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WELCOME TO THE START OF YOUR BORNEO HOLIDAY ADVENTURE

Tabin rainforest wildlife safari.

Spend three full days of adventure exploring a true Bornean rainforest in the hidden gem of Tabin rainforest.

Borneo Wildlife Safari

The most popular Borneo wildlife package that combines tours at the award-winning Sukau Rainforest Lodge (SRL) with our newly opened Tabin Rainforest Lodge (TRL).

Sabah Rainforest Safari

Immerse yourself in a captivating journey that seamlessly blends the vibrant urban charm of Kota Kinabalu with the lush natural wonders of Borneo, topped off by an extraordinary Bornean wildlife extravaganza!

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BORNEO TOURS

Borneo Tours is the ultimate destination for adventure seekers looking for a unique and immersive experience. Located in Southeast Asia, Borneo offers diverse landscapes, rich culture, and exotic wildlife. Our tours provide an opportunity to explore the rainforests, trek mountains, and witness the natural beauty of the island. With our expert guides and carefully curated itineraries, we ensure a memorable and safe experience. Discover the beauty of Borneo with our customizable tours that cater to your interests and preferences. Book now and experience the adventure of a lifetime in Borneo!

BORNEO TOURS "ON SALE"

3D2N Mount Kinabalu Climb (2 Nights Laban Rata Resthouse)

2D1N Selingan Turtle Island

3D2N Mount Kinabalu Climb Via Timpohon Trail

3D2N Mount Kinabalu Budget Package Via Timpohon Trail

Lankayan Island Dive Resort

2D1N Mount Kinabalu Climb Via Timpohon Trail

2D1N Mount Kinabalu Climb Via Ferrata – Low’s Peak Circuit

2D1N Via Ferrata Walk The Torq – Mount Kinabalu Climb

VIA FERRATA LOW’S PEAK CIRCUIT – 3D2N Mount Kinabalu CLIMB (2 Nights Pendant Hut)

Secure your 2024 climbing slots now.

1 Jan 2024 – 31 Dec 2024 is now open for booking! Budget Climb? Normal Climb? Or Via Ferrata? Contact us today!

BOOK NOW WITH BORNEO CALLING _Official Mount Kinabalu Operator!

CUSTOMER'S REVIEW

Thank you to Mr Lee and all of the staff at Borneo Calling for making our recent holiday to Borneo everything that we wished for and more. We had a fantastic time and our trip could not have been organized any better. Mr Lee was amazing in helping to organize our initial plans for our trip from the… Read more

朋友的介紹選擇了這一家旅行社剛開始非常的忐忑不安。因為神山行程，參加成員20人，所以不停的詢問，但都能給予完整回覆，直到出發前3天更是貼心，主動的告知注意事項讓人非常安心，我們一行人平均年齡超過一甲子，除了攻頂神山，還安排馬里馬里文化村，咔哇咔哇長鼻猴及螢火蟲探險，還有超剌激的泛舟之旅，最後又雙島浮潛遊，非常好的建議… Read more …

This is my third time engaging Borneo Calling for arrangement of my trips in Sabah. First time in year 2015, it was under a different company name (Tamariska) at that time. Guided by very friendly and helpful staff name Abby. Second time was in 2017, for my second climb to Mt Kinabalu. However due to … Read more  

Out of so many options for Kota Kinabalu tours, I’m glad I chose Borneo Calling because their team covers your adventure from A to Z. Belle from the office was very patient in giving us the best options for our Mt. Kinabalu climb, and even allowed us to avail a spontaneous island tour when we got there. Lee, who … Read more  

Highly recommend to go with Borneo Calling. I just completed 2D1N solo trip climbing Mt. Kinabalu with them. 1. Speedy reply. The smooth experience with them started way before the actual climbing. I made the last minute booking almost like 5 days ago and many thanks to the prompt response from their … Read more  

Felt so fortunate to have chosen such a nice and genuine tour company! As an university student, organizing a trip of 30 people and leading them to travel to a foreign country wasn’t easy at all, but you guys have made my dream came true! We climbed Mt Kinabalu, participated in Via ferrata, visited the … Read more  

We are very happy with our 3D2N MT Kinabalu Climb package with Borneo Calling for end March 2018. Mr Lee and Jesse gave prompt and accurate replies to our queries. The service, transport and lodging arrangements were very good. The friendly and helpful transport drivers and hotel staff went out of … Read more  

It is my first time visiting Sabah and I made the right decision for choosing Borneo Calling. Definitely, this is one of the best touring agent you can find in Sabah. From the funny and informative tour guide to the helpful and responsible mountain guide, these people made our trip even more enjoyable! … Read more  

I attended Borneo Calling’s 3D2N Mt Kinabalu Low’s Peak Circuit Via Ferrata package and have had a wonderful time. Before the trip, all emails were replied super quick, normally within half-day.The tour itself was very well organised. Day 1’s complimentary tour was great. We’ve managed to visit Nabalu… Read more  

Last November 2017 I had the opportunity to climb one of the highest mountain in South East Asia – Mt. Kinabalu. Of course to make my trip worth remembering I asked around which Travel and Tour Agency was the best in KK on their climbing field. And then I found Borneo Calling! Hence, I quickly contact them via … Read more  

A wonderful climb up Mount Kinabalu. I was not able to do much training prior to our trip due to injury and ‘just gave it a go’. Very hard work but very rewarding. Our guide Jemin was wonderful and took it very slowly. He paced us very well, pointed out some unusual plants and kept motivating… Read more  

Excellent services from all staff of Borneo Calling that I met during my trip to Mt Kinabalu, especially my super-guide, Andy. He was not only extremely professional and experienced but also very kind, patient and fun. I owed it to him that I made to the Summit of Mt Kinabalu and completed Via Ferrata Low’s … Read more  

CUSTOMER'S REVIEW ON BORNEO TOURS

This is my third time engaging Borneo Calling for arrangement of my trips in Sabah. First time in year 2015, it was under a different company name (Tamariska) at that time. Guided by very friendly and helpful staff name Abby. Second time was in 2017, for my second climb to Mount Kinabalu… Read more  

Out of so many options for Kota Kinabalu tours, I’m glad I chose Borneo Calling because their team covers your adventure from A to Z. Belle from the office was very patient in giving us the best options for our Mt. Kinabalu climb, and even allowed us to avail a spontaneous island tour when we got there. Lee… Read more  

Felt so fortunate to have chosen such a nice and genuine tour company! As an university student, organizing a trip of 30 people and leading them to travel to a foreign country wasn’t easy at all, but you guys have made my dream came true! We climbed Mt Kinabalu, participated in Via ferrata… Read more  

I attended Borneo Calling’s 3D2N Mt Kinabalu Low’s Peak Circuit Via Ferrata package and have had a wonderful time. Before the trip, all emails were replied super quick, normally within half-day.The tour itself was very well organised. Day 1’s complimentary tour was great. We’ve managed to visit Nabalu.. Read more  

Last November 2017 I had the opportunity to climb one of the highest mountain in South East Asia – Mt. Kinabalu. Of course to make my trip worth remembering I asked around which Travel and Tour Agency was the best in KK on their climbing field. And then I found Borneo Calling! Hence, I contacted them … Read more  

A wonderful climb up Mount Kinabalu. I was not able to do much training prior to our trip due to injury and ‘just gave it a go’. Very hard work but very rewarding. Our guide Jemin was wonderful and took it very slowly. He paced us very well, pointed out some unusual plants and kept motivating us all the way… Read more

HELLO, SABAH - BORNEO TOURS DESTINATION!!

Why borneo tours .

If you are looking for amazing adventures in Borneo, you have come searching at the right place.  

BORNEO , a giant, rugged island in Southeast Asia’s Malay Archipelago, is known for its beaches and biodiverse rainforest where thousands of wildlife called home. The Sabah region of Borneo is quite rugged and the third largest island in Asia isn’t much explored, but the tropical Sabah wildlife is some of the most diverse. Sabah, Borneo has so much more to offer to wildlife-seekers and adventure enthusiasts.

HIKE UP MOUNT KINABALU

A majestic mountain located at the West Coast Division of Sabah, Mount Kinabalu is one of the highest mountains in South East Asia standing at 4095.2 meters and has been accorded UNESCO World Heritage status. First-time climbers are advised to consider staying at Kinabalu Park or a highland resort at Kundasang one night prior to the climb to acclimatize the high altitude. Take it up a notch with Mount Kinabalu Via Ferrata , which provides access to scenic sections of the mountains that are typically made available only to mountaineers. It is also known as the world’s highest and Asia’s first via ferrata. This challenging route offers both Walk the Torq and Low’s Peak Circuit packages fitting for both beginners and intermediate climbers respectively. If you are a thrill-seeker, this is should be one of the top things in your bucket list!

BEAUTIFUL ISLANDS

If climbing or hiking is not your thing, activities such as paragliding, white water rafting at Kiulu or Padas rivers, quad biking on the terrains, or even scuba diving and island hopping are among the few activities you can choose from. Explore beautiful islands where you can find the most beautiful corals and swim alongside sea turtles. Look no further than the Lankayan Dive Resort at Lankayan Island or the Sipadan Island, Mabul Island , Kapalai Island , Mataking Island and Pom Pom Island for your fun island adventures.

ICONIC BORNEO WILDLIFE

Moving on to the east coast of Sabah, here we can witness that Borneo is truly a land blessed with wonderful eco treasures – from scenic islands to wildlife encounters and nature treks. Moreover, there is an amazing array of endangered and endemic Borneo wildlife such as the Orang Utans , Proboscis Monkeys, Bornean Sun Bear, sea turtles, and Bornean Pygmy Elephants . 

