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Borneo is a diverse island with much to offer. There are incredible wildlife experiences, beautiful beaches, unique cultures to dive into, jungles to trek, mountains to climb, caves to explore, and a city or two that might be worth a wander. It’s best to look at the island as having a few distinct regions: Sarawak, Sabah, Brunei, and Indonesia. Indonesian Borneo doesn’t have the infrastructure that Malaysian Borneo and Brunei have so we’re focused on Sarawak, Sabah, and Brunei.

Sarawak is the western state of Malaysian Borneo. The city of Kuching is a great place to start your Borneo journey. With Malay, Chinese, British, and Indian influences, the city is a multicultural mix of architecture, religion, food, and language. As you venture out from the city, you can take in wildlife at Bako National Park and Semenggoh Nature Reserve or learn firsthand about traditional tribal life with the Iban or Bidayuh people. If Borneo conjures up images of headhunters and longhouses, Sarawak is the place to hear the legends and understand the history. At the eastern end of the state are the caves of Niah and Mulu. Evidence of human inhabitants at Niah goes back 40,000 years while Mulu is one of the largest cave systems in the world.

Sabah, referred to as the Land Below the Wind as it sits below a typhoon belt and enjoys a tropical climate year round, is the eastern state of Malaysian Borneo. Home to ancient rainforests, pristine jungle, wild orangutans, pygmy elephants, crocodiles, bearded pigs, barking deer, clouded leopards, a dizzying array of birds and flowers, some of the best diving in the world, and the tallest mountain in Southeast Asia, Sabah is an outdoor enthusiast’s dream. If a safari is what you seek in Borneo, Sabah offers you the option to get out on the water, walk through jungle trails, and hop in the back of an open-air 4WD binoculars and camera at the ready.

Brunei is an independent nation sitting between Sabah and Sarawak along the South China Sea. This small oil-rich country boasts the largest water village in Borneo with houses built on stilts above the Brunei River. Its jungle is well-preserved and the city’s lavish mosques are a sight to behold.

We want you to have your perfect holiday, not someone else’s. That’s why we tailor-make every holiday we sell. We’ve put together a number of sample itineraries to inspire you but the real fun begins when you get in touch. Give us a ring at UK 020 7112 0019 or email borneo@fleewinter.com so we can create your perfect holiday.

 

 

Kota Kinabalu
An easy city to see on foot, Kota Kinabalu is the gateway to Sabah. Hop a ferry to the islands, relax by the beach north of the city, tuck into a meal at the night market, and settle into the easy pace of Sabahan life. More
Tip of Borneo
Empty beaches, clear water, and fantastic villas perfect for those looking to get away from it all. The Tip of Borneo is a quiet place for a self-drive holiday from Kota Kinabalu. A longhouse homestay, traditional villages, and a jungle home to proboscis monkeys are easy day visits. Snorkel, dive, kayak, trek, bicycle, or simply sit by the water. More
Mount Kinabalu
The highest mountain in Southeast Asia offers more than an incredible hike. With multiple mountain environments and climate zones, Kinabalu Park hosts more than 300 bird species and 5,000 flowering plants including the large rafflesia. For those up for the challenge, climbing Mount Kinabalu is an unforgettable overnight hike to see the sunrise at 4,095 meters. More
Sipadan
Considered by many one of the top dive sites in the world, Sipadan Island has coral-covered walls dropping well below recreational limits. Sharks, turtles, and schools of fish that number in the thousands are routinely seen by divers and snorkelers. Only 120 visitors are allowed per day so we recommend staying on nearby Mabul and diving its macro-rich waters on your non-Sipadan days. More
Danum Valley
The largest piece of preserved virgin rainforest in Malaysia sits within the Danum Valley Conservation Area. This remote jungle hosts a magnificent array of wildlife from the largest in the region to some of the smallest. Sun bears, orangutans, clouded leopards, wild cattle, Sumatran rhino, horned frogs, flying frogs, flying squirrels, the list goes on. Previously only accessible to researchers, campers, and those with a very high budget, we've found a lodge that gets you close to the action without the hefty price tag. More
Tabin Wildlife Reserve
Bornean gibbons, pygmy elephants, clouded leopards, proboscis monkeys, orangutans, and a few of the nearly extinct Sumatran rhinoceros are protected within the Tabin Wildlife Reserve. A stay here will have you trekking to a mud volcano and a waterfall, looking for birds and nocturnal creatures on night walks and drives, and if you're lucky, getting a peek at some of Borneo's incredible wildlife. More
Kinabatangan River
A trip down the Kinabatangan River to Sukau is an almost guaranteed way to see proboscis monkeys in the wild. These unique monkeys are endemic to Borneo and line the protected river corridor. Wild orangutans, pygmy elephants, silver leaf langurs, macaques, crocodiles, kingfishers, hornbills, owls, civets, and an array of other wildlife can be spotted in the region. Fireflies light up near Abai and the Gomantong Caves boast a bat population in the millions. Nearby Sepilok is the home to an Orang Utan Rehabilitation Centre and Sun Bear Conservation Centre, both worth a visit. More
Brunei
The nation of Brunei Darussalam sits between the two states of Malaysian Borneo. Its capital city, Bandar Seri Begawan, reveals the country's wealth with lavish mosques, gold towers, and carefully groomed outdoor spaces. People are friendly and when the sun sets the country's name, abode of peace, makes perfect sense. More
Kuching
Built along the Sarawak River, Kuching makes a lovely base for exploring western Borneo. Architecturally interesting with Malay, Chinese, Indian, Muslim, British, and other influences apparent, the city is pleasant to walk around and easy to navigate. Nearby Bako National Park and Semenggoh Nature Reserve are great places to see wild proboscis monkeys and semi-wild orangutans. Each can be visited on a day trip from Kuching although spending a night in Bako is well worth it. More
Mulu National Park
The caves of Mulu are some of the largest in the world and the only ways to get there are on foot or by plane. This remote rainforest is full of walking trails and caves, the latter of which can only be visited with a guide for safety reasons. For the adventurous, serious trekking options exist and for the comfort-seekers, a lovely little resort sits just outside the National Park. More
Batang Ai
Traditional culture is alive and well in Batang Ai where the Iban people still live in communal longhouses. No longer feared headhunters, the Iban have incorporated touches of modernity into their traditional way of life. Trek through the park in search of wild orangutans, walk through the canopy looking for birds, sit down with an Iban chief to learn about their culture, or just look out over the many waters for which the region is named.
Caves of Niah
With evidence of human habitation dating back more than 40,000 years, the Niah caves are a fascinating and beautiful area that can be explored on a day visit from Miri. See etchings on the wall of Painted Cave, traditional ladders for those collecting the nests of swiftlets, and huge caverns as you walk the boards and visit the small museum.
Maliau Basin
The "lost world" of Sabah, the Maliau Basin is a naturally enclosed basin drained by tributaries of the Maliau River. A multi-day trek in this dense rainforest is a challenging and rewarding way to get up close and personal with an extremely wide array of plants and animals. More

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