borneo travel and leisure

Cruising in Borneo – Cruise Sabah, Sarawak, Kalimantan Brunei

Retiring in borneo – sabah or sarawak, malaysian borneo: a comprehensive guide, best of sabah in 5 days – trip ideas, exploring sarawak’s best attractions: national parks, best borneo wildlife tours 2024.

VisitBorneo is the original Sabah, Sarawak, Kalimantan and Brunei guide.

Borneo, the third-largest island in the world, is a popular tourist destination known for its diverse culture, stunning natural landscapes, and unique wildlife. The island is divided into three countries: Malaysia, Brunei, and Indonesia. Each country offers a variety of attractions for tourists to explore.

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Visit Borneo is a global Borneo portal, focusing on orangutans and other endangered species , unique wildlife and nature, sustainable development, conservation projects, responsible travel and sustainable tourism information, holidays, sports and leisure activities.

Here are some of the most popular tourist destinations on the island of Borneo.

• Mulu Caves in Malaysia – These limestone caves are located in the Gunung Mulu National Park and are a popular destination for adventure-seekers. The park offers a variety of cave-related activities, including the famous “Headhunter’s Trail,” a challenging hike that takes visitors through a series of dark and narrow limestone caves.  
• Sandakan Memorial Park in Malaysia – This park is dedicated to the memory of the prisoners of war who were held in Sandakan during World War II. The park features a museum and a number of monuments, including a replica of the original Sandakan camp. It is a place of historical significance and a powerful reminder of the atrocities of war.  
• Ulu Temburong National Park in Brunei – This park is known for its untouched rainforest and offers visitors the chance to explore the rainforest canopy via a system of elevated walkways. The park is home to a variety of wildlife, including the Proboscis monkey, which is native to Borneo.  
• Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre in Indonesia – This center is located in the Borneo Orangutan Survival Foundation and is dedicated to the conservation and protection of the endangered orangutan population. Visitors can observe the orangutans being rehabilitated and learn about the work being done to protect these amazing animals.  
• Tanjung Puting National Park in Indonesia – This park is located in the heart of Borneo and is home to a variety of wildlife, including the endangered Bornean elephant, the Bornean orangutan, and the clouded leopard. Visitors can take a traditional “Klotok” boat trip along the Sekonyer River to explore the park and see the wildlife up close.  

Wildlife and Nature

The island of Borneo is home to many unique and endangered species, such as the orang utan, proboscis monkey, the Borneo Rhino, the Pygmy Elephant, as well as the Green and Hawsbill Turtle. More wildlife is discovered by the scientists who live and conduct research in the many national parks, rainforests, mountains and remote regions on the island. Several conservation projects have been set up in Brunei, Sabah, Sarawak, and Kalimantan in collaboration with local governments, the WWF, research institutions, nature and other wildlife and nature and environmental not for profit organisations.

Borneo Travel and Tourism

Sabah, Sarawak, Brunei, and Kalimantan are easily reachable by plane from abroad. Borneo has several international airports. More distant travel within Sabah, Sarawak, Kalimantan, or Brunei mostly takes place by plane or boat. There is a wide selection of hotels, resorts, inns, guest houses and backpackers available to cater for tourists, business travellers and expatriates alike.

Borneo Holidays

Borneo has become a very popular holiday destination in recent years. Polular Borneo holidays include adventure holidays, jungle trekking holidays, beach holidays, orang utan and wildlife safaries, bird watching, and diving. Many visitors spend their honeymoon, Chinese New Year, Easter or Christmas at one of the many top resort hotels. Many popular tourist hotels and resorts are located only a few miles outside Kota Kinabalu in Sabah, as well as outside Kuching or Miri in Sarawak, which are great starting points for many Borneo tours to its wildlife, nature and cultural attractions.

Sports and Outdoor Activities

Borneo offers great opportunities for scuba diving, particularly off East Sarawak and off the islands of Sabah, mountain climbing, caving, golf, fishing, and rafting. Borneo tour operators may be able to help in arranging a sports holidays, particularly diving, fishing, golf and adventure treks.

Conservation and Sustainability

Visit Borneo also provides resources for expats and people relocating to Sabah and Sarawak on Malaysian Borneo , Kalimantan on the Indonesian Borneo , and Brunei Darussalam.

Borneo Travel Guide

Hands down one of our favorite adventure destinations on the planet is Malaysian Borneo . 

The Legendary Rainforests of Borneo bring to mind images of towering trees, abundant wildlife and wild foreboding rain forests filled with raging rivers.

Only great explorers would dare to go there, it was home to the Headhunter after all.

This Borneo  travel guide  will help you plan your next vacation.

Popular Guides

• Things to do in Borneo
• The Pinnacles of Borneo

Our Highlight

Table of contents

Table of Contents

Fast Facts about Borneo

• Borneo power voltage is 230/240 V 50 Hz; Power sockets G.
• The island itself is divided among three countries:  Malaysia  and  Brunei  in the north, and  Indonesia  to the south.
• The Borneo currency is the Malaysian Ringett (MYR) and is around 4 MYR to 1 USD. In Brunei the Brunei Dollar and Singapore Dollar (notes only) are readily accepted. In the south the currency is the Indonesian Rupiah (IDR) and is around 13,000 IDR  for 1 USD.
• Air-conditioned  express buses  are the economical way to travel long distances within, and sometimes between, Borneo’s different states
• Borneo is home to one of the oldest rainforests in the world – around 130 million years old.
• Brunei is a ‘dry’ country – alcohol cannot be purchased, however you are allowed an alcohol allowance to be brought in for personal consumption.

Things to See and Do in Borneo

• Hike Mount Kinabalu  – This 4095 metre mammoth is a 2-hour bus ride from Kota Kinabalu, the capital of Sabah, Malaysian Borneo’s northern province.
• Trek the Pinnacles of Gunung Mulu  – a stone forest of white and grey limestone, jutting 45 metres out of the earth in razor sharp formations.
• Go on a Jungle Safari  – Take a boat up the The Sungai (river) Kinabatangan right into the heart of the jungle of Borneo, and stay in a rustic camp for a few days with  Uncle Tan Wildlife Adventures . 
• Visit the Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre –  They are orangutans that have either been injured, rescued or orphaned that have been nursed back to health and let back into the jungle.  To make their transition easier, they can come back any time they want for a feast.

Borneo Travel Guides

• Great Things to do in Borneo – Malaysia’s Wild Jungle Island
• The Pinnacles of Borneo – Amazing Wonder of Gunung Mulu
• Mount Kinabalu – What it’s Really Like to Climb Borneo’s Highest Peak

Accommodation

Budget:  You can stay at budget hotels in Borneo for as low as $10 US per night. They may include free Wi-Fi, private bathrooms, and have air conditioning.

Mid Range:  There are mid-range hotels available in Borneo for around $30 US. They often include complimentary breakfast, are found in the city center, and have laundry service.

High End:  High-end hotels in Borneo start around $60 per night. They may include family suites, indoor and outdoor pools, and offer airport transfers.

Here are some of the foods you may find in Borneo:

Hinava –  A common dish found in Sabah with mackerel, spices, lime, and onion.

Clay pot soup  – A soup with a variety of ingredients including tofu, prawns, squid, noodles, and vegetables that are cooked over a high temperature.

Pinasakan sada –  A flavorful dish commonly found at restaurants with fruit, fish, salt, and turmeric.

The Best Ways to Get Around Borneo

Getting to borneo:.

Getting to Borneo:  There are no direct flights from Borneo from Europe or North America, so you’ll have to connect at an Asian city such as Singapore or Hong Kong.

You can check for the best flights to Borneo on  Skyscanner .

Transportation:

Buses : You can take buses within the city as well as across the country starting at B$18.

Taxis:   Taxis are found in the major cities, but you’ll always want to confirm if the driver is using the meter or not so you know the price in advance.

Car Rental:  Car rentals in Borneo begin at B$60 a day. Check for prices and availability here.

When to go To Borneo

• March through October is the best time to visit Borneo, as this is when the weather is the most pleasant and driest. You also have the best chance of seeing wildlife during these months.

Where to Stay in Borneo

Seven Boutique Hotel  – This hotel is a great choice to stay at when you’re in Putatan. It’s only 3 miles away from the airport and the hotel offers a free airport shuttle service. They also are a few minute’s walk away from restaurants, bars, and a grocery store.

The Pacific Sutera Hotel   – This beautiful hotel in Sabah has stunning views of the water while being close to shopping, so there’s something everyone can enjoy. They also offer a pool, fitness center, and a private balcony.

Shangri-La’s Tanjung Aru Resort & Spa  – This resort is a great place to relax when you’re in Sabah. You have access to the beach, diving, and babysitters.

Check out our favorite booking platforms Booking.com , Tripadvisor and VRBO for the best deals on accommodation in Canada.

What to Pack for Borneo

Borneo is hot and humid with a typically  tropical climate . Sarawak receives an abundance of rainfall during the  monsoon  season which falls between November and February of each year, whereas the dry season generally occurs from May to October. 

Heavy rains may cause cancellation of flights and riverboat trips into remote regions, so the dry season is best for activities.

• The protection basics  – Travellers should stock up on the essentials: sun block, mosquito/insect repellant containing DEET or a pyrethroid insecticide, sunglasses and a hat. If you will be spending time in national parks or upriver areas (e.g. Batang Ai & Nanga Sumpa), make sure to bring a strong mosquito repellent that contains 30-50% DEET.  Use this in the jungle and interior and bring it from home as it might be hard to find in Borneo.
• Pack for Humidity  – for humid weather it is best to pack fabrics that breathe as much as possible and natural fabrics, like cotton, linen or rayon (avoiding silk, wool and polyester). Clothing should be loose and comfortable to encourage the flow of air and allow moisture to evaporate.
• Sarongs  – From protecting yourself from the hot island sun, covering up at religious sites or keeping warm on a cool night, sarongs are a must-have.
• Raincoat / Jacket –  rain gear is always a good idea, as is a light jacket for the cooler temperatures at Mt Kinabalu.
• Water bottle –  Water is not potable in Borneo – do not drink or even brush your teeth with tap water.

