Getting around (and to) Borneo
How to get to Borneo and get around locally
Getting around Borneo is part of the experience, and you’ll use a mix of transport along the way, from domestic flights and private transfers to boats winding along jungle rivers. Each journey gives you a different glimpse of the island and helps make the trip feel like an adventure in its own right.
We’ll plan your route with your family in mind, keeping journeys manageable and building in plenty of time to explore and relax. Your travel specialist will talk you through how you’ll get from A to B, so you’ll know what to expect, even if you’re travelling with particularly fidgety little passengers!
Getting to Borneo
There are no direct flights from the UK to Borneo, so you’ll need to make at least one stop along the way. For families, we recommend looking for routes with sensible connection times, so you can keep the journey as smooth as possible. Popular options include flying from London Heathrow via Kuala Lumpur, Singapore or Hong Kong, before connecting to Kota Kinabalu, Kuching or Sandakan.
If you’re heading to Sandakan, you can also connect from Kuala Lumpur with AirAsia, which can be a more budget-friendly option. Airlines such as Qatar Airways and Emirates offer other routes if you don’t mind a couple of stops. Return flights from the UK typically cost around £800–£900 per person in high season, although cheaper fares can sometimes be found outside peak periods. Your travel specialist can help find the best route for your family, taking into account your budget, travel dates and, importantly, how many connections you really want to tackle with the kids.
Domestic flights in Borneo
If your family holiday takes you to both Sarawak and Sabah, flying is by far the easiest way to travel between the two. The alternative is a long road journey, so these short domestic flights save valuable holiday time and are generally very reasonably priced. The flight from Kuching in Sarawak to Sabah takes around 1.5 hours, making it easy to experience both sides of Malaysian Borneo.
The main airports are Kuching, Kota Kinabalu and Sandakan, with domestic routes operated by airlines including Malaysia Airlines, Firefly and AirAsia. Your travel specialist will arrange the most convenient flights for your itinerary, including checked luggage and airport transfers where needed, so you can simply sit back and enjoy the journey.
Borneo by road
Shorter local journeys usually mean travelling by road, and the good news is that the Malaysian part of Borneo island has a pretty well-maintained road network. Things can get a little bumpy in remote areas and the rules of the road are a bit different to Europe, so we don’t usually recommend car hire. Instead, we use a network of professional local drivers to help you get around Borneo. All drivers are thoroughly vetted and have excellent safety records, so you can be confident they’ll take good care of your family during your journey.
Our local partners operate a fleet of modern vehicles, all perfectly suited to travel Sri Lanka’s highways and rougher rural roads. Depending on the size of your family, this could either be a standard car or a minivan and we’ll make sure you’ve got enough room not to feel cramped on longer journeys. All vehicles are air conditioned too, which is very welcome when you’ve been out exploring in the heat!
Our transfers are usually private, but your travel specialist can also book seats in shared minibuses on some routes to save you some money.
Borneo by boat
Some of Borneo’s most memorable journeys are made by water. You might hop on a ferry to a tropical island, cruise along the Kinabatangan River in search of wildlife, or take a traditional longboat deep into the rainforest. For families, these boat trips are often part of the fun, offering a different perspective on Borneo and a chance to spot wildlife along the way.
Your travel specialist will explain what to expect from each boat journey and arrange the practical details, including luggage transfers where needed. So you can sit back, enjoy the scenery and let the kids keep their eyes peeled for monkeys, birds and crocodiles along the riverbanks.
Little local journeys
Most of Borneo’s towns and cities are fairly compact and easy enough to explore on foot, but if you do need some local transport then taxis are readily available in most places and very affordable too. You can usually ask your hotel to arrange a taxi if needed, or they’ll be available on the street too.
We recommend sticking to official metered taxis wherever possible, and making sure that the meter is turned on to avoid any confusion. Tipping isn’t expected for taxis but if you want to waive the change then it’ll be appreciated.
Bike rental is also possible in many places and can be a fun way to explore, especially in more rural areas.
Speak to our Borneo with children specialist, Ella
