Borneo

The third largest island in the world, Borneo ranks as one of the planet’s top wildlife destinations. The prospect of thrilling orang-utan encounters is incentive enough, yet the island has so much more to offer including vast tracts of pristine rainforest, countless coral islands, mighty mountains, remote tribes, jungle-fringed rivers and extensive cave systems.

Orang-utans head an impressive assortment of primates including gibbons, proboscis monkeys, the bizarre-looking western tarsia and the aptly named slow loris. Diminutive Borneo pygmy elephants roam the forest trails together with sun bears, clouded leopards and the elusive Sumatran rhinoceros. There are over 600 species of birds, rare orchids, carnivorous pitcher plants and an amazing twelve species of rafflesia, the world's largest flower. Underwater, Borneo has some of the tropics’ most diverse coral reefs as well as large numbers of marine turtles nesting on its beaches.

Borneo is divided politically between the small sultanate of Brunei, the Indonesian state of Kalimantan and the two East Malaysian states of Sabah and Sarawak: it is these latter two states on which we focus our itineraries.

For mountain scenery and wildlife with mammal-rich rainforests, turtle watching on Selingan Island, and a final night on the coast for beach relaxation, Best of Borneo’s Wildlife maximises the amount of wildlife seen while keeping to a very attractive price; perfect for divers and nature lovers with a strong interest in both marine and terrestrial wildlife Borneo’s Wonderfully Diverse Reefs and Rainforests explores lush jungle, encounters orang-utans, enters eerie caves and marvels at rich underwater wildlife; whilst A Borneo Wilderness and Cultural Adventure will suit the active traveller with an unforgettable climb of Mount Kinabalu, stunning limestone pinnacles and caves, an orang-utan centre, a national park, and a night with the notorious Ibans.

When to Go

Borneo has a tropical climate and is typically hot and humid throughout the year. Expect a mix of sunshine and thundery downpours at any time: however, monsoon winds bring the heaviest rains in November, December and January. This is usually followed by a drier spell in March, April and May.