Family holiday ideas & recommendations

One of the world’s wildest destinations, packed with animals, dramatic scenery and gorgeous beaches, Borneo is an all-time favourite for travelling with children. Here you can feel a million miles away from the stresses of modern life, but with enough support and things to do to keep the whole family entertained.  If you’re still deciding whether it’s the right for your family, or if you’re simply looking for ideas on what to do when you get there, we’ve put together this handy family travel guide to help you along.

Borneo is most famous for its wildlife, and you don’t need to go out of your way to spot monkeys hanging from the trees or tropical birds soaring through the sky. However, there are a few spots which are well worth a special detour, especially if you’re going in search of orangutans…

Semenggoh – One of the best places to meet orangutans in Sarawak (western Borneo) is the Semenggoh Rehabilitation Centre – a temporary home for rescued orangutans before they’re released back into the wild. The surrounding area is also home to crocodiles, Irrawaddy dolphins and much more.

Sepilok – A similar rescue centre can be visited in Sabah (eastern Borneo), and this remote spot deep in the jungle is home to a whole host of other wildlife including pygmy elephants and countless species of monkeys and tropical birds.

Tabin Wildlife Reserve – Another great wildlife spot in Sabah, Tabin is a protected area home to monkeys, elephants, birds, orangutans and bats. Animals here roam free, so you’ll be setting out into the jungle on foot to find them.

“Unspoilt nature” is a term you could apply to most of Borneo, but these national parks are especially beautiful and also very accessible to explore with children.

Bako National Park – Not far from Kuching (your starting point in western Borneo) but only accessible by boat, Bako has a Jurassic Park feel to it that kids absolutely love. It’s also home to plenty of wildlife, including the unique Proboscis Monkey, complete with funny nose…

Kinabalu National Park – If you’re heading to eastern Borneo then your journey begins in Kota Kinabalu, and just a short ride away is the wonderful Kinabalu National Park. Here you can enjoy hot springs, butterfly gardens, and a canopy bridge that hovers some 100m above the forest.

With over 1,500 miles of largely undeveloped coastline, Malaysian Borneo has plenty of wild and wonderful beaches. When you’re travelling with kids, however, you’ll probably want a bit of a balance between wild beauty and things to do.

Damai Peninsula – One of our favourite spots in western Borneo, Damai offers stunning sandy beaches surrounded by rainforest, as well as some good accommodation with swimming pools and nice places to eat and drink. And when the kids get bored of sandcastles, how about kayaking into the jungle?

Kota Kinabalu Beach – Just an hour from eastern Borneo’s main city you’ll find beaches straight from a postcard, as well as family-friendly hotels with all the facilities and games to keep young ones entertained. There are also some good spots for eating and drinking here, so something for the adults too!

Variety is the spice of life, and we think it’s the spice of a good holiday too. So, since you’ll be passing through, why not take a day or two to experience city life in this unique part of the world?

Kuching – Built around the shores of the Sarawak River, this attractive little city is the starting point for exploring western Borneo. It’s well worth spending a little time here, with a beautiful waterfront and a heritage trail that takes you past a mix of Chinese temples and impressive colonial-era buildings.

Kuala Lumpur – If you’re flying with Malaysian Airlines then you’ll transit through Malaysia’s cosmopolitan capital city, and we highly recommend taking a couple of days to explore. This places buzzes with energy, from the busy old markets to the futuristic skyscrapers that dominate the skyline. It’s also a foodie’s dream, with exceptional street food and some of Asia’s best restaurants.

(P.S. Depending on flight availability, you might also choose to visit Singapore as your stopover destination.)

There are few things more memorable and eye-opening for kids than seeing a whole new culture, and one that’s entirely different to their own. Borneo offers one experience in particular that makes for a very special family holiday.

Stay with the Iban Tribe – The Iban are indigenous to northwest Borneo and were once famous as headhunters, with their own unique culture and religion dating back centuries. Deep in the stunning Batang Ai National Park, a remote community still keeps many of their traditions alive. Here, you can learn about their way of life in the jungle and enjoy their distinctive and welcoming hospitality. This will surely be one of the most unforgettable experiences of your family holiday.