Take a one day trip and learn more about these animals at Sepilok , Sun Bear Conservation Center , Labuk Bay Proboscis Monkey Sanctuary , and Gomantong Cave . Selingan Island turtle hatcheries area also not to be missed if you are keen on witnessing turtles hatching and baby sea turtles being released back into the sea. Or opt to stay overnight at Kinabatangan River which is called the longest river in Sabah Borneo. This river is known as one of the most exciting and easily accessible places to explore the rich biodiversity of Sabah. Go on river safaris and night walks around the resort for wildlife spotting, even though wildlife spotting is not guaranteed but you will be assured of a nice escape from the busy city. Depending on your budget, you can choose to stay between Sukau, Bilit or Abai , these lodges are all located along the Kinabatangan River.

ANCIENT RAINFOREST

Looking for a nice getaway at one of Borneo Forest Reserve? Danum Valley Conservation Center’s Borneo Rainforest lodge and Tabin Wildlife Reserve are one of our top picks. These lodges provide a nice combination of luxury and wildlife spotting. Both lodges offer a variety of activities for visitors to enjoy the nice outdoors. The mud volcano at Tabin is one not to be missed. If you are keen to get off the tourist tracks to spot for wildlife, take a few days overnight trip to Deramakot Forest Reserve or Danum Valley Field Center. Even though the lodging is simple but it will leave you with an unforgettable experience.

CULTURAL RICHES

Not too keen on all the adventures? No fret, Borneo has something for everyone. Why not come and learn about the cultures and traditions of the natives living in Sabah with us. We’ll take you on a trip to Mari-Mari Cultural Village , Rungus longhouse, War memorial park, and even places as far as the Tip of Borneo where you will hear stories of local people that were passed down from generations to generations.

The best things in life are the people you love and the memories you make, this part of Borneo will definitely leave you with memories that last a lifetime!

Read More Read Less

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TOP 10 SABAH, BORNEO ITINERARIES

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Borneo Tours & Holidays

Small group tours & tailor-made holidays.

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Experience Borneo's unspoilt rainforest, flawless beaches and wild adventures, with one of our Borneo holidays. The third-largest island in the world, Borneo is politically divided between three different countries, Malaysia, Brunei and Indonesia. Lying at the geographic centre of Maritime South East Asia, it lies to the south of the Philippines amongst the islands of the Greater Sunda Archipelago. Home to a staggering array of rare tropical species, the island’s rainforest provide a rich ...

Experience Borneo's unspoilt rainforest, flawless beaches and wild adventures, with one of our Borneo holidays. The third-largest island in the world, Borneo is politically divided between three different countries, Malaysia, Brunei and Indonesia. Lying at the geographic centre of Maritime South East Asia, it lies to the south of the Philippines amongst the islands of the Greater Sunda Archipelago. Home to a staggering array of rare tropical species, the island’s rainforest provide a rich haven for endangered orangutans, leopards, two-metre monitor lizards and numerous other endemic forest species. Borneo’s is also known for Asia’s third-highest mountain, Indonesia's longest river and thousands of miles of bat-filled caves. Our Borneo tours explore the islands western territory of Sarawak, where, tropical rainforest and a string of untouched beaches that fringe the clear waters of the Sulu Sea, can be found. This region is one of the most biodiverse places in the world its well-preserved hiking routes snake through an interior that is still inhabited by indigenous tribes. The city of Kuching provides the perfect base to enjoy sunset boat trips, searching for near-extinct Irrawaddy dolphins, visiting tiny islands scattered in the Sulu Sea and whale shark spotting. Travel to Borneo and discover this extraordinary place for yourself with Wild Frontiers on one of our outstanding Borneo holiday and tours packages.

Meet the Experts

Start your journey, tailor-made holidays.

Whether you want to travel on one of our award-winning itineraries or build your own journey from scratch, our expert consultants will help create the perfect tour for your tastes and budget. Below are a few suggestions of the kind of trips we can offer, all of which can be tailored to you.

SUGGESTED ITINERARIES

Highlights of borneo, best experiences.

Climb Mount Kinabalu

Mount Kinabalu is Southeast Asia's highest peak but only requires a good level of fitness to climb. Begin the long hike up to Low's Peak at 2am through thick cloud forest and arriving at the top in time to witness dawn breaking across the forest canopy below.

Island hop in a marine conservation area

The Tunku Abdul Rahman Park is a marine conservation area and its five beautiful islands lie amongst shallow turquoise waters and coral reefs. Ideal for swimming and snorkelling, you'll get the opportunity to do so with a drop-off at each island.

Visit the Orangutan Rehab Centre

Set up in 1964 to help orphaned Orangutans be re-released into the wild, the rehabilitation centre which is set amidst 4,300 hectares of lush forest, offers an opportunity to observe these magnificent primates up close and in their natural environment.

Boat on the Ox Bow Lake

The Kinabatangan river is renowned for its wildlife and its rich diversity of habitats, which includes its series of Ox Bow Lakes. Enjoy a boat journey out onto one of these lakes in search of primates and bird life. Keep an eye out for the rare proboscis monkeys.

Spot wildlife on a jungle trek

The lowland rainforests of the Danum Valley contain an extraordinary variety of bird and animal life, including orang-utans, rare pygmy elephants, sun bears and the Sumatran rhino. A jungle hike is an ideal way to see some of these elusive creatures up close.

Explore the Tabin Nature Reserve

Tabin was declared a wildlife reserve on account of the large number of animals inhabiting its forests, some of which are highly endangered. The Pygmy Elephant, Sumatran Rhinoceros and Tembadau are all found here and you might be lucky enough to spot them.

Take on an untamed jungle trek

Maliau Basin, also known as Sabah’s Lost World, surrounded by cliffs and steep slopes, is a hidden paradise of flora, fauna and geology located in South-Central Sabah. Trek for four days in one of the world’s oldest rainforests, which remains barely explored.

Learn to cook Sarawak style

Enjoy the culinary tastes and cultural traditions of Borneo by learning how to cook real Sarawak cuisine in a traditional setting. Prepare and serve up a number of Malaysian dishes with a local family using local ingredients brought in the market.

Visit impressive limestone caves

The Gunung Mulu National Park is home to one of the largest limestone cave systems on earth including the world's largest (Deer Cave), Southeast Asia's longest (Clearwater Cave) and the largest natural chamber on earth (Sarawak Chamber).

TOP PLACES TO VISIT

Danum Valley

A stunning natural gem, the Danum Valley Conservation Area presents a pristine landscape of virgin jungle and lush tropical lowland forest that provides shelter for a rare collection of animals, including ...

Kinabalu National Park

Set amongst the dramatic landscapes of the Kinabalu National Park, Mount Kinabalu is Borneo's highest peak, and one of the highest mountains in Southeast Asia. Accorded UNESCO World Heritage status and ...

Kota Kinabalu

Formerly known as Jesselton, the capital of Sabah State lies along the north-western coast of Borneo, overlooking the waters of the South China Sea. Founded by the British North Borneo Company in the ...

The capital of Sarawak, Kuching is the largest city in Borneo and one of the most vibrant cities in the region. Situated on the banks of the Sarawak River, in the north-western part of the island, the ...

Tabin Nature Reserve

Tabin Wildlife Reserve is located in the eastern part of Sabah. The reserve comprises an area of approximately 300,000 acres in the centre of the Dent Peninsula, north-east of Lahad Datu town, south of ...

Kinabatangan River

Sabah's Kinabatangan River is the second longest river in Malaysia, running some 560 kilometres from its source in the mountains of the south-west to the Sulu Sea, east of Sandakan. Blessed with one of ...

One of Sabah's most popular attractions and part of the Kabili-Sepilok Forest Reserve, the Sepilok Orang Utan Rehabilitation Centre was set up in 1964 to help orphaned Orangutans. Set amidst 4,300 hectares ...

OUR FAVOURITE PLACES TO STAY

Borneo Rainforest Lodge, Danum Valley

Bunga Raya Island Resort, Gaya Island

Gaya Island Resort, Gaya Island

Kinabatangan Wetlands Resort, Kinabatangan (Abai)

Sepilok Nature Resort, Sandakan

Sukau Rainforest Lodge, Kinabatangan (Sukau)

Discover more.

The climate is typically tropical with temperature ranging from a cool 22°C (72°F) in the evenings to a sultry 34°C (93°F) in the daytime.

Sarawak receives an abundance of rainfall (averaging 200-250 cm a year); the rainy season is normally during the 'landas', a local term for the monsoon rains that come between November and February each year. Sabah is less wet than Sarawak and because it lies just below the typhoon belt, it is often known as "the land below the wind".

The monsoon period should not deter visitors to the region as it is not cold; in fact the rains during this time may be heavy but it is intermittent and they bring respite from the tropical heat. This is also the time of the year when the local tropical fruits unique to the region are in abundance.

USEFUL INFORMATION

Health and Vaccinations 

There are no mandatory immunisations for travellers to Malaysia though you should be up-to-date with Typhoid, Tetanus, Polio and Hepatitis A. Malaria is prevalent in parts of Borneo, therefore we strongly suggest that you visit your GP to discuss your personal requirements. Please note we are not medical professionals and so we highly recommend you seek advice from your local GP or travel centre as to the correct immunisations and preventative treatments.  

