What Makes it Special?
- Cruise along the Sarawak River in a traditional sampan at sunset.
- Explore Kota Kinabalu’s lively markets and relax on its pristine beaches.
- See rescued orangutans up close at Sepilok’s world-famous rehabilitation centre.
- Cruise along the Kinabatangan River, spotting wild pygmy elephants and proboscis monkeys.
- Venture deep into Danum Valley, home to ancient rainforests and hidden waterfalls.
- Stay at the exclusive Borneo Rainforest Lodge, surrounded by untouched wilderness.
Your tailor-made holiday will be as unique as you are. These itineraries are just a starting point – a bit of inspiration to show what’s possible. Your own trip all starts with a conversation with one of our Borneo experts, who’ll take the time to understand what matters most to you and design the perfect Borneo holiday to match.
This trip is action-packed in the best possible way – wild orangutans, ancient rainforest, island beaches, dramatic caves and a whole lot of culture along the way.
Start in Kuching, a laid-back city with a rich mix of Indian and Malay influences, where temples rub shoulders with delicious street food stalls. Head into the hills to meet Iban communities and hear stories about their headhunter past. From there, you'll fly into the heart of Mulu National Park – a UNESCO-listed wonderland of limestone peaks and vast cave systems.
Next up, it's time to slow things down a bit with a few days on Gaya Island, where clear waters, coral reefs and beachside cocktails are the order of the day. Then it’s off into the wilds of Eastern Sabah, where things get properly exciting. You’ll see orangutans in Sepilok, cruise the wildlife-rich Kinabatangan River, and finish in the remote rainforests of Danum Valley – waking to gibbon calls at the jaw-dropping Borneo Rainforest Lodge.
16 hours from London
March to October
- May to September is High Season
Average temperature
- 29°C
Average rainfall
- 220mm/month
Itinerary at a Glance
Day by Day
Here's a summary of what you might get up to day-to-day on this Borneo holiday. As always, this is just an idea. Every single day of your holiday will be tailored to suit you.
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You'll wave goodbye to the UK today before hopping on your overnight flight to Malaysia. You'll have a short layover in Kuala Lumpur before continuing to Kuching in Borneo. If you'd prefer to break up the journey, you can add a few days in Malaysia’s capital before flying onwards, just chat to us and we'll build it into your holiday itinerary.
You'll arrive in Kuching today, where your driver and guide will be ready to meet you. After your long journey, we've left this afternoon free for you to relax after your flight and acclimatise a little. If you fancy hitting the ground running straight away though, you could take an orientation tour to get your bearings and learn a little about Sarawak’s rich history and heritage.
Today, you'll explore Kuching with your guide, delving into the capital of Sarawak’s rich history. Wander through the vibrant streets, passing shops selling exotic goods and all sorts of local treats, uncovering the city’s historical landmarks as you go. You'll visit ornate Chinese temples, venture through narrow alleyways in India Street, and end the tour with a traditional Sampan boat ride where you'll meander peacefully along the Sarawak River.
The journey into Mulu National Park is an experience in itself. You'll fly high over Borneo’s rainforest canopy, landing right in the heart of the jungle. From here, you'll transfer by road to the Park HQ, where you'll take a walk to Deer Cave, just in time for the spectacular evening bat exodus at dusk. You'll want your camera at the ready for this, it's quite the spectacle! Tonight, you'll relax at your lodge or luxury hotel (chat to us about what you'd prefer!) before heading out on a night trail with your nature guide.
You'll take a morning cruise to explore Wind Cave and Clearwater Cave bright and early today, followed by a refreshing swim in the blue lagoons. This afternoon, there are plenty of options to choose from. You could walk the canopy walkway, relax by the beautiful poolside at the Marriott, or if you're up for more adventure, take on the Valley of Eden Trek, Pinnacle Trek, or even a spot of adventure caving.
Next up, you'll fly to Borneo’s capital, Kota Kinabalu, ready for a spot of R&R on your relaxing mid-trip beach break. Spend the day unwinding at your resort or exploring the city and lively markets with your guide. With some of Borneo’s best beaches and access to Gaya Island, Kota Kinabalu is the perfect place to slow the pace before your jungle adventure.
We've built a couple of lazy beach days right into the middle of this Borneo holiday idea, giving you the chance to rest up, recoup and catch your breath in paradise before your adventures continue. If you're the sort who can't spend too much time horizontal on a beach, there's plenty to do nearby. From snorkelling and diving to meeting the locals, just chat to us and we'll recommend the best ways to fill your days.
