Borneo is an almost unknown land , little considered by tourism and of which there is not much information on the web even if in reality its territory is rich in natural beauties that certainly deserve a visit.
In fact, in Borneo there is a biodiversity that cannot be found in other parts of the world, consisting of 15,000 species of flowering plants, 3000 species of trees, 420 species of birds and over 221 species of terrestrial mammals including primates such as the Sumatran rhinoceros and the Malayan bear. In addition, the rainforest that occupies most of the soil of Borneo and the only existing natural habitat for the Pongo, better known as the orangutan.
To all this are added the paradisiacal beaches, islands and atolls, the coral reef and all the marine species that inhabit the surrounding waters. We’re sure we’ve got you curious, so here’s a bunch of information about Borneo to know where it is, when to go and what to see !
Travel informed: useful information
- Inhabitants : 21258000
- Capitale : Balikpapan (Indonesia) – Kuching (Malaysia) – Bandar Seri Begawan (Brunei)
- Languages : Bahasa Indonesia, Bahasa Melayu, English, Malay, Chinese, Mandarin, Tamil
- Local currency : Malaysian ringgit (€ 1.00 = MYR 4.69) – Brunei dollar (€ 1.00 = 1.80 BND) – Indonesian rupiah (€ 1.00 = IDR 16101.36)
- Climate : tropical, average temperatures 24/32 ° C
- Vaccinations : the yellow fever vaccine is mandatory for travelers who have only transit through the airport of a country at risk of transmission. Anti-malarial prophylaxis and vaccinations against hepatitis and cholera are recommended
- Entry requirements : a passport with a residual validity of at least 6 months is required
- Distance from Italy : 11000 km (10-12 hours of flight)
- Travel / health insurance : recommended. With us you get a 10% discount and you have full coverage, 24h medical insurance and unlimited telephone advice. Get
a free quote
Where it is
Borneo is an island in Southeast Asia whose surface is occupied by three different states , each of which administers its own part of the territory with the laws and currency of the respective country. To the north lies the small Brunei , the center from east to west is occupied by Malaysia while to the south of it lies Indonesia which includes most of the island’s surface.
How to get
- From Milan or Rome : Borneo is not directly connected to Italy, but is well connected to several Asian cities. Kuala Lumpur, Jakarta and Singapore are the main stopovers to be made and all three cities can be reached from Milan and Rome by flying with KLM, Quatar Airways and Emirates with a first stop in Amsterdam, Doha or Dubai. Another flight will be required soon after, usually to Bandar Seri Begawan (Brunei) or Kuching (Malaysia). For this last stretch you can choose Air Asia, a low cost airline that directly connects Borneo to many Asian cities at very low prices. Flights to Bandar Seri Begawan from € 866.00 – Flights to Kuching from € 579.00
- From the main European capitals : Amsterdam is the European city best connected to Borneo from which it is possible to reach it in about 25 hours thanks to the direct flights of the KLM to Kuala Lumpur, Jakarta and Singapore, which will be the only stopover to make and then continue with the ‘Air Asia, always directly, to destination.
