Borneo is the only sea island divided between three countries - Brunei, Indonesia and Malaysia, which owns slightly less than a third of the territory. It is the third largest island in the world. This is a real paradise with an atmosphere of wildness and untouchedness. Travelers will find dense jungles with rich flora and fauna, a picturesque coastline of two seas - the South China Sea and the Sulu Sea. The tourist infrastructure is developed at a sufficient level - the best hotels in Borneo constantly receive good reviews from guests.
✔️ A bit of chronology and facts
The history of the island is closely connected with all three states on its territory. The first people settled here 13 thousand years ago. Their direct descendants are the Negritos, who still live in Borneo. The Indonesian kingdom of Mulawarman is considered the first state to emerge here. This happened in the first half of the 5th century. In the 15th century, the island fell under the control of the Majapahit Empire. From the 15th to the 17th century, the northern part of Borneo was part of the Brunei Sultanate, which flourished at that time. Then there were attempts by Europeans to gain a foothold here. They succeeded with varying success. Today, there are two states in the Malaysian part - Sabah and Sarawak.
Nowadays, the island is inhabited by oil, diamond and timber mining . Due to the climate and inaccessibility, this place is not very popular with travelers. However, tourism is of great importance for the well-being of local residents.
✔️ Entertainment Features
This is quite an interesting exotic destination . It is perfect for adventure lovers and wildlife enthusiasts. In the jungle, you can find cultural villages of indigenous people and get acquainted with their life. There are also historical and cultural attractions here - from caves with ancient rock paintings to temples, mosques and palaces of rulers.
Tourists are also invited to visit museums and art galleries. Malaysian cuisine deserves special attention. It is very complex and diverse, because many ethnic groups live in the country, and each has brought something of its own to traditional dishes. Prices for holidays in Borneo are different. Everything depends on the cost of the hotel and the chosen entertainment. There are both budget and expensive accommodation options.
✔️ Possible transfer options
There are two international airports in the Malaysian part of the island. The larger one is in Kota Kinabalu, while the smaller one is in Kuching. However, due to low popularity among tourists from your country, there may not be a direct flight to Borneo. Then you will need to fly with a transfer in Kuala Lumpur or other cities. The best way to get from the airport to the island is by taxi. You can also order an individual or group transfer. It is provided by the host company or hotel, if it has such an opportunity.
✔️ Weather conditions
The island has an equatorial climate, which provides year-round warmth and high humidity. There is a lot of precipitation here, but it occurs mainly at night, without disturbing travelers. Therefore, you can find and select a tour online to Borneo at any time. The main monsoon period lasts from November to February-March. It also rains in October.
✔️ What to bring back from your trip
Shopping in Borneo is a very exciting business. Here you can buy truly interesting goods. One of the most exotic souvenirs will be sweets with a filling from the famous durian fruit , famous for its unpleasant smell. However, it is only like that on the outside, its pulp is very tasty. Another purely local souvenir is a balm made from sea cucumber.
The island produces high-quality Malay batik, paints on cotton and silk, and mines pearls. Products and jewelry made from them can be bought in stores or markets. Traditional beads of the indigenous peoples of Borneo, boxes, caskets, and other bamboo products made by local craftsmen are also popular with tourists.
✔️ Search and selection of tours online to Borneo, reasons to buy a tour or a trip
Traveling to this island is a real adventure. Wild jungles and villages of ancient tribes take you back to primitive times. The landscapes amaze with their beauty, mystery and tranquility. It may even be good that this destination is not as popular as other places in the region, because then all this atmosphere of untouchedness would disappear.
▶️ Beach holidays
On the Malaysian part of the island, the best beaches are in the state of Sebah. The coast is covered with white sand, there is a lot of greenery around, coral reefs protect from the waves and create excellent conditions for diving. However, it is worth considering that from February to May the water blooms for two weeks. At this time, plankton reproduces, which is why the water takes on a red tint. Swimming is prohibited at this time.
One of the most beautiful beaches in Sebah is Kelambu - a 200-meter spit 30-40 m wide. This is a fairly secluded place, since it takes about 3 hours to get here from the state capital. The location is perfect for a relaxing holiday with children and romantic picnics. Entertainment includes snorkeling, diving, boating or water skiing.