Borneo Travel Guide: Best Booking Resources

Whenever we travel to we make sure to start with these companies. We have tried a lot of different ones over the years and all of these have consistently proven to be the best when it comes to offering great prices.

We have used every one of these personally and continue to do so.

• Booking.com : This is our go site to when comparing prices for accommodation. It usually has the cheapest prices, especially in Europe and we love their interface. Not to mention you get free cancellation and you are guaranteed the best price.
• Trip Advisor :  What we like about Trip Advisor is that we can look at all the reviews and then book our accommodation. TripAdvisor is where we go when we want to compare prices with multiple accommodation providers.
• VRBO : is the main search engine we use when we are looking for a home or apartment rental. It can sometimes be cheaper than hotels and it is the best way to stay in areas that offer a more local feel.
• Hostelworld :  With one of the largest databases of hostels in the world, Hostelworld is the go-to site when you are looking for budget accommodation.
• Skyscanner : This is the first place we check for flights. It consistently comes back with the cheapest and best options. It allows us to compare a lot of airlines to get the best price.
• Rome 2 Rio :  If you want to see how to get somewhere by plane, train, bus, ferry or car Rome2Rio lays it all out for you as well as related costs.I love how they show it all to you on a Google Map and it works offline.
• Get Your Guide:  For all your day trip and city guide needs, we use Get Your Guide. It has the world’s largest collection of things to do with more than 30,000 activities in 7500 destinations.
• World Nomads Insurance:  When traveling to Italy you should always have travel insurance. We have found the best bang for your buck is by far World Nomads.

Borneo Travel Guide: Related Articles

To browse all our articles and guides about Borneo  click here.

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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!

[…] Click for tips on things to do in Bandar Seri Begawan, visiting Ulu Temburong National Park, my complete Borneo itinerary, or an insider’s guide to […]

[…] in mind that my itinerary for Borneo was a diverse one, including a mix of cities as well as trekking.  I’d say that I spent most of […]

[…] in Brunei? Click for general tips on travel in Brunei (including what to wear in Brunei), my itinerary for Borneo, and non-boring guide to things to do in Bandar Seri Begawan, the capital of Brunei with a unique […]

[…] Click for my complete itinerary for Borneo! […]

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Discover Borneo

DiscoverSarawak

Sarawak on the island of Borneo offers an unforgettable mix of culture- and nature-based travel experiences. With its history of White Rajahs, diverse cultures, mighty rivers, rainforests & iconic wildlife, Sarawak is a unique destination …

DiscoverSabah

The Malaysian state of Sabah on the island of Borneo is renowned for the beauty of its natural environment and its network of national parks and wildlife sanctuaries. Sabah’s abundant and relatively accessible wildlife – …

DiscoverSarawak & Sabah

The Malaysian state of Sarawak on the island of Borneo offers a mix of historic, cultural and natural attractions. Sabah’s attractions focus on abundant and relatively accessible wildlife, unique national parks and picturesque islands and …

DiscoverBrunei

The Sultanate of Brunei is wedged in between the two East Malaysian states of Sarawak and Sabah, with its northern shore facing the South China Sea. Brunei is a land of contrasts, especially the capital, …

Borneo Adventure specializes in tours and travel in Malaysia and has over 30 years of experience. Our activities are focused on the States of Sarawak and Sabah on the island of Borneo. We are one of Malaysia’s most established inbound tour operators and offer a range of over 100 tours of Borneo to choose from. With offices in Kuching and Kota Kinabalu , our Borneo tours feature the natural environment, wildlife, culture and history of Sarawak and Sabah. The Ulu Ai Project , our community-based tourism project in Sarawak, has won a number of awards and contributes to the advancement of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals for tourism.

We invite you to experience the best of Borneo.

Popular Tours

Our most popular tour destinations in Malaysian Borneo are Danum Valley , Kinabatangan River , Tabin Wildlife Reserve and Kinabalu Park in Sabah and Kuching , Bako National Park , Gunung Mulu National Park and Batang Ai in Sarawak.

Ulu Ai Experience (Nanga Sumpa) 3D2N

Meet the Iban people, experience the Borneo rainforest, enjoy the pleasures of upriver travel and stay at our jungle lodge on this 3 days / 2 nights tour

Danum Valley 3D2N

Explore pristine rainforest, search for Borneo's wildlife and stay at the award-winning Borneo Rainforest Lodge on this 3 days / 2 nights tour of the Danum Valley Conservation Area

Kinabatangan River Cruise (Sukau) 3D2N

3 days / 2 nights Kinabatangan River tour including Sepilok Orang Utan and Sun Bear Centres, 2 nights at the Kinabatangan Riverside Lodge in Sukau plus wildlife watching river cruises

Essential Mulu Showcaves 3D2N

Discover the show caves of Gunung Mulu National Park in Sarawak on this 3 days / 2 nights tour

Bako National Park Day Trip

Bako is one of the best parks in Malaysia to see wildlife and experience the rainforest via a network of trekking trails.

Lubok Kasai Jungle Experience 4D3N

Meet the Iban people, enjoy the pleasures of upriver travel, stay at our Lubok Kasai jungle camp & experience the Borneo rainforest on this 4 days / 3 nights tour

Tabin Wildlife Reserve 3D2N

Experience the Borneo rainforest and go in search of Sabah’s rich wildlife on this 3 days / 2 nights tour of Tabin Wildlife Reserve in eastern Sabah

Sandakan Wildlife Watching Tour 4D3N

4 day, 3 night night wildlife tour of Sepilok & Kinabatangan River, designed for those arriving in the afternoon on the Kuala Lumpur-Sandakan flight

Explore Borneo with us

Learn where to go and what to see in Sarawak & Sabah. Borneo Adventure’s map of Borneo with descriptions of the best travel destinations to visit will help you plan your trip.

5 stars -- highly recommend Borneo Adventure

★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

What an experience! Booked a 5D tour of Mulu with Borneo Adventure. Spent close to a month planning the trip with our guide Disney Jaboh in Kuching. Disney was a rock star - super patient, incredibly warm and very kind. He addressed all our million questions and helped us craft the perfect tour itinerary to our exact specifications. In time, talking with him was just like speaking with an old friend! We even met him for dinner in Kuching to say hi and say thanks for the memories. During the tour, we were assigned to Nelson, a super experienced guide. Again, 5/5 stars here -- he was the perfect guide and we were so so thankful to have him with us. In 20+ years of travelling to 20+ countries, Borneo Adventure is hands down in the top 3 of private tour companies I've ever engaged. They are not the cheapest, but you pay for what you get.

Could not recommend them highly enough.... we'll definitely be back for a future tour with Borneo Adventure!

ReviewedJuly 5, 2022 byJason C.

An unforgettable experience, breathtaking nature, wonderfully taken cared of by the whole team

We spent unforgettable 4 days in the Batang Ai area, with its breathtakingly beautiful rivers and jungle. We were impressed by the organisation of Borneo Adventure, the huge knowledge of our guide Bayang, and the skilled Iban longboat drivers. We learned so much about the flora and fauna, about the culture and life of the Iban people, even how they cook food in bamboo sticks. The lodge and the camp are both wonderful, the meals really delicious, and all the staff very friendly, relaxed and eager to help. We can highly recommend Borneo Adventure, last and not least because they involve and work together with the Iban people in a sustainable manner.

ReviewedJanuary 7, 2024 byT C.

Great Tours with Great Guides

We did two trips with Borneo Adventure while we were away, both were amazing (Mulu Showcaves 2D1N and Tanjung Datu 3D2N) and highly recommended. The caves and wildlife at Mulu were amazing and our guide Nelson was really great and really knowledgeable. Tanjung Datu is just a special place. Again our guide Lemon was amazing who our made the trip with his cooking, knowledge and conversation. We would use them again 100%.

ReviewedSeptember 19, 2022 byChris W.

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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.

*contains affiliate links

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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At Chimptrips we have a passion for travel and discovering new places. We love to explore and have adventures, both at home and abroad and want to inspire others.

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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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The perfect Borneo itinerary for 2 weeks

By: Author Kris

Posted on Last updated: March 11, 2023

What’s the best Borneo itinerary for first-time visitors?

Borneo is the world’s third-largest island and is shared by three countries. Indonesia, Malaysia, and Brunei.

We traveled for 2 weeks through Malaysia and The Malaysian part of Borneo and discovered beautiful nature, a mix of religions and cultures, and very friendly people.

In this Borneo travel blog post, we share a complete Borneo itinerary with the main attractions and highlights of our trip. Perfect for first-time Borneo visitors.

There is a really good chance that this post contains affiliate links. If you click one of them, we may receive a small commission (for which we are deeply grateful) at no extra cost to you.

Table of Contents

A Borneo itinerary for 2 weeks

Day 1-2 kuala lumpur (kl).

We started our Borneo 2-week itinerary in Kuala Lumpur.

Kuala Lumpur is the capital city of Malaysia and an interesting city to spend a few days.

Although this city is not located in Borneo, it would be a shame not to take the opportunity to discover this city before we continued our journey to Borneo.

How to get from the airport to Kuala Lumpur city center

There are several ways to get from the airport to Kuala Lumpur (and vice versa).

The quickest way probably is the  KLIA Express,   this train brings you in 28 minutes from the airport to Kuala Lumpur central train station ( KL Sentral ).

From KL Sentral you can continue your journey to your hotel by metro, bus or taxi. The taxi rates at this station are fixed and you arrange your taxi at the counter.

To get a quote you need to give the name of your hotel and the preferred model of the taxi.

Beware that small cabs have small trunks and your bags may not fit.

The difference in the different taxi models is normally shown at the counter.

They will give you a ticket at the counter.  This ticket also contains the address where you’re going so you just need to show it to the taxi driver and you’ll be taken to your destination.

Another option to get from the airport to Kuala Lumpur is by taxi. It is the most comfortable way to get from the city center to the airport and back as it takes you directly door to door.

Depending on the number of passengers the taxi can be cheaper than the train.

The taxi will take approximately 45 minutes to get to the city.  It all depends on traffic and where your hotel is located.

The taxis use the same ticket system at the airport so you will also need to get a ticket at the ticket counter before you head to the taxi line.

