Anthropologists, adventure-seekers and animal lovers alike are drawn to Borneo’s steamy jungles, blissful mountains, balmy beaches and peaceful villages.

These tropical shores have a glorious diversity. Float down the Kinabatangan River, the most biologically diverse rainforest in the world; see the sun rise over Mt Kinabalu; meet mischievous orangutans in Sepilok; chow down on a tasty laksa or take in the incredible underwater scenery snorkelling in Tunku Abdul National Marine Park. Borneo’s wild bounty awaits.  

Top Borneo travel deals

Departing Days From EUR
4 Jan 2024
Premium Borneo in Depth
12 3890
3112
31 Jan 2024
Classic Borneo
10 2045
1739
25 Apr 2024
Wild Sarawak
10 1680
1596
25 Apr 2024
Best of Borneo
20 3765
3577
11 May 2024
Malaysia's Ultimate Adventure
18 3645
3463
18 May 2024
Sabah Adventure
11 2110
2005
19 May 2024
Real Borneo
Ages 18 to 29
10 850
808

Our Borneo trips

Search all similar trips
10 Days From 1739

Journey through Borneo on a wild 10-day adventure from Kota Kinabalu to Sandakan,...

12 Days From 3112

Discover Borneo’s wild heart on a Premium adventure. Cruise the Kinabatangan River,...

11 Days From 2005

This Sabah Adventure tour through the Borneo wilderness will truly capture your...

10 Days From 1596

Hop aboard an adventure tour through the wilds of Borneo's Sarawak region. Crawl...

20 Days From 3577

Travel through the wild, untamed lands of beautiful Borneo. From magnificent Mt...

Tailor-Made trips

Take four or more on an exclusive trip and tailor your itinerary

10 Days From 1730

Discover the best that Borneo has to offer on this unforgettable family adventure...

10 Days From 808

Meet orangutans in the jungle on this trip through Borneo, starting and ending in Kota...

9 Days From 1365

Travel to Borneo to visit orangutan sanctuaries and explore lush jungles. See the best...

12 Days From 2575

Head into the depths of Borneo’s forests in search of orangutans and other wildlife....

18 Days From 3463

This Adventure tour through Malaysia will truly capture your imagination.

8 Days From 1450

Embark on a unique 8-day Expedition into the heart of Borneo’s Sabah – the Maliau Basin...

Travel lightly with Intrepid. We’ve offset the main sources of carbon emissions from this trip on your behalf, including transport, accommodation & waste. Read more

Borneo tour reviews

Articles on Borneo

Borneo travel highlights

Accommodation in Borneo

Travelling with Intrepid is a little bit different. We endeavour to provide travellers with an authentic experience to remember, so we try to keep accommodation as unique and traditional as possible.

When travelling with us in Borneo you may find yourself staying in a:

Dusun village homestay farmhouse in Borneo

Homestay

See what Borneo hospitality is all about by sharing a home-cooked meal with a local family.

Malaysia's Ultimate Adventure

Best of Borneo

Sabah Adventure

Longhouse in Sarawak Borneo

Longhouse

Staying in a longhouse, the traditional dwellings of many ethnic groups in Borneo, is an immersive and fascinating experience.

Best of Borneo

Wild Sarawak

Jungle camp accomodation in Kinabatangan Borneo Malaysia

Jungle Eco Camp

 Spend a night in a community-run traditional-style eco lodge in the heart of the jungle.

Best of Borneo

Borneo Family Holiday

Sabah Adventure

Borneo holiday information

At a glance
Best time to visit Borneo
Culture and customs
Food and drink
Geography and environment
History and government
Top 10 Nature Spots of Borneo
Shopping
Festival and events in Borneo
Health and safety
Further reading

Borneo travel FAQs

Trips from 1 January 2023 onwards

From 1 January 2023, Intrepid will no longer require travellers to provide proof of vaccination against COVID-19 (excluding all Polar trips and select adventure cruises). However, we continue to strongly recommend that all Intrepid travellers and leaders get vaccinated to protect themselves and others.

Specific proof of testing or vaccination may still be required by your destination or airline. Please ensure you check travel and entry requirements carefully.

