Borneo Holidays
The third largest island in the world calls out to adventurers, promising a bounty of natural beauty unlike anything you’ve seen before. Take in immense views: see jungle-wrapped mountains and swathes of white sand. Stare up at the world’s tallest tropical tree and look down at the biggest flower to bloom anywhere.
Our cheapest holidays to Borneo
A big island with big impact
Zoom into the island’s tangled wildlife, where little wonders also await.
Sun bears and pygmy elephants – both the smallest of their species – prompt plenty of ‘awws’ from those lucky enough to see them. Other elusive residents of the rainforests include those ‘men of the jungle’, Bornean orangutans. Listen for their lingering calls and you might just glimpse a wisp of red hair poking out between jungle vines.
Borneo’s natural landscapes, from rivers to cloud forests to mountain tops, are beautiful because they’re unbridled. Critically endangered animals live here and delicate ecosystems operate. Respect the rainforests and their inhabitants. Never approach animals or try to feed them. Let Borneo reveal itself to you, and you might just learn a thing or two. Book now.
Carefully selected Borneo holidays
Best hotels in Borneo for all types of traveller
If you’re dreaming of a Borneo holiday full of lush nature and lavish relaxation, Shangri-La's Rasa Ria Resort sits on 400 acres of paradise, including its own private beach and nature reserve. Explore the rainforest with a guide and then dig your toes into soft sand as you watch the sun sink behind the South China Sea. Shangri-La Tanjung Aru is also surrounded by nature. Toast to your holiday as the sun goes down and see the sky ablaze with pinks and purples from the resort’s aptly named Sunset Bar.
Stay in Kota Kinabalu city centre to be close to restaurants and markets as well as within easy reach of national parks. Hyatt Regency Kinabalu sits on the waterfront, just half a mile on foot from Jesselton Point Ferry Terminal. Admire sea views from the poolside bar or admire chefs whipping up Malaysian dishes at the live station in Tanjung Ria Kitchen. Le Meridien Kota Kinabalu is around one mile from the ferry terminal, also boasting waterfront views from its rooftop bar. Further into the city is Hilton Kota Kinabalu with its dramatic chandelier-filled lobby, its outdoor pool and its rooftop seafood restaurant.
Borneo holiday FAQs
- At Sabah’s capital Kota Kinabalu you can hop between malls, markets and museums. Stand on Signal Hill Observatory Platform and look beyond high rises to the islands of Tunku Abdul Rahman National Park. Back on street level, marvel at the city mosque reflected in its lagoon and visit Sabah Museum. As the sun goes down, the night market starts to bustle. Browse hawker stalls sagging under piles of fresh seafood and smell BBQ smoke hanging in the air.
- Tunku Abdul Rahman National Park is made up of five tropical islands fringed by beaches and coral reefs. Charter a boat from Jesselton Point to Pulau Manukan, an island shaped like a crescent moon, and head straight to the long stretch of sand on its east coast. Make your next stop Pulau Gaya, flaunting mangrove swamps and glittering bays. Then, if the tide is low enough, walk over the sandbank that connects Paula Gaya to Pulau Sapi for even more beach hopping.
- Climb through forests on Mount Kinabalu in Kinabalu Park. Walk under a canopy of ferns and look for a Rafflesia arnoldii, the largest flower in the world. Wade through wisps of mist in the cloud forest and make your way to the moss-covered sub alpine meadow. Higher up, look out for orchids poking their heads up from polished granite as you head towards the windswept summit. This is the highest peak in Southeast Asia. It’s also sacred to the local Kadazan-Dusun people who believe their ancestors’ spirits live on the mountain.
- The huge Danum Valley Conservation Area in eastern Sabah is home to pygmy elephants, sun bears, clouded leopards and orangutans. Towering above them all are vine-draped trees, including the tallest tropical tree in the world. Explore the 130-million-year-old jungle in the morning to find its treetops full of mist and birdsong. This is untouched rainforest – Borneo at its wildest – where researchers (including David Attenborough himself) flock to study.
- Tanjung Aru Beach in Kota Kinabalu is famous for its sunsets. Head here as the sun starts to sink behind the sea and, if you’re lucky, you could see the sky painted in fuchsia, magenta or cotton-candy pink – it’ll feel like you’re literally seeing the world through rose-tinted glasses. In the nearby aru trees, tropical birds such as blue-naped parrots and Java sparrows might take a perch to watch the sunset. Or maybe they’ll turn their attention to the bustling vendors serving up tall cups of juice and grilled skewers at the sand’s edge.
Why choose British Airways Vacations?
The British Airways experience is more than a flight.
We offer carefully chosen hotels, resorts and villas in the most amazing places, and car rental with no hidden extras. Our access to the extensive British Airways global network and oneworld® alliance puts us in a unique position to create packages with convenient flights across the globe. From start to finish consider your vacation taken care of.
Small deposits
Secure your vacation with a small deposit and spread the cost with flexible installments.
Baggage allowance
All of our vacation packages include a generous checked baggage allowance.
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