Currency  

In Borneo, Malaysia the unit of currency is the Malaysian ringgit (MYR).   

To check out the latest exchange rate for the places that you are visiting you can go to www.oanda.com . 

Cultural Sensitivity 

On our tours you will frequently interact with local people, each with their own distinct customs and traditions. We therefore ask you to be considerate and to treat them with respect. Your tour-leaders and guides will always be able to advise you accordingly.  

Borneo, Malaysia is a multicultural but predominantly Islamic country. You should respect local traditions, customs and religions. Shoulders and legs should be covered when visiting temples and other important religious sites.    

Ladies should dress modestly in the towns and cities, this means avoid wearing shorts and tank tops. When you’re outside of the towns and cities you can wear normal summer clothes. If your trip includes spending time at hotels resorts the dress code is more relaxed.    Men can wear normal summer clothes all the time.   

As you can imagine the humidity is very high here, so be prepared. When you’re exploring national parks, light weight natural fabrics work best and pack long trousers and long sleeved shirts to help keep the bugs away.   

Language & Religion 

The official language is  Malay  although English is also widely spoken and understood. Mandarin and Tamil are the other two main languages, alongside a multitude of other less widely spoken languages representing smaller ethnic groups.   

More than half of the population (52%) follows Islam. Other religions followed in Malaysia are Buddhism, Daoism, Hinduism, Christianity, and Sikhism. In addition, Shamanism is practiced in East Malaysia.   

Time  

Borneo is 8 hours ahead of GMT.   

A useful website to check the time zone differences is www.worldtimezone.com .  

Food and drink 

In Borneo forget potatoes – rice (nasa) and noodles (mee) rule in this region. Rice is either steamed or fried, and noodles can be made from wheat, wheat and egg, rice or mung beans, and are used in a bewildering number of dishes either fried or boiled. Malays like their fish fried (ikan) whole and stuffed with spices or chopped into chunks or steaks and served with a spicy (tamarind) sauce. In Malaysian Borneo in particular, hinava (raw fish marinated with lime juice and herbs) is very popular.  

Apart from fish, chicken (ayam) is possibly the most consumed meat in the region. Beef (daging lembu) and mutton (daging kambing, which also refers to lamb as well as kid and goat) are common in Malay dishes too. Chilli of course, features heavily. Fruit is usually the desert, served raw and presented on platters while alcohol is readily available all over.   

APRIL SALE:   Discover and book at   up to 60% off!

Borneo Tours & Trips

In the heart of southeast Asia lies Borneo, known for its diverse wildlife including the beautiful orangutans, and it's stunning natural rainforests and jungles. If you're looking for a cultural experience like no other, consider an adventure to Borneo.

49 Borneo tour packages with 248 reviews

• Christmas & New Year

Borneo – East Sabah Adventure

Guter erster Eindruck von Borneo um eine Ahnung zu bekommen, was es alles zu sehen und tun gibt, sollte man mit mehr Zeit eines Tages zurück kommen. Gut organisiert, alles prima geklappt.

Sabah Adventure

I liked the tour a lot. Too many buffet meals however and never enough vegetarian choices. Got bitten by bed bugs in the jungle lodge.

Premium Borneo in Depth

very surprising! everything worked out! nelson was really good!

Highlights of Sabah & Mt Kinabalu

The itinerary did exactly as expected, showcased the highlights of Sabah. The additional activities exceeded expectations; tubing in Tambatuon village was fun for the range of ages amongst out group, on the night jungle walk in kinabatangan, we had the pleasure of strolling across an endangered tarsier. Our well-connected guide (Jerry) was actively involved in all activities and shared a wealth of knowledge, as a local. The connections Jerry has with the communities made us feel at home in Borneo. His professionalism and experience in mountain climbing made the Mt Kinabalu hike a personal highlight for me. A well-passed, humbling and spectacular adventure well worth taking.

• Mountain Hikes

Real Borneo

Awesome adveturous tour. Includes jungle stay (pic above) where we went spotlighting wildlife at night, slept in a tree house, planted trees for reforestation and went out on the river to look for monkeys and orangutangs along the river banks. We also did a homestay. Due to the earth quake this year we couldnt climb kinabalu but we still did a very challenging trek through cave systems in the junlge and by doing this Geckos were making sure hte mountain guides weren't out of work while the mountain trails were repaired. Our guide was so knowledgable having grown up in the jungle since the age of 4. The country is full of wildlife, the people are friendly and the place is non touristy. Meals and beer were cheap. wifi in the country is dodgy. I would definately go back to see the other half of the country one day... My tip pack lots of quick dry sports clothing because the jungle is HOT! Our group was a good mix of international people, all young, fit, active and most importantly easy going!

• Jungle Trekking
• Hiking & Trekking

Best of Borneo National Geographic Journeys

Great tour, well organized.

Borneo Wildlife Discoverer

Borneo was a fabulous trip. Our guide, Nostalia, was knowledgeable, organized, funny, intuitive about our (wonderful) group and made every day and every excursion interesting and fun. I was very pleased by all the flora and fauna we saw, the hikes we took and the lodges we stayed in. Thank you!!!

• In-depth Cultural

Borneo & the Malaysian Peninsula

The tour was fantabulous! Great sights, great food, excellent tour guides are ingredients for an unforgettable experience. Close encounters with wildlife in the primeval forest of Borneo as well as the mangrove forest in Langkawi are second to none; the boat rides with the help of local guides make for a thrilling adventure. Complementing the awesome nature discovery is the cultural immersion in the distinct cities of Malacca, Kuala Lumpur, Georgetown and Langkawi. A candid preview of Malaysia at its awesome best in two weeks! It is hands-down one of the best uses of one's time, energy, money.

Customized Private Malaysia Borneo Wildlife Tour, Daily Departure

• Book With Flexibility This operator allows you to rebook your dates or tours with them for free, waiving change fees.

Borneo Adventure

Wonders Of Borneo, Malaysia (5 & 4 Star Hotels)

• €150 deposit on some dates Some departure dates offer you the chance to book this tour with a lower deposit.

Borneo Wildlife Highlights

• 10% deposit on some dates Some departure dates offer you the chance to book this tour with a lower deposit.

Sandakan Orangutan Experience 4D/3N

The tour was great, very well organised, full of adventure and saw lots of things. Only thing is I think if it was organised by myself it would have cost a fraction of what the actual cost was however we used up some travel credits so we cannot complain as we were very well looked after.

Sabah Highlights Adventure 7D/6N

Our guides were excellent and the itinerary was perfect. From snorkelling, the mountains, tea plantation and the jungle our experiences were diverse and frankly incredible.

Incredible Borneo, Malaysia (5 & 4 Star Hotels)

What people love about borneo tours.

If you are looking for a nature holiday, I would most defiantely recommend Borneo. Saw all the wildlife I had hoped for and more. Our CEO with G Adventures, Ricky, was fantastic. Helpful, kind, knowledgable and very calm. Always happy to help and answer any questions regarding the wildlife or history of Borneo. The group was also fantastic, full of laid back, like minded, wildlife lovers, from all over the world. Thank you!!

This trip was amazing and exceeded my expectations. I loved the mix of culture, nature, hiking and relaxing.

Really enjoyed everything about the Borneo trip, the guide, Gobert was fun, helpful and pleasant. I would recommend this tour.

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Borneo holidays 2024 & 2025

Rich equatorial rainforest, wild orangutan and the Kinabatangan River ... On a tailor-made holiday to Borneo with Audley, you’ll see the highlights — and much more — your way. We’ll design your ideal trip with you, paying close attention to your interests, your travel style and your budget. Our Borneo specialists know the country inside out and can lead you to experiences you won’t find in a guidebook.

Savour sunrise atop Mount Kinabalu , the island’s highest peak. Be a guest of the Iban tribe with a night in a traditional longhouse. Trek beneath some of the world’s tallest trees, while a symphony of insects click and hum in the background. Leave a positive impact on the island by seeking out its rare leopards and proboscis monkeys responsibly. Snorkel around offshore islands and relax on a stretch of powder-soft sand.

The great bat exodus at Gunung Mulu National Park, freshly cooked street food, a rhinoceros hornbill in flight… What excites you? Travel at your own pace, in your own style, with the confidence that we’ll show you the best options for your holiday to Borneo.

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Suggested tours for Borneo

These tours give you a starting point for what your holiday to Borneo could entail. Treat them as inspiration, as each trip is created uniquely for you.

Orangutans & islands of Borneo

15 days from £3,440pp

Jungles & beaches of Malaysia & Borneo

14 days from £3,550pp

Grand tour of Borneo

19 days from £6,850pp

Snapshot of Sabah

11 days from £4,400pp

Luxury tour of Sabah

14 days from £5,720pp

Discovering the indigenous cultures of Sarawak

Borneo's rivers, mountains & beaches tour

13 days from £3,865pp

Wild Borneo tour

14 days from £5,150pp

Suggested activities for Borneo

Whatever your interests, our specialists will build activities into your trip that connect to how you want to experience Borneo.

The Orangutan Sanctuary at Sepilok

The centre rehabilitates orphaned orangutans and those that have been held in captivity. It's set amidst dense jungle and you can take a walk into the jungle to see them in their natural environment.

Mount Kinabalu Climb — 2 Days

The Park Headquarters is located at 1,550 metres and your aim on the first day is to reach Laban Rata at around 3,200 metres. You are accompanied by your guide who is assigned at the Park Headquarters.