Today, you'll travel to Sepilok, where you'll spend the afternoon visiting the Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre and the Sun Bear Conservation Centre – sure to be a highlight of your Borneo holiday! This evening, you might choose to take a night walk in the rainforest or head out for a delicious dinner in the city.
Next up, it's time to journey to your lodge on the Kinabatangan River, where you'll stay for the next couple of nights. This is an area rich in endemic wildlife, with plenty of chances to tick Borneo's wild wonders off your sightings wishlist. With plenty of opportunities for river cruises and wildlife excursions, you may spot proboscis monkeys, orangutans, macaques, pygmy elephants, and exotic birds. Keep an eye out, there are so many incredible species that call the banks of the river home.
You'll leave the Kinabatangan River behind today and journey deep into the last area of primary rainforest in Borneo – Danum Valley. This exclusive experience is a real must for wildlife lovers and nature enthusiasts. This is such a special place, so be sure to book early, as rooms at Borneo Rainforest Lodge are limited and can sell out a year in advance during high season.
This Borneo holiday idea includes a 3-day, 2-night stay at the incredible Borneo Rainforest Lodge, where you'll sleep surrounded by untouched jungle and incredible wildlife. The expert guides are brilliant here, and they'll discuss the best activities for you when you arrive, making sure you get the most out of your stay. Expect to encounter orangutans, gibbons, and other rare species on your nature excursions here!
This morning, you'll enjoy a final breakfast, listening to the morning calls of gibbons and watching tropical birds from your balcony. Later, you'll travel by 4x4 back to the airport for your departure flight via Kuala Lumpur, marking the end of your Borneo adventure.
Places you'll visit
We have hundreds of partner hotels across the world, with our tailor made trips you can pick from our range of beautiful hotels
What You're Saying
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We had the most amazing time in Borneo – Erin organised the seamless trip which enabled us to see the best of this wonderful country - if you love wildlife, fantastic food and meeting the most beautiful and welcoming people then get in touch with Erin - we cannot recommend this lady or this company enough. Thank you.
Adele & Paul Bridge
Trustpilot
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Fabulous trip to Malaysian Borneo for a family. Ian listened and put together a perfect holiday to budget. The trips, guides and experiences were great, especially the food tour in Kuala Lumpur which was a great intro to Malaysian culture. And do not miss the Kinabatangan Wetlands Resort: fabulous from the journey to get there, the welcome, accommodation and boat trips. Would use Holiday Architects again and highly recommend!
Elsie
Trustpilot
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We used Holiday Architects to tailor a two-week trip to Borneo that fulfilled our requirements to see as much of the wildlife as we possibly could in the timescale. Our itinerary included 4 very different destinations and the whole experience exceeded our expectations! If you want to de-risk your holiday then Holiday Architects is a great option. Many thanks to Erin for crafting the perfect adventure for us!
Leslie Clark
Trustpilot
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My wife and I just want to say a massive *thank you* to Holiday Architects for the incredible holiday we have just had in (Malaysian) Borneo. We both agreed that this holiday was the first stress-free holiday we have ever had, and that is all down to going on a Holiday Architects-arranged holiday. I didn't have to worry about anything. All in all, a fantastic time and what a pleasure to have visited Borneo. We will definitely go back again!!!!
Rob
Trustpilot
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Erin from Holiday Architects booked our amazing trip to Borneo . She was incredibly helpful and personable. Erin has explored the hotels/lodges and really knows her stuff so her advice was incredible. We had the most fabulous holiday and I cannot recommend Holiday Architects and Erin enough. Thank you for creating a memorable holiday where we just sat back and enjoyed as everything was organised so famously. We will definitely be booking with Holiday Architects again.
Emily Pizzey
Trustpilot
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Just returned from a fabulous two weeks in Borneo. Erin put together a great itinerary for us and was able to give sound advice which helped with our final decision. Once there everything went smoothly and the guides were all very knowledgeable. We saw so much wildlife, even the pygmy elephants. Having booked two very successful holidays with Holiday Architects we wouldn't hesitate to use them again.
Lynn
Trustpilot
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Meet our Borneo experts
We offer tailor-made holidays to suit a wide range of tastes. Our experts Erin and Ian are dedicated to all things Borneo and are here to help you plan your perfect trip.
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Erin Evans
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