Holiday in Borneo
Island in Malaysia — tips, highlights & best time to visit 🇲🇾
Country
Malaysia
Type
Island
Best time to travel
March to October — the driest, especially Sabah. Rainy season (Nov-Feb) with heavy showers, but also possible. Kinabalu can be climbed year-round.
Budget/day
Getting there from Germany
Flight to Kuala Lumpur (11-12 hours), domestic flight to Kota Kinabalu (Sabah) or Kuching (Sarawak) (2.5 hours).
About Borneo
Borneo is the third largest island in the world and one of the last great wilderness areas on our planet. The Malaysian part (Sabah and Sarawak) offers a unique mix of ancient rainforest, exotic wildlife, and cultural diversity that attracts nature lovers from all over the world. The rainforest of Borneo is 130 million years old — older than the Amazon — and is home to an astonishing biodiversity. Orangutans swing through the treetops, proboscis monkeys display their quirky noses, pygmy elephants roam the jungle, and the Rafflesia, the largest flower in the world, blooms for only a few days each year. Borneo is one of the few places where you can observe wild orangutans in their natural habitat. The Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre in Sabah is the most famous destination. Here, orphaned orangutans are raised and prepared for their release into the wild. The feeding platforms allow encounters with the gentle great apes up close — an experience that deeply touches the heart. Mount Kinabalu, at 4,095 meters, is the highest mountain in Southeast Asia and is both a challenge and a reward. The 2-day ascent takes you through various vegetation zones from tropical rainforest to cloud forest to the barren summit zone. The sunrise from the summit, over a sea of clouds with the silhouette of the surrounding islands, is a life-changing experience. The coast of Sabah offers world-class diving. Sipadan, a small island off the east coast, is regularly listed as one of the top 5 dive sites in the world. Turtles, barracuda tornadoes, reef sharks, and an underwater cliff that drops 600 meters deep make every dive an adventure. The Danum Valley Conservation Area offers authentic jungle experiences in one of the last untouched lowland rainforests in the world.
Top 5 highlights in Borneo
The places you absolutely must not miss.
Orangutans in Sepilok
Experience orphaned orangutans up close at the famous rehabilitation center in Sabah
Mount Kinabalu
4,095 m — highest mountain in Southeast Asia. 2-day ascent with sunrise above the clouds
Diving in Sipadan
Top-5 dive spot in the world: turtles, barracuda schools, and 600m cliff
Kinabatangan River
Boat ride through the rainforest with proboscis monkeys, crocodiles, hornbills, and pygmy elephants
Danum Valley
Primary lowland rainforest — jungle hikes on canopy walks and night tours
Hotels in Borneo
Vergleiche tausende Hotels, Apartments und Resorts auf Expedia – mit Bestpreis-Garantie, kostenloser Stornierung und Bonuspunkten.
* Weiterleitung zu Expedia.de. Es gelten die dortigen Nutzungsbedingungen.
Reise-SIM für Borneo
Günstig surfen im Urlaub mit travSIM
Pauschalreisen & Rundreisen
Berge & Meer – 170 Tage Cookie
Best time to travel for Borneo
Recommended travel time
March to October — the driest, especially Sabah. Rainy season (Nov-Feb) with heavy showers, but also possible. Kinabalu can be climbed year-round.
Summer
28-33°C, humid, afternoon thunderstorms
Winter
26-32°C, rainy season (Nov-Feb), heavier rainfall
How much does a holiday in Borneo cost?
Average costs per person per day
Budget
30-50€ (hostel, hawker stalls, local tours)
Hostel, Street food, Public transport
Mid-range
Hotel, Restaurant, Excursions
Luxury
200-600€ (Borneo Rainforest Lodge, Sipadan diving, Kinabalu with guide)
Boutique hotel, Fine dining
Book a package holiday to Borneo
Compare thousands of package holidays to Borneo and find the best deals with flight & hotel.
Compare package holidays now4 travel tips for Borneo
Insider knowledge that makes your holiday better.
Sipadan permit: Only 120 divers/day are allowed to Sipadan — permits are booked months in advance. Book 3-6 months ahead with a dive shop in Mabul.
Kinabalu permit: Kinabalu also has limited spots. Book through Sutera Sanctuary Lodges, including guide and mountain hut.
Leech socks: Leeches are ubiquitous in the rainforest. Buy leech socks in Kota Kinabalu!
Kinabatangan by boat: The river lodges on the Kinabatangan offer morning and evening boat trips — the best wildlife experience outside of Danum Valley.
Food & drink in Borneo
These specialties you must try!