Kayaking Rainforest Adventure

This is a great experience for nature lovers and the adventurous. After a 40-minute drive from town you arrive at the mist covered hillsides around Bengoh, a delightful Bidayuh village.

Why travel with Audley?

• 100% tailor-made tours
• Fully protected travel
• Established for over 25 years
• 98% of our clients would recommend us

Best time to visit

Our specialists advise on the best months to visit Borneo, including information about climate, events and festivals.

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Covering all seven continents, The World Your Way shows you how you can see the world with us. It features trip ideas from our specialists alongside hand-picked stays and experiences, and introduces our approach to creating meaningful travel experiences.

Useful information for planning your holiday in Borneo

With a strong mix of Malay, Chinese, and Indian influences, Borneo’s culinary dishes are best appreciated in the street-food markets of Kuching and Kota Kinabalu. Dishes range from tandoori-spiced kebabs to Chinese-inspired prawn fritters. A particular speciality is laksa, a fragrant coconut milk noodle soup.

A guided street food tour is a good way to try some of the best Borneo cuisine, or for a more in-depth look, we could arrange a cooking lesson with a local family .

For the latest travel advice for Borneo, including entry requirements, health information, and the safety and security situation, please refer to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office website .

Bahasa Malaysia, often simply referred to as Malay, is the official language of Malaysia, but English is widely spoken. Other languages you’re likely to hear are Chinese (Mandarin), Hindi, Iban, and other indigenous dialects.

The currency in Malaysian Borneo is the Malaysian ringgit (RM).

One of Borneo’s key experiences is wildlife spotting. You can travel by boat along the Kinabatangan River looking for proboscis monkeys and rare pygmy elephants. Or, you can head deep into one of its many national parks to search for wild orangutans. It’s also an island suited to active adventures, from jungle hikes to a two-day climb up Mount Kinabalu , a 4,095 m (13,435 ft) peak that juts up from the north of the island.

While the natural world is often the focus, there are plenty of opportunities to experience Borneo’s cultural side, too. You could stay in a longhouse as a guest of the Iban people, take a street-food tour of Kuching, or stay in a family home in Bako National Park . You can read about these experiences in more detail in our highlights guide to Borneo .

If you only choose one place to visit in Borneo, it’s hard to beat the Kinabatangan River, a forested sanctuary of oxbow lakes, rainforest, and mangroves. A cruise here will showcase the best of the island’s wildlife. This pairs well with a stay at Sandakan , a town which hosts three sanctuaries that showcase Borneo’s rich ecosystems: Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre, the Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre, and the Rainforest Discovery Centre.

To dive deeper into the rainforest, Mulu National Park hosts some of the world’s largest bat populations in its cathedral-like caverns. Danum Valley offers an exclusive jungle experience in comfort, while Deramakot Forest Reserve is a remote scientific research station well off the tourist trail. Our specialists can help you choose the places to go in Borneo that suit you best, but as a starter, you can read more about these destinations here .

The easiest way to see orangutans in Borneo is to visit Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre, where you’ll encounter rescued youngsters and adults at close quarters as they come to feed at large wooden platforms set into the forest. As part of your visit, there’s an exhibition and video that explains the orangutans’ lifestyle, and the best part — a viewing room in the nursery where you can see babies fling themselves enthusiastically around a rope playground.

However, there’s something very special about seeing an orangutan in the wild, and arguably the best way to see orangutans in Borneo is in one of the national parks, including Danum Valley, Tabin Wildlife Reserve, and Deramakot Forest Reserve.

We’ve created a sample itinerary focused around some of Borneo’s best orangutan-spotting experiences, while Borneo specialist Sophie writes in more detail about the best ways to spot orangutans in our orangutan guide .

Borneo is home to a long list of other wildlife including sun bears, multiple species of crocodile, and enough bird species to fill entire guidebooks. Some animals, including proboscis monkeys, with their bulbous noses, hornbills, and flying squirrels are relatively easy to spot.

Others, including clouded leopards, Sumatran rhinos, and Borneo bay cats, are much harder to spot, and you’ll need the help of an experienced wildlife guide to stand the best chance of a sighting. The World Land Trust estimates that there are between 1,000 and 1,600 Bornean pygmy elephants left, which you’re most likely to see by the banks of the Kinabatangan River.

The waters that surround the island are also rich in life, including green and hawksbill turtles, soft corals, and rare Borneo sharks, a shy species that rarely grow longer than 70 cm (2 ft).

While you’re exploring the wilds of Borneo, you’ll usually stay in lodges set among the trees or stilted over the river. They have their own experienced wildlife guides who’ll help you explore the surrounding area. For a more immersive cultural experience you can stay in an Iban longhouse as a guest of the local community, or in a homestay in a Malay fishing village.

To relax, there are a number of beach resorts near the town of Kota Kinabalu, or you could stay on Gaya Island , a jungle-covered island off the island’s north coast, which is home to a small selection of secluded beach escapes. Our specialists have hand-picked some of the best places to stay in Borneo on our accommodation page .

You should try to book your trip to Borneo around 6 to 12 months in advance, particularly if you're planning to visit during the busiest (and less rainy) period between June and September. The best wildlife lodges and riverside retreats book up early, especially along the Kinabatangan River and Danum Valley.

If you'd like to avoid the busy season, our specialists can suggest the best times and places to visit away from the crowds, giving you an even more intimate wildlife-spotting experience.

You can’t fly direct to Borneo from the UK, but there are regular connections to Kuching via Singapore, which takes around 15 hours.

The time zone in Borneo is GMT +8.

The best way to travel around Borneo depends where you are. To cross the vast swathes of jungle and farmland, domestic flights are ideal, especially if you’re visiting Danum Valley or Deramakot Forest Reserve . If you’re exploring the Kinabatangan River, boats are your only option. Around the towns and cities, we can arrange for a private car, although most places are small enough to explore on foot.

UK passport holders don’t need a visa to enter Borneo if you’re staying less than 90 days. Your passport must be valid for at least six months after the date of your departure from Borneo and have at least one blank page. If you’re not a UK passport holder, you can check the visa requirements here .

Your doctor can provide you with vaccine advice for Borneo, but we recommend you’re up to date with the recommended vaccinations for your home country. You can also check the suggested vaccinations on the Travel Health Pro website .

There isn’t a risk of yellow fever in Borneo, but you’ll need to carry a yellow fever vaccination certificate if you’re arriving from any countries where there is a risk, including if you’ve transited for more than 12 hours through an airport in a country at risk of yellow fever.

Borneo in pictures

Our expert guides to travelling in Borneo

Written by our specialists from the viewpoint of their own travels, these guides will help you decide on the shape of your own trip to Borneo. Aiming to inspire and inform, we share our recommendations for how to appreciate Borneo at its best.

Introducing Borneo

Southeast Asia specialist Nicki describes her highlights of Borneo, including the wildlife, rainforests and beautiful beaches.

Borneo family holidays

Borneo specialist Sophie explains why Malaysian Borneo is a great family holiday destination. She recommends engaging ways to spot wildlife, experience tribal cultures and have jungle adventures.

Seeing orangutan in Borneo: Malaysia or Indonesia?

Although Borneo is the place to see orangutans in the wild, its political separation as part Malaysia, part Indonesia does leave you with choices for where to plan your orangutan-spotting trip. Our expert Sophie helps you decide: Indonesian or Malaysian Borneo?

What to see in Borneo: our highlights guide

This guide features recommendations for things to do in Borneo. It focuses on the states of Sabah and Sarawak in Malaysian Borneo, which offer a lot of variety in a smaller radius than Indonesian Borneo.

Luxury holidays in Borneo

Southeast Asia specialist Shannon explains how to thread luxurious experiences through a trip to Borneo. From personally guided wildlife tours to jungle lodges with spas and private plunge pools, she shares her top recommendations.

Honeymoons in Borneo

Plan your perfect honeymoon to Borneo with Audley. Discover some of the best properties, places and wildlife on offer and how we can make your honeymoon in Borneo extra special.

Walking & trekking in Borneo

Smothered in a blanket of lush rainforest leading right up to the coast, Borneo is an island best explored on foot. From a gentle afternoon walk along the lofty canopy walkways of the Danum Valley to a challenging hike down into the lost world of the Maliau Basin, the landscape offers experiences that will appeal to every level of fitness.

The top 7 experiences in Borneo

In this bitesize guide, Borneo specialist Sophie has picked out her top seven experiences on the island. Yes, she’s included orangutan spotting, but there’s a lot more to this jungle-covered island.

Kinabatangan river cruises

A Kinabatangan river cruise is a real highlight of any Audley tailor-made trip to Borneo. You will have a good opportunity of seeing some of the best wildlife in Southeast Asia.

Discover more about Borneo on our blog

Through the canopy in Borneo

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Guide to Kuching

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Guide to the Derawan Islands

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National Parks

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Food to Try

Your Trip to Borneo: The Complete Guide

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

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

Planning Your Trip

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

Things to Do

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

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

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

Tyler Cave / Getty Images

What to Eat and Drink

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

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

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

Where to Stay

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

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

Getting There

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

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

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

Culture and Customs

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

Money Saving Tips

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

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

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

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

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

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

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MOUNT KINABALU CLIMB

Conquer majestic mount kinabalu.

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

THINGS TO DO IN SABAH

Undiscover land below the wind.

Our daily local tours are the perfect way to get acquainted with the highlights of Sabah. Ranging from full day expeditions to half-day sightsees, from wildlife to island, our daily tours will keep you covered on the wonderfully scenic, beautifully strange and marvelously rare.

