level and above so I really recommend taking the course before you go. Have a great trip!

Loved reading your itinerary, we’re doing simular trip in July/aug, would you recommend pre booking all accommodation, or do you think we’d go ok just turning, up and finding accommodation/guest houses? Thank you

Thank you! I generally prefer to pre book accommodation, unless you have lots of time to be flexible. I also feel in general since COVID, things seem to get much more booked up than before. Have a great trip!

Hello, thank you so much for your tips. I am travelling in august with my family to Malaysia, and I ma desperately trying to understand if going to Borneo is worth or if, having only 16 nights, it would be better to stay the whole time in the peninsular malaysia (we land and depart from Kuala Lumpur): we don’t scuba dive, but my husband is a free diving instructor and I and my two sons love free diving too so Sipadan looks like heaven to us. I already heard good things about Billabong Scuba but I cannot find any way to book it in advance: could you help me? All other resorts have too high prices and I the budget ones have terrible reviews. thank you so much for you help! Carlotta

You should be able to book through this website: https://www.sipadan.com/Billabong-Scuba.php . The experience of the Kinabatangan River and spotting the big 5 is a great thing to do with family. It is quite expensive to stay on Sipidan unfortunately. The reason to go to Mabul is for diving, there isn’t much else to do there. Not totally sure it accommodates free diving because of the currents and boats, so that would be a good thing to look into before hand. I hope you have a great trip!

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Classic Borneo

10 days | get ready to go wild on a journey through borneo.

Experience natural wonders and abundant wildlife you can only find in Borneo on this 10-day adventure. Head into lush rainforests, down scenic rivers and through the traditional villages of this beautiful region. Hang out with orangutans in Sepilok, cruise along the Kinabatangan River, chill out on the stunning Manukan Island and get a taste of city life in Kota Kinabalu. There's no doubt that this adventure in Borneo will find its way into your heart and leave you with unforgettable memories.

Trip overview

• Visit endangered orangutans at the Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre, a facility that provides care for orphaned and confiscated primates and other local wildlife.
• One of the wildest places on earth, Borneo offers nature lovers a chance to spot sun bears, proboscis monkeys, pygmy elephants, and so much more.
• Visit the mountainous village of Kampung Kiau where you’ll meet the locals, learn about a social enterprise that empowers women and enjoy a traditional lunch of regional favourites.
• Search for wildlife when you’re cruising the Kinabatangan River on a water safari and while you’re in the depths of the wilderness at your jungle lodge.
• During two days on glorious Manukan Island, there's plenty of time to soak up the relaxed beach vibe and to get close to marine life on an included snorkelling trip.
• As you travel across Borneo, you'll stay in a variety of different accommodation, from standard hotels, to jungle lodges. Some accommodation may have less amenities than a standard hotel, but the unique locations and proximity to nature make them stand out favourites.
• This trip doesn't include climbing Mt Kinabalu. If this is something that interests you, check out our Sabah Adventure (TMSC).
• This trip includes time spent travelling in a private vehicle with your group. Extra space can be tight, and conditions may feel a little cramped. It's all part of the adventure and a great way to get to know your fellow travellers. There are a few long days of travel, as you'll be covering a lot of ground. You will, however, make stops at interesting locations to break up the longer drives. Please read the Itinerary carefully for travel time estimates.

Selamat datang! Welcome to Malaysia. Your adventure begins with an important welcome meeting at 6pm. If you have any free time beforehand, why not get out and explore this intriguing city that was born between the Borneo jungle and the South China Sea. Modern-day 'KK' is a vibrant modern metropolis, having recovered from World War II bombings. You may like to peruse the local handicraft market on the waterfront or take a wander around Chinatown.

• Hotel (1 night)

There are no meals included on this day.

• Complimentary Arrival Transfer

It’s very important that you attend the welcome meeting as we will be collecting insurance details and next of kin information at this time. If you are going to be late please let your travel agent or hotel reception know. Ask reception or look for a note in the lobby for more information on where the meeting will take place.

The arrival transfer is only valid if arriving on Day 1 or if you have booked pre-trip accommodation through Intrepid. Please provide your flight details at the time of booking, or at a minimum 14 days prior to travel, as we may not be able to confirm a request made within 14 days of travel.

Leaving Kota Kinabalu behind, head for the hills and travel to the rural village of Kampung Kiau. Here you’ll have the chance to experience a slice of local life, visiting a coffee production house and learning about production in the region. You’ll also check out Everything Pineapple, a sustainable and community-based project that was formed in the aftermath of the 2015 Sabah earthquake to socially and economically empower women from Kampung Kiau. Pick up some delicious handmade pineapple jam, chutney or juice. Take a fragrant stroll along a herbal trail, learning how and when specific plants are used in favourite local dishes. Sit down to a lunch of these dishes in a shady spot shared by the community, then hit the road and drive on to Kundasang for the night.

