Our Borneo vacations
Borneo remains a road less travelled, but Sarawak and Sabah are well set up for adventurous visitors, including families, while Indonesian Kalimantan is still less explored. Whether you travel on a budget or with a little more luxury, Borneo vacations invariably have one thing in common... and it’s orange. Some of the world’s last remaining orangutans survive here, and many travelers volunteer with wildlife conservation projects, helping with food prep and habitat restoration. Whatever you end up doing, our Borneo vacations see you exploring the island’s diverse culture, staying in locally run accommodations, visiting Iban villages and using guides drawn from local communities.
Our top Borneo vacations
Borneo orangutan vacation
From
US $3675
13 days
ex flights
Trekking, wildlife and beach adventure vacation to Borneo
Tailor made
Borneo tour, Great Apes and Beach escapes
From
£1845
9 days
ex flights
Explore bustling cities, lush jungles and paradise beaches.
Tailor made
Borneo tailor made vacations, wildlife & beaches
From
US $3735
14 days
ex flights
A luxury tour of the best wildlife & beaches of Sabah
Tailor made
Borneo family vacation to see Orangutans
From
US $1680 to US $1960
9 days
ex flights
Come face to face with orangutans
Small group2024: 24 Mar, 26 Mar, 28 Mar, 30 Mar, 1 Apr, 3 Apr, 5 Apr, 7 Apr, 9 Apr, 11 Apr, 13 Apr, 15 Apr, 21 Jun, 23 Jun, 25 Jun, 27 Jun, 29 Jun, 1 Jul, 3 Jul, 5 Jul, 7 Jul, 9 Jul, 11 Jul, 13 Jul, 15 Jul, 17 Jul, 19 Jul, 25 Jul, 28 Jul, 31 Jul, 3 Aug, 5 Aug, 7 Aug, 10 Aug, 13 Aug, 16 Aug, 19 Aug, 19 Sep, 21 Sep, 23 Sep, 25 Sep, 27 Sep, 29 Sep, 1 Oct, 3 Oct, 18 Dec, 23 Dec, 26 Dec, 29 Dec
Luxury beach vacation in Borneo & Orangutans
From
£3150
13 days
inc UK flights
Relaxation in one of nature's most picturesque settings
Tailor made
Sarawak family vacation
From
£995
9 days
ex flights
An action-packed vacation got the whole family to enjoy!
Tailor made
Sarawak wildlife & beach vacation
From
US $1985 to US $2145
10 days
ex flights
Encounter orangutans and hike through virgin rainforest
Small group2024: 29 Feb, 14 Mar, 21 Mar, 28 Mar, 4 Apr, 18 Apr, 25 Apr, 2 May, 16 May, 30 May, 6 Jun, 13 Jun, 20 Jun, 27 Jun, 4 Jul, 7 Jul, 11 Jul, 18 Jul, 25 Jul, 1 Aug, 15 Aug, 22 Aug, 29 Aug, 5 Sep, 12 Sep, 19 Sep, 10 Oct, 17 Oct, 31 Oct, 14 Nov, 28 Nov
Orangutan photography in Borneo
From
£2375 to £2565
10 days
ex flights
Develop your photography skills in Borneo
Small group2024: 22 Oct, 7 Nov
Borneo Mount Kinabalu Climb Vacation
From
US $2960
13 days
ex flights
Adventure vacation to see wildlife and climb Mt Kinabalu
Tailor made
About our Borneo vacations
Where to go on vacation in Borneo
Most travelers make a beeline straight for Malaysian Borneo. Orangutans live in the northern jungles of Sabah, where you can spend your pennies on sanctuaries instead of the palm oil industry levelling their rainforest. Mount Kinabalu is a peak for serious hikers; wanderers can follow the pristine nature trails at its foot. Sarawak, the largest state in Borneo, rolls together some of the world’s most diverse and ancient rainforests in its 30 national parks. Kalimantan sits over the border in Indonesian Borneo. Despite taking up most of the island, its longboat markets, jungle treks and orangutan sanctuaries haven’t yet hit the well-trod tourist trail.
Track orangutans in Borneo
Orangutans are native to just two places in the world – and one of them is Borneo. The biggest sanctuary is Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre, although it often has the visitor numbers to match. You can also see Matang Wildlife Centre or Nyaru Menteng as a volunteer or visitor. It’s a lucky traveler who gets to see orangutans in the wild in Borneo. Your best chance is to travel with a local guide who knows the orangutans’ haunts – and who’ll encourage you to widen your focus to the pygmy elephants, sun bears and monkeys that share the forest. Read more about orangutan watching vacations.
Culture on a Borneo vacation
Borneo’s cities offer a snapshot of the many cultures that have wound up on the island. Explore the spice markets and snack stalls on a food tour in Kuching, where Malay, Indonesian, Chinese and Indian dishes are scratched onto whiteboards. Kota Kinabalu (or KK), the capital of Sabah, is a jumble of museums, Filipino markets and British colonial architecture. To really get to know the people who live in Borneo, stay in a floating wooden klotok in Kalimantan or a longhouse with the Iban in Sarawak. They’re usually homestays run by hosts who’ll take you to the market and show you how to cook using bamboo.
Traveling to Borneo with children
A family vacation to Borneo is smooth sailing – especially if you head for Sabah, in Malaysian Borneo, with its kid-friendly hotels and reliable infrastructure. Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre is your chance for near-guaranteed orangutan sightings, especially at feeding time. English is also spoken more widely in Sabah, making everything that little bit more accessible. Sarawak, meanwhile, is an adventure for older children happy to tackle more challenging jungle hikes and sleep in no-frills accommodation. Either way, you’ll need to be a family with an adventurous spirit – and a rucksack full of insect repellent.
Types of tours & vacations in Borneo
Despite its struggles with uncontrolled deforestation, Borneo remains a pocket of incredible biodiversity. Wildlife vacations headed up by incomparable guides show you how to look for the orangutans, proboscis monkeys, pangolins, sun bears and clouded leopards that live within the jungle. Borneo is vast and its activities are many, so most travelers opt for a tailor made vacation designed by experts who factor in your individual needs. Small group vacations are great if you'd like to explore with a group (often no bigger than 12) of fellow adventurers; especially tempting if you're going solo.
Read our top Borneo travel guides
We dig deeper into the whats, wheres and hows of seeing Borneo’s old man of the forest in our orangutan watching guide. Discover why Sabah is one of the best places in the world to see primates, and learn about its mountain treks and top-notch scuba diving. We explore more family-friendly routes in our Sarawak guide – an introduction to Malaysia’s biggest state. Meanwhile, our Borneo volunteering guide is for travelers who’d like to use their time to support the wildlife sanctuaries that splatter the island.
[Track orangutans : Jorge Franganillo]
[Culture in Borneo : sunriseOdyssey]
[Traveling to Borneo with kids : wugolicious]
[Types of vacations : VanZonneveld]
[Where to go : CEphoto, Uwe Aranas]
