The 16 things to do in Borneo

Want to discover the Salt Garden of Asia? Here are the 16 things to do in Borneo!

With an area of more than 743 000 km2, the island of Borneo — located in the large islands of the Sonde — is the 4th largest island in the world, after the Australia Greenland and New Guinea. Bordered by the China Sea, the Sulu Sea, the Celebs Sea, the Macassar Strait and the Java Sea, the Borneo Island is composed of an Indonesian part in the south, called Kalimantan, two Malaysian states in the north — Sarawak and Sabah — and the Sultanate of Brunei.

Thanks to a lush nature, composed mainly of mountains and dense tropical forests, the island of Borneo attracts millions of tourists each year, mainly between May and September. Whether you like to discover marine fauna and flora, whether you are mountain treks or wild-like lovers, you will be conquered by this island with exceptional biodiversity.

Are your suitcases ready? Take aboard your plane from now on, and discover the 16 essential things to do in Borneo.

1. Mount Kinabalu

Get him Mont Kinabalu is, no doubt, the essential activity to do in Borneo! Located on the malaysian part of the island, the mountain peaks more than 4,000 meters high. Come and admire the sunrise on the surrounding National Park. You will witness a breathtaking show!

During your ascent, you can discover many tropical plants and meet surprising animals. It should be noted that no mountaineering skills are necessary, only a good physical form and a guide are mandatory to try the adventure.

2. Bako National Park

Install yourself comfortably in one of the boats that goes every day in the Bako National Park and start an adventure you will remember for a long time. This is one of the most beautiful parks to visit in Borneo! Here coexist ecosystems and landscapes of a very wide variety.

Animals are everywhere and you can meet otters, squirrels, tropical insects and snakes on the beaches, in marshes, mangroves, meadows and forests of the park. But it is mainly to observe the long-tailed macaques, the silvered langurs and the nasical monkeys that we come in this little corner of paradise. A discovery not to be missed!

3. Sipadan

For seabed lovers, go to Sipadan . Located in the state of Sabah and bordered by the Celèbes Sea, the island is considered one of the best diving spots in the world. Guaranteed!

4. The Orang Outans Shrine of Sepilok

Are you wondering what to do in Borneo with your family? Come and discover in the Orang Outans Shrine of Sepilok , these incredible animals threatened by man.

Here, we treat them, protect them and gently re-inhabit them in the jungle. You will have the opportunity to observe them freely and admire, on the same occasion, the fauna and flora of the tropical forest of Borneo.

5. The Kinabatangan River

South of Sabah is the second longest river in Malaysia: Kinabatangan . About more 560 km , you will observe the lives of the inhabitants in the traditional villages.

On your way, you will cross many animals: nasical monkeys, crocodiles, snakes, martin-fisher, calaus and even some elephants, delecting from a mud bath. An unforgettable show!

6. Turtle Island

This is one of the essential activities to do in Borneo in the Family. L’ island with turtles is the ideal place to raise your children’s awareness of the preservation of sea turtles. On the coast of Sabah, Pulau Selingaan , Pulau Bakkungan Kecil and Pulau Gulisan are entirely reserved for turtles.

At sunset or just before the first lights of the day, watch the adults lay their eggs and babies try to reach the sea. A magical moment for the whole family! You can also go to the information centre to find out a little more about this endangered species.

7. Gunung Mulu National Park

In the Sarawak area, visit the limestone pinacles of the Gunung Mulu National Park and its huge caves, the paradise of the speleologists.

Go to the discovery Deer Cave one of the largest caves in the world or Clear Water Cave , the longest cave in South Asia. At nightfall, the birds of the caves flew by clouds to reach the surrounding forest in a dazzling spectacle.

8. Bandar Seri Begawan

Welcome to the capital of the Sultanate of Brunei! This town, of only 140,000 inhabitants, is best known for its mosques Omar Ali Saifuddin and Jame’-Asr-Hassanil-Bolki and their grand architecture.

You will enjoy a walk in the quiet streets of the city. You will follow the river to reach the city centre and enjoy some local specialities. This particular atmosphere makes Bandar Seri Begawan one of the must-see cities to visit in Borneo.

9. The steam train

This is an original way to visit the island of Borneo! Climb in the steam train North Borneo Railway and relive the adventure of the settlers, in a completely renovated train that has kept its charm from old. An activity that will delight the whole family.

10. The rafting

For the bravest and enthusiasts of water sports, the Sabah region has many rapids, perfect for practicing rafting, which has been one of the most important activities to be done in Borneo for several years.