THINGS TO DO IN SARAWAK

Explore land of the hornbills.

Discover the wonders of Sarawak through its mystical limestone caves, vibrant rainforests and engaging culture. Be awe-inspired by Sarawak’s natural delights, there’s something absolutely for everyone!

TOP BEST SABAH WILDLIFE

Discover & upclose with nature.

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

SEA ADVENTURES

Follow the motion of the ocean.

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

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HOTELS AND RESORTS

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From mountain huts to tropical island resorts, we offer the best hotel rates suitable for every taste and budget.

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Bako National Park's Iconic Sea Stack Collapses

The sea stack at Bako National Park, an iconic geological feature recognised for its unique shape, collapsed on 13 February 2024.

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Don't Get Ripped off by Booking in Australia!

As a busy working couple we had to change our holiday dates 3 times to Kota Kinabalu. On the first two occassions we had our climb booked in with our travel agent as part of the package, however, on the third change it couldn't be done. We were still adamant we would climb the mountain by trying our luck and booking the climb once in KK. Several people, including our agent told us we would not be able to book it in KK - but did we prove them wrong! Not only was Amazing Borneo Tours headquarters easy to find in the City, the climb was booked and sorted in about 9 minutes! We did the 1 day climb (which I would only recommend to strong, fit and fast climbers) and were picked up from our Resort at 5am, ready for a 2 hour drive to the Mountain. We didnt know what to expect in regards to facilities but we were impressed. In fact, of all the tours we did, Amazing Borneo's was by far the best in regards to service, price, facilities, and overall delivery. I would highly recommend to anyone to book through Amazing Borneo Tours instead of getting ripped off by booking in Australia!

Dear Ben S, Definitely its our pleasure to serve you and thank you for endorsing Amazing Borneo Tours. One day climb is indeed demanding in terms of physical fitness and mental strength but we are proud that you and your partner did it! Dinna sent her regards to both of you and we hope to be of service to both of you again! Take Care. Best Regards, The Amazing Borneo Team

I did the 2 day 1 night Mount Kinabalu tour with my girlfriend back in February 2012. Everything about the trip went very well. We were picked up on time in a nice van from our hotel in Kota Kinabalu. The driver was very friendly and he got us to the starting point with plenty of time. The mountain guide that they assigned to us was awesome. He was very friendly and didn't mind constantly being asked to take pictures for us. He also was very good at picking the right steps for us to take and the right path to take all the way to the top. In fact on the way to the summit we had someone from another group tag along with us because the rest of his group was having trouble. He was amazed at how good our guide was compared to his. The accommodations at Laban Rata were sparse but as good as could be expected. They provided us with bed sheets, blankets and towels which was more then I was expecting since I heard from other reviews that you have to rent these. The food was surprisingly good considering everything is carried up by porters. Once we made it back down the mountain on our 2nd day the Amazing Borneo van was already waiting there to pick us up. The guide phoned him on the way down. It was nice not to have to wait considering how tired we were after 2 full days of walking up and down what is essentially and endless flight of crooked and dangerous stairs. After being picked up we got taken to the main buildings at the bottom of the mountain where we had a nice buffet lunch after which we headed back into the city. I would just like to make a note for the budget conscious. There are cheaper ways to do the Mount Kinabalu trip. There are other tour operators who offer lower prices but I tried emailing them and they were very unreliable. I only tried a couple so I don't want to say they are all bad but the ones I did try didn't get back to me for multiple days. When they did it was often clear that they did not or could not read my email properly as they were asking me for details which I had already clearly outlined to them. After this experience I went onto Trip Advisor and found Amazing Borneo and I am glad I did. You can also put the entire trip together yourself as all the mountain guides are employed by Mount Kinabalu National Park and Laban Rata also is run by a private company and accepts booking from anyone. You just have to do this in advance yourself and also find a way to get to the base of the mountain. Some of the people I ran into had just found a pus or a private van to take them to the base of the mountain but with these options you are often crammed in with a bunch of people as they try to fill every seat to make as much from each trip as possible. Also if you book your guide directly from the park you might be put into a group with other people. With Amazing Borneo my grilfriend and I were guaranteed our own private guide. You also have book your accommodation at Laban Rata as well which I did not have time to look into. For myself I would say Amazing Borneo added great value. They were very prompt in replying to emails and also very professional. They took care of everything for me and I didn't have to worry about anything except making it up the mountain. If you are in Borneo and you wan't a great tour without any hassles and great service then definitely take a look at Amazing Borneo. They may not be the cheapest but I they are #1 in value!

To save having to rewrite a new review, I am attaching the feedback that I provided directily to Amazing Borneo Tours in an email. The review should speak for itself. Thank you for your recent email requesting feedback about our experience with Amazing Borneo Tours. From our very first contact with your company, the relationship has been universally positive. I had multiple contacts with Carlotte Gregory and she invariably answered my emails promptly and provided the complete information I sought. Everything that you promised was delivered. Upon our ship's 8:00am arrival into KK we were met by Yamin within 40 paces after stepping off the gangway of our ship. He called one of your dispatchers and within 5 minutes a van arrived for our transport. We were immediately impressed with the size of the vehicle and its cleanliness. Yamin could not have been more pleasant. His English was excellent and from the very start, there was every indication that our tour would be superb. The day of our tour was Sunday so traffic was virtually non-existent. We first drove to the Sabah Foundation Building, the gleaming cylindrical building. We entered the building and looked around at its base. Yamin provided us continuous dialogue about Malaysia as well as Kota Kinabalu. We then drove through the local university which was impressive. We were then on to the City Mosque where we were able to enter and enjoy the majesty of the facility. Yamin introduced us to the volunteer manager of the mosque who shared considerable interesting information. He agreed to have a photo taken with him which I've attached. Upon exiting, we made a contribution to the mosque. The rain that had been present just as the ship arrived had completely stopped and was not seen again this day. We drove up Signal Hill and had a wonderful view of the city. We stopped at a lay-by, walked further up the hill and the driver met us farther along the way. We could see the "floating village" across the water. We drove down the mountain and to the State Mosque for still more photos. Yamin pointed out several fine hotels. He also explained to us about tours he conducts into the jungle that we might like to consider in the future. Back in town, we stopped at the Filipino Market and Yamin escorted us while continuing his description of what we were seeing. (We were becoming quite educated.) We asked him about changing some money to ringetts and Yamin directed us to a money changer doing business just inside the entrance to the Mall. We asked Yamin to take us back to the ship since our half-day tour was coming to a close. The driver returned us to the foot of the gangway of the ship and as a parting gesture, Yamin gave each of us a hug. We were able to tip Yamin and the driver with local currency. Would you say we were satisfied customers? I think from the write-up above, you may conclude that all four of us were quite pleased with everything -- Yamin, the driver, your company and your city. I would be pleased to endorse your company in the future and you may provide my email address to any prospective client. If you're able to make any copies of the attached photos, please provide them to Yamin.

We booked 2 tours with them- river tour to see proboscis monkeys, and palau mantanani. monkey tour disappointing as guide knew almost nothing about monkeys and we couldn't understand him. monkeys were very far away. lots of waiting for other tour groups to join us. Mantanani van was very uncomfortable for 2 hour ride. lots of waiting for other groups. Best part of tour was that our guide found us a ride home with another tour group in a comfortable bus

Dear Continentalflyer, We appreciate your tour feedback & booking with us. As mentioned in our websites and in any promotional materials, all tours are conducted based on seat-in-coach (SIC) basis. “Seat-in-Coach (SIC)” is the term used for sharing in transfer or tour, therefore guests that are in SIC basis will be sharing vehicle and have other tourist with them on the tour. There will be multiple pickups & drop-offs throughout the journey and some short waiting time are expected. Unless private tour is requested upon booking, which you did not, all daily local tours will be based on SIC basis. Since private tour is known to be more expensive than SIC, and especially so when your group size is only at 2 persons, it is logical that you did not upgrade to private tour and chose SIC basis for economical purposes. We apologise to you that we were not aware that private tour maybe more suitable for you since you would like to be in control of your own timing. However, we have checked with our operation team and found that a private tour for you was not quite possible that day (even if we very much like to suggest) as your booking was done less than 24 hours before tour. Although it may seem like a last minute booking, we are still able to handle it well. We take pride in all our tours conducted and we value all our guests feedback. Your review here prompted us to further investigate your case and we have gathered positive feedbacks from a few other guests who were on the same tour with you to Klias River Cruise. We knew it would be uncomfortable when other guests have waited 20mins for you at your hotel during the pickup to Klias River Cruise, however, overall they were actually satisfied with our services as well as the guide. We do agree that local tour guides who conduct daily tours may not have very in depth knowledge of wildlife animals as this should be the role of specialised wildlife expert guides. Do let us know in future should you require guides with expert knowledge of a particular field and we will be glad to arrange one for you. With regards to your Mantanani trip, once again we apologise for some narrow and bumpy roads that you have been through which makes the land transfer slightly uncomfortable as we do not have highways here. There are also scheduled departure time for the boats to island which we have to comply with, hence some waiting time is expected if you arrive early. Nevertheless, thank you for highlighting your honest thoughts and we have improved ourselves again to next level. Thank you

