Borneo,
stop by stop.
Kuching, the caves of Mulu, Mount Kinabalu, the orangutans of Sepilok, the Kinabatangan river and the dive sites off Semporna, on the Malaysian side of the third-largest island in the world: the map, what is worth booking, everything that costs nothing, and where to sleep at three budgets.
By PierrickLocal Guide ★8 · 14M+ views on Google MapsBy PierrickLocal Guide ★8 · 14M+ Maps views
📄 Borneo guide: weather, budget, what to avoid and FAQBorneo guide: weather, budget, FAQ →
Kuching · Photo hartono subagio / Pexels
The full tour in Borneo
Kuching
Mulu
Kota Kinabalu
Sepilok
Sukau (Kinabatangan River)
Semporna
"Book" (hotels), "via GetYourGuide" (activities) and "Rent" (car) are affiliate links (Booking, GetYourGuide). Prices, distances and times are approximate.
Altitude of the stops
The route changes altitude markedly from one stop to the next: from 0 m to 3 951 m. So you know in advance where you'll feel short of breath, and where you won't notice a thing.
- Parc marin Tunku Abdul Rahman0 m
- Kota Kinabalu7 m
- Front de mer de Kuching7 m
- Rivière Kinabatangan16 m
- Rivière Kinabatangan16 m
- Sipadan18 m
- Île de Sipadan18 m
- Sepilok19 m
- Centre d'orangs-outans de Sepilok19 m
- Gunung Mulu28 m
- Grottes de Gunung Mulu28 m
- Parc national de Bako88 m
- Mont Kinabalu3 951 m
- Mont Kinabalu3 951 m
Altitudes measured at each stop (Open-Meteo, Copernicus terrain model). Above 2 500 m, the body starts to feel the lack of oxygen: these stops are flagged. If in doubt, talk to your doctor before you leave.
Take this plan everywhere
The full PDF guide (Borneo): map, day-by-day stops, hotels by budget and insider tips. Free and available offline.
Don't feel like organising everything? A local partner travel agent can set it all up for you (flights, hotels, activities). We pass on your preferences and they call you back. Free and with no obligation.
Good to know before you go
🍽️ Must-try food
Nasi lemak
rice cooked in coconut milk, with sambal. The national dish.
Laksa
spicy noodle soup, with curry or with tamarind.
Char kway teow
Photo Foodi-elaine / CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)flat rice noodles stir-fried over a fierce flame.
Roti canai
flaky flatbread, dipped in curry.
Satay, and durian for the brave.
⚠️ Best avoided
- Cover shoulders and legs in mosques.
- Book rides through Grab rather than hailing taxis in the street.
- Drink bottled water, and more of it than you think.
- Use your right hand, and take your shoes off before entering a home.
Have you thought of…?
The little details that make all the difference once you're there.