• Lodge (1 night)
• Kampung Kiau - Coffee production house tour
• Kampung Kiau - Community-based pineapple project

Today’s total travel time is approximately 3.5 hours.

After breakfast, travel to Kinabatangan River in private minivan. Arrive at your jungle lodge, located beside the river – ideal for taking in your wild surroundings. The Kinabatangan River is a protected forest reserve, containing some of the highest concentrations of wildlife in Borneo. In the afternoon, board a river cruise, hopefully spotting some of the more elusive local creatures. Wild elephants seldom reveal themselves, but crocodiles, macaques, wild orangutan, proboscis monkeys, hornbills and kingfishers are more easily seen. After this short adventure, return to the lodge to enjoy dinner.

• Kinabatangan River - Afternoon Wildlife Spotting Cruise

Today’s total travel time is approximately 5 hours.

Wake up to the calls of Bornean gibbons and hornbills before hopping aboard a morning cruise down the river. Keep an eye out for proboscis monkeys, long-tailed macaques and pig-tailed macaques – your leader will point out the differences between each species. Enjoy some down time to relax and enjoy your surroundings before another afternoon river cruise to see wildlife along the riverbank. This final cruise will be your last chance to snap some photographs of the incredible wildlife along the river. Spend one more night in your lovely accommodation right in the heart of the jungle.

• Kinabatangan River - Morning wildlife spotting cruise

Before heading to Sandakan this morning, you’ll stop at the Gomantong Cave, the most extensive limestone formation in the Lower Kinabatangan region. Home to a thriving community of bats and swiftlets, this cave enchants with unique biodiversity. Next to the Sandakan War Memorial, where you will learn about the city's past as you stand on the same ground of the former Japanese Prisoners of War camp. This site also marks the starting point of the tragic Sandakan Death Marches, on which 2400 POWs were forced to walk through the jungles of Borneo. By the end of the march, only 6 Australians survived, and only because they had escaped. The evening is free for you to explore Sandakan. The city is celebrated for its seafood, so be sure to ask your leader for tips on where to pick up the freshest catch!

• Sandakan - War Memorial
• Visit to Gomantong Cave

While wildlife viewing is a big part of many itineraries, we strive to view animals with the greatest level of respect. We ask all Intrepid travellers to avoid visiting Labuk Bay Proboscis Monkey Sanctuary as it no longer meets our Animal Welfare Policy. Please refer to the ‘Responsible Travel’ section of the Essential Trip Information for more details

Start the day with a visit to the Sepilok Orangutan Sanctuary. The centre was set up to help reintroduce these wonderful creatures back into the wild after a life of domestication or having been orphaned. From the viewing platform, you can watch and photograph these charming creatures as they swing into view and eat the supplementary diet of bananas and milk that is laid out for them twice a day. Human contact must be kept to a minimum and it's essential that you follow the instructions of the park, as directed by your leader. Also included is a new nursery where you can view young orangutans as they learn how to climb on a specially constructed jungle gym. The viewing area is behind one-way glass so as to not disturb the animals. To see more of Borneo’s unique wildlife, you’ll also visit the newly opened Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Center. Here rescued sun bears that have spent many years being mistreated and locked away in cages are cared for, with hopes of rehabilitation and reintroduction into the wild. You’ll also check out the Rainforest Discovery Centre, where you can roam about the treetop walkways, learning more about the flora and birdlife of Borneo. Return to Sandakan for the evening.

• Sepilok - Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre
• Sepilok - Rainforest Discovery Centre
• Sepilok - Sun Bear Conservation Centre

Today’s total travel time is approximately 2 hours.

Say goodbye to Sandakan and fly to Kota Kinabalu this morning. On arrival take a short boat ride to Manukan Island, one of the larger islands found in the Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine National Park. A picture-perfect paradise of white sand beaches and clear turquoise waters, the island is a wonderful place to swim, snorkel, walk or just simply roll out a beach towel, grab a cocktail and chill out on the beach.

• Resort (1 night)

See beneath the surface of Manukan’s waters today when you set out on a snorkelling trip with a local guide. Cruise out to the coral reefs where your guide will help you spot brightly coloured marine life – if you’re really lucky you may even bump into a sea turtle while you’re down there. Pull up on the beach for lunch and a chance to discuss the morning’s discoveries. After snorkelling, the afternoon is yours to enjoy. Soak up the turquoise views for another few hours as you stroll or swim about in this stunning slice of paradise.

• Manukan Island - Boat trip & snorkelling

Head back to Kota Kinabalu today by boat and minivan. You may like to stop off for a visit to the intriguing Mari Mari Cultural Village, nestled deep in the countryside. Here you will see how indigenous ethnic groups of Borneo used to live. You may prefer to check out the Sabah Museum to learn about Sabah’s past, if you didn’t have a chance to do this when you first arrived, or perhaps do some last-minute souvenir shopping at the Filipino market. Tonight, why not join your group for a final dinner to celebrate all you’ve seen and done on your adventure through Borneo.