We were greeted at the airport by the ABT minbus driver, who was very friendly and helpful. He drove us for a little over an hour up into the mountains to our lunch stop. We bought durian, bananas and rambutan, ate as much as we could for lunch and brought the rest with us for the hike. After another 20 min drive we arrived at Kinabalu Park and were taken to our accommodation. The three of us shared a room of 2 bunks, which was very pleasant. The meals were delicious - great choice of food. We met our guide early next morning and set off in the mini-bus for Timpohon Gate. The hike to Laban Rata was tough but very enjoyable. We had many stops, and took a little over 5 hours. Our guide gave us an excellent commentary along the way, highlighting the various plant types, and taking excellent photographs! The accommodation at Laban Rata was above expectations, except for the squeeky bunk. Our room had three bunks, and we shared it with another couple. We set off for Low's Peak at 2:15 AM. The hike to the summit took 3.5 hours. Our progress became very slow as we neared the summit. Fortunately the weather was good; some cloud, no rain, and about 3 deg C. We left the summit just as the sun rose and hiked down to Laban Rata. This took just under 2 hours. We had a light breakfast and packed the things we had brought be did not take to the summit. We departed Laban Rata at 8:15 AM, maintained a quick pace, and arrived back at Timpohon Gate at about 11:45 AM. This gave us time to have lunch, took the bus back to the airport at 1 PM, arriving at 2:30 PM. A wonderful experience! Key items we each brought: 1) 25 L packs with 2 L water bladders, and a spare 500 mL water bottle. 2) Salomon XA Pro 3D trail running shoes. 3) Thermal underwear (worn with shorts between Laban Rata and the summit) 4) Shorts, 2 hiking shirts and thin vest 5) Hat, beanie and thin gloves (suitable for sliding along ropes) 6) Lightweight breathable rainjacket 7) Head torch

I could be the worst in fitness among all who did a Mount Kinabalu climb as I weigh almost 300lbs (130KG) and stand at 1.68M tall. A few months ago, I decided to do something crazy, I contacted several agencies that are licensed under Sabah Tourism Board and many took forever to reply, even so, the responses were unbelievably unprofessional as though they were replying SMS to me. However, one company did interest me; their replies were prompt, detailed and professional. Amazing Borneo Tours caught my attention, I did my complete tour bookings with them and I’m glad I did. A very responsible & reliable tour company. Upon arrival in Kota Kinabalu, I was greeted by some friendly guide & driver. Along the way, they showed me some beautiful prominent places of Kota Kinabalu city and soon I got to know the roads and places pretty well. It was a 2 hour drive up from the airport to Kinabalu Park, the coach was very beautiful & comfortable with mineral water provided too. While driving up to the mountain, the roads were curvy and narrow at some points. Fortunately, the driver made me feel safe with his professional driving skills, or else I may have suffered motion sickness. They even introduced me to Nabalu Town, located some distance away from Kinabalu Park, it was a place where the local tribes people sell goods and souvenirs, a must-come place, and there is also a viewing platform with an amazing view of Mount Kinabalu! I stayed overnight near Park HQ and began repacking my bags for the climb. The following day 7.30am, the driver picked me up and headed to Kinabalu Park HQ to complete my registration. I looked up over the mountain, it was very intimidating. After a climb briefing by one of the Amazing Borneo staff, I was also assigned a mountain guide, Mr Joe, which I heard was one of the best guides from the company. At 9:17am, I set off from Timpohon Gate, met up with lots of friendly internationals climbers who also booked through Amazing Borneo. We set off together at the same time along with all our mountain guides and porters! Because I am very fat and hardly exercise, it was extremely hard for me. I took about 6hours to reach Layang Layang (4KM), while others take only approximately 4 to 5hours to reach the Laban Rata Resthouse( 6KM). I am glad that both my mt guide & porter were extremely patient and encouraging! I really wanted to give up, I wanted to turn back, but Joe and phone calls/sms from Amazing Borneo team, kept me going forward and think positive. I was very slow, moving at only 500m/hr, the journey was difficult for me. By then, I have already used up 4 bottles of oxygen bar which prove quite effective. I was so ashamed by my speed but I did not give up. 8:30pm, I finally reached Laban Rata resthouse in the dark, I was very relieved, it was one of the best feelings I've ever had. I felt like I've conquered myself entirely, never in my life I had done so much exercise in one day, I took almost 12hours to just get up to the resthouse. Imagine without the fantastic mt guide, phone encouragement from Amazing Borneo team, I would have turn back after 3KM. According to most of the mt guides whom I met in Laban Rata, I was one of the very rare obese people whom made it this far, and I'm glad I did. The next day, 2 am, I attempted the final ascend to the summit, though it was just 2 more kilometre away, I started to get pinned down by altitude sickness just 200m from the rest house. I vomited, and had to turn back. Of course, the accommodation and meals in Laban Rata were fantastic! Not mentioning the fantastic weather and views of Mount Kinabalu. I was surprised by the things that are provided as I know every items, gas/water tanks, rubbish need to be hand carried to and fro the terrible 6KM route. Descending back to Timpohon took me less than 10 hours. Before that I had slight fever but was mysteriously subsided after Layang Layang. Perhaps it gets better towards lower altitude. Finally, I returned to Kinabalu Park around 730pm and was extremely delighted upon receiving my beautiful black & white certificate from the Amazing Borneo team. To everyone else reading this If I, weigh 300lbs with BMI 46, can do it this far, ANYONE 1% FITTER THAN ME WILL MAKE IT TO THE SUMMIT! This is something you must do at least once in your lifetime!

Borneo Tours & Vacations

Anthropologists, adventure-seekers and animal lovers alike are drawn to Borneo’s steamy jungles, blissful mountains, balmy beaches and peaceful villages.

These tropical shores have a glorious diversity. Float down the Kinabatangan River, the most biologically diverse rainforest in the world; see the sun rise over Mt Kinabalu; meet mischievous orangutans in Sepilok; chow down on a tasty laksa or take in the incredible underwater scenery snorkeling in Tunku Abdul National Marine Park.  Borneo’s  wild bounty awaits.  

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Borneo at a glance

Capital city.

Malaysia: Kota Kinabalu (Sarawak) and Kuching (Sabeh), Indonesia: Pontianak (Kalimantan), Brunei: Bandar Seri Begawan

23.7 million

Malaysian Ringgit (RM), Brunei Dollar (B$), Indonesian Rupiah (Rp)

Bahasa Malaysia, Bahasa Indonesia, Chinese dialects, Dayak languages

(GMT+08:00)

CALLING CODE

Indonesia: +62, Malaysia: +60, Brunei: +673

ELECTRICITY

Malaysia and Brunei: Type G (Irish/British 3-pin), Indonesia: Type C (European 2-pin), Type F (German 2-pin, side clip earth)

Learn more about Borneo

Best time to visit borneo.

Borneo's climate is typical for a tropical region - generally hot and humid all year-round.

Temperatures are usually in the low 70F ° s for most of the year, dropping back to the high 60F ° s at night.

Rainfall tends to be in short, heavy bursts followed by sunshine. The 'wet season' runs from November through to February but it does rain throughout the year, although our itineraries are rarely affected.

The state of Sabah is known as the 'land below the wind' as it's below the monsoon belt.

Culture and customs

The cultures across Borneo can vary depending on what border you’re closest to – divided into Malaysian, Indonesia and Brunei regions.

Borneo’s population is largely made up of Malay with the predominant religion being Muslim. The remainder of Borneo’s population is Chinese, Indian or belong to indigenous populations.

You may hear the word ‘Dayak’ used by locals as a general term referring to the riverine and hill-dwelling ethnic subgroups in Borneo.

Historically, most indigenous communities in regional areas lived in longhouses, though many have moved for employment in urban areas. That being said, there is still a substantial number of Dayak tribes that maintain a strong spiritual tie to the rainforest and have retained their customs and speak local dialects.

Food and drink

Rice (nasi) and noodles (mee) are dietary staples across the island and accompany most meals. You’ll find varieties of white, red and brown rice grown throughout Borneo – prepared by steaming, frying, boiling into a breakfast porridge, or cooking with coconut milk in a hollowed bamboo stick to make lemang. 

Must-try foods in Borneo 

1. Sarawak laksa

This Malaysian-influenced staple is a spicy broth filled with vermicelli noodles, bean sprouts, chicken slices, shrimp and coriander. 

Skewers of meat (usually beef or chicken) are grilled to perfection over charcoal. 

3. Roti canai

Fried roti bread that is crispy, fluffy and soft all at the same time. It might be served with savory or sweet fillings (from eggs and sardines to coconut jam and bananas), dipped into curry and lentil sauces, or enjoyed on its own. 

4. Bamboo chicken

Chicken marinated in chilies, lemongrass, garlic and ginger is stuffed into a bamboo stick with rice, sealed with turmeric leaves and cooked over an open flame until all the flavors merge together. 

Geography and environment

The South-East Asian island of Borneo sits just south of the South China Sea, with the Sulu Sea, Celebes Sea, Makassar Strait, Java Sea and Karimata Strait also surrounding the island.

Split up between three countries (Brunei, Indonesia , Malaysia ), the regions most visited by tourists (Sabah and Sarawak) belong to Malaysia.

Home to the oldest rainforest in the world, large cave and river systems and mountains, Borneo has an incredible range of biodiversity with hundreds of species of birds, bats, plants, flowers and insects living in this ecologically precious part of the world.

Sitting 4,095 m above sea level, Sabah's Mount Kinabalu is the third highest mountain in South-East Asia and a popular trekking spot for active travelers looking for a challenge.

History and government

Early history.