Tanjung Aru Beach is 6 km from Kota Kinabalu, the capital of Sebah . Here, on the contrary, it is crowded, there is all the infrastructure, cafes, SPA salons, night clubs, football pitches, frisbee, you can do water activities. The beach area stretches for almost 2 km. The coast is covered with coarse sand.
The beaches on the nearby islands deserve special attention. On tiny Mamutik , a 200-meter white beach awaits you. The entry into the water is sharp, the depth starts from 10 m. Coral fragments are often washed ashore. There is all the necessary infrastructure, as well as cafes, shops, equipment rental for beach and water activities, a diving center.
Manukan has similar conditions. In addition, there are several hiking trails for walking through the jungle. The beach on Sapi is one of the most popular. Locals often relax here. You will find little crowds and unity with nature on the beaches of the islands of Sulu and Gaya . Borneo
is a great place to explore the underwater world. Divers are delighted by the colorful landscapes with different types of corals and sponges. The diversity of marine life is amazing - you can meet turtles, reef sharks, flounders, huge schools of various tropical fish and others.
▶️ Ancient landmarks
Both states of the Malaysian part of the island can boast of significant and beautiful historical and cultural monuments.
In Sabah, this is the city of Sandakan, located approximately 360 km from the state capital Kota Kinabalu. There you can see religious buildings of different religions: Christianity - the Church of St. Michael and All Angels, Buddhism - the temples of Pu-Tsi-Shi and the goddess Guan Yin, Islam - the Sandakan Jamek mosque.
In Sarawak, the main concentration of antiquities is the capital of the state - the city of Kuching. You can immerse yourself in the past in the ethnographic village. It consists of several settlements, the buildings of which are made in different styles. An important building is the Palace of the White Rajahs. Today it is the residence of the state governor. You won't be able to get inside, but from the outside you can see the building where the Brooke dynasty lived - the British who ruled Sarawak from 1841 to 1941, and also in 1946. In addition, the state is home to the Niah Caves. On their vaults you can see drawings of ancient people.
▶️ Nature
The main reason to buy a tour to Borneo is the natural attractions. Tourists are attracted by the views of dense jungles covered in fog, picturesque sunsets and sunrises, diverse landscapes - mountains, plains, hills, forests, rice, tea and palm plantations, dirt rural roads, rivers, lakes. There are more than 10 protected natural areas.
In the state of Sabah, it is worth visiting:
◼️ The Sepilok Orangutan Sanctuary is the largest of its kind. Here you can see these animals up close in their natural habitat. This is a real rehabilitation center for orangutans affected by human activity.
◼️ Mount Kinabalu, the highest point in Borneo (4095 m). To climb it, you do not need special training, only good physical endurance. It will take several days to climb. The mountain and the area around it belong to the national park. The top offers breathtaking views of the island. In addition to the beautiful views, the area is known for the Poring sulfur baths.
◼️ In the Danum Valley. This is a protected area where you can meet orangutans, gibbons, bearded boars, endangered Sumatran rhinoceroses and other animals. Of the birds, about 270 species of birds live here.
◼️ In the caves of Gomantong and Simud Hitam, where millions of black swifts live. In the Simud Putih cave, you can see the nests of white swifts.
◼️ In the city of Tambunan, located among rice plantations. In the vicinity is the famous protected forest of rafflesia - parasitic plant species known for their massive flowers. In addition to them, you can see various animals here.
The state of Sarawak is famous for:
◼️ Bako Nature Reserve. Travelers are attracted by caves, rocky capes, sandstone cliffs, arches in the rocks. The fauna is represented by proboscis monkeys, silver langurs, leopards, giant lizards and many birds.
◼️ Gunung Mulu Nature Reserve. The diversity of the landscape is amazing - peat bogs, hills, dense jungle, mountains - there are two peaks here: Gunung Mulu at a height of 2376 m, and Gunung Api, reaching 1750 m. The most famous location is the cave system, which contains the largest underground hall on the planet - Sarawak Hall. Also worth visiting is the Deer Cave, piercing the mountain through and through, and the Cave of Clear Waters, stretching for 52 km.
Weekend tours to Borneo are not popular, as the road here takes a long time, and there are so many places worth visiting. You won’t be able to see everything even in a couple of weeks, let alone a couple of days. This is a place you want to return to continue exploring its amazing world, until civilization comes into its own.
