Borneo Travel Guides

Incredible creatures, rainforest conservation... then bask on those beaches

Where to go in Borneo

Borneo’s rainforest landscape exerts an irresistible pull on anyone dreaming of a genuinely extraordinary trip, and it really does have it all: wildlife, adventure, culture and some of the best beaches in Asia. Whether floating down the Kinabatangan River in search of gibbons, pygmy elephants and orangutans, walking through the treetop canopy in the Danum Valley, or diving around its idyllic northern islands, the possibility of extraordinary wildlife encounters is never far away. Add in excellent infrastructure, and the bonus of a surprising amount of easy travel by road, and you’re looking at a phenomenal holiday experience.

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Borneo’s Islands

Danum Valley

Kota Kinabalu

Kuching

a orangutan from a tree

Sepilok

The Kinabatangan River

Our big three in Borneo

There’s a lot more – this is just to get you started…

Sanctuary in the jungle

Sepilok’s criss-cross of raised boardwalks make it a near certainty that you’ll spot an orangutan or two at some point. This well-established, well-known nature sanctuary has feeding platforms, walkways and even a nursery play area for the youngest orangs.

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Orangutan
Orangutan

Sepilok’s criss-cross of raised boardwalks make it a near certainty that you’ll spot an orangutan or two at some point. This well-established, well-known nature sanctuary has feeding platforms, walkways and even a nursery play area for the youngest orangs.

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Whilst visitors must maintain a respectful distance, the orangutans do sometimes come very close of their own accord! Feeding times turn the sanctuary into a raucous raft of noise, and educational talks offer informative learning about the surrounding habitat. Visiting Sepilok is a must on a trip to Borneo to experience orangutans in their natural habitat, and discover on-the-ground details about the continuing conservation and animal welfare projects.

Relax in rainforest style

There’s nothing to compare to a stay at the Borneo Rainforest Lodge in the Danum Valley.  The perfect end to a day’s safari in Sabah has to be sipping a chilled glass of something fizzy whilst sitting on a wooden veranda overlooking the Danum River.

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Borneo Rainforest Lodge
Borneo Rainforest Lodge

There’s nothing to compare to a stay at the Borneo Rainforest Lodge in the Danum Valley.  The perfect end to a day’s safari in Sabah has to be sipping a chilled glass of something fizzy whilst sitting on a wooden veranda overlooking the Danum River.

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Booking into this unique eco-lodge surrounded by jungle allows you to do just that. Stilted wooden chalets and bungalows provide comfort and privacy as well as access to rainforest trails, tropical gardens and a suspended canopy walkway. Evenings at open-sided restaurants offer the chance to socialise or enjoy candle-lit meals for two, whilst nocturnal jungle walks round the day off on a high.

Gaya Island hideaway

You can lose yourself on Gaya Island, in every sense. Whether it’s underwater, being captivated by clams, clownfish and colourful coral gardens, or hiking through jungles where monkeys, giant moths and bearded pigs may make an appearance, this is an island that sings with adventure but also allows you to unwind and enjoy some absolutely splendid food.

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Gaya island resort
Gaya island resort

You can lose yourself on Gaya Island, in every sense. Whether it’s underwater, being captivated by clams, clownfish and colourful coral gardens, or hiking through jungles where monkeys, giant moths and bearded pigs may make an appearance, this is an island that sings with adventure but also allows you to unwind and enjoy some absolutely splendid food.

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You can stay in a hillside villa, surrounded by thick forest, or enjoy a rooftop dining experience under a blanket of stars. Visit the Marine Ecology Research Centre, or stroll across a sand-dusted pontoon and watch rays swimming underneath. Whatever you set your sights on, Gaya Island is an accessible option that ticks a lot of boxes.

Fantastic holiday

Using Selective Asia took all the stress out of booking and organising the trip ourselves as we were travelling around the country. Selective Asia were really responsive to our needs and created our perfect honeymoon holiday. They were available whenever we had questions or needed some help. I would highly recommend using their service!

Alice, Sri Lanka

Another fantastic trip with Selective Asia

We’ve been on 5 trips to the Far East with Selective Asia over 17 years with the same consultant (Lionel). They take the time to tailor the holiday individually with invaluable local knowledge and once again got it spot on. Wouldn’t hesitate to recommend them.

Rob Clarkson, Vietnam

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Have been to Asia with Selective Asia twice now, and we can't fault them. We had the most amazing holiday staying in 6 different locations throughout Thailand. Selective Asia did us proud by giving us a well thought out itinerary. The accommodations were first class. Our private guide called James was very knowledgable and made our holiday very memorable.

Susan Bartlett, Thailand

Personalised and spot on journey

Personalised service all the way up to departure and then throughout via on the ground help and advice in country as well. Ideal.

Ann B, India

Our trip to Japan was outstanding

We had had several discussions with Andrew, our agent, before booking the trip and he incorporated all the activities we were interested in plus recommending other activities that he knew we would be interested in. Much of our trip was self guided and SA provide an excellent app to help with this. It was intuitive, easy to use and had the option to be able to contact someone locally if necessary. The whole trip was seamless and managed at a thoroughly professional yet friendly level. I would travel with this company again (we have travelled with them before.)

Heather, Japan

It was amazing from start to finish. Really informative when we were planning the trip, flexible about our itinerary, offering a range of options but all backed with knowledge of the lodges and reserves. The support when we were away was excellent with alternative arrangements made quickly when a flight was cancelled and great advice when our return flight seats were changed. We would absolutely recommend the company, particularly if you are looking for something a little different but special.

Linda Johnson, Borneo

Inspiring experiences and places to stay

Lean into the details of your bespoke Asia trip to discover rare experiences, exceptional hotels, local connections, inspiring conservation and much more…

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Give us a call 9am-5pm UK time Monday to Friday, or make an enquiry online at any time.

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