Early on, Borneo was used as a port for trade, with the Chinese and Indians stopping in on the coast as a part of their trade route from 500 to 1300 AD. The Portuguese, Spanish, Dutch and British were soon to follow. Because of this, Borneo now has a rich diversity of international influences to draw upon from these years of trade and interaction with other cultures.

With most of coastal Borneo falling under the rule of the Javanese Majapahit kingdom in the 14th century, the Sultanate of Brunei extended its rule in the north from the 15th to 17th century. By the 19th century, both the British and the Dutch had colonial interests in the area, with a dynasty led by James Brooke ruling Sarawak for many years. Brooke's interest in the area stemmed from his attempts at trade in the Far East and connections to the Sultanate of Brunei. Brooke's rule was fraught with controversy and battles with the Sea Dayak people, who interrupted trade and were labeled as pirates. James Brook was succeeded by his nephew, Charles, and then his son, Vyner, in this rule known as the 'White Rajahs' of Sarawak.

Recent history

Japan took control of Borneo during World War II, resulting in a high number of deaths for the local population. During the war, many British and Australian prisoners of war were sent to Borneo, with the most notorious spots being Sandakan where thousands of Allied soldiers perished due to disease, malnutrition and exhaustion.

By the conclusion of the war in 1945, Borneo was freed from the Japanese yet only two decades later, Borneo was the site of more conflict, this time between Indonesia and Malaysia. This conflict arose from the union of Sabah and Sarawak with Malaya in the Federation of Malaysia in 1963. More recently, the Sultanate of Brunei became an independent nation (in 1984).

Palm oil plantations have spread rapidly throughout Borneo in the last ten years, mainly due to the decline in the rubber industry. While these plantations have provided jobs and helped the economy in the short term, their proliferation has led to wide-scale deforestation, which surmounts to devastating habitat loss for many of Borneo's endangered species and displacement of indigenous people who rely on the forests and jungles to sustain their hunter-gatherer lifestyles.

Top 10 nature spots of Borneo

1. mount kinabalu.

Seeing sunrise from the top of Mount Kinabalu is a fine payoff for making it to the top. The climb, while strenuous, is filled with beautiful flora, interesting animals and beautiful vistas - making this majestic mountain a true natural highlight of Borneo.

2. Poring Hot Springs

Located within the Kinabalu National Park, these steaming hot pools of water provide a relaxing place to unwind after trekking Mount Kinabalu. Sliding into the open air baths is a therapeutic way to soothe your muscles - a nice outdoor reward for completing such a climb! 

3. Bako National Park

The oldest national park in Sarawak may be small, but with isolated beaches, jungles, waterfalls, rock formations and walking trails, visitors will be delighted in the perfect panoramas to photograph and range of wildlife viewing opportunities on offer.

4. Turtle Island

Lying just north of Sandakan, Turtle Island Park is a haven for endangered green and hawksbill turtles. Witnessing turtles landing onshore at dusk, or baby turtles hatching, is one of life's most unforgettable moments.

5. Kinabatangan

This district of Sabah is know for its incredible array of wildlife and diversity of habitat, with limestone caves, swamps, rivers, lakes, forests and mountains all contributing to the ecological diversity of the area. Home to such rare species as the Asian elephant, the proboscis monkey and the Sumatran rhinoceros, a visit to the jungle here will guarantee some wildlife viewing thrills.

Meeting the gentle orangutans of Sepilok is a must-do for visitors to Borneo. These orange-tinged creatures are captivating, entertaining and cheeky - and watching them play, eat and interact in the jungle of Sepilok is a privilege not to be missed.

7. Headhunters' Trail

Walking in the footsteps of one of the world's most mysterious, feared and intriguing people may not be for everyone, but walking along the famed Headhunter's Trail reveals a little bit of local history as well as many wondrous natural sights.

8. Mulu National Park

Visitors should overlook Mulu National Park at their own peril. Not visiting this World Heritage-listed area would mean missing out on canopy walks and treks that reveal exotic creatures, spectacular caves and stunning limestone karst formations.

9. Danum Valley

This area of pristine lowland rainforest is arguably one of Borneo's premier wildlife hot spots. Walk the trails and spot exotic birdlife, interesting plants, flying squirrels, vocal frogs and active gibbons.

10. Gaya Island

Get away from it all and revel in the seclusion of Gaya Island, located just off the coast of Kota Kinabalu. See tropical fish swimming through colorful reefs, learn to scuba dive, laze on the uncrowded beaches or grab a kayak and go exploring this slice of tropical beauty.

While Borneo's wild landscapes and beautiful beaches are definitely the true highlight of any visit, there are still treasures to found in Borneo's markets.

It's a good idea to check with your local customs officials to ensure that you are able to bring certain items back into your home country. Australia and New Zealand generally have strict quarantine laws.

Things to buy in Borneo

1. Ikat weaving 

​ This traditional weaving process results in colored, patterned textiles that can be used as clothing, wall hangings and home furnishings.

2. Wood carvings

Sarawak boasts a population of talented wood carvers -wooden bowls, charms, masks and figurines are all wonderful souvenir choices.

3. Ceramics 

Sarawak also has a wide range of good-quality ceramics and pottery thanks to the local populations of Chinese and Iban tribal potters, each group possessing their own distinctive style.

Festival and events in Borneo

Rainforest world music festival.

The diversity of world music is celebrated over three days each July in the heart of the Borneo jungle. Hoards of eager festival-goers flock to Kuching, Sarawak (in Malaysian Borneo) for daytime music workshops, cultural and craft displays and evening concerts by indigenous performers from all over the globe. And like every good festival, there are always plenty of food stalls serving up yummy Malaysian and Asian foods. 

Borneo International Kite Festival

Each September, the seaside town of Bintulu shows us how cool kites can be. Kites of all shapes, colors and sizes fill the sky for stunning displays and kite flying competitions. Come and watch the others show off their skills, participate in a kite-making workshop or take in the cultural performances.

Gawai Dayak (Harvest Festival)

More than just a celebration of the rice harvest, Gawai Dayak is an important symbol of unity for the Dayak and is celebrated with gusto in cities and rural villages across Sarawak. Many longhouses open their doors to visitors, where they are treated to traditional costumes, ritual music and lots of locally brewed rice wine (tuak) and Dayak foods. Head to the Sarawak Cultural Village in Kuching for the liveliest celebrations, where parades and other festivities begin a week before the main event on May 31.

Borneo Cultural Festival

Hear, see and taste the best of Malay, Chinese and Dayak culture at this annual July festival. Lively music, traditional dances and other cultural performances take place on multiple stages over 10 days in the city of Sibu in Sarawak (Malaysian Borneo). Expect Dayak drums, Malay songs, Chinese dragon dances and lots of mouth-watering cultural eats.

Further reading

Borneo travel faqs, do i need a covid-19 vaccine to join an intrepid trip.

Trips from 1 January 2023 onwards

From 1 January 2023, Intrepid will no longer require travelers to provide proof of vaccination against COVID-19 (excluding all Polar trips and select adventure cruises).

However, we continue to strongly recommend that all Intrepid travelers and leaders get vaccinated to protect themselves and others.

Specific proof of testing or vaccination may still be required by your destination or airline. Please ensure you check travel and entry requirements carefully.

Do I need a visa to visit Borneo?

Visas are your responsibility. Entry requirements can change anytime, so you must check for the latest information. Please visit the relevant consular website of the country or countries you visit for detailed and up-to-date visa information about your nationality. Check the Essential Trip Information section of the itinerary for more details.

Is tipping customary in Borneo?

Tipping isn’t customary in Borneo, but leaving a small token of appreciation is always welcome if you feel the service has been particularly good.

What is internet access like in Borneo?

Internet is easy to access in large cities and tourist areas, though it can be quite slow. Access is more limited in remote and rural areas.

Can I use my cell phone while in Borneo?

Cell phone coverage is good in major cities, but there is little to no coverage in the mountains and in remote areas. Ensure global roaming is activated with your service provider before leaving home.

What are the toilets like in Borneo?

Squat toilets are common in Borneo, though some hotels and tourist areas have Western-style, flushable toilets. Carrying your own toilet paper and hand sanitizer is a good idea, as these are not always provided.

What will it cost for a…?

The currencies of Borneo are the Indonesian rupiah, the Malaysian ringgit and the Brunei dollar in each of their respective countries. Below is how much everyday items will cost in USD for ease of comparison:

• Bottle of beer = USD 3
• Laksa from a food stall = USD 1-2
• Simple meal at a local restaurant = USD 5–12

Can I drink the tap water in Borneo?

Tap water is not considered safe to drink in Borneo. For environmental reasons, try to avoid buying bottled water. Instead, pack a reusable bottle that can be filled with filtered water. Your leader can tell you where to find filtered water or pack your own purification tablets.

Are credit cards widely accepted in Borneo?

Most places only accept cash, especially small businesses, though you might be able to use your credit card at larger hotels, shops and restaurants in tourist areas.

What is ATM access like in Borneo?

You’ll find ATMs in Borneo’s large cities and urban areas, though they are less easy to find in rural and remote parts.

What public holidays are celebrated in Borneo?

Since Indonesia, Malaysia and Brunei all have claim to Borneo, different parts of the island celebrate different public holidays. The ones listed here are celebrated in all three nations:

• 1 Jan: New Year’s Day
• 5 Feb: Chinese New Year
• 5 Jun: Eid al-Fitr
• 11 Aug: Eid al-Adha
• 31 Aug: Islamic New Year
• 9 Nov: Prophet Muhammad's Birthday
• 25 Dec: Christmas Day

Please note, there are more public holidays in Indonesia, Malaysia and Brunei.

