Activities & Experiences
Borneo family excursions
From meeting the local wildlife to experiencing a slice of city life, our family holidays are filled with little adventures that’ll make your big Borneo trip even more memorable.
When you’re planning your family holiday with your Borneo travel specialist, they’ll suggest and include a number of our favourite local tours and experiences to help you get to know the places you’re visiting. Our family team have picked these experiences specifically with kids in mind, and they’ve often tried them out with their own children too.
Here are some of our favourite family excursions to give you an idea of what to expect.
Orangutans in Sepilok
Your kids will never forgive you if you don’t meets some Orangutans on your Borneo holiday, and the good news is that there are a few places to do so. One of our favourites is the Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre in Sabah (eastern Borneo). Not only is this a beautiful part of the island with an incredible array of wild animals, but the centre plays a major part in orangutan conservation. Usually working with apes orphaned due to deforestation or poaching, they’ve built a massive enclosure when they can grow and prepare to be released back into the wild.
Centre visit included in our Rivers, Jungles & Orangutans bite-sized trip.
Jungle trekking with the Iban
One of our most adventurous family trips is a 2-night stay with the indigenous Iban tribe in Batang Ai National Park. Not only is this an eye-opening experience and great way to learn about another way of life, but there’s no better way to explore the jungle than with a guide who’s lived there for most of their life. You’ll walk along trusted trails spotting flora and fauna (and maybe even a wild orangutan) before cooling down in a stunning natural waterfall.
Jungle trek and other activities are included in our Meet the Iban Tribe bite-sized trip.
Kuching city by bike & boat
You’re probably not heading to Borneo to explore cities, but we’ve been charmed by Kuching (known as ‘Cat City’) and can highly recommend a couple of days here. It’s a chance to see real daily life and the urban culture of Malaysian Borneo, and we’ll arrange for a local guide to show you the sights. To make things more fun for the kids, you’ll set out by bike through the city streets visiting local markets and trying some delicious street food, before boarding a Sampan boat to end the tour.
Bike and boat city tour included in our Cruising Through Kuching bite-sized trip.
Santubong river cruise
The joy of Borneo is that even when you’re in the city, the wild is just a short ride away. Not far from Kuching is the Santubong River – lined with mangroves and home to Irawaddy dolphins, Proboscis monkeys, fireflies, crocodiles and much more. After visiting the local orangutan centre and settling in at a treehouse lodge, you’ll set off by boat to spot wildlife with an experienced guide. It’s a great way to give the kids a taste of the jungle without needing to travel too far.
River cruise included in our Great Apes & Waterways bite-sized trip.
Kayaking the Damai Peninsula
One of Sarawak’s most popular family beach destinations, Damai has more to offer than beautiful beaches and the warm waters of the South China Sea (although these are pretty good selling points!). During your stay, we’ll also arrange for you to explore the coast and head along the river into the rainforest. With dual kayaks you can share with your kids and a fun local guide, it’s a great way to see the nature of the region and you’ll also get to meet the local Bidayuh tribe – another eye-opening travel experience for the kids!
Kayak tour included as standard in our Kayak Along Sandy Shores bite-sized trip.
Tailoring your family holiday
These are just a few examples of the activities we recommend for families in Borneo, but there’s more where these came from! Your travel specialist will be happy to talk you through the options so you can choose excursions that’ll be perfect for your kids.
Ready to start planning? Get in touch!