The Cheapest way to travel between the airport and Kuala Lumpur city center is to board one of the buses that drive between the airport and KL Sentral.

Airport Coach is one of them.

They charge around RM18 to bring you to KLIA.

Places of interest in Kuala Lumpur

You can see the western influence very clearly throughout the city. You might as well be in Singapore or Hong Kong.

You can explore the highlights of this city in three days.

The main highlights are of course the Petronas Tower and Kuala Lumpur Tower – the two landmarks of this city. At 452 meters, the Petronas Towers are still the highest twin towers in the world.

You have a fantastic panoramic view of the city from here.

An absolute must-do when you’re in Kuala Lumpur.

Skip the line and buy your tickets here: Tickets Petronas Tower

This, however, is the modern Kuala Lumpur.

For a more authentic experience, have a wander around the typical Indian and Chinese areas.

And be sure to have a bite to eat in Jalan Alor, the top destination for tasty street food.

Where to stay in Kuala Lumpur

Many of Kuala Lumpur’s major attractions are located in a relatively compact part of the city.

That’s why the hotels we share are all located near the city center of Kuala Lumpur. 

Luxury hotel: JW Marriott Kuala Lumpur

The JW Marriott Kuala Lumpur lies very central, close to all the main tourist attractions. The hotel is a wonderful oasis for those looking for a place to relax in luxury after exploring Kuala Lumpur during the day. Very welcoming staff and excellent service.

Click here for reviews and the latest prices:

Booking.com

Premium Comfortable hotel : Impiana KLCC Hotel

The Impiana KLCC Hotel is a very comfortable location for sightseeing. Spacious and well-designed rooms. Very friendly staff. You can see the twin towers while swimming in the pool.

Comfortable hotel: Holiday Express Kuala Lumpur City Center

The Holiday Inn is a good hotel right in the middle of Kuala Lumpur close to the towers. Clean and well-kept rooms. Good value for the price.

They have several room types. Choose The big one with a sofa bed, even if you don’t need the sofa, because the room is much better.

Day 3-4 Kuching

Our first stop in our two weeks Borneo itinerary was Kuching.

Kuching itself is not one of the highlights of Borneo, there is not much to do in the city, but the many side attractions we can do from Kuching will keep us busy for these 2 days.

Points of interest to do in Kuching

We stopped here mainly to visit   Bako National Park .

We contemplated spending the night in the park but didn’t in the end as we found too many negative reviews about the accommodation.

It didn’t look too bad once we were there, but it was too late by then.

We had a beautiful hike and our day flew by.

Purchase here your organized day tour to Bako National Park: Bako Day Tour

The buildings in the park are beautiful, but we didn’t get a lot of information about them. The staff simply didn’t have enough knowledge of English, and that was a pity.

The cultural show, on the other hand, was definitely worth it.

As animal lovers, one of the highlights was, of course, our visit to the Semenggoh orangutan rehabilitation center .

They tell you about the animals, and you can observe them at a (relatively) close distance when they are fed.

Where to stay in Kuching

There are plenty of options to stay in Kuching. Here we share three of the best hotels.

Luxury hotel : Hilton Kuching hotel

Hilton Kuching is a very centrally located hotel with a beautiful view over the Sarawak river. You can enjoy a delicious breakfast in the morning. After a busy day, you can relax at the wonderful pool.

Check prices and availability: Booking.com

Premium Comfortable hotel : Imperial Hotel Kuching

The Imperial hotel is a modern hotel with very comfortable rooms and a big bathroom. The staff are super friendly and speak very well English.

It’s a bit out of the center of Kuching, however, it is barely a 10 rm ($3) roundtrip fee for a Grabcar ride and there are always cars available.

Comfortable hotel : Harbour View Hotel

The Harbour View Hotel is newly renovated and located in the middle of town. Spacious and clean rooms. Comfortable beds. Very helpful and friendly staff.

Book a high floor room that’s facing the Waterfront.

Day 5-7 Mulu

From Kuching, we continued our two weeks in Borneo to Mulu.

We chose to fly, which is the quickest, and surest option.

Sometimes you can take a boat down the river, but that is not an option if the water is too low.

We flew MASwings, a subsidiary of Malaysia Airlines. They offered 3 direct flights a week straight from Kuching to Mulu a few years ago but seem to offer daily direct flights at this point.

Check available flights here: MASwings

Things to do in Mulu

The reason for us, like many other tourists, to visit Mulu was the Mulu National Park . Historically, the area was very popular for hunting, so a lot of animals can unfortunately no longer be spotted here as they were killed, or have fled.

But there are lots of insects like dragonflies and butterflies, and the real stars of the park are the bats.

A visit to the caves in the park is absolutely worthwhile, and you can watch the bats take flight at dusk.

This was the ultimate highlight of our trip around Borneo.

Read our detailed post about Mulu here

Where to stay in Mulu

Accommodation in Mulu is very limited.  You basically have three choices.

Accommodation outside the park in rather basic hotels or homestays.  (dorms or very basic rooms with cold showers or no showers at all and electricity available 2 to 4 hours/day) : +/- 20-35MYR/pp

The Mulu national park accommodation  is more expensive at 200-250 MYR/night.  The hotel rooms in the park are more luxurious. They offer electricity all day, hot showers and comfortable beds.  We loved our room!

Mulu Marriott

Mulu Marriott  is a good option if you are looking for a luxurious treat and want to spoil yourself. The hotel has a swimming pool and a spa. Breakfast and dinner are served buffet style. The hotel is 10 minutes outside the park but has a free shuttle that takes you to the entrance. If we would go back,  Mulu Mariott  would be our first choice.

Check prices and availability: MARRIOTT

Day 8-10 Kota Kinabalu

We continued our Malaysian Borneo itinerary in Kota Kinabalu.

We were looking forward to snorkeling in the Tunku Abdul Rahman Park .

This is a collection of five islands, mainly visited for their beautiful underwater world.

We were really looking forward to this after numerous fantastic snorkeling trips in Thailand, but it was very disappointing.

Things to do in Kota Kinabalu

During our 2 weeks in Borneo, we visited two islands In Tunku Abdul Rahman Park , Sapi, and Mamutik. On the way there we already sailed through a lot of rubbish (bottles, life jackets…) and the islands were full of rubbish too. A terrible shame really.

The water is shallow, and so a lot of the coral is broken because people damage it while snorkeling.

And because there are so many people, you bump into each other or you don’t see anything because of all the splashing.

The Rafflesia , a giant carnivorous flower with a diameter of up to 106cm, is the symbol of Sabah, the state of which Kota Kinabalu is the capital. Pictures of the flower looked amazing so we decided we had to see this flower while we were here.

I would suggest, however, that you go view it elsewhere if possible.

The flower is nice, but the trip we took into the Tambunan Rafflesia Reserve was quite expensive and felt like a rip-off.

You can also see it in the Gunung Gading National Park or during a climb of Mount Kinabalu, but we couldn’t fit either of those into our itinerary.

Read our detailed Kota Kinabalu post here.

Would you like to discover the exotic flora and fauna of the first UNESCO World Heritage Site of Malaysia, and relax afterward in a nice hot water spring? Book this trip to the Kinabalu National Park, and don’t forget your swimwear. Booking.com

Where to stay in Kota Kinabalu

Luxury hotel : le meridien kota kinabalu.

Le Meridien Kota Kinabalu lies right opposite the markets and just a short walk away from the riverside promenade. Spacious and Comfortable rooms. Beautiful pool.

Watch the sunset from the pool area.

Premium Comfortable hotel: Mercure Kota Kinabalu city centre

The Mercure Kota Kinabalu lies in a great location close to the Baywalk area with lots of stores and restaurants. Small but comfortable rooms. The hotel has a small swimming pool on the roof, with a great city and sea view. You can also enjoy a beautiful sunset from here.

Comfortable hotel: The Klagan Hotel

The Klagan hotel lies in a wonderful location. There are lots of restaurants and shopping within walking distance. Modern and comfortable rooms.Good buffet breakfast.  You can enjoy the sea view while having breakfast.

Day 11-14 Kinabatangan

From Kuching, we flew to Sandakan. This flight was once more with Air Asia.

Our Kinabatangan river cruise

The Kinabatangan river is an area with tropical lowland rainforest vegetation and unique ecosystems.

We booked a stay in the Borneo Nature lodge including an extra tour on the way to the lodge, and once again when leaving the lodge.

Our guide was waiting for us at the airport and brought us to the hotel with a stop at the Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre .

Compared to Semenggoh, the information was better and more plentiful, so if you only want to visit one center, I would suggest you choose Sepilok.

We took boat trips twice a day, leaving our lodge early in the mornings and again at four in the afternoon.

We spotted lots of animals like orangutans, proboscis monkeys, pygmy elephants and of course many beautiful birds.

If you’re like us and get excited seeing animals in their natural habitat, then this is a place you certainly have to put on your Borneo itinerary.

We also did a night cruise, or technically an after-sunset cruise.

The advantage of such a cruise is that you can take beautiful photographs of the animals as you can get much closer. And it is exciting to go canoeing in the dark too.

Here you can read more about our Kinabatangan river cruise.

On the way back from our lodge we visited the Gomatong Caves. This is where they harvest the edible bird’s nests which are a delicacy in China.

Well, after being here, I don’t think I’ll ever try those as the cave was full of cockroaches, beetles, and other bugs, and in the middle was an enormous mountain of bat poo.

We still shudder thinking about it.

We finished our trip with lunch in the English Tea House, a colonial-style building from where we had beautiful views over the sea and could forget the horrors of the Gomantong Caves.

Kinabatangan riverside lodges

The price of your Kinabatangan river cruise package depends on many elements.  The level of comfort of the accommodation will make a difference but there will also be differences in what’s included in your package.

Some Kinabatangan river lodges offer all-inclusive packages (typically including all meals and 2 daily Kinabatangan River Cruises) but some only include your accommodation.

We advise taking an all-inclusive package. 

You will have nothing to worry about because your tours and your meals will be included.

As you are in the jungle there are no other restaurants around.

If you are just like us a big nature fan, opt for a 4 days/3 nights package so you can enjoy 3 full days in the Malaysian wilderness.