Do I need any vaccinations before visiting Borneo?

No vaccines are required in order to enter Borneo but some are recommended for protection against disease. Always visit your doctor or travel clinic for up-to-date advice and make sure to schedule vaccinations 4-6 weeks before your departure date, as some require time to become effective.

Is Borneo a safe destination for LGBTQI-travelers?

Discretion is highly advised for LGBTQI-travelers in Borneo. Homosexuality is illegal in both Malaysia and Brunei, where it can be punished with long prison sentences or even death. While homosexuality is not illegal in Indonesia, few people are openly out. Regardless of which part of Borneo you are visiting, discretion is strongly suggested.

For more detailed and up-to-date advice, we recommend visiting  Equaldex  or  ILGA  before you travel.

Does my trip support the intrepid foundation.

Yes, all Intrepid trips support the Intrepid Foundation. Trips to this country directly support our global Intrepid Foundation partners, Eden Reforestation Projects and World Bicycle Relief. Intrepid will double the impact by dollar-matching all post-trip donations made to The Intrepid Foundation.

Eden Reforestation Projects

Eden Reforestation Projects are helping to mitigate climate change by restoring forests worldwide; they also hire locally and create job opportunities within vulnerable communities. Donations from our trips support restoration across planting sites in 10 countries around the globe. Find out more or make a donation World Bicycle Relief

World Bicycle Relief provides people in low-income communities with bicycles to mobilize school kids, health workers, and farmers in far-out areas – giving them access to vital education, healthcare, and income. Donations help provide Buffalo Bicycles – specifically designed to withstand the rugged terrain and harsh environment of rural regions – to those who need them most. Find out more or make a donation

Borneo Travel Agent

Why Borneo Travel has been around for decades….

We love Borneo but we are…..

…more than just a Borneo Travel agent.

Here at Borneo Travel we are proud of what we have achieved over the many years we have been in business.  We have been providing tours and exciting itineraries to our many travellers whilst still maintaining the expected excellent service, support and variety of choice you would expect.  We use the term ‘Borneo Travel Agent’ lightly as we are so much more than that.  We are on hand to give you support whenever you need it, but more so we pride ourselves on being able to deliver and arrange specific itineraries to your individual needs.

What Borneo Travel Offer

Our expert guides, true Borneans, are able to bring your their knowledge and experience that has been built over a life time and which just can’t be taught.   From trekking through the jungles to seeing the amazing wildlife, there is something for everyone to enjoy.

You will find many tour operators that offer Borneo travel ideas and services but we are truly focussed on what you want and how to make sure you get that perfect experience.   Our travellers have come back to us over and over again, able to rely upon our service and what we offer.

Borneo Travel Itineraries

We offer many different experiences, depending upon what you want to take away from your experience here in Borneo!  There is something for everyone, from meeting locals in villages to diving in the blue seas and experiencing just some of the amazing wildlife that Borneo has to offer.

Here are just a few of our many Borneo itineraries for you to think about:

Mountain Trekking

So don’t hesitate to get in contact with us today to find out more about your perfect Borneo travel itinerary.

• January 2020
• December 2019
• January 2019
• December 2018
• Borneo Travel News
• Bird Watching Borneo
• Borneo Holidays Travel Information
• Borneo Luxury Honeymoons
• Borneo Travel Gaim Heritage Route
• Borneo Travel Guide – for all travellers to Borneo
• Borneo Travel Home
• Borneo Travel Motorbike Tour Sabah
• Borneo Travel Tips
• Exclusive Borneo Travel Cycling Tours
• Generic Risk Assessment

Borneo Travel Lot 38, Block E, Jalan Damai Plaza 4, Luyang Commercial Centre, 88300 Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia. Office Telephone : +447866491496

We are Travel Trust Association member R6403 [TTA R6403]

Borneo Travel Agent

Thursday, september 3, 2015, borneo vacations, things to do part 1, borneo tours and travel planning for nature lovers, national parks.

Flora & Fauna

Wednesday, september 2, 2015, borneo vacations, borneo tourism, natural and modern tourism goldmine, insights for borneo adventure tours.

Borneo International

Review Highlights

“ Although I have communicated with different people, the one that stood out above the rest is Lingga . ” in 7 reviews

“ Very competitive prices, even cheaper than what I can find online (at least for tickets to SE Asia ). ” in 2 reviews

“ Kathryn saved my sanity with patient emails back and forth and my wallet is all the happier for it. ” in 2 reviews

Location & Hours

Suggest an edit

500 Sutter St

San Francisco, CA 94102

Mason St & Powell St

Union Square

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Ms. N. said "After reading Yelp reviews, we decided to give these guys a try. They truly delivered. Used the service from SFO to our hotel in Fisherman's Wharf. Rate was $85 due to our late hour arrival (normally it's $65) but this did include…" read more

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Kimberly B. said "Very convenient and got exactly what we wanted! We rented a 15-seater sprinter. It was in great condition. The rental, pickup, and drop off were all extremely easy. I thought the price for our one-day rental was extremely…" read more

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Amenities and More

About the business.

Business owner information

Business Owner

We specialize in travel to popular southeast asia destinations such as Bali, Jakarta, and the rest of Indonesia. We offer the cheapest prices (even compared online) and the highest quality customer service so you can relax while we do the hard work for you. …

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Overall rating

Jerry took a long time to help me figure out travel arrangement to see my parents in Asia during covid19 pandemic with so many countries on lock down mode. He is extremely helpful and knowledgeable without caring about if I am gonna use their service. Grateful for him sharing his time and knowledge. Definitely gonna use their service in the near future.

I have known about Borneo more than 10 years ago. Moved out of Bay Area in 2006 and then coming back again 2 years ago, I always remember this travel agent and the price still the most competitive one than others online. I had Lingga to help me last year, this time I have Jerry; Maybe it's their work culture, but both were VERY quick in responding to emails, which I finalized the transactions within 48 hours ! I think as long as you really specify (straight-forward) on what need, you get the responses you need

Lingga is the best. I was trying to book my travel through chase travel website, it was slow, gave me error messages, took forever to complete something simple. I called Lingga, and she made it easy. She found me the most affordable flights within the date range that I wanted. She handled the booking, book seats, and everything is done. I don't have to deal with the travel websites and their error messages and their slowness anymore.

Great customer service and an even better price for my roundtrip flight to Manila. I've tried other agencies in the past and it seemed like all they were doing was finding the same things I found online for flights (what's the point?). Borneo has done a great job with finding well-priced tickets and it's nice to know there's a reliable and local agency that can do that.

I have been purchasing my travel tickets from Borneo on and off for the past 10 years. I have been very very satisfied with everyone, they are so helpful, and they generally have the best price. Although I have communicated with different people, the one that stood out above the rest is Lingga. I hope I spelled her name correctly. She is the nicest, most helpful and super responsive person. I will continue my business with them forever. Thank you so much.

I never used a travel agent, but this time I really need it . I have difficult case , I need to buy a ticket for 3 different people, niece, mom and daughter, they are going back in the different time, my mom need to get accompany on the way here and on the way back , Jerri (the owner) is really helpful, they way he works unbelievable, ,he is working all day long even in the weekend too , even tough just for economy class tickets , he responded and answered questions very fast . If I can give more than 5 star , I will give it , Thank you

I just called in this morning and the lady that answered said "hello' which would be fine if this wasn't supposed to be a business. I had to ask if I had the right number. After I establised that I had called the right place, the boorish woman on the phone was SO unpleasant that I just said that I changed my mind and before I could finish, was hung up on. AWFUL AWFUL AWFUL.

Lingga is an angel! In trying to book a flight to Vietnam, she has been super helpful and responsive. I sent her a million emails as we were simultaneously searching and she was great about getting back to me right away. Their prices are competitive but in the end, I found a deal online that was $100 cheaper, and Lingga advised I go with them. I think they are very busy so their phone manners may be initially curt, but they are very polite and professional! I plan to continue using them for my hotel booking. Thank you Lingga!

I shot out an email to Borneo International over the weekend while they were closed asking to book a flight to Malaysia. Jery emailed me back today (Monday) within hours of opening and had a hold on a flight for me that was cheaper than what two other agencies quoted me. He also figured out the quickest route and the flight was cheaper than on Cathay. Awesome service and was easy corresponding through email. He was also available on the phone when I called with some questions (confusion on my part). Would definitely recommend, should have started my search here to save time!

Borneo Travel deserves 10 stars. I've been busy planning my honeymoon in Thailand and decided to seek the help of travel agents to get airfare. Just looking at what was available online I knew I could get a better deal with an agent. After speaking with 2 other top rated travel agencies in the Bay Area (3 including Borneo) it was obvious that Borneo was far superior. The other 2 agencies quoted me rates that were no better or more expensive than what was available online which was rather disappointing.The odd part was that they quoted me higher rates but with lesser carriers (China Air, etc.) while Borneo used Cathay Pacific. Luckily Borneo totally pulled in for me and were total rock stars. They helped me save about $150/person for my flight to Bangkok. That $300 savings is enough to cover for 5 nights of hotel on our honeymoon. :) More money for shopping at the weekent market! YAY! I'd definitely recommend them to anyone who is traveling to SE Asia.

9 other reviews that are not currently recommended

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Mary A. said "Outstanding service from this bus charter company! Above and beyond the call of need--- at 10 pm reassured a group of high school parents that their kids would be safely and professionally picked up and carried home at 4 AM ( 6…" read more

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