• Kota Kinabalu - Mari Mari Cultural Village (Entrance) - MYR130

Today's total travel time is approximately 1 hour.

With no activities planned for today, your Borneo adventure comes to an end after breakfast.

9 breakfasts, 4 lunches, 2 dinners

Boat, Plane, Private mini van

Lodge (3 night), Hotel (4 nights), Resort (2 nights)

Dates and availability

Important notes.

1. A complimentary airport arrival transfer is included; valid if you are arriving on Day 1 or if you have booked pre-tour accommodation through us. You must provide your flight details to your booking agent at least 14 days prior to travel. 2. A single supplement is available if you’d prefer not to share a room on this trip. The single supplement applies to all nights of your trip and is subject to availability. Please speak to your booking agent for further information 3. This trip includes a domestic flight. The luggage allowance is 15kg for check in luggage and 7kg for carry on. Excess luggage will incur additional fees payable at check in to the airline. 4. We recommend that you check your government's advice for their latest information on travelling in Eastern Sabah before your departure and ensure that your travel insurance covers you for all areas of your itinerary. Further information can be found in our "Safety" section of the Essential Trip Information. You can find links to prominent government travel advisories our Travel Alerts page https://www.intrepidtravel.com/au/travel-alerts

Want an in-depth insight into this trip? Essential Trip Information provides a detailed itinerary, visa info, how to get to your hotel, what's included - pretty much everything you need to know about this adventure and more.

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MOUNT KINABALU CLIMB

Conquer majestic mount kinabalu.

Get on one of the world’s most accessible and spectacular mountains in the world, Mount Kinabalu. Marvel at the crack of dawn, 4.095 meters high above the clouds and perhaps take adventure to whole new level by getting on the World’s Highest Via Ferrata?

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Discover & upclose with nature.

Enter the aisles of tantalizing wildlife wonders. Experience the natural world and all that thrives in it, Orang Utans, pot-belly Proboscis Monkeys, Pygmy Elephants… precious turtle hatchings racing towards the sea. It’s a great big world out there, don’t miss out.

SEA ADVENTURES

Follow the motion of the ocean.

For a well-balanced diet, don’t skip your dose of Vitamin Sea. Dive into world renowned dive spots, snorkel through whimsical seascapes and find out why Borneo is a beach-bum’s delight.

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Danum Valley Field Centre: My 4-Day Eco-Adventure in Pristine Primary Rainforest

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Luxury Borneo Holidays

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Nature’s bounty is in full display in beautiful Borneo. With dense rainforests to explore, majestic mountains to trek up and sparkling blue waters to dive into, Borneo holidays present unforgettable experiences for nature lovers and wildlife enthusiasts. It’s time to heed the call of the wild!

Why visit Borneo?

Located near Malaysia and Indonesia, Borneo is the perfect destination for those who revel in the outdoors and love being surrounded by nature. A Malaysia tour that includes Borneo gives you the opportunity to enjoy city life, relish delicious cuisine and immerse yourself in nature.

Embark on an exciting two-day trek to the top of Mt. Kinabalu and watch the fascinating changes in ecosystems, flora and fauna as you make your way up this imposing 4,000 metre-high mountain. Experience the feeling of being above the clouds at the summit. 

Part of a 130 million-year-old rainforest, the Danum Valley Conservation Area is home to an astounding variety of animals, avifauna and plants. Set out on a canopy walk high above the trees and take in the sights and sounds of the forest. Gibbons, orangutans, pygmy elephants and some of Malaysia’s rarest bird species call this home. Little wonder that Borneo family holidays are a favourite pick among kids and adults alike. 

Head to Lankayan Island or Sipadan Island to see the wonders off the coast of Borneo. With whale sharks, green turtles and colonies of brilliantly coloured fishes giving you company, it’s a whole new world out there.

Why should you book your luxury Borneo holidays with Hayes & Jarvis?

Booking Borneo holidays travel packages with Hayes & Jarvis comes with certain advantages —  

• Destination experts — Our travel consultants have seen the world and come with a wealth of real-time experience and information. This translates to an extraordinary journey for you.
• Personalised journeys — If you are looking for tailor made holidays in Borneo, then you are at the right place. Our travel experts custom build every itinerary, keeping your wishlist and preferences in mind. 
• 24/7 travel support — Your personal trip coordinator will be available round the clock throughout your trip, no matter which part of the world you are holidaying in. 

