Borneo Tours & Trips
Ever dreamed of going to the Sepilok Rehabilitation Center to see orangutans swing through the trees or exploring the huge limestone cathedral in Gomantung Cave? Take a boat ride down the Kinabatangan River, where pygmy elephants come to drink, or hike through the jungles near Bilit, where hornbills call overhead. Borneo is another world, and it’s calling you.
Excellent
- Choose from 50+ Borneo tours
- 150+ verified reviews from TourRadar travelers
- 24/7 customer support
- B
Brett • traveled in March
We were really looking forward to this trip , and it didn’t disappoint. From start to finish we had the best time . The orangutans were amazing as well as everything else we saw . Our guide Sevi was so knowledgeable, we enjoyed talking with him. Our guide on the river tour was Leo and again, a lovely guy, friendly and knowledgeable too. Overall we are pleased we did the trips .. Deb and Brett
Sandakan Orangutan Experience 4D/3N - T
Thomas • traveled in April
We started with a disappointment because the weather prevented us from going to Bako N.P. But by ghe end of the trip we had a very ling list of wildlife sightings & experiences. Our guide was wonderful!
Borneo Wildlife Discoverer - D
Debra • traveled in May, 2025
The tour guide, animals, accommodation and people were great! But the admin organisation of G Adventures could be a bit better.
Highlights of Sabah & Mt Kinabalu
Table of contents
- The best Borneo tour packages
- Travel Borneo your way
- Best tour companies for Borneo tours
- Best places to start your Borneo tour
- Discover Borneo tours for every budget
- Borneo tours for every type of group
- Top Borneo travel itineraries to fit your plans
- Demographics
- Best time to visit Borneo
- Contact our Borneo travel experts
The best Borneo tour packages
Compiled by
MelissaBorneo travel expert at TourRadar
Sandakan Orangutan Experience 4D/3N
9 Reviews by TourRadar travelers“From start to finish we had the best time. The orangutans were amazing as well as everything else we saw.”
Brett, traveled in March
Borneo's biodiversity comes alive at Sepilok Orangutan Centre and sun bear sanctuary. Bilit Adventure Lodge provides a riverside base for Kinabatangan's wildlife cruises. The trip features jungle treks, canopy walks, and visits to Sandakan's War Memorial Park.
Duration 4 days Destinations Sandakan Age Range Ages 10+ Operator Bamba Travel From
- US$778
Borneo Wildlife Discoverer
18 Reviews by TourRadar travelers“To see a wild orangutan in the forest were they should be and a sighting of a wild Cloud Leopard with Cub.”
Keith, traveled in May
The award-winning Borneo Rainforest Lodge and Nature Lodge Kinabatangan welcome nature enthusiasts. Highlights include Sepilok Orangutan Centre, Mulu National Park's caves, and Mount Kinabalu. River safaris at Kinabatangan Wildlife Sanctuary and authentic longhouse visits complete the adventure.
Duration 15 days Destinations Kuching, Bako National Park, Gunung Mulu National Park, Miri, Kota Kinabalu, Mount Kinabalu National Park, Sandakan, Kinabatangan Wildlife Sanctuary Age Range Ages 16+ Operator Exodus Adventure Travels From $5,998
20% Off- US$4,800You save $1,198
Borneo & the Malaysian Peninsula
2 Reviews by TourRadar travelers“Great sights, great food, and cultural immersion in distinct cities make for an unforgettable experience.”
Philip, traveled in April
Wildlife viewing peaks at Sepilok Orangutan Sanctuary and along Kinabatangan River, home to pygmy elephants. Borneo Sepilok Rainforest Resort and Borneo Natural Sukau Bilit Resort host guests for dawn cruises and night walks.
Duration 14 days Destinations Sepilok, Sandakan, Sukau, Pulau Langkawi Age Range Ages 16+ Operator Exodus Adventure Travels From $4,048
20% Off- US$3,240You save $808
Borneo Sarawak and Sabah Discovery
9 Reviews by TourRadar travelers“The whole experience was wonderful.”
Petula, traveled in October
Remarkable wildlife encounters await at Sepilok Orang-utan Sanctuary, along Kinabatangan River, and throughout Tabin Wildlife Reserve. Comfortable lodges including Tabin Wildlife Resort provide perfect bases for spotting endemic species during guided night walks and river safaris.
Duration 16 days Destinations Kota Kinabalu, Mount Kinabalu National Park, Poring, Sepilok Age Range Ages 16+ Operator Explore! From
20% Off- US$5,530
Sepilok Orangutan Centre and Mulu National Park's bat caves showcase Borneo's natural diversity. Premium Kinabatangan Wetlands Resort and Nanga Sumpa Lodge offer wildlife viewing and Iban cultural experiences. Internal flights connect Kuching's vibrant markets with Sandakan's conservation centers.
Duration 12 days Destinations Kuching, Batang Ai National Park, Gunung Mulu National Park, Kota Kinabalu, Kinabatangan Wildlife Sanctuary, Sandakan Age Range Ages 15+ Operator Intrepid Premium From $5,660
20% Off- US$4,528You save $1,132
Highlights of Sabah & Mt Kinabalu
17 Reviews by TourRadar travelers“It was well paced, well organised and enjoyable. I would use g adventures again.”
Robert, traveled in July
Wildlife encounters at Sepilok Orangutan Centre and Kinabatangan River complement Mt Kinabalu's summit challenge (4,095m). Accommodation varies from jungle lodges to Tambatuon village homestays, while Turtle Island's conservation center educates visitors. River safaris, guided hikes, and internal flights included.
