Borneo travel guide
Despite having opened up greatly to visitors in the past few decades, Borneo remains a road less travelled, where new species continue to be discovered each month.
Sadly, it has also lured poachers, loggers, miners and farmers – who between them demolished over 50 percent of Indonesian Borneo’s rainforests in just 15 years, and whose presence threatens the existence of creatures such as the orangutan, as well as ways of life that have persisted for centuries.
A world of carnivorous plants, pendulously-nosed monkeys, and mud-spewing volcanoes, Borneo has enticed travelers, biologists and photographers for decades.![]()
The Malaysian states of Sabah and Sarawak are now well equipped for visitors, boasting wildlife sanctuaries, world-class dive resorts and mountain treks. But to get truly lost in this remote island, it’s worth heading into Indonesian Kalimantan, whose jungles must be navigated by river. Its landscapes and people remain largely unchanged by tourism, and as the home of most of the island’s remaining orangutans, responsible Borneo vacations here could play an essential part in securing their future.
A Borneo vacation is...
“one great luxuriant hothouse made by nature herself,” according to Charles Darwin.
A Borneo vacation isn't...
a trip to one country. It's a huge island, containing bits of Malaysia, Indonesia and all of Brunei.
What we rate & what we don't
Underrated
Indonesian Borneo
There are many reasons why Kalimantan is less visited on Borneo vacations: there are no international flights, infrastructure is more basic, English is less widely spoken... but mainly it’s simply because people don’t know enough about it. The food is superb, the people welcoming, there are far more orangutans than in Malaysia and you’ll get a true sense of having left the beaten track far behind.
Cycling
You may not automatically put Borneo and cycling together, but it’s a popular leisure activity among local people here and Borneo makes a great destination for a vacation on two wheels. Sarawak is particularly well set up for cyclists, with biking infrastructure in place and experienced guides, so you can pedal around its capital Kuching then on through mountain trails, national parks and small villages.
Longhouse homestays
Borneo has luxurious lodges, remote resorts and hip hotels, and it’s easy to wonder why you would want to trade this in for a rustic longhouse homestay, sharing with a dozen local families. But Borneo’s culture is seductive, and the warm welcome, traditional dances, home cooked food and cheeky glass or three of rice wine are sure to change your mind – and make you realise that richness is relative.
Traditional skills
Borneo’s tribes may no longer be the headhunters of the past – but they still have many unique skills which risk being lost as they migrate to the cities. Creating batik textiles; weaving intricate bead jewellery, rattan baskets and mats; hunting with a blowpipe; and cooking with the island’s unique ingredients are some of the unusual skills you can learn during a cultural Borneo vacation.
Rated
Weird wildlife
Borneo’s exotic creatures are hyped by all... but they don’t disappoint. Long-limbed orangutans are the huge draw, but proboscis monkeys – only found here – are perpetual crowd pleasers, and the chance of spotting the more elusive clouded leopards, tiny tarsiers, slow lorises, sun bears and pygmy elephants keep wildlife fans on their toes.
Cultural pick‘n’mix
Home to sea gypsies, longhouse-dwelling communities and former head hunters, a Borneo vacation has everything a cultural traveler could ask for. There’s plenty of chance to get stuck in, with floating markets, living museums and blowpipe demonstrations, but don’t overlook the modern cities, with Chinese, Indian, Malay, Indonesian and Filipino fusions, temples, music festivals and ethnology museums.
Creative cuisine
If you’re a fan of Malay, Chinese, Indian, Filipino or Indonesian food, you’ll find something to savour in Borneo. The coastline and rivers produce abundant fish, which is just as tasty from a streetside stall as it is in a high-end restaurant, flavoured with coconut milk, spices, chilli and lemongrass. Superbly prepared tandoori and dim sum can be found here, and vegetarians won’t go hungry either.
Island life
Borneo’s many little islands each have their own speciality – from castaway-style desert islets to tranquil, luxury resorts; sanctuaries for marine and forest wildlife and reef-ringed diving Meccas. Even those who normally avoid lounging on the sand will appreciate a rest after a long-haul flight – or after an epic vacation climbing mountains and trudging through leech-filled swamps – and there’s an island for all tastes.
Overrated
Modern waterfronts
The glitzy, redeveloped waterfronts of Kuching and Kota Kinabalu are a glass façade of luxury hotels, shopping malls and 'lifestyle centers', designed to hurl these cities into the 21st century. Visit Kuching’s 900m-long esplanade for the fountains, restored Chinese pagoda and views of local boats – but avoid the restaurants at both waterfronts: the 'designer' restaurant bill will quickly take the shine off.
Cuddling orangutans
As people seek “meaningful” Borneo vacations, and “giving back” becomes a buzzword, volunteering with endangered wildlife seems to tick many boxes. But thanks to the risk of transmitting diseases and habituation to humans, you should never touch an orangutan, and any organisation promoting this has their own interests at heart, not the wildlife. Stick to construction and reforestation work – it’s better for everyone.
