Borneo and Brunei Destination Guide
The island of Borneo is a mixture of three countries. It is home to the two East Malaysian states of Sabah and Sarawak as well as the independent kingdom of Brunei, ruled by one of the richest men in the world. The remainder of the island, Kalimantan, belongs to Indonesia.
In the main towns of Kota Kinabalu, Kuching and Bandar Seri Begawan, the hotels offer excellent, international standards. Upcountry, expect things to be a little less pampered and a touch more real! In fact, if you really want to experience the jungle, it is well worth considering opting to stay in a cabin by the river in Sandakan or in a longhouse dormitory in Sarawak. If you prefer your home comforts, though, hotel options are available.
The sights
In Sandakan you will find the famous "wild man of Borneo". One of the worlds most adored animals, the orang-utan, can be seen in the sanctuary at Sepilok, where the orphaned young are carefully rehabilitated and then released back into the jungle. Sandakan is also home to fascinating wildlife along the banks of the Menanggol River where you will witness the cheeky monkeys, hornbills, monitor lizards and the long nosed proboscis monkey. One of the great experiences is to overnight on Turtle Island and watch the turtles come ashore to lay their eggs. The Sabah State Museum & Heritage Village in Kota Kinabalu has various galleries housing natural history, ceramics and archaeology exhibits, while at the Heritage Village you can experience different traditional houses of the various indigenous groups of Sabah.
The nightlife
Most nightlife tends to be centered in and around the hotel complexes with live music and themed nights not a place for the night owls. When the sun goes down, its peace and quiet, although, so close to nature, the sounds of the jungle are never far away!
The facts
Geography Sabah and Sarawak, located on the island of Borneo. Along with Peninsula Malaysia, East Malaysia (as the two states are known) make up the country of Malaysia. Brunei is an independent sultanate and one of the richest countries in the world. The remainder of the island of Borneo is made up of the state of Kalimantan, which belongs to Indonesia.
Language Bahasa Malaysia is the national language, but the different peoples still retain their own languages. English is widely spoken.
Getting around Borneo is not the easiest place to get around, as mountains and jungle make the terrain challenging. Often, the quickest and easiest way to move between places is by air.
Passports you will need a full British passport valid for a minimum of six months beyond your date of return.
Visas Visas are not required for full British passport holders visiting Brunei for less than 14 nights nor for Malaysia unless you plan to stay longer than three months. Non-British passport holders should check with Malaysia High Commission for documentation requirements.
Vaccinations Vaccinations are strongly recommended. For further information, please consult your doctor.
Travelling time Flights to East Malaysia are most commonly via Kuala Lumpur. Taking into account the change of aircraft, travelling time is around 16-17 hours. Royal Brunei operate direct flights to Bandar Seri Begawan taking around 16 hours including a stop en route.
Local time GMT + 8 hours
Currency Malaysian Ringgit/Brunei dollar
For more information and facts about Borneo and Brunei, select an option from the "Find out more" menu.
Borneo and Brunei - Map