Duration 11 days Destinations Kota Kinabalu, Kundasang, Kinabatangan Wildlife Sanctuary, Sandakan, Pulau Libaran, Mount Kinabalu National Park Age Range Ages 12+ Operator G Adventures From $2,549
25% Off- US$1,912You save $637
Duration 5 days Destinations Kuching, Sri Aman, Bako National Park Age Range All Ages Welcome Operator On The Go Tours From
25% Off- US$1,170
Travel Borneo your way
Best tour companies for Borneo tours
Looking at the main tour operators in Borneo, Intrepid Travel comes out particularly strong with their family tours. Our travelers consistently mention their guide Sheila, who brings deep local knowledge and keeps everything running smoothly. The Borneo Family Comfort tour seems to hit all the right notes for both parents and kids. Exodus Travels delivers solid experiences too, especially on their Wildlife Discoverer program where guide Lee gets lots of praise for sharing detailed insights about Borneo's ecosystems and wildlife. That said, a few of our customers noted some hiccups with local partners and occasional schedule changes that weren't communicated well. Bamba Experience sits somewhere in the middle - their guide Nostalia earns good marks for knowing her stuff and crafting interesting routes. But we've heard from several travelers about communication gaps, rooms that didn't quite match expectations and guides that varied quite a bit in quality from trip to trip. For better odds of a smooth trip, I'd lean toward Intrepid or Exodus as your main options. They've built up reliable local networks over the years, and their guides really understand how to adapt the pace and content for different groups. Just keep in mind that even with these operators, Borneo's remote nature means some flexibility is good to have when plans need adjusting.
Best places to start your Borneo tour
Most people kick off their Borneo trip from Kota Kinabalu - we've launched 23 tours from there lately, while Kuching saw 18 departures and Kuala Lumpur handled another 6 tours. We've learned that booking around 51 days ahead works really well; it gives you time to lock in good dates and grab spots at the better wildlife lodges and homestays. Our travelers consistently tell us that morning river cruises give you the best shots at seeing wildlife, though evening tours are great for spotting nocturnal creatures. If you want to really get to know Borneo, think about exploring both Sabah, Sarawak and also both regions - our guests find that 10-14 days hits the sweet spot for seeing everything from orangutan sanctuaries to traditional longhouses.
Discover Borneo tours for every budget
Borneo tours for every type of group
Who are you traveling with?
Top Borneo travel itineraries to fit your plans
Demographics
Solo Travelers44 tours- Couples34 tours
- Young Adults (18 - 39)5 tours
- Seniors (50+)24 tours
Best time to visit Borneo
- Winter 2025 / 2026
The winter river tours in Borneo really shine when water levels are just right. Our travelers love combining time at Sepilok's orangutan sanctuary with cruises on the Kinabatangan River - it's pretty common to spot wild orangutans, proboscis monkeys and also crocodiles right from the boat. For those wanting more, we've got tours that take you through Bako National Park's trails and into the massive Mulu caves, where the evening bat exodus looks extra special in the crisp winter air. If you're into photography, you'll get plenty of chances to capture hornbills, macaques and also gibbons in their natural habitat. Many guests tell us they didn't expect the traditional longhouse stays to be such a highlight of their wildlife trip, but they often end up being a favorite part.
- 23 tours
- popular 34 tours
- December 2026 25 tours
- Spring 2026
Spring tours in Borneo mix nature and culture in really practical ways. Most trips start with some nice treks in Kinabalu National Park before heading over to Sepilok and the Kinabatangan area. The spring weather works perfectly for doing river safaris in the morning and rainforest walks later in the day - our guests love seeing wildlife from both angles. If you've got more time, the Sarawak tours are worth considering; you'll explore Santubong Peninsula's mangroves and join some pretty interesting night walks in Kubah National Park. The Bidayuh village stays add a genuine cultural element that fits naturally with all the nature experiences.
- popular 42 tours
- 34 tours
- 39 tours
- Summer 2026
In summer, you get longer daylight hours which really helps with spotting wildlife. Our most popular trips combine Sepilok Orangutan Centre visits with several days along the Kinabatangan River, and travelers consistently tell us they see lots of wild orangutans and pygmy elephants. For active types, we've got guided walks through Tabin Wildlife Reserve and visits to the Sun Bear centre. Summer's perfect for our bigger tours covering both Sabah and Sarawak - you'll stay in a mix of comfy lodges and traditional longhouses while hitting all the main spots. Many people like finishing up on Langkawi or Borneo's beaches, which makes sense after all that wildlife watching.
- 37 tours
- 39 tours
- popular 40 tours
- Fall / Autumn 2026
Autumn brings some nice conditions for exploring Borneo's different environments. The Kinabatangan River tours work really well because lower water levels mean more animals gather near the riverbanks - it's pretty normal for our travelers to spot several orangutan families during just one river cruise. Longer tours include both Sepilok and Semenggoh sanctuaries, giving you two different ways to learn about orangutan conservation. Our trekking tours in autumn combine walks in Kinabalu Park with visits to local villages and tea plantations, which active travelers really enjoy. Photographers particularly like this time of year; the morning light along the river is perfect for getting good shots of proboscis monkeys, hornbills and also other wildlife.
- popular 38 tours
- 38 tours
- 26 tours
Contact our Borneo travel experts
Esteban
Expert in Borneo at TourRadar
Esteban is one of our seasoned Borneo Travel Experts. Reach out to us to get all your questions about Borneo tours answered!
- Choose from 71+ Borneo tours
- 194 verified reviews by TourRadar customers
- 24/7 customer support
Call us
+1 844 311 8331