Quick takeaway: Malaysian Borneo packs rainforest, ocean and river wildlife into one destination. The six bucket list activities most worth building a trip around are diving in Sipadan, snorkeling or learning to dive around Kota Kinabalu, cruising the Kinabatangan River, trekking Danum Valley’s primary rainforest, meeting orangutans at Sepilok and watching turtles nest on Turtle Island. Most pair into a 10 to 14 day itinerary, and Turtle Island and Sipadan need booking well ahead, since both work on limited permits. Borneo Dream runs guided trips to all six.
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Planning a Borneo trip from a list of unfamiliar place names is hard. You know you want rainforest, reefs and real wildlife, but it’s not obvious which sites deliver that and which only look good in the brochure photos.
We’ve run tours across Sabah since 2007, so we know what earns its place on a traveller’s itinerary and what’s padding. Here we’ll cover six bucket list activities worth building a trip around, what each involves, and how to fit them together without wasting travel days.
Dive with turtles and big fish off Sipadan
Sipadan is Malaysia’s only oceanic island, rising 2,000 feet from the seabed, home to more than 3,000 fish species and hundreds of coral species. You’ll regularly see green and hawksbill turtles, large schools of barracuda and a decent chance of white-tip sharks or hammerheads further out.
Overnight stays on Sipadan itself aren’t allowed, so nobody’s pitching a tent on the reef. Our Sipadan diving trips run from Mataking Reef Island Resort and the Seaventures Dive Rig on Mabul, both a short boat ride from the reef.
Snorkel or learn to dive around Kota Kinabalu
If Sipadan feels like a big first step, start closer to the capital. Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park’s five islands sit 15 to 30 minutes by boat from central Kota Kinabalu, with clear, shallow water good for turtles, rays and reef fish.
We run a few versions of these snorkeling trips around Kota Kinabalu:
- Guided or unguided snorkeling day trips to the marine park islands
- A combined jungle trek and snorkeling day
- Private boat charters for smaller groups
If you’ve never dived before, this is also the perfect place to learn. Our RAID diving courses run from a one-day try dive up to a three-day Open Water certification, taught in small groups around the same calm, shallow reefs. Read more on why it’s worth learning to dive in Kota Kinabalu.
Cruise the Kinabatangan River for wildlife spotting
The Kinabatangan is Sabah’s longest river, running 560km to the Sulu Sea, and one of the most reliable places anywhere to see wild orangutans without a jungle trek. The World Wide Fund for Nature names it one of only two places on Earth where 10 primate species live side by side.
On a morning or evening Kinabatangan River cruise, expect proboscis monkeys, macaques and hornbills, plus a real chance of a Bornean pygmy elephant, of which fewer than 1,500 remain in the wild. Trips range from a half-day cruise to a full multi-day jungle wildlife tour at a riverside lodge.
Trek the primary rainforest of Danum Valley
The Danum Valley Conservation Area protects 438 square kilometres of lowland rainforest, over 90% of it primary forest, with more than 15,000 recorded plant species and wildlife including orangutans, clouded leopards and sun bears.
Our Danum Valley tours run 3, 4 or 5 days, staying at either the Borneo Rainforest Lodge or the more basic Field Centre, with days built around guided treks, canopy walks and night drives for nocturnal wildlife. There’s no phone signal at either, which is either a downside or the entire point, depending on your mood. For what to prioritise once you’re there, read our guide to the best spots to visit inside Danum Valley.
Meet the orangutans at Sepilok
Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre opened in 1964 as the first official rehabilitation project for orphaned orangutans, and it’s still one of the best places in Borneo to see them at close quarters.
From the boardwalk and viewing platform on our Sepilok orangutan tours, you can watch scheduled feedings as rescued orangutans move through nursery, outdoor nursery and eventual release into the surrounding forest reserve. The adjoining Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre makes it easy to combine both in one visit.
Watch turtles nest on Turtle Island
Selingan, better known as Turtle Island, sits 40km north of Sandakan and has run the world’s oldest turtle hatchery since 1966. Green and hawksbill turtles nest here year round, with peak season between July and October, when up to 50 females can come ashore in a single night.
Access is tightly controlled: only around 40 visitors are allowed each day, and stays are overnight only, so pack for a late night. Our Turtle Island trips include:
- An evening guided watch of nesting mothers on the beach
- A hatchling release, timing permitting
- No independent exploration after dark, to protect nesting turtles
Because permits are limited, it’s worth booking well ahead, especially in peak season. We cover how far ahead you need to book Turtle Island in more detail.
When’s the best time to go
March to October is the driest, sunniest stretch across Sabah, with May to September best for diving and trekking. November to February brings more rain, but it can improve river cruising, since higher water pushes wildlife closer to the banks. Temperatures stay between 26 and 33°C all year, so timing is more about matching the season to your favourite activity. See our month-by-month guide to Borneo’s weather.
| Activity | Best months | Why |
| Diving and snorkeling (Sipadan, Kota Kinabalu) | May to September | Calmest seas, 20 to 30m visibility |
| Rainforest trekking (Danum Valley) | March to October | Drier trails, easier river crossings |
| Turtle nesting (Turtle Island) | July to October | Peak nightly nesting activity |
| River cruising (Kinabatangan) | November to February | Higher water brings wildlife closer to the banks |
These combinations are a good way to fit these six together:
- Sepilok, the Kinabatangan River and Turtle Island pair into one 5 to 7 day loop out of Sandakan
- Add Danum Valley as a 3 to 4 day rainforest extension before or after that loop
- Base yourself in Kota Kinabalu for snorkeling, a dive course and the wider things to do in Kota Kinabalu, before flying on to Sandakan or Semporna
- Treat Sipadan as its own 3 to 4 night trip, given the permit system and travel time
Getting started
Sabah covers more ground than most single destinations, and these six activities are the ones we’d point a first-time visitor to. For more ideas, see our guide to the most exciting activities for adventurous travellers in Borneo.
Get in touch with our team to build these into an itinerary that fits your dates, especially for Turtle Island and Sipadan, where spaces are limited.
FAQs
How many days do you need for a Borneo holiday covering these six activities?
Plan for 10 to 14 days to fit in diving, rainforest trekking and the east coast wildlife loop without rushing. With only a week, pick two or three activities in the same region rather than covering all six.
Do you need to book Turtle Island and Sipadan far in advance?
Yes. Turtle Island allows only around 40 visitors a day, and permits can book out months ahead during peak nesting season from July to October. Sipadan diving permits are similarly limited, so book both as soon as your dates are set.
Is Borneo easy to visit for first-time travellers?
Yes. Sabah is a well established destination, and most of the activities above are guided and permit controlled by Sabah Parks or licensed operators. Borneo Dream has run tours since 2007 and is a RAID accredited dive centre.