Borneo Backpacking Itinerary: Travel and Route Guide

Borneo with its true ecotourism, awesome nature and the high chance to see plenty of wildlife is Malaysia’s number one place to visit for backpackers. More and more, Borneo and its 140 million years old rainforest is getting interesting for travelers all over the world and also for us, backpacking in Borneo became an unforgettable adventure.

In this itinerary, we will share our experiences of travelling through Borneo (Sarawak and Sabah) and Brunei. Also, you will read about the top backpacking highlights and the best nature and wildlife spots you shouldn’t miss. Additionally, we will show you a perfect Borneo travel route where you are going to see the best things of this phenomenal and adventurous travel destination.

You are planning your Borneo travel route? Here are the top places to visit and things to do in Borneo:

• Kuching – the city of cats and starting point for the nearby national parks
• Semenggoh Nature Reserve – getting close with the Orang-Utans
• The Bako National Park – explore one of Borneo’s most beautiful National Parks and visit the Nose monkeys
• Gunung Gading National Park – Jungle Trekking and the world’s biggest flower
• Exploring the fascinating Niah Caves and/or Mulu Caves
• Brunei – be amazed by the colorful mosque of Brunei
• Climb the top of the highest Mountain ins South East Asia the Mount Kinabalu with 4095 m
• Kinabatangan River Cruises – wild Orang-Utans and Pygmy Elephants

So let’s explore Borneo: Here is our Borneo itinerary for an unforgettable backpacking trip:

Sarawak-Borneo

Kuching

After 2 exciting month of backpacking through Thailand and West Malaysia, we decided to visit Borneo in East Malaysia. Borneo is absolutely famous for its wide range of National Parks and wildlife – so for us – the perfect travel destination! We took a flight from Kuala Lumpur to Kuching, where we stayed a few nights. This city with its tranquil riverside is not just lovely, but it’s also a fantastic starting point from where you can do great excursions to the nearby National Parks. In Kuching you will also find the tourist National Parks Office – they are doing a great job and provided us with useful information about National Park fees, accommodations and how to get there.

Flights to Kuching: Cheap flight tickets can be easily found at Skyscanner or Kiwi.

Kuching in well known for its backpacker scene and the wide range of hostels, guest houses and hotels. Here are some of the best places to stay.

Kuching – Sarawak

Waterfront in Kuching

Kampung Budaya Sarawak – Cultural Village

Kampung Budaya Sarawak – Cultural Village

Gunung Gading National Park

Have you ever heard about the Rafflesia tuan-mudae flower? It’s the world’s biggest flower and we were very lucky to find one of them blooming in the Gunung Gading National Park! This flower is the main attraction of this park – check at the National Park Service if one of them is blooming at the moment. The Park is easy to reach by public bus from Kuching – inside the park there are guided jungle hiking tours! To spot a Rafflesia inside the deep rainforest was an absolute travel highlight.

Tours from Kuching to Gunung Gading NP can be found here.

Gunung Gading National Park – Sarawak

Gunung Gading National Park – Sarawak

Rhinoceros Beetle – Dynastinae

Gunung Gading National Park – Sarawak

Green Lizard – Bronchocela cristatella

Red Flowers of the Rainforest

Rafflesia

Bako National Park

This Park is situated apr. 40 km from Kuching and can be reached by boat from Kampong. We recommend staying there for one or two nights – there are lots of adventurous hiking trails to explore!
We loved hiking through the tropical rain forest – there are various types of flora and fauna and lots of wildlife! It was amazing to see the proboscis monkeys (long nose monkeys) just a few meters next to us. Additionally, we got in touch with long-tailed macaques, boars, flying foxes and a few snakes. On top, we found some beautiful carnivorous plants and we explored stunning beaches. For us the Bako National Park is the ultimate MUST SEE in Sarawak!

Breathtaking excursions to Bako National Park can be booked here!

Bako National Park – Sarawak

Bako National Park – Sarawak

Bako National Park – Sarawak

Bako National Park – Sarawak

Jungle trail – Bako National Park

Bako Park – Snakes

Green Snake Malaysia – Bako National Park

Bako National Park – Wildlife

Long Nosed Monkey – Proboscis monkey

Bako National Park

Bako National Park – Sarawak- Long Nosed Monkeys

Bako National Park – Sarawak- Long Nosed Monkey

Silver Leaf Monkeys – Bako Park

Bako National Park – Sarawak

Silver Leaf Monkeys – Bako National Park

T. Pandan Kecil Beach – Bako National Park

Semenggoh – Orang Utan Nature Reserve

The Semenggoh Nature Reserve is a wildlife center for Orang Utans, where you have the possibility to see these monkeys at their feeding times. Normally they spend their time roaming around in the rain forest, but when it comes to a free meal they return to the center of the park. We had a lot of fun watching these guys. The best chance of seeing Orang Utans is between 9-10 and 3-4 o`clock.

If you would like to see these amazing monkeys you should definitely visit the Semenggoh Nature Reserve! Unforgettable half-day tours can be booked here.

