Borneo with kids

Malaysia is far more accessible and family-friendly, with easier flights, better equipped hotels and more developed infrastructure. Sabah – with its desert islands, orangutan rehabilitation centre and river cruises – is the easiest region to travel round, although Sarawak has delightful cultural experiences to entertain and inspire small minds. Indonesia is for the more courageous family only; those travelling with small children may have a hard time due to its inaccessibility, rustic accommodation and lack of English. Wherever you travel in Borneo with kids, preparation is key – bring bug spray, sun screen, on-the-go-entertainment, and a boundless sense of humour.

The turtle hatcheries found on many of Sabah’s islands, including Selingan, Pom Pom and Lankayan, protect the eggs from predators until the tiny hatchlings emerge. They are then released onto the beach to make their way to the sea – kids can watch them crawl across the sand, and know these little creatures may be swimming in these seas for another 80 years. Read up on how to tell a good hatchery from a bad one; it can be surprisingly tricky.

“It’s a pretty safe destination to travel to; resorts and hotels tend to be kept to a pretty high standard. It’s a lot easier to travel round than you might suspect. There are lodges that look after children very well, and KK (Kota Kinabalu) is a wonderful city for children, it’s very inclusive and approachable. In more offbeat areas where there aren’t so many facilities it would be more difficult, but on the whole it’s a great destination for families. There is a lot of walking involved to get the most out of Borneo, so as long as the kids are able to cope with that they’ll be fine. There are different itineraries though – you can do quite an easy Sabah itinerary suitable for any age, but if you’re going into Sarawak, which is a bit more off the beaten path, or into the caves, then young children might be a bit of an issue.”