Cute, exotic pets
Videos of a slow loris being tickled have catapulted it into the YouTube hall of fame – but its cuteness could cause its own demise. Slow lorises, along with baby orangutans and sun bear cubs are all in demand as illegal pets, with poaching on the increase. If they don’t die during capture or transportation, they are doomed to a miserable life in tiny enclosures – with teeth or claws removed.
“Helpful” donations
When visiting a local community, bringing a gift is a nice gesture in any culture. However, what is helpful and appropriate is not so easy to guess. Sweets are unhealthy, alcohol is often frowned upon in Islamic regions, and pens and books can be useless. So check with your guide – the results may be unexpected, with suggestions ranging from blocks of salt to stinky fish paste.
Borneo orangutan vacation
Trekking, wildlife and beach adventure vacation to Borneo
From
US $3675
13 days
ex flights
Borneo tour, Great Apes and Beach escapes
Explore bustling cities, lush jungles and paradise beaches.
From
£1845
9 days
ex flights
Borneo tailor made vacations, wildlife & beaches
A luxury tour of the best wildlife & beaches of Sabah
From
US $3735
14 days
ex flights
Luxury beach vacation in Borneo & Orangutans
Relaxation in one of nature's most picturesque settings
From
£3150
13 days
inc UK flights
West Malaysia and Borneo small group tour
Heritage sites of the Malay Peninsula & Borneo's jungles
From
US $3300 to US $3350
16 days
ex flights
Borneo 8 day tour, the wild heart of Borneo
A unique experience in the untouched, beautiful Sarawak.
From
£998
8 days
ex flights
Travel Team
If you'd like to chat about Borneo or need help finding a vacation to suit you we're very happy to help.
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Food, shopping & people
Eating & drinking in Borneo
Sabah’s Kadazan people flavour their food with a slightly sour, wild mango called Bambangan. It’s also pickled and served as an accompaniment. They also have their own fragrant version of sushi, made with raw mackerel, ginger, shallots, chilli and lime.Sarawak’s Iban tribe eat Manok Pansoh: chicken, mushrooms and lemongrass stuffed into bamboo tubes and cooked over an open fire.
Popular with indigenous tribes but less so with tourists is the spongy center of the sago palm. It’s chewy, gooey and rather tasteless.
Estimated to be around 130 million years old, Borneo’s rainforest is the most ancient on earth.![]()
People & language
Borneo’s native people are the Dayak – an all-encompassing term referring to 20 million people made up of over 200 tribes found mainly in the interior. The island’s Chinese, Indian and Filipino immigrants also have a huge cultural and culinary influence, as well as the Malaysian, Indonesian and Bruneian people.
Sabah's boat-dwelling Bajau traditionally never set foot on land.
Ancestors of the Barito may have been some of the first colonisers of Madagascar, over 1,000 years ago.
Sabah's boat-dwelling Bajau traditionally never set foot on land.
Ancestors of the Barito may have been some of the first colonisers of Madagascar, over 1,000 years ago.
Gifts & shopping
Exquisite Batik fabric originated from Indonesia – batik of varying colours, origins and qualities can be found across Borneo. Traditional colours include dark brown and indigo; the priciest cloth may take months to create.Handwoven silk shawls are a gorgeous, luxury souvenir from your Borneo vacation. Some stores have in-house workshops where you can see your items being skillfully created.
Sarawak Craft Council is a non-profit shop in Kuching selling a selection of crafts from many ethnic groups.
Do not buy items made from tortoiseshell, coral, feathers or any other endangered species.
Borneo is the world’s third largest island – after Greenland and New Guinea.![]()
How much does it cost?
Bowl of noodles in a Malaysian market: 90p
Meal in an Indonesian restaurant: £5.20
Bus from Sandakan to Sepilok: 75p each way
Adopting an orangutan for a year: from £30
Meal in an Indonesian restaurant: £5.20
Bus from Sandakan to Sepilok: 75p each way
Adopting an orangutan for a year: from £30
A brief history of Borneo
Borneo’s location at the maritime crossroads of Indonesia, China, Malaysia, India and the Philippines ensured that it was a vital trading post, centuries before the first waves of European sailors stumbled across this vast island, which has never been united under a single government. The Portuguese, Spanish, British and Dutch traded with and divided up the island between them – with Sabah becoming British North Borneo, and the Dutch having control over Kalimantan from the 19th century. Read more
More Borneo articles
As our month by month guide reveals, there are a number of things to take into consideration when deciding when to go.
Explore Malaysian provinces of Sabah and Sarawak, Indonesian Kalimantan and the Kingdom of Brunei.
Mountain ranges, rainforests, marine national parks and a vast cultural heritage.
It is one state among many in Borneo, but it is one where the stories just keep coming.
Kalimantan is most famous for its rainforests and resident orangutans.
With so many rainforests, mangroves and mountains, there are primates and predators, elephants and birds everywhere.
You don't need to be hardened adventurers to enjoy a family vacation in Borneo.
First time travelers to Borneo might find themselves overwhelmed with options.
Here's our travel advice – for fans of turtles, volunteers and those who want to get further off the beaten track...
Read more about responsible tourism to find out how to make the most of your vacation.
Find all our Borneo guides in one place, from volunteering to luxury vacations and travel guides on Sabah and Sarawak.