Things to Know before you travel to Borneo

• Flights are available from UK airports via Kuala Lumpur, Hong Kong and Singapore. Flying time is around 19 hours.
• British nationals do not require a visa to visit Borneo. Permission to stay for three months is typically given on arrival.
• The official currency of Malaysia is the Malaysian Ringgit (MYR).
• Malay is the official language. Chinese and English are also widely spoken on the island. 
• The dress code in Borneo is modest. Cover your shoulders and knees when you are out sightseeing. Humidity is high, so choose light, breathable fabrics like cotton and linen. If your Borneo holiday includes trekking, pack good quality trekking shoes and trek pants.
• Electricity supply in Borneo is 230/240 volts at 50 hertz. The power plugs and sockets are of type G.

How to Book your Luxury Borneo Holidays with Hayes & Jarvis?

We’ve made the process of booking a holiday with us easy and hassle-free. All you have to do is —  

Step 1 — Schedule a call or share your travel dreams here . 

Step 2 — Our travel experts will get in touch and design a trip proposal that matches your requirements. We’ll refine it further if you want to change dates, add destinations, or choose specific experiences.

Step 3 — Go ahead and book your Borneo holiday. And that’s it. We’ll take care of the rest.

Immerse yourself in the sheer diversity of the country on bespoke Borneo holidays with Hayes and Jarvis. Contact us, and let’s get started!

We can also help you book a multi-centre Borneo holiday to experience more of the region.

Destination Highlights

Watch orangutans swinging from trees and chance a glimpse at the rare small sun bears

Discover 3,000 species of sea life at Lankayan Island

Take in the majestic views of UNESCO World Heritage site, Mount Kinabalu

Visit Danum Valley Conservation Area, where scientists are still discovering new animal species every week

Great sample itineraries

Get inspired by our selection of popular itineraries for Borneo holidays, from wildlife tours of Borneo to multi-centre holidays where you can pair the city and beach, or the city and jungle.

Borneo Wildlife Tour

• from £1,199 PP

Singapore And Borneo Multi Centre Holiday

• from £3,299 PP

Hong Kong And Borneo Holiday

• from £2,299 PP

Our favorite hotels

Browse our favourite places to stay in Borneo – we are here to help you find the perfect hotel.

Shangri-La's Rasa Ria Resort and Spa

Shangri-La Tanjung Aru Resort and Spa

Gaya Island Resort

Frequently asked questions, 1. what is the time difference between the uk and borneo.

Borneo is eight hours ahead of the UK.

2. What is the best mode of transportation in Borneo?

Renting a car with a driver is the best mode of transportation in Borneo. This provides flexibility and convenience to your schedule and can be included as part of your Borneo holiday package. For longer distances, the best option is to take a flight.

3. What is the food like in Borneo?

Borneo’s cuisine is an amalgamation of Malaysian flavours and indigenous influences. Rice, noodles and seafood feature prominently in the island’s dishes. Try the Hinava (raw mackerel salad), Pinasakan sada (grilled basung fish eaten with a fruit called takob akob), clay pot and laksa soups flavoured with coconut, garlic, ginger and turmeric.

4. Which islands are best for snorkelling?

Sipadan Island is considered one of the best snorkelling and diving spots worldwide. Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park is home to five islands known for their incredible diversity of sea life. Another excellent spot for snorkelling is Lankayan Island.

5. What are the top outdoor activities in Borneo?

Holidays to Borneo are all about nature and outdoor adventures. Here are some of our favourites – 

• Head out on guided jungle treks in Danum Valley
• Spot wildlife from a cruise on the Kinabatangan River
• Go snorkelling or diving in the islands of Borneo
• Watch baby orangutans swing and play at the Sepilok Rehabilitation Centre
• Explore Sarawak’s caves

6. What are the top five cultural attractions in Borneo?

Borneo has a rich culture and heritage. Here are five ways you can experience it on your Borneo holidays:

• Stay in a traditional longhouse
• Learn about the island’s WWII history at the Sandakan Memorial Park
• Visit a floating village in Semporna
• Delve into the culture and heritage of the indigenous people at Sarawak Cultural Village
• Tour Kuching’s vibrant Buddhist temples

Expert Tips

“Dive into the island’s pristine waters and experience the amazing underwater world and all the fascinating marine life here.”

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Borneo Holidays

Book your holiday to Borneo with Wendy Wu Tours

Home to some of the world’s richest ecosystems, the island of Borneo is split between three countries – Malaysia, Indonesia and Brunei. Sabah and Sarawak are the two states that make up Malaysian Borneo and they are packed to bursting with culture, wildlife, jungle and beaches. As captivating a destination as Borneo is, it remains wonderfully off-the-beaten-track meaning that it has managed to remain relatively pristine.

You can enjoy the cosmopolitan charms of the cities of Kuching and Kota Kinabalu, relax on the softest white sand, explore easily accessible tracts of virgin rainforest, discover the world’s largest caves and meet the ‘old men of the forest’ – orangutans. On top of all this Borneo is home to half of all the known plant and animal species in the world and to a fascinating ancient tribal culture (Headhunters anyone?) that is still very much alive. For a truly memorable adventure, Borneo is the place to go!

