Dec → Feb
28 to 29°
nights 23 to 24°
- 21 rainy days · 213 mm
- sea 29°
When is the best time to visit Borneo?
- Jan28°not recommended
- Feb29°fair
- Mar29°recommended
- Apr30°recommended
- May30°recommended
- Jun30°recommended
- Jul30°recommended
- Aug30°recommended
- Sep29°fair
- Oct29°not recommended
- Nov29°not recommended
- Dec29°not recommended
RecommendedFairNot recommended· afternoon temperature
The weather in Borneo, month by month
The table of records, month by month
| Month | High | Low | Rainfall | Rainy days | Sea | Best |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 28° | 24° | 253 mm | 22 d | 29° | |
| February | 29° | 23° | 102 mm | 16 d | 29° | |
| March | 29° | 24° | 116 mm | 19 d | 29° | ✓ |
| April | 30° | 25° | 154 mm | 21 d | 30° | ✓ |
| May | 30° | 25° | 267 mm | 24 d | 31° | ✓ |
| June | 30° | 25° | 229 mm | 21 d | 31° | ✓ |
| July | 30° | 25° | 221 mm | 21 d | 30° | ✓ |
| August | 30° | 25° | 231 mm | 21 d | 31° | ✓ |
| September | 29° | 24° | 284 mm | 23 d | 30° | |
| October | 29° | 24° | 353 mm | 27 d | 30° | |
| November | 29° | 24° | 269 mm | 25 d | 30° | |
| December | 29° | 24° | 283 mm | 26 d | 30° |
The four seasons in Borneo, in figures
What the 2015-2024 records (Kota Kinabalu) show, season by season, to compare at a glance instead of reading twelve rows of a table.
Mar → May
29 to 30°
nights 24 to 25°
- 21 rainy days · 179 mm
- sea 30°
Jun → Aug
30°
nights 25°
- 21 rainy days · 227 mm
- sea 31°
Sep → Nov
29°
nights 24°
- 25 rainy days · 302 mm
- sea 30°
Book early for March to August
The timing is right, so it is right for everyone: in these months the best places to stay and the small-group tours go first. Here is where to start.
Some links are affiliate links: we may earn a commission, at no extra cost to you. The selection does not depend on these links.
What to do in Borneo, month by month
EventsPesta KaamatanMayGawai DayakJuneRainforest World Music FestivalJulyGreen turtle nestingJuly to OctoberDetails ↓
favourablewith compromisesunfavourable
Beach & swimming: good conditions all twelve months.
Diving & snorkelling: good conditions all twelve months.
Grid derived from the records (temperature, rainfall, sea), not from an opinion.
What's on in Borneo, month by month?
What comes back every year, and when. Exact dates change from year to year, so check them before you book.
- MayPesta Kaamatan
Sabah celebrates the rice harvest throughout May, with sumazau dances, rice wine and the Unduk Ngadau pageant.
- JuneGawai Dayak
The longhouses of Sarawak celebrate the end of the harvest in early June, serving tuak and keeping open house for several days in a row.
- JulyRainforest World Music Festival
The Sarawak Cultural Village at Santubong, near Kuching, hosts three days of world music and workshops in July.
- July to OctoberGreen turtle nesting
Green turtles nest on the Selingan islets all year round, but they are most numerous from July to October.
