Borneo family travel guide

This is definitely one for more adventurous families – but having said that, it’s easier than you think. Yes, the flight is long and there’s jetlag and pre-departure vaccinations to contend with. But once you get there, it’s easy and safe to get around, with options for everyone from pre-schoolers to teenagers, so you can enjoy the rainforests and beaches with no worries.

Those with older kids can get stuck into action-packed activities, while those who want to take things a little easier can soak up the atmosphere, scenery and local culture, with time spent relaxing on the beach built in too. Some of our trips will have a suggested minimum age depending on the type of activities involved and how far off the beaten track you’re going.

Holidays to Borneo are all about getting outdoors, getting active and viewing wildlife. Your itinerary will take you to national parks, nature reserves and beaches, and you’ll have anything from a week to two weeks to explore, depending on which itinerary you go for. Younger children will love river cruises and spotting monkeys and other animals, while older children and teens can traverse the jungle via ropeways or rush down rivers on a white water rafting or tubing experience.

You’ll stay in locally owned and often family-run accommodations where your hosts are immersed in their communities, meaning they can rely on personal connections built over years to provide you with top tips on what to do, from the best city museums, to where to get a mean laksa. A highlight for many is the chance to stay in a traditional longhouse in an Iban community in Sarawak, where you cook and share food with your hosts and bed down in a communal sleeping area under mosquito nets.

On our dedicated volunteering holidays, you’ll live and work alongside other volunteers and members of the Orang Sungai tribe as you monitor wildlife and plant trees to regenerate the jungle.

Borneo hovers between 27-32°C year-round, with frequent rains replenishing its green jungles. If the kids are in school, the best time for a family holiday to Borneo is over the Easter or summer break, both of which fall under the April to September dry season. The dry season is also the best time for viewing orangutans in the wild, while June to September is peak turtle watching time on Lankayan Island. Bear in mind that July and August are the country’s busiest periods, so you’ll have to plan accordingly and book flights and accommodation well in advance.