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Things To Do | 7 terrific Bay Area things to do this weekend,

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Things To Do | 7 terrific Bay Area things to do this weekend, June 7-9

It’s been such a summery week we keep hearing that Nat King Cole song in our head (“Roll Out Those Lazy, Hazy, Crazy Days of Summer…:). And fortunately, this has all the making of a classic early summer weekend. So let’s get to it, shall we?

1 SEE & HEAR: Great shows are all over

From a plethora of great outdoor concerts to the hit Broadway revival of “Company,” there is a lot to see and do in the Bay Area this weekend.

2 PLAY & DINE: Head to Healdsburg

The famed Jordan Vineyard & Winery in Healdsburg, with its French-style chateau, stately 1,200-acre grounds and award-winning chardonnay and cabernet sauvignon, makes for one heck of a fun day trip or weekend getaway.  And while we’re on a roll, here are five additional cool winery excursions.

3 MAKE & DEVOUR: Sublime summer salad

This mouth-watering salad blends grilled peaches, burrata and … oh, heck, they had us at grilled peaches.

4 WATCH: The Donald Sterling saga

FX has a compelling new series about the downfall of notorious L.A. Clippers owner Donald Sterling — it tops our roundup of new shows and movies you should know about.

5 SIP: Beer and ice cream?

Stop grimacing, beer/ice cream floats are totally a thing. Here’s how it’s done.

6 SEE & HEAR: New Sondheim musical

TheatreWorks Silicon Valley, which has a deep history with the legendary composer Stephen Sondheim, is premiering a brand new show with his songs this week.

7 SEE: New look at ancient China

A fascinating Asian Art Museum exhibit explores two Chinese kingdoms that flourished some 3,000 years ago .

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World News | Queen Camilla tries to avoid holding hands with Brigitte Macron at D-Day memorial

Restaurants, Food and Drink | Last-minute bill aims to protect California restaurants from surcharge ban

Theater | New ‘Hunger Games’ book and movie are coming

Entertainment | Jennifer Lopez irked Ben Affleck for using breakup rumors for publicity for film: report

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Weekend deaths highlight dangers of crossing border

EL PASO, Texas – The U.S. Border Patrol El Paso Sector is seeing an increase in heat and dehydration injuries and fatalities among migrants attempting to cross the border illegally in the El Paso Sector as temperatures have risen above 100 degrees Fahrenheit in the past few days.

During the past weekend, Border Patrol agents here responded to several emergency situations involving individuals suffering from severe heat-related illnesses. Tragically, there have been four deaths due to heat stroke and dehydration during last weekend, underscoring the lethal risks associated with illegal border crossings during extreme weather conditions.

As temperatures soar and summer approaches, the treacherous conditions of the desert are proving increasingly dangerous.

The El Paso Sector Border Patrol is intensifying its efforts to prevent these tragedies through increased patrols and deployment of specialized Border Patrol Search, Trauma and Rescue Teams (BORSTAR). These BORSTAR teams are equipped with advanced technology, including drones and heat-sensing devices, to locate and assist distressed individuals more rapidly.

El Paso Sector Chief Patrol Agent Anthony S. Good emphasized the dangers, saying, "The desert environment is extremely unforgiving, especially during the summer months. We urge anyone considering crossing illegally to understand the severe risks involved. Our agents are working tirelessly to save lives. But the best way to stay safe is not to attempt an illegal crossing."

In Fiscal Year 2024 to date more than 656 humanitarian rescues have been conducted in El Paso Sector. 

The El Paso Sector Border Patrol has also launched the campaign, titled "No Se Arriesgue: Dangers of Crossing the Border" which includes radio and social media messages targeting key regions where illegal crossings are most prevalent. The goal is to inform and deter individuals from making the hazardous journey. The Border Patrol is also collaborating closely with Mexican authorities to address the safety issue from both sides of the border. Combined efforts include sharing intelligence, conducting joint patrols and coordinating rescue operations. This bi-national cooperation is crucial to reduce the risks of injury and the number of fatalities.

Members of the community are encouraged to report any sightings of distressed individuals to the appropriate authorities immediately by calling 911 for emergency services.

CBP is committed to protecting lives and maintaining the security of the border. The agency will continue to adapt and enhance its strategies to address the ongoing challenges posed by illegal border crossings during extreme weather conditions.

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We Scoped Out United's Cheapest Flights for Fourth of July Weekend — Here's What We Found

Pro-tip: Take a look at United's "Explore Destinations" page.

Courtesy of United

Fourth of July weekend is less than a month away, but there are still plenty of flight deals available to help travelers plan the ultimate summer vacation.