Learn more about Intrepid's COVID-19 policy

Visas are the responsibility of the individual traveller. Entry requirements can change at any time, so it's important that you check for the latest information. Please visit the relevant consular website of the country or countries you’re visiting for detailed and up-to-date visa information specific to your nationality. Check the Essential Trip Information section of the itinerary for more information. 

Tipping isn’t customary in Borneo but leaving a small token of appreciation is always welcome if you feel the service has been particularly good.

Internet is easy to access in large cities and tourist areas, though it can be quite slow. Access is more limited in remote and rural areas.

Mobile phone coverage is good in major cities, but there is little to no coverage in the mountains and in remote areas. Ensure global roaming is activated with your service provider before leaving home.

Squat toilets are the norm in Borneo, though some hotels and tourists areas have Western-style, flushable toilets. It’s a good idea to carry your own toilet paper and hand sanitizer, as these are not always provided.

The currencies of Borneo are the Indonesian rupiah, the Malaysian ringgit and the Brunei dollar in each of their respective countries.

Bottle of beer = USD 3
Laksa from a food stall = USD 1–2 
Simple meal at a local restaurant = USD 5–12 

Tap water is not considered safe to drink in Borneo. For environmental reasons, try to avoid buying bottled water. Instead, pack a reusable bottle that can be filled with filtered water. Your leader can tell you where to find filtered water or pack your own purification tablets.

Most places only accept cash, especially small businesses, though you might be able to use your credit card at larger hotels, shops and restaurants in tourist areas.

You’ll find ATMs in Borneo’s large cities and urban areas, though they are less easy to find in rural and remote parts.

  • 1 Jan: New Year’s Day
  • 5 Feb: Chinese New Year
  • 5 Jun: Eid al-Fitr
  • 11 Aug: Eid al-Adha
  • 31 Aug: Islamic New Year
  • 9 Nov: Prophet Muhammad’s Birthday
  • 25 Dec: Christmas

Since Indonesia, Malaysia and Brunei all have claim to Borneo, different parts of the island celebrate different public holidays. The ones listed here are celebrated in all three nations. For a more complete and current list of public holidays go to:

Indonesia – https://www.worldtravelguide.net/guides/asia/indonesia/public-holidays/

Malaysia – https://www.worldtravelguide.net/guides/asia/malaysia/public-holidays/

Brunei – https://www.worldtravelguide.net/guides/asia/brunei/public-holidays/

No vaccines are required in order to enter Borneo but some are recommended for protection against disease. Always visit your doctor or travel clinic for up-to-date advice and make sure to schedule vaccinations 4-6 weeks before your departure date, as some require time to become effective.

Discretion is highly advised for LGBTQI-travellers in Borneo. Homosexuality is illegal in both Malaysia and Brunei, where it can be punished with long prison sentences or even death. While homosexuality is not illegal in Indonesia, few people are openly out. Regardless of which part of Borneo you are visiting, discretion is strongly suggested.

For more detailed and up-to-date advice, we recommend visiting Equaldex or ILGA before you travel.

Yes, all Intrepid trips support the Intrepid Foundation. In fact, we make a donation on behalf of every traveller. Trips to Borneo directly support our foundation partner, Responsible Elephant Conservation Trust. 

Responsible Elephant Conservation Trust 

RESPonsible Elephant Conservation Trust (RESPECT) conserves elephant habitats and mitigates human-elephant conflict. RESPECT aims to create and manage large-scale habitats for Borneo pygmy elephants, and donations from our trips help to educate and engage local communities on the importance of caring for elephant habits.  

Find out more or make a donation

Responsible Travel

Intrepid is committed to travelling in a way that is respectful of local people, their culture, local economies and the environment. It's important to remember that what may be acceptable behaviour, dress and language in your own country, may not be appropriate in another. Please keep this in mind while travelling.

Traveller with local women in Borneo Malaysia

How we're giving back

In Borneo, we stay in locally run accommodation including guesthouses, smaller-scale hotels and homestays in an effort to support the local economies. We also visit locally-run restaurants and markets where travellers will have opportunities to support local businesses and purchase handicrafts created by local artisans.