Bako National Park
This is the oldest national park in Sarawak, home to proboscis monkeys and other wildlife, amongst a setting of stunning striking limestone cliffs and great walking trails.

Kinabalu National Park
Malaysia’s first World Heritage Site, this park is home to over 800 species of orchid, along with multitudes of bird species, and an incredible array of pitcher plants. Here you can take a canopy walk in the forest for a bird’s eye view.

Sandakan
This charming town offers access to nearby Selingan Island with its famed turtle hatchery, and also to the Labuk Bay Proboscis Monkey Sanctuary. The town itself, with it churches and museums, offers a glimpse into its colonial and wartime past.

Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre
A ‘must see’, its here that endangered orangutans are reintroduced into the wild. A great place to learn more about these fascinating creatures.

Kuching
Visit a traditional Sarawak longhouse to learn about the traditions and culture of the local Iban and other indigenous tribes.

Danum Valley
This remote valley offers ancient rainforests and thrilling night safaris to spot elusive nocturnal creatures. We highly recommend a stay at the Borneo Rainforest Lodge here.

Borneo is at its best in summer – March to October, when it is hot and humid, but dry. The monsoon rains hit between November and February, making wildlife harder to spot as they shelter in the dense jungle. The monsoons also make for less-than-ideal conditions for diving, and can make travel through the more remote forest areas difficult. You should, however, be prepared for rain at any time of year as you are in rainforests, in the tropics.

Borneo is the third largest island in the world, split into the Malaysian states of Sabah and Sarawak; Indonesian Kalimantan and the sovereign state of Brunei.

Malaysian Borneo is my pick, offering the traveller diversity of cultures, landscapes and experiences, from the jungle to unique wildlife and beaches.

A trek up Mt Kinabalu at 4,101 meters above sea level is a challenge for the active traveller, but well worth the effort when you (hopefully) reach the top – the views are spectacular, especially if you can start out early enough to arrive at sunrise! I can also highly recommend a trip on a traditional longboat for a glimpse of the way of life of the indigenous Bajau people.

But for me, it’s all about the rainforest. Estimated to be a whopping 130 million years old, this precious forest is home to incredible biodiversity. Here you can see the Orangutan (meaning “person of the forest”) in its natural habitat, along with the weirdly wonderful-looking Proboscis monkeys and tiny Pygmy elephants which are also native to Borneo. You will also find lots of other fascinating wildlife here, so it’s a great idea to include a stay in a jungle-lodge in your visit.

Lynsey

Currency . Borneo’s currencies are the Malaysian Ringgit (MYR), Indonesian Rupiah (IDR) and Brunei Dollar (BND). Card payments are accepted in most places with cash preferred in smaller towns.

Language The official language in Malaysian Borneo is Malay, but traditional tribal languages are also in use, and English is fairly well spoken throughout.

Why we love it For lovers of wildlife and wild places, Borneo is a fantastic close-to-home option.

Weather Borneo’s tropical climate is hot and humid most of the year, with a dry season summer March to October, and monsoon rains November to February.

Social customs and quirks Malaysian Borneo is a melting post of cultures, religions and ethnicities, all with their own strong traditions and beliefs. As such, expect fairly traditional attitudes, dress modestly and avoid public displays of affection.

It also pays to be aware of the differences between the religions – for example, a Muslim Malay will not use their left hand to eat food or shake hands, and eating pork is forbidden, whereas it is the ultimate meal for non-Muslims in Borneo!

Unlike many Asian countries, Malaysian Borneo does not have a strong culture of haggling, particularly in shops. More acceptable in markets, always be aware that goods are likely to cheap for visitors anyway, and don’t haggle too hard.

Make sure you sample local cuisines, which vary from the Malaysian laksa, to Iban-style food which is cooked in a bamboo shoot over an open fire, and Kolo Mee – a delicious fried pork and noodle dish.

Festivals and events
There are many festivals throughout the year, many based on the religious holidays of Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism and Christianity.