You will have more chances to see the orangutans and pygmy elephants. We saw different animals on each river cruise.

There’re many Kinabatangan river accommodations. Remember that you are in the jungle and that these river accommodations may not offer all the amenities that you are used to.

Here we share 3 comfortable hotels with air conditioning that offer all-inclusive packages.

Borneo nature lodge

We stayed in the  Borneo Nature Lodge one of the more comfortable Kinabatangan riverside lodges. It’s the only lodge in Kinabatangan rated 2 stars.  The manager took really good care of us and we were treated to delicious meals after every river safari.  We comfortably enjoyed the pleasures of the jungle :-).

Nature Lodge Kinabatangan

Click here for reviews and the latest prices: Booking.com

The Nature Lodge Kinabatangan offers basic clean rooms with air conditioning.  Incredibly friendly staff. The tours are good and the group sizes are considerably smaller than other tours.

The Bilit Rainforest Lodge

The  Bilit Rainforest lodge  offers spacious rooms with air conditioning.  They offer a reasonable selection of well-prepared food, Very friendly and helpful staff. The river safaris are excellent and the guides are good at spotting wildlife.

Borneo essentials

Here we answer the most frequent FAQ’s for Borneo.

What’s the best time to visit Borneo

The average temperature in Borneo lies between 27 and 32 degrees Celsius throughout the year. Borneo has a fairly humid climate, and it rains regularly.

The best time to visit Borneo is between April and September . The busiest months are from May to September.

We visited Borneo in July, and it was mostly dry, apart from the occasional shower.

Going independent or joining an organized tour

We found it easy and straightforward to create our own travel itinerary.  It was also fairly easy to travel through Borneo independently.

We traveled with our suitcases but Borneo is also a great backpacker’s destination. Here you will find a complete list of the best backpacking gear when you are planning on backpacking in Borneo.

But if you want the company of a group, don’t have the time to create your own itinerary, or just don’t want to go independent, you could also join an organized tour. TourRadar  is a trustworthy company where you can book an organized tour to Japan to make it easy on yourself.

Here you can find all organized tours to Borneo: Organized Tours Borneo

How to get to Borneo

Wondering how to get to Borneo? Since there are almost no international flights directly to Borneo our journey started with a flight to Kuala Lumpur before taking our Air Asia flight to Kuching, a route many other travelers use.

How to find cheap tickets to Kuala Lumpur

If you want to score  cheap flights  to Kuala Lumpur we advise you to have a look at  Momondo  and  Skyscanner. 

Momondo and Skyscanner are both very good at finding good deals, of the two, Momondo is probably the one with the most intuitive user interface.

our full review about 10 booking sites here.

How to get from Kuala Lumpur to Borneo

Air Asia is a low-cost airline, and as with all budget airlines, it means they are very strict when it comes to luggage and you have to pay for all extras.

Those are things I would rather avoid but if we ignore those typical low-cost aspects I must say their service was good and we had an enjoyable flight.

We had an hour’s delay on this flight and were spontaneously handed a discount voucher for a future flight. I still prefer to fly with the major carriers, but would consider Air Asia for another flight.

Air Asia operates 9 flights daily. Their flight to Kuching leaves from the low-cost terminal of KL airport .  (LCCT) Note that the low-cost terminal is far apart from the regular terminal. The low-cost terminal can be reached by taxi.

Another way is by KLIA Transit. There is a stop at Salak Tinggi station where special busses depart to LCCT.

There are also buses that transport passengers between the two terminals; though they are very cheap it also takes quite some time.

If you rather don’t fly with Air Asia you can choose Malaysia airlines. Malaysia Airlines offer more than 10 flights a day.

The flight time from Kuala Lumpur to Borneo is around 1h40 minutes.

Flights from Kuala Lumpur to Borneo are often very cheap.  The prices fluctuate depending on seasons but with four entry-point options, you can always get into Borneo somewhere for under $50.

Do I need travel insurance for Borneo?

We do not recommend traveling without travel insurance. Besides medical expenses, it covers lots more.

You can turn to your travel insurance if your camera, notebook, or smartphone gets damaged or stolen. Travel insurance will reimburse you if you can’t leave on your trip because of an emergency at home or if you need to end your trip early.

Drawing up a travel insurance policy may seem expensive at first but it can potentially save you a significant sum, significantly more than the small insurance fee.

Good travel insurance, such as the one from HeyMondo and SafetyWing, covers the things we mentioned above and even more.

Check prices and availability:

We think this is a fairly complete 2-week itinerary for  Borneo.

But as always, you have to make choices, and that’s what we did for this Borneo itinerary.

As nature lovers, we loved Mulu and our Kinabatangan river cruise the most.

This was absolutely the highlight of our Borneo itinerary.

If you have less time and aren’t going to climb Mount Kinabalu, we would suggest skipping Kota Kinabalu.

If you are looking for a 10 days Borneo itinerary and like snorkeling or diving,  we would advise adding Lankayan Island . It’s easy to reach with a private boat transfer from Sandakan. We didn’t do it ourselves because we went to the Perhentians. But we heard from other people that it is an amazing island.

If you are convinced of Borneo but are looking for a tropical destination, our Kerala in India might be something for you.

If you are wondering what to pack for Borneo, check out this Borneo packing list.

If you want to stay online while you are in Malaysia, check out this post about the best Malaysia tourist SIM card. 

Have you visited Malaysian Borneo, what were the highlights for you?  Would you change something in our itinerary?

Tuesday 9th of July 2019

"Well, after being here, I don’t think I’ll ever try those as the cave was full of cockroaches, beetles, and other bugs, and in the middle was an enormous mountain of bat poo."

"If you are just like us a big nature fan"

Clearly ;) Bat poo in the cave, who would've expected...

This was absolutely the most disgusting cave we ever visited. Can you imagine people are staying here for the night...

Experience the wonders of nature

In Borneo, not only will you be fascinated by untouched primary rainforests and diverse wildlife, with many endemic species. You can also experience unique underwater worlds, breathtaking caves, unmissable mangrove forests, white sandy beaches, and barren high mountains. Furthermore, Borneo is characterised by its cultural diversity and various indigenous peoples.

As you can see, there are so many reasons to travel to Borneo. On borneoguru.com you will find a lot of helpful information. We hope our travel reports will inspire you for your next trip!

Untouched rainforest

The island is blessed with untouched tropical rainforests.

Diverse Wildlife

Hardly anywhere else on earth can such diverse wildlife be found.

First-class diving

The diving areas off the east coast are among the best in the world.

Breathtaking caves

There are cave systems unlike any others in the world just waiting to be discovered.

Country & People

The hustle and bustle of the cities, culinary diversity, and traditional peoples await you.

Beautiful beaches

Fine sandy beaches with clear, warm water invite you to come and relax.

The best of Borneo

Don’t want to miss any of Borneo’s natural highlights? We reveal our eight favourites: from Bako National Park in the northwest via Mulu National Park and Mount Kinabalu to Sipadan in the east of the island. Enjoy impressive landscapes, unforgettable encounters, and amazing adventures in all of these places.

Bako National Park

Sepilok orangutan centre, kinabatangan river, sipadan island, mount kinabalu, danum valley, semenggoh wildlife centre, mulu national park, tips for your trip.

Find out which season is best for a visit to Borneo and which months to avoid.

Discover our top 11 attractions on the island of adventures.

Get all our tips and the perfect itinerary for your Borneo vacation.

Get an overview of flight connections from UK, USA, Australia and New Zealand.

Make sure you don’t leave these things behind when packing your bags.

Find out about Malaysia’s entry regulations.

What to experience on the island of adventures

When you think of Borneo, you immediately think of fascinating wildlife, and the diverse fauna is indeed one of the main incentives for a trip to this natural paradise. But there are many other reasons why you should spend your vacation here.

Diverse wildlife with orangutans, proboscis monkeys, sun bears, and more

Hardly any other region of the world offers such a diverse wildlife adventure. The main highlight is orangutans , which, with a stroke of luck, you will see in the wild. But catching sight of proboscis monkeys, Malayan bears, or Borneo pygmy elephants, to name but a few, is also an amazing experience.

All of these animals are rare, and some have long been extinct in other parts of Asia or, indeed, the world – a fate which has already befallen the Sumatran rhinoceros in Borneo and which is also threatening these four. Due to poaching and the deforestation of their natural habitats, they are severely threatened with extinction. The best chance to see Malaysia’s largest animals in the wild is on a river safari along the Kinabatangan River .

In addition to these, there is an enormous number of other animal species. The WWF reports 222 mammals, 400 amphibians, and 394 fish species that are found in Borneo. The island is also well-known for birdwatching. According to the WWF, 622 bird species live here, many of which are exotic and endemic to Borneo.

See how orangutans released from captivity are prepared for life in the jungle

In addition to sightings in the wild, you can also see orangutans in sanctuaries. Animals that have been released from captivity or found injured are first rehabilitated in these facilities and then trained for life in the wild.

If the programme is successful, the apes are returned to the wild. Some are released into forest areas directly adjacent to the facility, where they are still supported through feeding. Other animals are released further away into the rainforest and are then entirely self-sufficient.

Near Kuching, there are two conservation facilities with different focuses: the Semenggoh Wildlife Centre and the Matang Wildlife Centre. The Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre is a further facility, located near Sandakan. In all of these facilities, you can watch the animals being fed. You will also gain insights into the efforts of the keepers to prepare the orangutans for life in the wild. A visit is highly recommended and an absolute must.

Pristine Rainforest - On Foot Or By Boat

Borneo is one of the spots on earth blessed with tropical rainforests. Its proximity to the equator and heavy rainfall provides the fundamental conditions for the development of the jungle. You can experience it through extensive hikes in various national parks – and it’s worth the effort, because rainforests offer the world’s greatest diversity of animal species. You can also discover many exotic plants and fruits.