11. Kuching

For a cultural holiday, take the direction of Kuching . The capital of the state of Sarawak, Malaysia, has nearly 330,000 inhabitants and has a particularly interesting heritage. The city is full of museums and has a varied and typical architecture of the region. A must-see in Borneo!

12. The cultural village of Sarawak

Only 45 minutes from Kuching, you will discover — in cultural village of Sarawak - traditional houses and indigenous culture. An exciting visit, adapted to the whole family.

13. Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park

Only 15 minutes away from Kota Kinabalu, is the Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park — of exceptional beauty — which extends over nearly 5,000 hectares.

Don’t forget your towel, sun cream, mask and tuba! Enjoy a relaxing afternoon, on the sandy beaches, or go to the discovery of the seabed.

14. Gunung Palung National Park

In the Indonesian part of the island, the Gunung Palung houses close to 2000 orangs-outans and many other animals, in beautiful natural and varied landscapes.

15. The village on Kampung Ayer

The historic heart of the Sultanate of Brunei is undoubtedly part of the must-see in Borneo. 4000 houses are fully built on the water. To Kampung Ayer , the life of the inhabitants is almost entirely around the river Brunei and nothing seems to come to disturb the daily life.

16. The floating market of Banjarmasin

Welcome to the capital of South Kalimantan province. The city, located below the water level, is fully built on pilots. Rise to the aurora, to go to the immense Banjarmasin floating market .

Women sitting in small boats, wearing beautiful traditional hats, sell and buy fruit, vegetables and fish.

Also to be done in Borneo

• Trek on Mount Meratus
• Dive into the Derawan Archipelago
• Go to the discovery of the Wehea virgin forest
• Visit the city Samarinda and its mosque
• Browse the city Balikpapan
• Discover the Ulu Temburong National Park

How to get to Borneo Island?

To reach the island of Borneo, 2 international airports malaysians are at your disposal:

• Kuching International Airportin the state of Sarawak
• Kota Kinabalu International Airportin the State of Sabah

Kota Kinabalu Airport offers more connections, especially with Hong Kong , Manila , Jakarta , Singapore and Bangkok .

From Paris

Many companies offer flights to Kota Kinabalu — with stopover only — from the start Paris . Count to a minimum 19 heures flight — including stopover — and at least 800€ for an economic class ticket. As always with the aircraft, to get the best rates, think about booking your tickets at least 2 months in advance and using a flight comparison as Ulysses .

From the airport to the city centre

Once at the airport you can reach the city centre, usually thanks to taxis. L’ Kuching airport , located at 15 km from the centre, you can get prepaid taxis available at the exit. You can buy a coupon at the taxi counter for about 8€ .

Getting around in Borneo

Once on site, you can move to the island in different ways:

By bus

• Long distance bus

Long-distance bus lines allow you to connect different major cities of the province. Stations are usually located on the outskirts and accessible via urban buses if necessary. Departures are about every hour, 24 hours a day.

Count about 0.22€/km , but keep in mind that prices may vary by distance.

• Urban buses

Urban buses serve the agglomeration but are not always punctual. Think about it before you borrow it. Count 0,50€ to 1,30€ By Train

2 train lines are available from Sabah :

• North Borneo Highway

This steam tourist line connects Kota Kinabalu to Papar in an atmosphere of "antan". It makes 2 weekly departures on Wednesday and Saturday. The journey lasts 4 hours and you can see beautiful lush landscapes.

Count about 77,34€ by adults (over 4 years).

• Sabah State Railway

The Sabah State Railway offers 2 liaisons a day between Kinabalu and Tenom.

By boat

Speedboats provide several connections:

• Kuching-Sibu1 times a day
• Sibu-Kapit4 times a day
• Kapit-Belaga1 times a day

Taxi

You can choose to move by taxi. If they are deemed to be cheap and fairly honest, think about setting the price before boarding, because drivers do not use counters.

By car

If you are not afraid to drive abroad, you can opt for car rental. Prices are rather affordable: expect about 21€ a day.

Where to stay in Borneo?

You will find accommodation, regardless of your budget, in all major cities on the island of Borneo. For small budgets, prefer Kuching , which offers many guesthouses , cheap hotels and boutique-hotels. In the Historic Centre Sabah, affordable accommodation is available. For the best hotels, prefer the district Bandaran Berjaya . International luxury chains are on the edge of beaches.

All major tourist sites and the malaysian islands have housing suitable for all portfolios. During your visits to natural parks, the accommodations offered — mainly campsites — will often be of poorer quality. You will find, however, more modern and luxurious bungalows.

If you want to stay in the classic hotel room, don’t hesitate to use a Compare hotels to find the one that suits you best. And above all, to get the most interesting rates, be sure to book your accommodation in advance.