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Borneo with kids

Travelling in Borneo with kids is certainly suited for the more intrepid family - but you don't need to be hardened jungle adventurers to enjoy a family holiday in Borneo. The long haul flight will be the toughest part for many, but once you arrive, the abundant wildlife, cultural experiences and superb accommodation mean you can relax, enjoy and create memories to last a lifetime.

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Travelling in Borneo with kids

Borneo's abundant wildlife, child-friendly resorts and dreamy beaches have placed it squarely on the family holiday map – but remember; it's no zoo.

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.

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Activities for families

Learn all about the orangutan

Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre is Borneo’s orangutan capital – and one of the only places you’re virtually guaranteed to see them. Come during the twice-daily feeding sessions to watch them come down from the trees to the feeding platform, and see playful macaques bouncing around. Kids really will learn about conservation in action.

Explore the shallows

Borneo has some of the most hyped scuba diving spots in the world – but little ones can make the most of the underwater wonders by snorkelling in the shallows around the many idyllic islands – looking out for colourful reef fish, blue-spotted rays – and perhaps even the odd turtle...

Turtle hatcheries

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.

Travel Team

If you'd like to chat about Borneo or need help finding a holiday to suit you we're very happy to help.

01273 823 700

Calling us from outside the UK?

rosy@responsibletravel.com

01273 823 700

Calling us from outside the UK?

rosy@responsibletravel.com

Tips for families

Nicki Hollamby is a Borneo expert from our tailor made holiday specialist Audley Travel. Here are her tips on visiting Borneo with kids: “If I was doing a family trip, I’d spend half the time in Sarawak because you can base yourself in Kuching and do daytrips. It’s a brilliant city with plenty of character, and it’s more of a cultural capital. Whereas in Sabah, it’s all wildlife and beach. In Sarawak you can stay overnight with communities, which – when done properly – is really great for both the tourists and the tribes. Then you can go kayaking through the mangroves looking for the river dolphins and visit Bako National Park, but it’s a daytrip so it’s not too intense for kids. Then you come back to your comfortable hotel in the evening, go out and eat some of the local food, go to the markets... but you’re not really isolated in the rainforest, and I think that’s really good for families.”

Daniel Waters is a Borneo expert at our friends Wild Frontiers. He offers advice on travelling in Borneo with kids: “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.”

More about Borneo

Best time to visit Borneo

The best time to visit Borneo is during the drier months of April to September, but as our month by month guide reveals, there are a number of things to take into consideration.

Borneo travel guide

Borneo has enticed travellers, biologists, anthropologists and photographers for decades. Our Borneo travel guide takes you to the world's third largest island.

Borneo highlights

Borneo is divided between the Malaysian provinces of Sabah and Sarawak, Indonesian Kalimantan and the Kingdom of Brunei. Read our guide on where to go in Borneo.

Things to do in Borneo

There is such a variety of things to do in Borneo - the difficulty is knowing where to start. We've picked out of top activities across each region of Borneo.

Things to see & do in Sabah, Borneo

Sabah is sublime. One of the most bio-diverse regions in Asia, it boasts mountain ranges, rainforests, marine national parks and a vast cultural heritage.

Things to see & do in Sarawak, Borneo

Sarawak is one state among many in Borneo, but it is one where the stories - from orangutan rescue to indigenous tales - just keep coming.

Things to see & do in Kalimantan

Kalimantan is Indonesian Borneo. The same size as Botswana, it is most famous for its rainforests and resident orangutans. Read more in our Kalimantan guide.

Wildlife in Borneo

With so many untouched areas of rainforest, mangroves and mountains, there are primates and predators, elephants and birds everywhere. Read more in our Borneo wildlife guide.

First time travellers to Borneo

First time travellers to Borneo might find themselves overwhelmed with options - where to go, what to do and see.

Borneo travel advice

Here's our Borneo travel advice - for fans of turtles, wannabe volunteers and those who want to get that bit further off the beaten track...

Responsible tourism in Borneo

There's bad news (immense deforestation) and good (volunteer placements). Read more about responsible tourism in Borneo to find out how to make the most of your holiday.