Some areas even have accommodation so you can spend the night in the jungle, sometimes even in a tent under the open sky. In Malaysia, the jungle can perhaps be experienced at its most beautiful in Danum Valley and Bako National Park . You can also do a river safari through the jungle on the Kinabatangan River, a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

Unfortunately, the rainforest areas are severely threatened by clearing. Until the middle of the last century, the island was almost completely covered in jungle; then things took a turn for the worse and massive deforestation began. The extent of this deforestation is visible wherever you travel. If you leave the cities or nature reserves, palm oil plantations regularly frame the landscape.

Unique Dive Sites

Malaysia’s diving spots   are among the most beautiful in the world – and the country owes this primarily to Borneo. You will find diving paradises in the waters east of the island and north of Kota Kinabalu.

The best known is Sipadan .  The name of this island comes up again and again amongst experienced divers when talking about the world’s most beautiful diving areas – and rightly so. The variety of marine life and the sheer numbers of large and small fish are highly impressive. Amazing visibility will also play its part in making diving in Sipadan a highlight of your trip.

There are also other diving destinations that are equally exciting: one of these is Layang Layang , a small island far off the north coast in the middle of the South China Sea. The diving spots around Layang Layang are among the best in the world for hammerhead shark sightings, but the island is also known for many other shark species, including whale sharks.

Stunningly beautiful beaches

Would you like to spend a relaxing few days on the beach during your vacation? Borneo has beautiful beaches with fine white sand and turquoise-blue water. These can mainly be found in Sabah. Sarawak, on the other hand, has only a few, less beautiful beaches.

A particular beach highlight is the islands in the Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park. This group of islands is located directly off Kota Kinabalu . Some are inhabited and boast excellent hotels, and even the uninhabited islands can still be reached by boat. The beaches here are often a bit calmer – perfect for relaxing!

Moreover, the famous diving islands in the east also have some impressive beaches. Lankayan is especially worth mentioning. There are some beautiful beaches on the mainland too, for example Tanjung Aru Beach near Kota Kinabalu. The northern tip around Kudat is also known for its beautiful beaches.

Cave systems unparalleled anywhere in the world

Borneo has some impressive caves and cave systems. You can find the biggest, best-known caves most worth a visit in Mulu National Park in eastern Sarawak. The park appears multiple times in worldwide „best“ lists.

It is home to the world’s second-largest cave and largest underground chamber not supported by pillars. You can also discover one of the world’s ten longest cave systems in Mulu Park. Stretching for a scarcely-believable 137 miles (220 kilometres), the Clearwater Cave System is one of the largest caves in the world. And its complete dimensions have not even yet been determined. More chambers are discovered every year, so it’s hard to know how extensive the system truly is. Various tours allow access to the different caves.

There are also exciting caves to discover in other parts of the island, such as Fairy Cave and Wind Cave near Kuching , the Niah Caves south of Miri and the Gomantong Caves at the Kinabatangan River. These caves are also open to tourists.

The plant with the world's largest flower

Giant rafflesias are unique plants. After all, who can claim to have seen a plant with flowers of up to one metre in diameter? Rafflesias are classed as parasites, which means they attach themselves to other plants and feed on them.

It can take up to a year for their red flowers to reach their full size. By this stage, they are up to a metre wide and weigh over 10 kilograms. Once the flower reaches this pinnacle, however, it lasts only a few days before it starts to decay and decomposes into black slime.

You have a great chance of seeing them in Kinabalu National Park .

The highest mountain in Southeast Asia

Mount Kinabalu is the highest mountain in Southeast Asia at 4,095 metres and is located in the Malaysian part of Borneo. Trekking enthusiasts can climb it on a two-day tour. The sunrise and the view from the summit are breath-taking and make it more than worth the hardships of the trek.

If you are an inexperienced climber, Mount Kinabalu is a real challenge. There are steep climbs to cover, thin air to deal with and only simple accommodation to stay at overnight.

However, it is not only the view from the summit that makes it worth the effort. On the way there, you will cross various climatic zones, each with distinct vegetation. And if luck is on your side, you might even spot some exciting animals along the way.

Information about Borneo

The island of Borneo is located in Southeast Asia. It is the third-largest island in the world; only Greenland and New Guinea are larger. Borneo is surrounded by Vietnam to the northwest, Malaysia and Indonesia to the west, Indonesia to the south and southwest, and the Philippines to the northeast. Four seas surround the island: the South China Sea to the north and northwest, the Sulu Sea to the northeast, the Celebes Sea to the east, and the Java Sea to the south and southwest.

Many people think that Borneo is a country. However, the island is divided between the three states of Indonesia, Malaysia and Brunei. It measures 290,000 square miles (751,936 square kilometres) in total. About 73% of the island belongs to Indonesia, comprising the five provinces of Central Kalimantan, East Kalimantan, North Kalimantan, South Kalimantan, and West Kalimantan. 26 % is shared by the Malaysian states of Sarawak and Sabah, while the sultanate of Brunei occupies only 1% of the area.

Located directly on the equator, Borneo is over 800 miles (1,300 kilometres) in length from southwest to northeast and almost 620 miles (1,000 kilometres) wide. The island is of volcanic origin and predominantly mountainous. The highest peak is Mount Kinabalu, at 4,095 metres. From there, a mountain range extends from the northeast to the southwest. Larger flatland plains only exist in the northwest and in the south.

• Learn more about climbing Mount Kinabalu

At 710 miles (1,143 kilometres), the Kapuas River in West Kalimantan is the longest river on the island. Other significant rivers include the Mahakam in East Kalimantan at 609 miles (980 kilometres), the Barito in South Kalimantan at 547 miles (880 kilometres), the Rajang in Sarawak at 349 miles (562 kilometres), and the Kinabatangan in Sabah at 348 miles (560 kilometres). While some rivers are navigable and thus crucial for local trade, the Kinabatangan is primarily important for tourism.

• Read our Kinabatangan travel report to learn why this river is so special

Flora and fauna

The island’s volcanic origin provides perfect conditions for diverse flora. As many as 15,000 different species of flowering plants have been identified on the island, many of which are endemic. One particularly noteworthy example is the largest flower in the world, the Rafflesia , with its blossom of up to one meter in width. Borneo is, though, better known for the dense rainforest that covers most of the island. Approximately 140 million years old, it is indeed one of the oldest rainforests in the world.

The wildlife is exceptional too and, for many tourists, the reason for making the trip. First and foremost, of course, Borneo is particularly well-known for its orangutans. But dwarf elephants, proboscis monkeys, and sun bears are additional highlights. Lesser-known and extremely rare species include the clouded leopard and the Borneo bay cat. More than 220 land mammal species live on the island, and around 420 bird species are also native to the area, many of which are endemic. The Sumatran rhinoceros is unfortunately no longer one of them, as it has been considered extinct on the island since 2019.

• Learn more about the top things to do in Borneo here

Borneo has an unpredictable tropical climate. All year round, humidity is extremely high at 80% or more. Temperatures remain consistently warm throughout the year at around 30 °C (86 °F).

Rain showers, some of them heavy, are to be expected almost all year round. Annual rainfall is about four times higher than in the UK. However, there are considerable differences according to the season and region. For example, there is relatively little rain around Kota Kinabalu in February, while in Kuching, it is a very rainy month.

• Find detailed information about the climate in our guide to the best time to visit Borneo

Borneo has a population of about 18 million people. This makes the island very sparsely populated compared to other parts of Asia. By comparison, Thailand is about 30% smaller but has almost four times as many inhabitants. The north, with the Malaysian states of Sabah and Sarawak and the sultanate of Brunei, is more densely populated than the larger Indonesian part of the island.

The population consists mainly of non-Muslim Dayaks, Muslim Malays, and Chinese. Furthermore, there are still many distinct indigenous tribes with diverse cultures and languages, especially in the sparsely populated areas further away from the big cities.

As the population structure is so heterogeneous, there is no official national language in Borneo. As such, various different languages are spoken. Malay (Bahasa Melayu) is the most widespread in the Malaysian north. The dialect spoken in Sarawak differs from that of mainland Malaysia and Sabah. In the south, Indonesian is spoken, and there are also distinct dialects here according to the region and tribe.

Borneo has had a turbulent history and has been ruled over by many different powers. What are now the Malaysian states, in particular, have been claimed by many countries at various points in the past. The island also played an important role in the Second World War. For detailed information about Borneo’s history, we recommend Wikipedia .

The biggest economic sectors are oil and coal production, timber and tourism. The extraction and exporting of palm oil is also becoming increasingly important. The timber industry has been in the spotlight, primarily because of unsustainable logging practices. Indeed, the clearing of large areas of rainforest is, unfortunately, part and parcel of everyday life in Borneo. The cleared areas are then used for palm oil plantations.

Since Borneo is divided between three countries, there is no single currency. In Malaysia, the Malaysian Ringgit (MYR or RM) is used, in Indonesia the Indonesian Rupiah (IDR or Rp), and in Brunei the Brunei Dollar (BND or BR$).

Current exchange rates (as of December 2022) are:

1.00 GBP = 5.37 MYR

1.00 GBP = 18.897 IDR

1.00 GBP = 1.63 BND

1.00 MYR = 0.186 GBP

100.000 IDR = 5.30 GBP

1.00 BND = 0.612 GBP

1.00 USD = 4.43 MYR

1.00 USD = 15.599 IDR

1.00 USD = 1.35 BND

1.00 MYR = 0.226 USD

100.000 IDR = 6.40 USD

1.00 BND = 0.742 USD

1.00 AUD = 2.99 MYR

1.00 AUD = 10.550 IDR

1.00 AUD = 0.91 BND

1.00 MYR = 0.334  AUD

100.000 IDR = 9.50  AUD

1.00 BND = 1.098  AUD

1.00 SGD = 3.29 MYR

1.00 SGD = 11.576 IDR

1.00 SGD = 1.00 BND

1.00 MYR = 0.304  SGD

100.000 IDR = 8.60  SGD

1.00 BND = 1.00  SGD

Conduct & dress code

As in every part of the world, it is important to respect the local culture of Borneo. The north, which is particularly popular with tourists, has a predominantly Muslim population (about 60 %). You must therefore observe Muslim rules of conduct in Borneo.

The dress code requires women to wear clothes covering their shoulders and knees. Bare midriffs, uncovered backs and low necklines are inappropriate. When visiting cultural sites, women and men must wear clothing covering their arms and legs. Shoes must also be removed when entering places of worship.