Semenggoh Nature Reserve – Sarawak

Semenggoh Nature Reserve – Sarawak

Semenggoh Nature Reserve – Sarawak

Niah Caves National Park 

Briefly said, we loved exploring the Niah Caves National Park! ! This National Park is beautiful, so calm and less touristy, but it offers some interesting and impressive sights: There is the huge main cave which is home to thousands of swiftlets. It’s possible to pass the caves on a trail, but make sure to take a flashlight with you. The caves are unlit, but you can go there on your own. After that trail you will find the Painted Cave, which is also fascinating to see. The jungle walk is easy to manage and on the way to the caves you will also pass some Iban longhouses. Although all the main attractions of the Niah Park can be done in one day, we stayed inside the park for one night. If you want to read more about the adventurous Niah Caves, check out “Visting the Niah Caves in Borneo”

Niah National Park – Miri

Borneo backpacking

Jungle Trail to Niah Caves

Niah National Park – Sarawak

Niah National Park – Sarawak

Iban Longhouses – Sarawak – Niah National Park

Niah National Park

Niah Caves – Malaysia

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Gunung Mulu National Park

If you are interested in visiting Caves you would also have the possibility to go to see the Gunung Mulu National Park. It’s a UNESCO World Heritage Site and famous for its karst formations inside the rainforest and for its 200 km of caves passages.
This excursion will probably be more expensive than the Niah Caves because you have to take a flight to the park and inside the park there are plenty of excursions offered.

We chose the Niah Caves because they can be reached easily with the bus going to Batu Niah. From there you can take a taxi (3 km) to the park entrance. We really liked that the park is less touristy and you can explore the caves by your own. Additionally, the main caves are very impressive too.

Brunei

Next stop on our route through Borneo was Brunei. The country is located between Sarawak and Sabah, so why not visit this small, exotically named country? We took the land route from Miri to Bandar Seri Begawan with a private taxi bus that we luckily found at Miri bus station. Visiting Brunei was quite cool, above all it’s a country most travelers haven’t been to before. A must-see is the Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddin Mosque with its golden domes, for us one of the most beautiful mosques we have ever seen. You can also do excursions to see the proboscis monkeys. Here are the best places to visit in Brunei.

Accommodation in Brunei should be booked in advanced. Here you will find some great deals. Our choice is the Kunyit 7 Lodge, a  unique homestay set in Brunei Water Village.

Omar Ali Saifuddien Mosque

Sabah-Borneo

Kota Kinabalu

2 days later we headed off to Kota Kinabalu, the capital of Sabah. It’s a good starting point for nearby excursions like the Mari Cultural Village, the Islands of the Tunku Abdul Rahman National Park and the famous Mt. Kinabalu. Additionally, you will find plenty of guest houses and affordable restaurants –perfect for backpackers. We decided to climb up the Mount Kinabalu, which is just 50 km from Kota Kinabalu.

Mount Kinabalu 4.095 m

The Mount Kinabalu is a World Heritage Site and additionally with, 4.095 meters the tallest mountain in South East Asia. If you love hiking like us and you fancy high mountains, you should definitely put Mt. Kinabalu on your “to-do list” for Borneo. The climb up to the peak took us two days, and was a fantastic adventure. You will walk through different kinds of flora and fauna and finally you will reach the peak at sunrise. Make sure that you are trained and fit for the long walk!

Hiking the Mount Kinbalu was an amazing Borneo adventure, if you love mountains make sure you don’t miss this hike! Tours must be booked in advanced.

Mt. Kinabalu Hiking Trail – Sabah

Mt. Kinabalu – Carnivorous plant

Hiking trail – Mount Kinabalu

Laban Rata Rest House

Mount Kinabalu – Hiking Trail

Low`s Peak at Mt. Kinabalu

Mount Kinabalu – St John’s Peak

Mount Kinabalu – Hiking Trail

Low´s Peak – Mt Kinabalu

View to Low`s Peak

Malaysia – Mt. Kinabalu – South Peak

Kinabatangan River Cruise

For our last stop in Borneo we visited the Kinabatangan River, which is popular for its unique wildlife and ecosystem. We took the bus from Kota Kinabalu to Kota Kinabatangan which was an adventure by itself – the place is not easy to reach but that’s the price if you want to go deeper inside the rainforest.

On the road to Kinabatangan with the luxury bus 😉

Road to Kinabatangan River

Road to Kinabatangan River

Road to Kinabatangan River

All in all our stay at Kinabatangan River was fantastic, we had a small lodge just next to the river. From there we did thrilling guided jungle walks and guided river cruises. We saw lots of wildlife including crocodiles, snakes, horn bill birds and we were so lucky to see wild Orang Utans. Also, with some luck, you will see the Pygmy Elephant. If you want to read more about, check out “Kinabatangan River Cruise – wildlife safari in Borneo”.

We stayed at the Nature Lodge next to the Kinabatangan River. The beautiful location just next to the river and the fantastic jungle and river tours had been a highlight on our backpacking trip through Borneo.

Kinabatangan River Cruise

Kinabatangan River

Monkeys in the Rainforest

Kinabatangan River – long nosed monkey

Kinabatagan River

Kinabatangan River – Birdwatching

Wildlife at Kinabatangan River – Snakes

Lizard at Kinabatangan River

Wild Orang Utan

Kinabatangan jungle trekking

horn bills

Reptile at Kinabatangan

Toad at Kinabatangan River – Rainforest

Spider at Kinabatangan River – Rainforest

So that’s it for our itinerary of backpacking in Borneo. Now you are ready to start your adventure. Enjoy!

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Read more about Malaysia

• Malaysia travel guide & backpacking trip highlights

• Bako National Park – visiting the Proboscis Monkeys in Borneo

• Visiting the Niah Caves in Borneo

• Kinabatangan River Cruise – wildlife safari in Borneo

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