Sepilok
Orphaned orangutans learning to live in the wild, plus the Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre next door. An easy first stop from Sandakan.
Best for Orangutans, families
Why Borneo
Borneo is one of the best places on earth to see orangutans in the wild. Stay in rainforest lodges along the Kinabatangan River, look for pygmy elephants and finish on a quiet island for diving.
Highlights
- Orangutans at Sepilok and in the wild
- Kinabatangan River cruises
- Danum Valley rainforest
- Diving near Sipadan
Where to go in Borneo
Rainforest older than the Amazon, and wildlife you can actually see. Most trips focus on Sabah, in the north.
Getting around Sabah and Sarawak
- Kota Kinabalu to Kinabalu ParkAbout 2 hours by road
- Kota Kinabalu to Sandakan (Sepilok)About 45 minutes by air
- Sepilok to the Kinabatangan RiverAbout 2.5 hours by road
- Kinabatangan to Danum ValleyAbout 4 hours by road
- Danum Valley to SempornaAbout 3 hours by road
- Kota Kinabalu to KuchingAbout 1.5 hours by air
Kinabatangan River
Boat safaris at dawn and dusk for proboscis monkeys, hornbills, crocodiles and, with luck, pygmy elephants on the riverbanks.
Best for Wildlife from the water
Danum Valley
Untouched lowland rainforest with a canopy walkway, night walks and wild orangutans. Lodges are few, so it pays to book early.
Best for Wild orangutans, deep jungle
Mount Kinabalu
Borneo’s highest peak and a UNESCO-listed park. Climb it over two days, or stay at the foot for gardens, trails and cool mountain air.
Best for Hiking, cooler days
Semporna & Sipadan
Turtles, reef sharks and huge schools of barracuda. Sipadan’s daily dive permits are limited, so we arrange them with your resort.
Best for Diving, snorkeling
Kuching & Bako
Sarawak’s easygoing riverside capital, with Bako National Park’s proboscis monkeys and Semenggoh’s orangutans nearby.
Best for Culture, food, easy wildlife
Gunung Mulu
Giant caves, limestone pinnacles and a nightly bat exodus from Deer Cave, in a UNESCO-listed park reached by a short flight.
Best for Caves, adventure
When to go
March to October is drier and good for wildlife. It rains year-round, just less in these months.
Borneo is warm and green all year, with rain any month. The busiest stretch is July and August, and the wettest weeks fall around the turn of the year.
- JanNortheast monsoon, wet east coast
- FebDrier days return
- MarDriest stretch, clear peaks
- AprCalm seas, great diving
- MayHotter, showers build
- JunAfternoon storms, lush forest
- JulSummer travel, busiest lodges
- AugPopular; book lodges early
- SepQuieter, warm showers
- OctWettest month on the west coast
- NovRains continue
- DecWet and quiet, holiday weeks
Peak season Shoulder season Low season
Average temperatures and rainfall in Kota Kinabalu
Jan5.3″
Feb2.6″
Mar2.8″
Apr4.3″
May8.7″
Jun11.4″
Jul10.2″
Aug9.8″
Sep12.0″
Oct13.6″
Nov12.4″
Dec9.6″
Approximate average daily high and low in °F, with average monthly rainfall in inches.
February to April
The driest weeks in Sabah, with clear mornings on Mount Kinabalu and calm water for diving off Semporna.
May to September
Warm with afternoon storms that pass quickly. July and August are the busiest months, so we book jungle lodges well ahead.
October to January
The wettest months, especially on the west coast in October and the east coast around January. Wildlife is still out, and lodges are quieter.
All year
Orangutans, proboscis monkeys and hornbills live here year-round, so there’s no bad month for wildlife, just wetter and drier ones.
Ideas by month:
Trip ideas
Starting points only. Every Borneo trip we plan is built around you.
Rainforest and River
Sepilok, the Kinabatangan and Danum Valley.
Jungle to Island
Wildlife lodges followed by a few days of diving and beach time.
Where you'll stay
Rainforest lodges with naturalist guides, then a beach or dive resort. We choose every hotel ourselves and know which rooms have the view.
Good to know
A few things that make a Borneo trip easier.
Pack for rain any month
A light rain jacket, quick-dry clothes and sturdy shoes cover most days. Lodges lend leech socks for jungle walks, and they work.
Book jungle lodges early
Danum Valley and the best Kinabatangan lodges have only a handful of rooms. For July and August, plan nine to twelve months ahead.
Give wildlife space
Guides keep a respectful distance from orangutans and never feed them. Leave the flash off, and a zoom lens or binoculars make the trip.
Combine it easily
Kota Kinabalu is a short flight from Kuala Lumpur and Singapore, so Borneo pairs well with a few city days or a beach finish.
Borneo questions
When is the best time to visit Borneo?
March to October is drier and good for wildlife. It rains year-round, just less in these months.
How long should I spend in Borneo?
Most of our travelers spend 10 to 14 days in Borneo. We'll shape the length around what you want to see and how you like to travel.
Can Global Escapes plan a private trip to Borneo?
Yes. Every trip we plan to Borneo is designed around you, with hand-picked hotels, private guides where they make a difference and support while you travel. Call 706.549.1164 or tell us about your trip below.
Tell us about your Borneo dream.
Share as much or as little as you like. A member of our team will reach out personally to start shaping your trip.
Rather talk it through? Call 706.549.1164