Travelling off-peak
Month by month, in detail
January
Not recommended28°24° at night
- 253 mm · 22 d
- sea 29°
Low season, lower prices
February
Fair29°23° at night
- 102 mm · 16 d
- sea 29°
Low season, lower prices
March
Recommended29°24° at night
- 116 mm · 19 d
- sea 29°
Busy, without the crush
April
Recommended30°25° at night
- 154 mm · 21 d
- sea 30°
Busy, without the crush
May
Recommended30°25° at night
- 267 mm · 24 d
- sea 31°
Busy, without the crush
June
Recommended30°25° at night
- 229 mm · 21 d
- sea 31°
Busy, without the crush
July
Recommended30°25° at night
- 221 mm · 21 d
- sea 30°
High season, book early
August
Recommended30°25° at night
- 231 mm · 21 d
- sea 31°
High season, book early
September
Fair29°24° at night
- 284 mm · 23 d
- sea 30°
Low season, lower prices
October
Not recommended29°24° at night
- 353 mm · 27 d
- sea 30°
Low season, lower prices
November
Not recommended29°24° at night
- 269 mm · 25 d
- sea 30°
Low season, lower prices
December
Not recommended29°24° at night
- 283 mm · 26 d
- sea 30°
Quiet, then the holidays
Read the twelve months in detail
January. 28 °C in the afternoon and 24 °C at night. A very wet month, 253 mm of rain over 22 days. The sea is at 29 °C, a proper swim. Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
February. 29 °C in the afternoon and 23 °C at night. Frequent rain: 102 mm over 16 days. The sea is at 29 °C, a proper swim. Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
March. 29 °C in the afternoon and 24 °C at night. Frequent rain: 116 mm over 19 days. The sea is at 29 °C, a proper swim. Busy season, without the crush.
April. 30 °C in the afternoon and 25 °C at night. Frequent rain: 154 mm over 21 days. The sea is at 30 °C, a proper swim. Busy season, without the crush.
May. 30 °C in the afternoon and 25 °C at night. Frequent rain: 267 mm over 24 days. The sea is at 31 °C, a proper swim. Busy season, without the crush.
June. 30 °C in the afternoon and 25 °C at night. Frequent rain: 229 mm over 21 days. The sea is at 31 °C, a proper swim. Busy season, without the crush.
July. 30 °C in the afternoon and 25 °C at night. Frequent rain: 221 mm over 21 days. The sea is at 30 °C, a proper swim. High season: book early.
August. 30 °C in the afternoon and 25 °C at night. Frequent rain: 231 mm over 21 days. The sea is at 31 °C, a proper swim. High season: book early.
September. 29 °C in the afternoon and 24 °C at night. Frequent rain: 284 mm over 23 days. The sea is at 30 °C, a proper swim. Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
October. 29 °C in the afternoon and 24 °C at night. A very wet month, 353 mm of rain over 27 days. The sea is at 30 °C, a proper swim. Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
November. 29 °C in the afternoon and 24 °C at night. A very wet month, 269 mm of rain over 25 days. The sea is at 30 °C, a proper swim. Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
December. 29 °C in the afternoon and 24 °C at night. A very wet month, 283 mm of rain over 26 days. The sea is at 30 °C, a proper swim. Quiet at the start of the month, then busier as the holidays approach.
Same season, other ideas
Their best time overlaps with this one: worth comparing before you book.
Frequently asked questions
When is the best time to visit Borneo?
March to August: over these months, recorded highs range from 29 to 30 °C, with 21 days of rain a month on average (2015-2024 records, Kota Kinabalu).
Which month should you avoid in Borneo?
October: it is the wettest of the months to avoid, with 353 mm over 27 days of rain on average, according to 2015-2024 records at the reference point (Kota Kinabalu).
What is the hottest month in Borneo?
April, with 30 °C on average in the afternoon and 25 °C at night. 2015-2024 records (Kota Kinabalu).
What is the coldest month in Borneo?
January, with 28 °C at best during the day and 24 °C at night. 2015-2024 records (Kota Kinabalu).
What is the driest month in Borneo?
February: 102 mm over 16 days of rain, against 353 mm in October, the wettest month.
When can you swim in Borneo?
The water never drops below 22 °C: from 29 to 31 °C depending on the month (warmest in May), measured in 2023-2024 on the nearest coast (Kota Kinabalu).
Plan this trip
📒 The free printable Borneo guide: itinerary, map, where to sleep→
🧭 When to visit Malaysia: the country overview→
🗓️ Best time to visit: all our destinations→
Compare with other destinations
Photos: Dana Englich / Pexels · TitiNicola / CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons) · Dylan Chan / Pexels · Tim Morgan / Pexels · Ian Gabaraev / Pexels