Using United Airlines' Explore Destinations page, which is an interactive map where users can plug in their travel details to see available flights, we found some of the best flight deals over the Fourth of July holiday, with departures on July 3, with a return on July 7.  The cheapest flights from the New York tri-state area are to Florida. United operates flights from its hub at Newark-Liberty International Airport, and has round-trip flights to Tampa for $285, West Palm Beach for $291, Miami for $312, and Orlando for $327.  From United's hub in Houston, TX, travelers can visit Dallas for $147, New Orleans for $205, or Phoenix for $249.  From Los Angeles (LAX), travelers can fly round-trip to Las Vegas for under $200 and take an event who two happening over the holiday weekend including Dead & Company performing at the new MSG Sphere, Blink-182 at the T-Mobile Arena, a Rüfüs Du Sol set at Encore / Wynn Las Vegas, Lady Gaga at Park MGM, and more.  Additional flight deals from LAX include San Francisco and Phoenix for $137, round-trip.  All of the flight deals are available at prices while supplies last, and the discounted fares are in United’s basic economy class of service, which only includes a personal item such as a purse or backpack, and not a carry-on bag. The map feature also has a "travel interests" filter which allows travelers to select a type of trip including beaches, hiking, golf, national parks, or scuba.  United has been on the move with new route announcements over the last few months, including flights to popular national park destinations of Bozeman, Kalispell, Mont., and Jackson Hole.

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Former Packers stars Davante Adams, Randall Cobb, David Bakhtiari and their wives have weekend getaway in Napa Valley

Their friendship formed as members of the Green Bay Packers .

And while they no longer play in Green Bay, the brotherhood of Davante Adams , David Bakhtiari and Randall Cobb extends well beyond the color of their jersey.

The three former Packers stars, along with their wives, had what looks like the perfect weekend getaway in the wine country of Napa Valley in northern California, to celebrate the birthday of Cobb's wife, Aiyda.

The scenes were immaculate. And it appears the drinks were as well. Cobb and Bakhtiari also did their best at impressing everyone in sabering a Champagne bottle.

The Cobbs documented the weekend in a joint Instagram post.

All things Packers: Latest Green Bay Packers news, schedule, roster, stats, injury updates and more.

Randall Cobb , the former dynamic slot receiver for the Packers, remains unsigned after one season with the New York Jets. New York signed Cobb to be a familiar face for quarterback Aaron Rodgers. But Rodgers' season-ending Achilles injury led to Cobb having his worst season as a pro. He had a career-low five catches for 39 yards in 11 games last season .

Adams' wife, Devanne, also highlighted the trip in a series of posts on Instagram. Devanne is pregnant with the couple's third child.

Davante Adams , who played eight seasons with the Packers until he was traded after the 2021 season , is set to begin his third year with the Las Vegas Raiders . The 31-year-old is coming off his fourth straight 1,000-yard season.

He had the first of his three straight All-Pro seasons with the Packers in 2020 and 2021.

David Bakhtiari's wife, Frankie Bakhtiari, also shared a series of photos on her Instagram account, including a group shot surrounded by the hillside vineyards.

David Bakhtiari , cut by the Packers earlier this offseason, is a free agent. Bakhtiari, a five-time All-Pro left tackle who played 11 seasons with the Packers, has endured several knee surgeries in recent years following his torn ACL on the last day of 2020.

This wasn't the first time a group of ex-Packers got together. Several of them, including Bakhtiari and Adams, were at the Kentucky Derby last month .

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Lenin Square

Park Severnyy

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Khabarovskiy Krayevoy Muzey Im. N.i. Grodekova

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Where to stay, sopka hotel, apartment on leningradskaya 63, apartamenty kvartiry24 pushkina 49, amursky boulevard 5, family apartment in the embankment area, apartment sokolniki plus, apartamenty solnechniy gorod - nagishkina 11, hotel lazurit, apartment on vladivostokskaya 26, volochaevskaya 179, family apartment in the city center, voikova 8, cozy family apartment in the city center, what to eat.

Bukhty Barakhty

Cafe Mexico

Signor Pomidor

Restaurant PATCH

Restobar "Studio 59"

Solyony Pyos

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Khabarovsk Krai occupies a long swathe of Russia's Pacific coastline, a full 2000 kilometers of it, going as far south as Sakhalin and north to Magadan Oblast . At nearly 800.000 km², it's Russias fourth largest province. In the north, taiga and tundra prevail, deciduous forests in the south, and swampy forests in the central areas around Nikolaevsk-on-Amur . As a testament to its size there are more than 50 thousand lakes to fish in, more rivers and streams than you would care to count, and several mountain ranges intersect the region, including the northern reaches of the Sikhote-Alin mountains shared with Primorsky krai. The highest point is Mount Bery, towering nearly in fact, three quarters of the area is occupied by mountains and plateaus.

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Why N.Y.C. Hotel Rooms Are So Expensive Right Now

The average hotel room rate in the city is $301 a night, a record. A major reason: One of every five hotels is now a shelter, contributing to a shortage of tourist lodging.