However, there is no such dress code within hotel areas or at pools and beaches. In these places, you can dress as you would in your home country.

The majority of the island, namely the Malaysian north, Brunei, and the Indonesian regions of North, East and South Kalimantan, is in the UTC+8 time zone. The Indonesian provinces of West and Central Kalimantan are in the UTC+7 time zone. There is no daylight-saving time.

Transportation

Due to the size of the island, transportation plays an important role. There is a wide choice in the larger cities and the more touristy areas, including cars and cabs, buses, and airplanes. Even boats are sometimes used.

Longer distances are best covered by plane. Alternatively, you can take buses. In northern Borneo in particular, there is a well-developed long-distance bus network. Bus, cab or Grab (the Southeast Asian alternative to Uber) are the best options for getting around in cities. Rental cars are also available, of course. Unfortunately, there is no rail network, so train transportation is not an option.

Borneo Adventure, Nature And Wildlife Tours Tailor-Made For A Unique Holiday Experience

Welcome to sabah, malaysian borneo.

Borneo Beyond Adventure specializes in tours and travel activities focused on the Malaysian states of Sarawak & Sabah on the island of Borneo. We are one of Malaysia’s established inbound tour operators and offer a range of over 100 small group or individual tours of Borneo to choose from.

From the iconic Orangutan and all eight species of Hornbills to the majestic Pygmy Elephants, Borneo is the best destination for wildlife sighting! Our Top Tours for wildlife include Kinabatangan Wildlife Lodge , the luxurious Borneo Rainforest Lodge  in misty Danum Valley,  Selingan Island , and  Tabin Wildlife Sanctuary .

We invite you to experience the best of Borneo.

Our most popular tour destinations in Malaysian Borneo are  Danum Valley ,  Kinabatangan River ,  Tabin Wildlife Reserve  and Kinabalu Park in Sabah and Kuching, Bako National Park, Gunung Mulu National Park and Batang Ai in Sarawak.

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Our best tours, popular tours in sabah, borneo.

From ocean depths to mountain tops, Borneo has an array of exciting destinations to explore

5D4N Sabah’s Highlight Leisure Tour

4D3N Kota Kinabalu Heritage, Island & Kinabalu Park Tour

3D2N Kota Kinabalu Heritage & Kinabalu Park Tour

4D3N Sandakan Wildlife Adventure

5D4N Borneo Wildlife Adventure and Danum Valley

5D4N Borneo Wildlife Adventure and Tabin Wildlife Reserve

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Service just perfect. From booking till the end of our journey. Adrian was a very prepared and professional guide…the lodge was clean and nice. Pure Borneo kind hospitality…we definitely Read more “Great Experience!”

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I stayed here for 3 nights with a friend and we both absolutely loved it here. It is such a beautiful setting – right in nature. The rooms were clean and well presented. Staff was amazing! Highly Read more “Amazing place and amazing staff!”

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Very nice place , far from everything , perfect for relaxing. The Lodge organizes tours like hikes, river cruise, night walk and other activities. Rooms are well preserved, clean and very clean. I booked the 3 days 2 nights tours and I super loved Read more “Lovely place”

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Monkey Rock World

Untamed travel on asia's hidden roads, the perfect 2 weeks borneo itinerary.

Rainforest shrouded in the morning mist. Tick. Giant apes and monkeys hooting in century-old canopies. Double tick. A river system you can explore at your own leisure. Tick. Fantastic unspoilt beaches that treasure some of Asia’s (and the world) best diving. Tick. It’s all in Borneo, and it’s all so easy to visit you will want to keep returning time and time again. Dig deep into our insider two weeks Borneo Itinerary.

Article Contents

Why I should Go to Borneo?

Borneo, the huge island set between West Malaysia and Sulawesi, is one of Southeast Asia’s great natural escapes and a world-class adventure travel destination that also offers some of Malaysia’s best short trips . We have been to Borneo multiple times over the past 10 years, and we always find new interesting places to visit in Borneo.

Why? We are seduced by Borneo hospitable peoples, and have made long-lasting friendships. We believe there’s no other place in Southeast Asia with a similar amount of wildlife — you must go to the Danum Valley Conservation Area  —, great hiking — check our ultimate guide to Tawau Hills Park — and potential for adventure.

READ MORE — Ultimate Borneo Backpacking Guide

Best time to Visit Borneo

The Dry Season in Borneo is from March to October when you’ll experience less rain. It’s the best time to see orangutans in the wild, but is also, of course, peak tourist season and prices can be higher.

The best time to Dive in Borneo is between April to December, with the best visibility in July and August. From March to May, whale sharks visit Borneo’s waters during their migrations. Remind that between June and September, turtles come to lay eggs at Lankayan Island.

The worst time to travel to Borneo is between December and January when the sea is choppy and there’s more rain — the worst time to see animals. Whenever you go, don’t forget to pack a pair of Adidas kampung , Malaysia’s best (and cheapest) hiking shoes.

A Fantastic Itinerary For Two Weeks in Borneo

We think that two weeks in Borneo are the absolute minimum time you need to get the lay of the land and make sense of this incredible island. With two weeks, you’ll limit yourself to visiting the highlights of the two Malaysian Borneo states of Sarawak and Sabah — and maybe do a quick stopover in Brunei.

Follow this Borneo two week itinerary to craft an absolutely engaging and awesome Borneo trip, but consider that an extra week will give you more time to savour the places, and of course, see much more.

Fear not because at the end of this two weeks Borneo itinerary we’ll give you some extra suggestions to fill up your extra time.

Two Weeks Borneo Itinerary Map

Kuching (3 nights)

Kuching is Sarawak’s capital and is a perfect place to start your itinerary in Borneo. Once the seat of the White Rajahs of Sarawak — a dynasty initiated by James Brooke, the British adventurer who came to Borneo and helped transform the headhunting tribes into an empire — Kuching today is an artsy river city with a sleepy yet infectious vibe.

There are cafes, music venues, tattoo parlours, historical sites, river walks, great street food, some worthy museums, and a choice of excellent accommodation. Kuching’s best advantage, however, is the fact it’s smack in the middle of a bunch of national parks. You may as well spend a full week here, but to the extent of this two weeks Borneo itinerary, we’ll give Kuching 3 days.

Semenggoh Orangutan Sanctuary – half day trip

One of Kuching’s top tourist attractions is the chance of seeing semi-wild orangutans in the rehabilitation center of Semenggoh, about a half-hour out of town. This is where you’ll definitely see orangutans — the number depends on your luck, as they come twice a day for feeding.

Feeding sessions start at 9 am and 3 pm, and you must time your visit with one or you won’t be able to see the animals. This experience is, of course, shared with other tourists and assisted by rangers, but it’s still pretty unique as you’ll get to see the orangutans from pretty up close. In a real jungle, you’d be extremely lucky to spot them far up in the canopy, hidden on top of high branches.

Sarawak State Museum

Established in 1888, Borneo’s oldest museum is a must-visit: the collection of taxidermies exposed here is really quirky and stunning, and includes some very rare specimens of tropical monkeys. Remember that some of these have been collected by Sir Alfred Russel Wallace himself!

The last time we visited in 2018, it seemed that the Sarawak State Museum was about to move to a new nearby building, but we can’t confirm. Please ask around in town before visiting.

Bako National Park (2 Days/1 Night)

Bako National Park is a stunning tropical rain forest set on a promenade jutting into the South China Sea. If that wasn’t enough convincing to visit, please learn that Bako is also the best place to see wild proboscis monkeys near Kuching city.

Visiting as a day trip is possible but really rushed: there are at least 12 different hiking circuits in this park. We recommend spending at least one night in the basic chalets at park headquarters to give yourself time to take in at least one of the longer hikes (you need a guide you can arrange at the park). Second, if you stay overnight you’ll be able to take a night walk. Bring a powerful torchlight to spot the birds, insects and spiders, and you can do this on your own and free of charge. A guide, of course, has a better-trained eye.

Book in Advance

As you are pressed for time, these are some suggested guided tours that may save you the hassle of planning activities by yourself in Kuching:

• Kuching City and Sarawak River Tour • Cycling Tour in Kuching • Kuching Bike and Food Tour • Kuching Chinese Heritage Tour , which includes a visit to the beautiful Hakka village of Siniawan, 40 minutes outside Kuching

Pro Tip : Unless you are interested in world music, avoid starting your trip in Kuching in July, when the Rainforest World Music Festival packs hotels and shoots the prices much higher.

Where to Stay in Kuching

Kuching has plenty of great accommodation options. We recommend one of these:

• Waterfront Kuching • Traveller Homestay • Le Nomade Hostel • Ranee Boutique Suites

Check more hotels and prices in Kuching

Mulu National Park via Miri (Day 4 to 7)

Mulu National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a must-see eco-tourism destination, with some of the largest caves in the world. To visit, you should make your way to the city of Miri first.

Miri (Day 4)

In all honesty, with such a short time for your two weeks Borneo itinerary, Miri doesn’t deserve more than the one night after you arrive by plane from Kuching. Go see Canada Hill before dinner, where you’ll find Miri’s Petroleum Museum. It’s not the reason you are here, the sunset views are. Back in the city center, you can have a bite at one of the restaurants and food courts located around the Boulevard Shopping Complex.

When in Miri, a good place to stay is Kingwood Boutique Hotel . Not super central, but really good value. For other Miri accommodation options and prices, see here .

Visit Mulu National Park (Day 5 to 7)

After Kuching, the ideal second stop in this two weeks Borneo itinerary is the incredible caves and trekking routes of Mulu National Park. It’s a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and one of the best places to visit in Borneo — and in the whole of Southeast Asia, we think.

The cave system at Mulu is one of the largest in the whole world: the Deer Cave is just HUGE — 2km in length, the main chamber is 174mt-wide and 122mt-high, and it never gets smaller or shorter than 90mt. Quite impressive, isn’t it?

Getting to Mulu National Park these days is practically only possible by flying — you COULD get there by land using a 4WD and following the logging tracks, but it’s a long, impractical journey. Flights with MAS Wings are cheap and fun, as they use small planes.

