2-Week Borneo Tour Packages

Insider tips: Recommended 2-week Borneo tour itineraries

Compiled by

MelissaBorneo travel expert at TourRadar

• 11 Day Borneo Itinerary, incl. Kota Kinabalu and Mount Kinabalu

  This 11-day tour spans 6 destinations across Borneo. The itinerary features 2 days at Kinabatangan River, Sepilok Orangutan Centre visit, overnight at Turtle Island, and 2-day Mt Kinabalu climb. Guests enjoy 10 breakfasts, 6 lunches, and 6 dinners, while staying in accommodations ranging from jungle lodges to mountain huts.

  

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  • Days 1-2

    Kota Kinabalu & Cultural Immersion

    Begin your journey in Kota Kinabalu before traveling to Tambatuon village, about 2.5 hours away. "Tubing in Tambatuon village was fun for all ages in our group." Bring quick-dry clothes for river activities and modest clothing for the village homestay. You'll learn about Bornean cuisine through hands-on cooking demonstrations.

    
  • Days 3-4

    Kinabatangan River Wildlife

    Plan for a 5-7 hour drive to the Kinabatangan River. Your jungle lodge will be your base for wildlife watching. Join morning and evening river cruises to spot proboscis monkeys, macaques and possibly pygmy elephants. "On the night jungle walk in Kinabatangan, we had the pleasure of spotting an endangered tarsier." Pack binoculars and dark clothing to blend in with the environment.

    
  • Day 5

    Sepilok Orangutan Sanctuary

    See both the orangutan rehabilitation center and sun bear conservation facility. Plan to be there for feeding times at 10 AM and 3 PM. Remember to keep your distance and skip the flash photography to protect the animals.

    
  • Days 6-7

    Libaran Island & Turtle Conservation

    Take a 45-minute speedboat ride to Libaran Island to visit the turtle hatchery. "The only disappointment was not seeing the turtles laying eggs as the itinerary stated." Pack reef-safe sunscreen if you plan to snorkel.

    
  • Days 8-10

    Mount Kinabalu Challenge

    The major highlight: climbing Southeast Asia's highest peak between the Himalayas and New Guinea. Your first day involves a 5-7 hour climb to Laban Rata at 3,272m. Start the summit climb around 2 AM to catch sunrise at the top. Pack warm clothes since temperatures can drop below 10°C. "Our guide's professionalism and experience made the Mt Kinabalu hike a personal highlight."

    
  • Day 11

    Kota Kinabalu Departure

    Spend your final day in Kota Kinabalu. Consider booking an extra night to recover after your climb.

    

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• 14 Days in Malaysia, incl. Borneo and Kuala Lumpur

  A 14-day tour through Borneo takes you to Sepilok Orangutan Sanctuary and Kinabatangan River. The trip includes stays at Borneo Sepilok Rainforest Resort for wildlife viewing and Borneo Natural Sukau Bilit Resort for river cruises, offering dawn and dusk wildlife spotting.

  

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  • Days 1-2

    Sepilok

    Start your journey in Borneo's wildlife center. Head to the Sepilok Orangutan Sanctuary around 9 AM for the morning feeding session. "Close encounters with wildlife in the primeval forest of Borneo are second to none." Wear dark clothing and bring binoculars to spot wildlife better. Visit the Rainforest Discovery Centre in the afternoon to see hornbills from the canopy walkway.

    
  • Days 3-4

    Kinabatangan River

    Take a 2.5-hour drive to Kinabatangan. This river is known as Malaysia's wildlife highway. Join river cruises at dawn and dusk to spot pygmy elephants, proboscis monkeys and wild orangutans. The humidity is high so pack quick-dry clothes. You can join night walks to find nocturnal animals like western tarsiers. The trails get slippery so good hiking shoes are essential.

    
  • Days 5-6

    Sandakan to Malacca

    Visit the Sandakan War Memorial before flying to Kuala Lumpur. Remember there's a 15kg luggage limit. From KL it's a 2-hour transfer to historic Malacca. The quiet evening streets are perfect for exploring before tourists arrive the next day.

    
  • Days 7-8

    Malacca & KL

    Take a trishaw tour of Malacca's UNESCO sites which blend Portuguese, Dutch and British colonial styles. Sample Baba Nyonya food, a unique mix of Chinese and Malay flavors. On your way to Kuala Lumpur stop at Batu Caves. Get there before 10 AM to avoid crowds and heat when climbing the 272 steps.

    
  • Days 9-10

    Kuala Lumpur to Penang

    Join a food tour to experience KL's diverse neighborhoods. One traveler suggests: "The city tours should start earlier than 9:30 AM to beat the heat." Take the scenic 4-hour train to Penang crossing its famous bridge to reach Georgetown's UNESCO area.

    
  • Days 11-12

    Georgetown to Langkawi

    Walk through Georgetown early morning to see street art and traditional clan houses. Fly to Langkawi after lunch. Note the 15kg luggage limit again. Spend the afternoon at the beach or exploring Kuah town.

    
  • Days 13-14

    Langkawi

    Finish your trip on this tropical island. You can join a mangrove tour or take the cable car for island views. One visitor notes: "The mangrove forest tours in Langkawi with local guides make for a thrilling adventure." End with a Malaysian seafood dinner on your final night.

    

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• 12 Day Borneo Itinerary, incl. Kuching and Sandakan

  Borneo's rich heritage unfolds over 12 days across 6 key destinations, from Kuching's cultural sites to Sandakan's wildlife sanctuaries. The route includes Mulu National Park's caves, Kinabatangan River cruises, and stays at Nanga Sumpa Lodge. Visitors meet Iban communities in Batang Ai and observe orangutans at Sepilok Centre.

  

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  • Days 1-2

    Kuching & Batang Ai

    Start your journey in Kuching, the charming capital of Sarawak. Spend your first evening walking the waterfront promenade when it's cooler. The next morning head to Batang Ai National Park. Pack light layers for the humid rainforest climate. A one-hour longboat ride down the Delok River takes you to your jungle lodge. One traveler advises: "The longboat journey was thrilling, but keep your camera in a waterproof bag—spray can come over the sides."

    
  • Days 3-4

    Batang Ai & Return to Kuching

    Start early for your jungle walk when wildlife is most active. Good grip shoes are important since trails get slippery after rain. The Enseluai waterfall hike takes about 2 hours and offers a chance to spot orangutans. Back in Kuching on Day 4, you can check out the city's cat statues and sample local food courts.

    
  • Days 5-6

    Mulu National Park

    Fly to Mulu in the morning. Pack light as there's a strict 20kg luggage limit. The 3km plank walk to Deer Cave gets hot and humid so bring plenty of water and wear breathable clothes. Watch millions of bats spiral out at dusk. The next day visit Wind Cave and Clearwater Cave. The limestone paths get slippery so wear proper walking shoes.

    
  • Days 7-8

    Kota Kinabalu

    Next stop is Kota Kinabalu, Sabah's capital city. The rooftop bars offer great sunset views but book ahead in peak season. Go snorkeling at Tunku Abdul Rahman Park early on Day 8 when the water is calmest.

    
  • Days 9-10

    Kinabatangan River

    The boat ride to your wildlife lodge takes about an hour. Join early morning and dusk cruises for the best wildlife viewing. A recent visitor shares: "We saw proboscis monkeys, hornbills, and even a wild orangutan from our boat. The guides know exactly where to look—trust their expertise."

    
  • Days 11-12

    Sandakan

    Visit Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre early morning during feeding time. The sun bears are more active later in the day. Plan afternoon flights out of Sandakan since morning traffic can be heavy.

    

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