2 Weeks in Borneo

What You Should Know Before Going On A Borneo Tour

Is it safe to travel in Borneo?

Partially thanks to its remoteness as an island and the friendly nature of its populations towards travelers, Borneo is a safe country to visit. Common to all tours, travelling in another country with popular coastal or jungle regions may require the bringing of malaria tablets and certain shots if travelers feel so inclined.

Similarly, small island regions near Sabah have been investigated for instances of piracy, an event which all travel companies aim to avoid. By thoroughly examining where specific guided tours in Borneo are heading, travelers can better prepare themselves for the equipment or safety precautions that they wish to organize.

Along the same lines, speaking directly with travel guides or companies can provide travelers with the confidence to explore as much of Borneo as they are able to during their trip. 

Where is Borneo?

The third-largest island in the world, Borneo is located in the near center of Southeast Asia. Above the Java Sea and below the South China Sea, Borneo straddles the equator and neighbors Indonesia, the Philippines, and Malaysia. It is divided into four regions, Brunei (independent country), Kalimantan (under Indonesian control), and Sabah and Sarawak (under Malaysian control).  

Getting to Borneo

Borneo is only accessible via air. While there are few direct flights into the country, it can be conveniently reached from Kuala Lumpur, Hong Kong, or Singapore. There are many daily flights into Borneo, which may be helpful for travelers from afar who wish to use their layovers to their advantage in these neighboring regions.

Travelers should speak with tour guides in advance about start-times for daily activities to ensure that they do not miss anything if issues with flight times occur. Depending on which city guided tours begin in, travelers will face different travel times, which is an important aspect to consider when it comes to the length of stay in Borneo.

Best time to go

Borneo’s location on the equator ensures that nearly any time of year is best for visiting. However, because of this location, it has a tropical climate across the island. This means that, for the majority of the year, the weather can be hot, humid, and rainy.

While this may be considered as a vacation in comparison to snow or dry heat, travelers will find that the months of March through October are the driest. Although this does not mean that a trip during this time will be without humidity, there is far less rain, allowing for safer hiking trips and smoother diving expeditions.

It is worth noting that these conclusions about the best time to visit Borneo are generalized and the weather is apt to change based on local regions. Thanks to Borneo’s unique geographic location, it is not known for heavy monsoons during its rainy seasons. Overall, Borneo is sunny year-round and will make future visits to other tropical countries much more exciting!