Quick takeaway
Yes, a Borneo honeymoon is brilliant because it caters to so many different kinds of trip. You can dive world famous reefs, watch wild orangutans from a river boat, trek through the rainforest, climb a mountain, then flop on a quiet beach, often within the same fortnight. It works whether you both want adventure, you both want to relax, or you each want a bit of the opposite. Borneo Dream can put the whole thing together for you.
Table of Contents
One island that works for two different people
For couples who love the water
For couples who want a bit of everything
When to visit Borneo for your honeymoon
Why book your honeymoon with Borneo Dream
One island that works for two different people
When you plan your wedding, your honeymoon is probably one of the first things you talk about together. It’s where you recover from all the wedding admin and start making memories as a married couple. Some couples share a hobby (maybe it was how you got together!) so you might both be keen scuba divers. Other couples prove that opposites attract, with one of you forever chasing the next activity while the other is busy eyeing up the spa.
Borneo is brimming with options for both of you in equal measure. Sabah, the northern Malaysian state, packs reefs, rainforest, wildlife, mountains and beaches into one trip, so you rarely have to compromise on what each of you wants. As experienced local tour operators, we’ll go through some ideas for the types of honeymoon you can build here.
For couples who love the water
If your idea of fun involves a mask and fins, you are in luck. The reefs around Sabah sit within the Coral Triangle, home to roughly 500 types of reef-building coral, which makes for some of the most colourful diving and snorkelling on the planet.
You can keep it gentle or be as daring as you choose:
- Float together on a guided snorkelling day trip around the islands a short boat ride from Kota Kinabalu
- Learn to dive as a couple with a RAID diving course, which makes a lovely shared first as newlyweds
- Tick off a bucket-list dive destination with a trip to Sipadan, regularly ranked among the best dive spots in the world
Plenty of couples arrive in Borneo having never dived, and our blog on why learning to dive in Kota Kinabalu is worth it explains how the calm, warm, shallow waters of the local marine park make it a friendly place to begin.
For couples who love wildlife
Borneo is one of the most biodiverse places on Earth, so if a honeymoon for you means waking up to a chorus of birds, the wildlife side of Sabah bring you great joy.
A river cruise along the Kinabatangan River gives you a strong chance of spotting wild orangutans, proboscis monkeys, hornbills and, if you are lucky pygmy elephants, from the comfort of a boat. For something deeper into the trees, Danum Valley sits inside ancient rainforest and offers some of the finest guided walks in the region, with our guide to the top places to visit in Danum Valley showing what to expect.
You can also build in a visit to the Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre to see conservation up close, or add a stay on Turtle Island, where you can watch the turtles come ashore to nest after dark. If you are wondering about the logistics, our piece on whether Turtle Island is hard to visit covers the practical side. For a broader mix, our jungle and wildlife tours link several of these together.
For couples who want a bit of everything
Most honeymooners want a blend, and that is where Borneo comes into its own as there’s so much choice. Here is one way a fortnight could split, so neither of you misses out:
| Days | Focus | Good for |
|---|---|---|
| 1 to 3 | Kota Kinabalu, reefs and city | Settling in, snorkelling, beautiful sunsets |
| 4 to 7 | Kinabatangan River and Sepilok | Wildlife and quiet riverside lodges |
| 8 to 10 | Danum Valley rainforest | Walks, birdlife, getting in touch with surroundings |
| 11 to 14 | Island or beach time | Diving, spa days, relaxation |
If you fancy a bigger challenge, you could swap in a climb up Mount Kinabalu, the highest peak in South East Asia at 4,095 metres. This is a great experience to share if you’re both hikers. Our round-up of things to do in Kota Kinabalu and the most exciting activities for adventurous travellers gives you plenty more to mix and match.
When to visit Borneo for your honeymoon
Sabah stays warm and humid all year, with most days starting bright and the odd tropical downpour rolling in later on. The drier months of roughly March to October tend to suit wildlife trips and land tours, while diving runs every month of the year. For a fuller breakdown by region, our guide to the best Borneo weather helps you pick dates that match the trip you want.
Why book your honeymoon with Borneo Dream
We have run trips across Sabah since 2007 as a licensed tour operator and RAID dive centre, so we can join up the diving, wildlife, rainforest and downtime into one itinerary that suits both of you. Tell us what each of you loves, and we will shape a honeymoon around it. Send the team a message and start planning a trip you will both still be talking about on anniversaries to come.
Frequently asked questions
How long should a Borneo honeymoon be?
Around ten to fourteen days works well. That gives you time to combine the coast, the wildlife and the rainforest without rushing between them. If you only have a week, focus on two areas rather than trying to see everything.
Do we both need to be experienced divers?
Not at all. Many couples learn together in Sabah, and the calm, warm waters near Kota Kinabalu make a gentle starting point. If your skill sets differ, one of you can dive while the other snorkels, or even simply relaxes on the beach.
Can you combine adventure and relaxation in one trip?
Yes, and most honeymooners do exactly that. A typical trip pairs active days, such as diving or river safaris, with slower beach and spa time, so you each get the holiday you were hoping for.