The 10 Must-See Visits in Malaysian Borneo

If you are looking for a different destination with equal parts jungle, incredible beaches, and wildlife, I have something to tell you: Borneo is the perfect place for you! That's why today I will share with you the 10 best things to see and do in Borneo (Malaysia) so you can explore this island to the fullest.

I want to clarify that everything I'm going to tell you in this article is based on my personal experience traveling around Borneo for two weeks. Having only visited the Malaysian part, I will focus on sharing what I have seen and experienced in that part of the island. But don't worry, because at the end of the post, I will also tell you some must-see places in the Indonesian part .

Borneo is one of the largest islands in the world and the largest in all of Asia. Therefore, it is no surprise that it is made up of several countries, specifically Malaysia, Indonesia, and Brunei. This unique mix makes Borneo an unparalleled tourist destination.

If you are eager to find out what you can do there, keep reading and discover the 10 things you must see and do in Borneo.

One of the things you can't miss is visiting the Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Center, which is located in Sandakan (Sabah province). This center does a tremendous job as it is dedicated to rescuing and rehabilitating orphaned and/or injured orangutans due to one of the most severe natural disasters that this country suffers: deforestation for palm oil plantations.

The goal of this place is to reintroduce rescued orangutans back into the wild when they recover. Visiting this center helps us understand the gigantic problem that palm oil plantations pose, and it's a great opportunity to contribute to the protection of orangutans, which are gradually disappearing from the planet.

The Kinabatangan River is one of the longest rivers in Borneo and is home to a wide variety of wildlife, including pygmy elephants (the smallest subspecies on the planet, which is also endemic to Borneo), crocodiles, proboscis monkeys, orangutans, and more. Therefore, while in Borneo, it's essential to take a boat tour to see all these animals as they should be: in their natural habitat.

The easiest option is to go to Sukau and book tours through any accommodation in the area. Generally, there are three tours daily: one at dawn, another at dusk, and a night tour. If you take the latter, don't forget to bring your headlamp .

Along with Oman, Brunei is the only remaining sultanate in the world. Its capital is Bandar Seri Begawan, and there you can also take a river tour and see the famous proboscis monkeys. If you get the chance to visit, you'll be amazed by its luxurious palaces and its impressive mosque.

Brunei is a unique tourist destination, and personally, I think it's worth visiting if you're traveling through Borneo.

One of the best things to do in Borneo is to enjoy its incredible beaches, and among them, you can't miss those in Tunku Abdul Rahman National Park. It's located just off the capital of Sabah province, Kota Kinabalu, and can be easily reached by a half-hour boat ride.

The National Park consists of several islands, but the best-known and most frequently visited are Manukan, Mamutik, Sapi, and Gaya. The most common way to explore them is on a day trip from Kota Kinabalu, but there's also the option to stay overnight on some of them, like Gaya and Manukan (you can search for accommodation here).

The best activities on these islands are an amazing snorkeling or diving session for the experienced (you can sign up for a three-dive excursion from Kota Kinabal here), and of course, the quintessential activity: lying back and soaking up the sun .

I can't talk about the amazing things to do in Borneo without mentioning Sipadan, a dream location for diving enthusiasts. In 1989, Jacques Cousteau visited the island and was so fascinated by the marine life that he decided to showcase it to the world in one of his documentaries.

This increased the island's popularity tremendously as a diving destination! And it's no surprise! Sipadan, despite being a small island, is surrounded by incredible coral reefs and unique underwater biodiversity. Here you can see whale sharks, hammerhead sharks, reef sharks, manta rays, turtles, and giant schools of barracudas, among other creatures.

A few years ago, it was declared a Nature Reserve, and since then, diving in Sipadan is much more regulated. Currently, only 176 people can dive each day, and it is necessary to apply for a special permit to do so. So if your intention is to dive in Sipadan during your trip to Borneo, I recommend you book in advance to secure dives at one of the best dive spots in the world.

-> If you need more information about permits and prices, you can check their official website.

If you enjoy hiking and are one of those people who love to enjoy nature, you can't miss this National Park, where you can find the highest peak in Borneo and one of the highest in Southeast Asia: Mount Kinabalu, a sacred place for the locals.

This National Park is in the state of Sabah, about two hours from the capital, Kota Kinabalu, and if you want to have a truly interesting experience while in Borneo, you have the option to summit (4,095m) either by trekking for a couple of days or by climbing (this is for the more adventurous).

I'm more of a beach person and prefer to relax, so I didn't summit, but from what I've gathered, it is possible to ascend in two days. You just need to book the tour at a hotel or agency in Kota Kinabalu and pay for a summit permit (you can also book the tour online here). However, just like with Sipadan, the number of summits is limited daily, so I recommend researching and applying for the permit in advance if you want to reach the summit.

Another thing you must do in Borneo to have a truly unique experience is to visit Kampung Ayer, the largest floating village in the world. This settlement is located in the capital of Brunei, Bandar Seri Begawan, and it has a population of over 30,000 people living in hundreds of floating houses on the river.

The locals depend on fishing and other sea-related businesses, creating a unique culture and lifestyle in this floating village. You can visit it by walking or by hiring a small boat right on the riverbank. It's quite impressive, as it functions like any other city, with practically everything: mosques, schools, fire stations, police... And obviously, all are floating buildings.

If you want to keep being amazed by what the island has to offer, another must-see is to meet the Bajau (sea gypsies), also known as the nomads of the sea, who have lived in floating houses along the coast of Sabah (mainly in Semporna) for generations, developing such amazing fishing and diving skills that they can dive for long periods without any equipment.

Today, many of them have settled on land and adopted more sedentary lifestyles, but some still continue to fish and live at sea, in floating houses or stilts built on the shore. If you want to meet them, you can do so along the coast of Semporna or on the nearby islands, like Mabul.

-> It's also an excellent option to take a snorkeling tour like this one.

If you enjoy spelunking, I recommend you visit Gunung Mulu National Park (Sarawak, Malaysia), as it is home to some of the largest caves in the world, the Mulu Caves.

This park features unique limestone pinnacles, caves, underground rivers, waterfalls, and a unique biodiversity, including over 200 bird species and 17,000 insect species. Quite astounding, right? It's located in the state of Sarawak, very close to Brunei, and it offers an amazing opportunity to experience nature in all its glory.

-> Here's more info about the park

The night markets in Kota Kinabalu are another incredible experience you can't miss if you go to Borneo; I personally love them. There, you can try a ton of local dishes and enjoy the atmosphere every night.

The best way to make the most of them is by strolling from stall to stall, tasting a little bit of everything, and discovering new flavors. In Kota Kinabalu, several night markets are set up, although the most famous ones are along the waterfront.

And you'll not only experience prepared local dishes, but you'll also see fresh food stalls as if it were a supermarket... Fish market, butcher shop, and everything you can think of. It's quite unique, but be ready as it sometimes smells a bit "intense" haha.

Although I've already mentioned the best places to visit in Malaysian Borneo, on such a large island, there are bound to be more interesting plans. Therefore, I'll share some additional things you can do in the area:

As I mentioned at the beginning of the post, in addition to showing you the gems that Malaysian Borneo has, I will also give you some ideas to explore the cooler part of Indonesia. For me, these are the 3 best plans you can do in Indonesian Borneo:

Now that you know what the coolest places in Borneo are, I'll leave you with a map with all the saved points so you can locate them when you need to .

I hope this comprehensive post has helped you organize your route around the island and provided you with insight into the best things to do in Borneo (Malaysia).