By Luis Ferré-Sadurní

In late 2022, as thousands of migrants began to arrive in New York City, city officials scrambled to find places to house them. They quickly found takers: hotels that were still struggling to recover from the pandemic-driven downturn in tourism.

Dozens of hotels, from once-grand facilities to more modest establishments, closed to tourists and began exclusively sheltering migrants, striking multimillion-dollar deals with the city. The humanitarian crisis became the hotel industry’s unexpected lifeline in New York; the hotels became a safe haven for tens of thousands of asylum seekers.

Two years in, as the city’s peak tourism season is about to begin, the migrant crisis has helped dramatically shift the hotel landscape in New York. The conversion of hotels to shelters has sharply decreased the supply of rooms just as tourist demand has risen, nearly to prepandemic levels, and is projected to match a record high.

The migrant shelters — along with other factors that include inflation, the loss of Airbnb short-term rentals and an expected decline in new hotel construction — have propelled the nightly cost of an average room to record levels.

The average daily rate for a hotel stay in New York City increased to $301.61 in 2023, up 8.5 percent from $277.92 in 2022, according to CoStar, a leading provider of commercial real estate data and analysis. During the first three months of 2024, when prices traditionally dip, the average stay was still 6.7 percent higher than during the same time period last year: $230.79 a night, up from $216.38 in 2023.

About 135 of the city’s roughly 680 hotels entered the shelter program, with many congregated in Midtown Manhattan, Long Island City in Queens and near Kennedy International Airport — all traditional magnets for tourists. Participating hotels are paid up to $185 a night per room, according to the city. Not a single one has converted back into a traditional hotel.

The Midtown hotels include the Row NYC Hotel, a four-star hotel in the middle of the theater district, and the century-old Roosevelt Hotel near Grand Central.

The use of city hotels for migrants represents a loss of 16,532 hotel rooms , leaving 121,677 hotel rooms for travelers, according to data compiled by CoStar, a leading provider of commercial real estate data and analysis.

That’s 2,812 fewer hotel rooms than existed in the period just before the pandemic — a shortage that is being acutely felt.

“During peak periods, try getting a hotel on a Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday night in midtown Manhattan, and, if you can, you could end up paying dearly,” said Daniel H. Lesser, a co-founder of LW Hospitality Advisors. “It’s all supply-and-demand related, and the migrant rooms have reduced the amount of supply.”

Hotels that have been converted into shelters

Island City

Source: CoStar

About 65,000 migrants are being sheltered in hotels, tent dormitories and other shelters, in large part because of the city’s legal obligation to provide a bed to anyone who needs one. The city projects it will spend $10 billion over three fiscal years on the migrant crisis.

Beginning in late 2022, the city entered into a contract of up to $980 million with a hotel trade group to pay hotels that decide to shelter migrants under its “Sanctuary Hotel Program.” City officials said the hotels receive between $139 and $185 a night per room, whether or not the room is occupied, guaranteeing them a fixed stream of income. (Those rates do not include money the city is spending on food and other services for migrants; there have also been reports of hotels being paid more than $185 a night.)

Many of the hotels-turned-shelters, some of which were deep in debt, facing foreclosure or had received poor reviews from guests , catered to budget and middle-class travelers. While many were independent hotels, about half of them carried brand names: Courtyard, Holiday Inn Express, SpringHill Suites, Super 8.

Since migrants are mostly taking up the city’s more affordable hotel rooms, mid-market tourists are most likely to see the steepest increase in prices, according to Sean Hennessey, a hotel industry adviser and clinical associate professor at New York University.

“I really believe it’s enabled two-, two-and-a-half-star hotels to be a little more emboldened, to take advantage of the situation and charge prices that perhaps they wouldn’t otherwise be able to,” he said.

Other factors, including some driven by policies that Mayor Eric Adams and his predecessor, Bill de Blasio, supported, have also contributed to higher room rates.

In September, city officials began to enforce a new law meant to curb the proliferation of short-term rentals, such as those listed on Airbnb, which used to account for over 10 percent of all tourist accommodations in the city. The crackdown obliterated most short-term Airbnb listings — a phenomenon that some observers said might have had an even larger impact on hotel rates than the migrant crisis.

The number of Airbnb listings in New York City for short stays — under 30 days — plummeted by 83 percent to just 3,705 apartments in March 2024, down from 22,247 listings in August 2023, the month before the law went into effect, according to AirDNA, an unaffiliated company that collects data from short-term rental listings. Most of the remaining Airbnb listings in the city, about 90 percent, are only available for stays of over 30 days.

The law, Local Law 18, was aggressively backed by the hotel industry and the hotel workers union , both supporters of Mayor Adams. Not surprisingly, analysts say, the demise of short-term rentals has driven up demand for hotel rooms and has emboldened some hoteliers to increase prices.