When to go
Info on climate and best period
Month Average temperatures (min / max) Precipitation (days / mm) January 24/31 ° 20 days / 680 mm
February 24/31 ° 15 days / 470 mm
March 24/31 ° 15 days / 340 mm
April 25/33 ° 15 days / 270 mm
May 25/33 ° 15 days / 240 mm
June 25/33 ° 14 days / 220 mm
July 25/32 ° 13 days / 200 mm
August 25/32 ° 12 days / 180 mm
September 25/32 ° 14 days / 225 mm
October 25/32 ° 15 days / 270 mm
November 25/31 ° 18 days / 440 mm
December 24/31 ° 20 days / 650 mm
- Climate : hot and humid tropical climate characterized by always high temperatures between 24 and 32 ° C and rains all year round that occur between the afternoon and the evening, especially from June to September in the north and from December to March in the south. The sea maintains constant high temperatures between 27 and 29 ° C
- Best period : generally from May to October when the rains decrease
- Period to avoid : January and December as they are the rainiest months
- Advice : since Borneo is a vast territory, straddling the equator and with a wide biodiversity, we recommend choosing the period of the trip by consulting the climate of the individual countries that compose it, entering the specific areas that you intend to visit
SEE ALSO : When to go to Indonesia
9 things to see: beaches and places of interest
- Maratua is a small island in Indonesian Borneo belonging to the Derawan archipelago located to the east, consisting entirely of a single long white beach. This island is one of the few inhabited islands where you can find accommodation to stay there even if it is still ignored by mass tourism despite its splendid colors and wild nature
- Derawan Beach is , like the previous one, an island of the Derawan archipelago formed by a long white beach bathed by crystal clear sea and surrounded by the magnificent coral reef
- Pulau Sangalaki is another beautiful island of the Derawan archipelago, even smaller and quieter than the previous two, where it is possible to enjoy absolute peace and swim among sea turtles, manta rays and stingrays that master the local waters
- Pulau Sipadan is an island in Malaysian Borneo, one of the best places to snorkel and dive. In fact, here live many tropical oceanic species among which you can swim safely while enjoying the colorful coral reef
- Turtle Island National Park is a national park full of sea turtles of all kinds, declared as such due to the habit of these little animals to lay their eggs there. The park is formed between the waters of three islands of Malaysian Borneo of which the main is Pulau Libaran
- Gunung Mulu National Park is a nature park in northern Malaysian Borneo that is home to such a vast biodiversity that it is difficult to find anywhere else in the world. The park is in fact inhabited by over three hundred animal and three thousand plant species, and also includes breathtaking caves, limestone mountains and a dense rainforest
- Sepilok Orang-Utan Rehabilitation Center is one of the few centers that protects orangutans, especially orphans and those saved from captivity, being an endemic species of Borneo but unfortunately also endangered. It is located in Sabah, in the north of Malaysian Borneo, and its interior will leave you speechless for the natural habitat and the kindness that distinguishes the operators in taking care of them
- Kelambu Beach is a beach in the north of Malaysian Borneo, a typical white and paradisiacal tropical beach which is actually a spit of land extending from Borneo towards the sea for several kilometers
- Muara Beach is a beach in Brunei, perhaps the most beautiful in the country, characterized by a long strip of golden sand, blue sea and dense vegetation behind it
What to do in Borneo: excursions and tours
How much does a holiday in Borneo cost
Prices, offers and advice
The cost of a holiday in Borneo depends a lot on which stops you intend to make . As we have already said in the area you will find three currencies each with a different exchange rate and value, due to the presence of three different states. All in all , Indonesia, Malaysia and Brunei are quite cheap countries, so if you don’t have high expectations and intend to beat classic itineraries, you can get by with little. What costs more are in fact the excursions with prices from € 50.00 to € 100.00 per day but to reach some places, especially islands and remote atolls, they are necessaryor alternatively you need to have plenty of time and patience to get to your destination. On the contrary , the numerous national parks have a cost of less than € 5.00 and can be visited independently and also transport , the most common ones to reach the places most visited by tourists, are very cheap and allow you to move with just € 2. 00 . Accommodation and catering are also very low cost services! In fact, you can find hostels and hotels from € 5.00 to € 15.00 per night and eat full meals with an average of € 7.00 per day .
- Where to sleep: Hotels and b & b from € 17.00 per room – see the offers
- Cheap flights: Flights to Bandar Seri Begawan from € 866.00 – Flights to Kuching from € 579.00
Travel Insurance: Our Advice
We always rely on the company
, which provides comprehensive coverage at absolutely competitive prices .
They also provide customer assistance, an always active call center and 24- hour medical insurance with unlimited telephone medical advice : we know well that when you are abroad in emergency situations, you can find a consultant who is always ready to answer
the most
important.
Visit their website and receive a 10% discount on your policy reserved for Travel365 users .