Mulu deserves at least two nights, three or more if you want to hike to the Pinnacles . These limestone blades jut out of a mountaintop like razors, and going to see them is no walk in the park — you’ll be sent down if you can’t reach a designated point within the first half-hour. Don’t forget to round up your Mulu exploration with a boat trip to the Clearwater and Wind caves, and to watch the incredible bat exodus outside of the Deer Cave right before sunset.

Where to Stay in Miri and Mulu

• Shuang Ling Inn • Tabun Homestay • Mulu Marriott Resort • Mulu Backpackers Homestay • Mulu National Park

Check more accommodation options in Mulu and Miri

How to get from Kuching to Mulu National Park

The only cost-effective way to see Mulu is flying from Kuching to Miri first , spend a night there and then fly from Miri to Mulu early the next day. It’s best if you book a return ticket unless you want to continue hiking from the park to Lawas — something we don’t recommend if you intend following this two-weeks Borneo itinerary.

Brunei (Day 8 and 9)

Brunei doesn’t have a good reputation, we know, but it’s an absolutely interesting place to visit. It’s easy enough to get on a bus from Miri to Bandar Seri Begawan, the capital of Brunei, where you should at a minimum visit the Omar Ali Saifuddien and Jame’ Asr Hassanal Bolkiah Mosques, and take a walking tour of Kampung Air — it’s Southeast Asia’s biggest village on stilts.

These three activities should be enough for a day trip through Brunei, provided you leave Miri early enough. If you have more time, you should add a sunset visit to The Empire Brunei Hotel, the world’s first Seven Star property, built by the Sultan of Brunei. Some of past guests include President Bill Clinton and Pamela Anderson. The hotel has an ocean-facing swimming pool that’s a delight to stroll around waiting to bask in one of those unforgettable neon-pink Borneo sunsets — something you’ll never get bored of during your two weeks Borneo itinerary.

Brunei Side Trip: Ulu Temburong National Park

If you can add at least a day in Brunei consider taking a day trip to the Ulu Temburong National Park. Why? You can’t see more pristine tropical rainforest in all of Borneo. While Malaysia and Indonesia have kept profiting from legal (and mostly illegal) logging, Brunei has always enjoyed its wealth from drilling offshore petrol — so why bother about slogging inland to cut the forest?

For this reason, the woods of Ulu Temburong are some of the most pristine and oldest in the whole world — even older than the Amazon. The park has an interesting canopy walkway and observation tower. If you won’t see any wildlife, please seek the advice of a witch doctor.

Pro Tip: Brunei is a dry country — means you won’t find any alcohol. Truth be told, some Bruneians may have some at home and as a foreigner, you will be sold some for a price at high-end hotels. But is it really worth the hassle? Nope.

Where to Stay in Brunei

• Qing Yun Backpacker Lodge • Kunyit 7 Lodge • Taman Mawar • Bwn Bed Station is the cheapest and cleanest option, and include breakfast.

Check more hotels and prices in Brunei

How to get from Mulu to Brunei

Fly from Mulu to Miri and then catch a direct bus from Miri to Bandar Seri Begawan. International flights between Miri and Brunei don’t really exist — it’s too close. Catch the bus.

Kota Kinabalu (Day 9 and 10)

Sabah’s capital Kota Kinabalu is another major gateway into Borneo, with direct flights to Hong Kong, China and the Philippines. If until now you have seen fewer tourists, be prepared to confront a very developed tourist scene offering more accommodation and food options that one actually needs. Here are some tips for visiting Kota Kinabalu .

READ MORE  — 16 Sabah’s Best Attractions

Kota Kinabalu’s main merit is being set right in front of the five tropical islands that constitute the Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park — the city is literally developed between a mountain range and the sea. There are several interesting markets, among which the ones on Gaya Street are the most established: the Api-Api Night Food Market happens each Friday and Saturday from 6 pm to 2 am, while on Sunday Mornings the excellent Gaya Street market packs all sorts of stuff and trinkets, besides traditional foods.

Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park

Just 15 minutes by boat from Kota Kinabalu’s Jesselton Pier, the park’s five islands — named Gaya, Mamutik, Manukan, Sapi and Sulug — offer good snorkelling and scuba diving, plus beaches and forests. Boats run from 8.30 am to 5.30 pm. A return ticket costs 30RM, plus a 10RM fee for marine park’s conservation. To avoid crowds, you can buy your boat tickets in advance on Klook. Island-hopping is not the only fun here: dive operators such as Scuba Junkies organize diving day trips around the five islands. We don’t recommend taking your open water scuba diving course here by the way — go to Mabul for that, and enjoy every single stunning underwater moment of it.

Most of the dive sites around Tunku Abdul Rahman Park are quite shallow, with gentle slopes offering clamps of healthy corals and sandy seafloor. To be frank, the visibility is not great because of the frequent downpours, but the park still makes for some of the best offshore city diving you can find in Borneo and Malaysia — nothing compared to diving at Pulau Tenggol , but alas…

After diving, you can relax and sunbathe on one of the beaches, snorkel till you drop, or try the Coral Flyer — a 235-meter-long zipline stretched between Gaya and Sapi islands. It glides between the shores reaching a maximum speed of 55km/hour and 45-meters of height above the sea. Book your tickets in advance to skip the crowds using our partner Klook .

Book in Advance?

With only a couple of days in Kota Kinabalu, booking a tour may help you save some time and shave off the dreary logistics of getting there on time.

• Consider this half-day tour of Kota Kinabalu • Or get on this Kota Kinabalu night tour that includes a yummy seafood dinner • If you fancy a sunset cruise with seafood dinner , look no further than this tour and get a 40% discount with Klook. • What about getting out of the city for some kayaking? Check this tour out . • For some serious wilderness exploration, get on this 2D/1N tour of Maragang Hill and the Crocker Range from Kota Kinabalu .

Where to Stay in Kota Kinabalu

Kota Kinabalu has a wide selection of accommodation. Check prices and options here, but these are a few of our favorite places:

• TOOJOU Kota Kinabalu
• Zoku Lifestyle
• Escape Backpackers KK
• Borneo Backpackers See more Kota Kinabalu accommodation and check prices here.

How to get from Brunei to Kota Kinabalu

The easiest and fastest option for a two weeks Borneo itinerary is catching a flight between Bandar Seri Begawan and Kota Kinabalu.

PRO TIP — Consider catching this private transfer from Kota Kibalau airport to your hotel of choice to save some time and 20RM.

There are also direct buses between Brunei and Kota Kinabalu in Sabah, but be reminded that if you travel this way, besides wasting a full day on the road, your passport will also be stamped an astounding amount of times. First between Brunei and Sarawak, then upon entering Brunei again at Limbang. You will then exit Brunei into the Lawas division of Sarawak, from where you’ll get stamped out and in again upon finally entering Sabah. All in all, your passport will be stamped about 8 times. That’s six too many!

A much less passport-taxing method is catching a bus from BSB to Muara Beach, from where boats depart to the Sabahan island of Labuan. There are daily direct boats from Labuan to Kota Kinabalu, or you can get the shorter dingy to Menumbok, and then catch an onward bus (RM15) to Kota Kinabalu from there.

Ranau, Kundasang and Mount Kinabalu Park (Day 11 to 12)

At 4,100 meters, Mount Kinabalu is Sabah’s and Southeast Asia’s highest peak. But to be honest, the local tourism department enforces a very high price for climbing — without considering that the whole climb would shave off 3 to 4 days, including recovery time, from your two weeks itinerary in Borneo.

So save the Mount Kinabalu climb for another visit, but definitely go check out the mountain and experience a very different microclimate. Consider instead a hike at the (free of charge) Kinabalu Park, where you’ll go from sweating your face off in sun-scorched Kota Kinabalu, to enjoying the fresh air and beautiful nature of Mount Kinabalu’s foothills. While you are there, you should take in the sights of nearby villages of Kundasang and Ranau. Don’t miss a visit to Desa Cattle Dairy Farm, a piece of Switzerland in tropical Borneo — including cows and a milk and cheese factory… a real rarity in this part of the world.

Consider smoothing out travel logistics and time by booking a tour from Kota Kinabalu.

• You can join this day tour of Kinabalu’s farmland and see Desa Cattle Dairy Farm and other spots, and get back to your Kota Kinabalu hotel on the same evening.

• Or you could strike off to Mount Kinabalu Park for a nice refreshing hike, and then soak your aching muscles at the Poring Hot Springs before returning to Kota Kinabalu. Join this discounted tour on Klook. 

Where to Stay in Kundasang

• Kundasang Guesthouse
• Sutera Sanctuary Lodges at Kinabalu Park
• Hillside Villa
• Jabez Resort Kundasang

See more Kudasang accommodation and check prices here.

How to get from Kota Kinabalu to Mount Kinabalu

Frequent buses between Kota Kinabalu and Sandakan (affiliate) can drop you off at the Kinabalu Park junction near Kundasang. You can walk to your accommodation from there.

Another ideal way to save time is by renting a chartered car in Kota Kinabalu and go to Mount Kinabalu with your own group of friends.

If you have the driving skills and feel like renting a scooter is enough for you that also makes for a nice little adventure.

Kinabatangan River (Day 13 to 14)

Now that you have gotten accustomed to Borneo’s cities and towns, cave systems and national parks, it’s time to see some wildlife… on a river. Yes: to Borneo’s native peoples, rivers have always functioned like natural highways, and the Kinabatangan, one of the longest bodies of water in Borneo, is perfect to have an adventure.

It’s necessary to avail yourself of the services provided by local guesthouses and hotels, which offer private boat tours and guides. You won’t be able to see Kinabatangan otherwise, so be advised — if you don’t want to spend any money, don’t come here and save your two days for more time in some of the other destinations we recommended in this two weeks Borneo itinerary.

Kinabatangan is famous for its rich wildlife encounters — the reasons are sad yet simple: the forest beyond the river flanks has been logged so much that there’s only quite a narrow strip of jungle left. This is bad, of course. But it’s good for tourists, as the animals have less space to move around and live, and for this reason, are much more visible. You’ll easily see proboscis monkeys, a staggering amount of birds, giant bats and… crocodiles. The Kinabatangan River is also a great place to see wild Sabah pygmy elephants if you visit during one of their migratory seasons, which are quite unpredictable to pin down these days.

