Borneo Island Travel Guide: Sabah, Sarawak, Orangutans and the Best Wildlife Journeys (2026)

Borneo Island is the third-largest island in the world, shared by three countries, and home to one of the oldest rainforests on Earth. It is where you can watch wild orangutans swing through the canopy, cruise past proboscis monkeys on a jungle river, walk through some of the world’s largest caves and climb the highest peak between the Himalayas and New Guinea. Here is how the island works and how to travel it well.

Which countries share Borneo?

• Malaysia holds the north: the states of Sabah and Sarawak, where most visitors travel.
• Indonesia covers the largest part, known as Kalimantan, with remote national parks.
• Brunei, the tiny oil-rich sultanate, sits on the northwest coast between the two Malaysian states.

For a first trip, Malaysian Borneo (Sabah and Sarawak) offers the best infrastructure, lodges and wildlife access.

The highlights of Sabah

Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre

Orphaned and rescued orangutans are prepared for life in the wild, and visitors can watch them at feeding time from raised platforms. Next door is the Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre.

Kinabatangan River

The best place in Borneo for wildlife on the water. Early-morning and late-afternoon boat trips from lodges near Sukau reveal proboscis monkeys, pygmy elephants, hornbills and, with luck, orangutans in the riverside trees.

Danum Valley and Tabin

Protected primary rainforest reserves with guided night walks, canopy walkways and a chance at clouded leopards and other rare wildlife.

Mount Kinabalu

At 4,095 meters, Southeast Asia’s highest peak is a UNESCO World Heritage site. The summit climb is a two-day trek and requires permits booked well in advance; the surrounding park has lovely, easier trails.

Islands and diving

Sipadan and Mabul off the southeast coast are among the world’s best dive sites, and the Tunku Abdul Rahman islands near Kota Kinabalu are good for snorkeling.

Kota Kinabalu

Sabah’s capital is the gateway to the state, with a waterfront that glows at sunset, a busy evening market for grilled seafood and a Sunday street market along Gaya Street. It makes a comfortable base for the first and last nights of a trip and for day trips to the islands and the Kinabalu foothills.

The highlights of Sarawak

Kuching

A friendly riverside city with a lively food scene and a museum of Borneo’s cultures. Nearby Semenggoh Wildlife Centre has semi-wild orangutans, and Bako National Park has trails to beaches, proboscis monkeys and carnivorous plants.

Gunung Mulu National Park

A UNESCO World Heritage site of limestone pinnacles and vast caves, including Deer Cave, famous for its evening bat exodus, and the Clearwater Cave system. A canopy walkway and the sharp “Pinnacles” trek round out a visit. Access is by a short flight, and some cave visits must be booked in advance.

Longhouses

Visit Iban and Bidayuh longhouse communities to learn about traditional crafts, tattoo traditions and food, ideally with a guide who has long relationships with the village.

Brunei and Indonesian Borneo

Brunei, wedged between Sabah and Sarawak, is an easy add-on: in the capital, Bandar Seri Begawan, the golden-domed Omar Ali Saifuddien Mosque rises above Kampong Ayer, a water village of stilted houses linked by boardwalks. In Indonesian Kalimantan, Tanjung Puting National Park is famous for slow river journeys on wooden klotok boats to see orangutans at Camp Leakey, a classic trip for travelers who want something more remote.

A ten-day Malaysian Borneo route

• Days 1 to 3, Kuching: the city and its food, Semenggoh’s orangutans and a day hiking in Bako National Park.
• Days 4 and 5, Mulu: the show caves, the bat exodus at Deer Cave and the canopy walkway.
• Days 6 to 8, Sabah’s east: Sepilok, then two nights at a lodge on the Kinabatangan River.
• Days 9 and 10, Kota Kinabalu: island snorkeling or the cool air of Kinabalu Park before flying home.

Add Danum Valley or a few nights of diving at Mabul if you have two weeks.

How long do you need?

A focused trip to Sabah alone takes about seven to nine days; combining Sarawak and Sabah comfortably takes ten to fourteen, with short domestic flights between Kuching, Mulu and Kota Kinabalu. Domestic flights are sometimes delayed, so leave slack on the days you connect.

When is the best time to visit Borneo?

Borneo sits on the equator, so it is warm all year. March to October is generally drier and easier for travel, with the dry spell from about April to September best for Mulu and the Kinabalu climb. November to February is wetter, especially on the east coast, but wildlife viewing continues and crowds are thinner.

Practical tips

• Pack lightweight, quick-dry clothes, a rain jacket, insect repellent and sturdy shoes.
• Book Mulu cave visits and any Kinabalu climb as early as possible; permits are limited.
• Choose lodges and guides who support conservation and avoid any operator offering contact with wild animals.
• Check the visa and entry rules for your passport before you fly.

Borneo on a private tour

A private itinerary links Kuching, Mulu, Sabah’s rainforest lodges and Kota Kinabalu with domestic flights, guides and transfers handled for you, and a naturalist at every stop. Explore our Borneo tours and Malaysia tours, or discover more places to visit in Malaysia.

Planning more of the trip? Read our guides to Where to See Orangutans in Borneo, Malaysia and Malaysia Itinerary.

Borneo: FAQ

Is Borneo in Malaysia or Indonesia?

Both, and Brunei too. The island is shared by Malaysia (Sabah and Sarawak), Indonesia (Kalimantan) and Brunei.

Where can you see orangutans in Borneo?

At Sepilok and Danum Valley in Sabah, and at Semenggoh and in the wild in Sarawak.

How many days do you need in Borneo?

Seven to nine days for Sabah; ten to fourteen to combine Sabah and Sarawak.

What is the best time to visit Borneo?

Roughly March to October for drier weather, though wildlife can be seen all year.

What is Borneo known for?

Orangutans, rainforest, Mount Kinabalu, the Mulu caves and the Kinabatangan River.

Which country owns most of Borneo?

Indonesia. Its Kalimantan region covers the largest part of the island, while Malaysia holds the north and Brunei a small area on the northwest coast.