Borneo Travel Guide

Highlights

If this is your first Borneo travel experience, there are some iconic destinations located throughout the country that are simply must-sees for first-time travelers to Borneo, including wildlife sanctuaries and the Danum Valley.

DANUM VALLEY

The Danum Valley Field Center sits beside the Segama River and provides facilities for education, research and wilderness recreation in a wonderfully secluded setting more than 12 miles from any other habitation.

Founded by the Sabah Foundation and the Royal Society along with a number of private companies, the center is focused on the study of forest regeneration.

Almost all of Borneo's mammals can be found here, 110 distinct species in all, along with 275 species of birds. Visitors can make use of more than 100 miles of walking trails that meander through the valley's secondary rainforest.

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SEPILOK ORANGUTAN REHABILITATION CENTRE

Founded in 1964, the Sepilok Rehabilitation Centre was created in order to protect orangutans that had been kept in captivity or made homeless due to logging activity.

The apes that are brought here are rehabilitated to forest life, and there are two daily feeding times for them.

Over the years, the center has handled about 80 orangutans and now encompasses 15 square miles. In addition to the orangutans, visitors can see Sumatran rhinos and walk on trails through the rainforest for a close-up look at a diverse world of trees, climbing plants, birds and insects.

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KINABATANGAN WILDLIFE SANCTUARY

The largest river in the state of Sabah, the Kinabatangan, accesses some of the world's best wildlife viewing, despite the logging that has occurred along the upper reaches of the river.

The mangrove forests next to the river are home to the proboscis monkey and Sumatran rhinoceros.

Other wildlife that can be found in the area include the long-tailed macaque, gibbon, leaf monkey, sambar deer, bearded pig, hairy-nosed otter, crocodiles, tarsier, slow loris and a wealth of bird life. Take a jungle river cruise for a close-up look at these fantastic creatures.

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Adventures

Have more time, second trip to Borneo, or looking for something specific? Here are some additional highlights when creating your custom Borneo travel plan.

TURTLE ISLAND NATIONAL PARK

Comprised of three tropical islands, Pulau Selingan, Pulau Bakungan Kecil and Pulau Gulisan, Turtle Island National Park provides year-round opportunities to see marine turtles come ashore to lay their eggs.

The main season for green turtles is July to October, while hawksbill turtles appear from February to April. Permanent staff is stationed on all three islands for research purposes as well as to protect the turtles. The beautiful white-sand beaches and crystal-clear water also make the park an ideal place to relax and unwind.

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GUNUNG MULU NATIONAL PARK

Gunung Mulu, a UNESCO World Heritage site, is studded with soaring limestone pinnacles. This other-worldly terrain is home to thousands of species of flowering plants, fungi, mosses and ferns, as well as the world's largest cave chamber.

Keep an eye out for some of the 281 species of butterflies to be found here. Explore this tropical wonderland on a jungle trek, summit Gunung Mulu or go on a kayaking trip.

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KUCHING

One of the most attractive cities in Southeast Asia, Kuching has very little traffic or pollution and plenty of attractions. Visit Kuching's top-quality museums, explore the futuristic Civic Centre (which houses a planetarium), and take in the delightful cat statues, a visual reminder of the fact that Kuching means "cat" in Malay.

Visit nearby Bako or Kubah National Park for the chance to view exotic wildlife such as the rare and protected hornbill and proboscis monkey.

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KOTA KINABALU

The capital of Sabah was destroyed during WWII and has since been rebuilt into a bustling city. Known as "KK," it is the gateway to the natural wonders of the area such as Mt. Kinabalu and the Tambunan Rafflesia Reserve, where the largest flower in the world can be found.

Visit the Sabah Museum for its collection of tribal artifacts and the State Mosque to get a glimpse of modern Islamic architecture.

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MT. KINABALU NATIONAL PARK

Mt. Kinabalu towers over the landscape at 13,428 feet and is generally a two-day hike from park headquarters. Many people opt to spend the night at a mountain hut or guesthouse and wake up early for a sunrise view from the summit (you can see the Philippines).

There are plenty of well-marked trails to explore at park headquarters as well. After the long journey, visit Poring Hot Springs for a chance to soothe tired muscles in one of the many pools that sit in the lovely garden. Poring itself is a colorful town in a lovely setting.

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Malaysia Borneo

Highlights

DANUM VALLEY

SEPILOK ORANGUTAN REHABILITATION CENTRE

KINABATANGAN WILDLIFE SANCTUARY

Adventures

TURTLE ISLAND NATIONAL PARK

GUNUNG MULU NATIONAL PARK

KUCHING

KOTA KINABALU

MT. KINABALU NATIONAL PARK

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