“It was expected,” said Jamie Lane, the chief economist at AirDNA. “That is why the hotel lobby was pushing for this law to happen, so they could have higher rates and increase profitability of their properties.” (Supporters of the law argued short-term rentals were exacerbating the city’s housing shortage.)

New construction may not ease the strain. While there are more than 8,000 hotel rooms in the pipeline, significantly fewer are expected in the long run, according to analysts and developers. That is because of new zoning rules and special permits , also backed by the influential hotel workers union , that have restricted hotel development , making it more expensive to build and operate hotels.

In a statement, a spokeswoman for Mr. Adams, a Democrat, attributed the rise in hotel rates to the increase in tourism — about 62.2 million people visited the city last year , just below the record 66.6 million in 2019 — rather than the mayor’s policies.

“The return of tourists to New York City is reflected at hotels as well, where demand is up,” the statement said. “New York City is safer, cleaner and, as the numbers show, continues to be one of the most popular destinations in the United States.”

The occupancy rate for hotel rooms last year was 81.7 percent, significantly higher than the 46.7 percent low of 2020, but still not as high as 2019, when 86.2 percent of hotel rooms were occupied, according to the Hotel Association of New York City, a trade group.

The hotels being used as shelters are scattered across the five boroughs, from a 76-room Sleep Inn in the Bronx to the Staten Island Inn, which has 93 rooms. City officials noted that 32 of the hotels are housing both migrants and about 6,000 homeless New Yorkers.

There are notable clusters. More than two dozen hotels are in the vicinity of the Jamaica neighborhood of Queens, and Kennedy International Airport. Another 19 hotels are in and around Long Island City, the rapidly growing neighborhood on the Queens waterfront.

A large concentration — 22 hotels — is in the tourist-centric Midtown Manhattan area: in Times Square, near Grand Central Terminal, by the Empire State Building or in the theater district.

Indeed, the four largest hotels housing migrants — with more than 3,500 rooms combined — are in the heart of Midtown. Those large hotels were mostly older buildings becoming obsolete or in the financial doldrums. The migrant crisis seemed to reverse, or temporarily salvage, their fortunes.

In October 2022, the Row NYC Hotel in Times Square, which opened as the Hotel Lincoln in 1928 but was in financial straits during the pandemic — became the first and the largest hotel converted into a shelter. It struck an initial $40 million deal with the city to house thousands of migrants in its 1,331 rooms at $190 a night. (Rooms reportedly ranged from $300 to $500 the month before it opened as a shelter).

The Roosevelt on East 45th Street, named after Theodore Roosevelt, also emerged as a symbol of the humanitarian crisis . The hotel, which is owned by Pakistan’s national airline, had closed in 2020 during the pandemic, but reopened in May 2023 after signing a contract with the city. Its once-grand lobby is now the main processing center for migrants. Thousands of migrants live upstairs in its 1,025 rooms.

The hotels housing migrants are required to provide trash pickup on a daily basis, housekeeping every other day and fresh towels and linens at least once a week, according to several hotel contracts reviewed by The Times.

Under its contract with the Hotel Association of New York City, which runs until Aug. 31 and is likely to be renewed, the city can spend up to $980 million, but that does not mean that it will, according to city officials and industry leaders. The financial commitment could change depending on migration patterns and the duration of the crisis.

“If the migrant situation gets better, we’ve made clear to hotels that are enrolling in the program that, you know, you could potentially be out of the contract with a month’s notice,” said Vijay Dandapani, the president and chief executive officer of the hotel association.

Mr. Dandapani stressed that his association was not profiting from the city contract, but rather playing the role of negotiator between the city and hotels. He declined to say, however, how much the city had paid hotels so far.

Any hotels that decide to reopen their doors to tourists will have to undertake expensive renovations to repair the wear and tear from operating as shelters. And some hotels have already indicated they will permanently shut down after their shelter contracts run out.

“Some of them will not come back into the hotel industry,” Mr. Dandapani said. “Period.”

Luis Ferré-Sadurní covers immigration, focused on the influx of migrants arriving in the New York region. More about Luis Ferré-Sadurní

Our Coverage of the Adams Administration

A Key Commission :   Mayor Eric Adams named 13 people to a prominent city commission that could remake city government . Most are loyalists or have ties to his inner circle.

Adams vs. Adams :   A power struggle between Adams and the City Council speaker, Adrienne Adams, is turning ugly during a time of acute vulnerability for the mayor .

Corruption Investigation :   An aide to Adams who served as his longtime liaison to the Turkish community is cooperating with the federal investigation  into the mayor and his 2021 campaign.

Democrats Take Aim :   Since Adams took office, many of his fellow Democrats have kept their criticism of him muted or private. That period of harmony is over .

Free Preschool :   The mayor promised free prekindergarten for 3-year-olds. But when the Education Department released offers, hundreds of New York City families were left without a place after all .