PRO-TIP : Usually, tours of Kinabatangan River ply the stretch of river around Sukau, but the more you go inland (and the more you spend on guides, of course), the more wildlife you’ll be able to see.

If you are running out of time or you prefer to see the Kinabatangan River while based in Sandakan, you can consider this one-day tours:

• An 8-hours long exploration of the Kinabatangan River from Sandakan • This tour offers a visit to Sepilok, the Sun Bear Rehabilitation Center, and tops it all off with a half-day river cruise along a stretch of Kinabatangan River.

Where to Stay in Sukau

•  Sukau Backpackers B&B •  Osman’s Homestay •  Bilit Adventure Lodge (includes all meals) •  The Last Frontier Boutique Resort

How to get from Mount Kinabalu to Sukau

If you are in Kundasang, it’s fairly easy to stand by the main highway junction and flag down passing buses towards the Sukau junction.

From there, ask your prospective accommodation in Sukau to send someone to pick you up or send a car. Remember that Grab Car and other car-hailing services are not available in this area of Sabah. Only pre-arranged taxis or the good ol’ hitchhiking work — depending on your fancy. We certainly hitchhiked all the way from Kota Kinabalu to Tawau several times, but we don’t expect you are up to the same challenge.

Sandakan and Sepilok (Day 15)

Sandakan is the last place in our two weeks Borneo itinerary — but you may even make it your first, as Sandakan is well connected by flight to Kuala Lumpur.

If you are coming from Sukau, it makes sense to stop in Sepilok first, as the orangutan and sun bear sanctuaries are located 25km away from Sandakan town along the side road that connects the Borneo highway to Sandakan and the coast.

Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Center

This is one of the few sanctuaries in the world where you can see semi-wild orangutans. But if you have come from Kuching following our two weeks Borneo itinerary, you may consider skipping Sepilok as the entry ticket is more expensive than Semenggoh. To be fair, the experience at Sepilok is also more touristy.

This said, Sepilok has a better space for the baby orangutan nursery, and also an open play space where the young orangutans engage with slides and swings. By any means, visiting Sepilok is a great experience, and your money will benefit the rehabilitation process.

Borneo Sun Bear Conservation Center

Even if you skip Sepilok’s orangutans, you can’t skip the BSBCC which is just in front of it. Come meet the world’s smallest (and cutest) bear at this sanctuary that, since its opening in 2008, has already saved 62 endangered sun bears, and rehabilitated and released 7 back into the wild.

The Center itself offers a walk around the protected enclosure where the sunbears can roam freely. Watch as they climb the tropical trees in search of food and fun, and observe the peculiar moon-shaped milk-white mark they carry on their upper chest as their species’ distinctive symbol.

If you fall in love with the sunbears, apply for the volunteer program run at the center by Doctor Wong Siew Tee, who was nominated a CNN Hero because of his conservation efforts.

Sandakan is the perfect ending point (or a great landing point, if you prefer following the other way around) to a fantastic two weeks Borneo itinerary.

Sandakan city itself is not very attractive: bombed to shreds during the Japanese occupation of Borneo in WWII, the beauty of the colonial Sandakan of yore only resists in a clasp of battered heritage buildings. The most interesting is the former residence of American author Agnes Keith, who wrote three books on Borneo here. There are also St. Michael’s and All Angels Church, and a couple of impressive Chinese Temples. Puu Jih Shih Temple, situated on top of Tanah Merah hill, is a taxi ride out of the city centre but it’s a fantastic place to have a whole view of the bay and see the sunset.

PRO TIP : One of Sandakan’s top draws is food: at a minimum, with one night to spare, go to the Sim Sim stilt village at Restaurant Sim Sim 90, and order any of their famous seafood dishes. Squid and prawns are their signatures, so ask the Chinese chefs to recommend you their plate of the day, and you won’t be disappointed. Don’t be put off by the rustic atmosphere… you are dining on a wooden stilt verandah over the sea, after all.

For a full Sandakan food guide, check out Thani Slim’s suggestions .

Where to Stay in Sepilok and Sandakan

• Paganakan Dii Tropical Retreat • Nature Lodge Sepilok • Sandakan Backpackers Hostel • Four Points by Sheraton Sandakan • NAK  Hotel

See more places to Stay in Sandakan and check prices

How to get from Sukau to Sandakan

Sukau is not far from Sandakan’s Mile 32 turn off at the main highway. Any bus from Kota Kinabalu’s Inanam bus station to Sandakan will stop for you. If you want to see the orangutans first, make sure you tell your driver to stop for you at the Sepilok turnoff. The centre is about 4km down the road, and plenty of local taxis can whisk you there for a few Ringgit.

Remember that local buses also shuttle between Mile 32, the Sepilok Junction, and then proceed to Sandakan every 20 minutes or so until 7 pm.

Three weeks Borneo Itinerary

Now that you have spent two weeks in Borneo, we are sure you realized that it wasn’t enough time. You need at least another week to go deeper and see more of the beautiful places that Malaysian Borneo has to offer.

The following are some useful suggestions to extend your two weeks Borneo itinerary to three weeks, continuing (or starting) right from Sandakan.

READ MORE  — 7 Alternative Places to See in Sabah

Lahad Datu and Bukit Piton orangutan Reserve

Few people recommend visiting Lahad Datu, especially because its name still resonates with the memory of the 2013 standoff that saw marauding Southern Filipino Sulu pirates attack the coast.

We think that avoiding Lahad Datu today is a mistake: the place is quiet and offbeat, has very friendly local people, good food, and an interesting fish market. Don’t forget the Bukit Piton orangutan reserve  nearby, possibly the richest eco-system in Sabah to see 100% wild orangutans and pygmy elephants.

Where to Stay in Lahad Datu : without a doubt, Bike and Tours is the best option in town. Friendly, quiet, intimate, and with a nice little swimming pool to cool off those hot afternoons. Itisha and Simon are great hosts, too.

Explore the Danum Valley Conservation Area

If you have made it all the way down here, you shouldn’t skip the Danum Valley, a patch of primary rainforest where most of Sabah’s remaining wildlife has found the perfect habitat to thrive. Monkeys, orangutans, snakes, mouse deer… with the right guide, you’ll see them all.

READ MORE  — Ultimate Guide to Visiting the Danum Valley

Explore Tabin Wildlife Reserve

Set on the east of Lahad Datu, Tabin Wildlife Reserve was the habitat of the Sumatran rhino. You won’t be able to see them anymore, as they are extinct in Malaysia since 2019 . Regardless, Tabin is another good option to see some amazing Borneo rainforest without the crowds.

Sungai Kapur

Emerged as a proper destination only in 2018, the Sungai Kapur reserve is Kinabatangan without the crowds and a wilder feel. You can read our complete guide to the Sungai Kapur river safari  and decide for yourself.

Tawau Hills Park

Sabah’s southernmost city doesn’t get much publicity regardless of its unspoilt, empty beaches, and one of the most rewarding hikes in the whole of Sabah. Read more about Tawau Hills Park and Mount Lucia .

Dive at Mabul and Sipadan

If you like diving, or your holiday doesn’t feel complete without enjoying a fantastic beach, there are no better shores than Mabul island in the whole of Borneo. Sipadan soars nearby — this heavily protected marine park is one of the best scuba diving sites in the world. Looking for hammerhead shark galore? You’ve come to the right place.

Practical Tips to Make the Best of your Borneo Itinerary

When traveling to Borneo, a backpack is easier to carry around and lug on and off buses and boats.

Remember to pack insect repellent and fast-drying clothes you can easily wash in a hotel’s sink and dry on a line — another essential thing to carry.

When hiking in Borneo, leech socks are much recommended to avoid the jungle’s most nasty bite. A hiking raincoat and a decent pair of hiking boots are definitely recommended. Don’t think you can scramble in the jungle in those flip-flops…

You don’t really need a tent because the jungle floor is too wet and uneven to be comfortable. For Borneo camping, mosquito-net-equipped hammocks are much more practical.

How to Get to Borneo

Either side of Borneo (Sarawak or Sabah) is connected by many economic flights departing Malaysia’s capital Kuala Lumpur, which in turn is one of Southeast Asia’s main hubs, connected to most areas of the world by all major airlines.

You can check the best prices from Kuala Lumpur to Kuching , and from Kuala Lumpur to Kota Kinabalu or Kuala Lumpur to Sandakan .

How to Move Around Borneo

Given distances, if you only have two weeks in Borneo the best option is to book all your flights before you go. If you book ahead, flights will be very inexpensive and will get you quickly to most cities in Sarawak, Brunei and Sabah. Saving your travel time will maximize your discovery time.

Bus services are reliable and comfortable, but given they are also not so cheap, we think flights are always preferable when short on time. For example, it would take you 12 hours to go from Kota Kinabalu to Tawau by bus, while the same trip only takes an hour and a half by flight — and most often, it’s cheaper than a bus ticket.

Other Useful Tips

Get a borneo guidebook.

A good guidebook can help you on the ground, and there are two good ones on Borneo:

Lonely Planet Borneo Bradt Guide to Sarawak and Sabah

Sim card/Data plan

It’s easy to get a Malaysia Tourist SIM card in any Borneo airport or major city , but consider that data connections work best in urban centers. For rural Borneo, Celcom seems to have the best coverage. Forget reception when you are in the jungle.

Please read this complete guide on how to get a tourist SIM card in Malaysia .

Did you enjoy our two weeks Borneo Itinerary? Are you inspired to travel more around Borneo and Malaysia?

Further Readings on Malaysia and Borneo

• Ultimate Guide to Backpacking Borneo • Explore Bukit Piton Orangutan Sanctuary • At Home with Pirates on a Sungai Kapur River Cruise • Best Places to Visit in Malaysia in 3 Days • Tawau Hills Park Hiking Guide

Blogging transparency: this post contains affiliate links. These are products and services that we personally use and recommend. If you click on one and buy any service, I will get a small commission at no extra cost to you. Consider it a small way to say thanks, and keep Monkeyrockworld going.

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