Tailor-made family holidays in Borneo. Combine wildlife spotting with soft adventure in Borneo to create the perfect trip with the family.
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Borneo's wildlife is one of the main draws for families
It is the Malaysian owned area of Sabah that has the most to offer for a family holiday.
Some injections will be required for spending time in the jungle, and it is over 12 hours of flying to get there, but there is plenty to keep children entertained once you have arrived.
Sabah is the perfect place to combine wildlife spotting with soft adventure. At the Danum Valley you walk through the jungle listening for rustlings overhead, and the wildlife spotting comes with a sense of achievement. On the Kinabatangan River the wildlife is easier to spot as proboscis monkeys come to the river banks as dusk falls to build their nests for the night. You can see them as your boat drifts past, and you have the chance to spot orang-utan, pygmy elephants and hornbills as well.
The islands off Sabah offer fantastic opportunities for diving and snorkelling, and Lankayan and Turtle Island offer the chance for turtle watching as well.
There are some great resorts offering kids clubs and other activities specifically designed for children. Another good thing about Sabah is that the weather is at it's best during the school holidays. There will always be some rain in the rainforest, but April to September has the lowest rainfall and the most hours of sunshine, so is perfect at this time of year.
First Class
This is an ideal place to stay in a comfortable room in a hotel with plenty of facilities and the opportunity to visit the resort's own nature reserve and see orang-utan.
Simple
Situated on Borneo's famous Kinabatangan River, Abai Jungle Lodge has an excellent position one hours boat journey from Sandakan and a similar time from Sukau village further upriver. Only...
Medium
At the heart of the Danum Valley Conservation Area lies the Borneo Rainforest Lodge. Several spacious bungalows have been built along the river and are connected by a wooden walkway....
Basic
Spending a night with one of the Iban tribes in their traditional longhouse home provides an experience unlike any other. You will probably sleep on the floor in the communal living area...
The island of Lankayan takes less than half an hour to walk around on the idyllic white sandy beach, which means you can easily watch the spectacular sunsets and sunrises from your balcony,...
Go in search of sambar deer, giant squirrels, sleeping proboscis monkeys and other primates as well as some birds. Particularly lucky visitors might see nesting orang-utan, elephants and even leopard cats.
See examples of traditional dwellings built by different peoples of Sarawak, from Orang Ulu and Bidayuh, to Iban and Melanau, as well as Malay and Chinese houses.
The centre rehabilitates orphaned orang-utan and those that have been held in captivity. The centre is set amidst dense jungle and you can take a walk into the jungle to see them in their natural environment.
11 days from £2,755pp
This is a great trip for those wanting to get off the beaten track. A mix of history, culture, wildlife and jungle, there is also plenty of trekking to be done for the more active traveller. Starting in the colonial city of Kuching, you will then be thrown into the heart of the jungle and the legendary ‘Headhunter’ territory.
18 days from £3,485pp
This comprehensive itinerary will take you through the best of Sarawak and Sabah, exploring tribal heartlands, jungle regions, and remote rivers, travelling by boat and exploring on foot. Highlights include Batang Ai with its headhunter tribes, Mulu’s underground cave systems, the orang-utan of Sepilok, and the hornbills of Tabin Wildlife Reserve. Finish all this with a relaxing stay on the tropical paradise of Gaya Island.
12 days from £3,485pp
Explore Borneo's most remote rainforest spending five days trekking with expert guides from camp to camp through the Maliau Basin. Then relax and enjoy Mataking Island's superb diving, snorkelling and beaches.