Borneo also has spectacular and diverse national parks with unforgettable wildlife and many natural wonders, making it an exceptional place for those with an appreciation for wildlife (57% of people say they would go and see animals in the wild while on holiday.) ¹

Mount Kinabalu, one of the island’s UNESCO World Heritage sites, presents a challenge for trekkers fit enough to reach its summit, but it also has trails and gardens around its base for the less adventurous.

For a less tiring, but equally rewarding, way to experience the island’s flora and fauna, take a boat safari along the Kinabatangan River for a chance to see crocodiles, proboscis monkeys and pygmy elephants.

Gunung Mulu National Park in Sarawak contains extensive cave systems including the largest cave chamber on the planet. Watching vast clouds of bats flying from the caves to feed as night falls is an unforgettable experience.

Experienced divers should head to Sipadan island which has beautiful coral reefs swarming with abundant marine life, especially at the renowned Barracuda Point.

For a chance to see Borneo’s best-known and much-loved animal, the orangutan, head to Danum Valley in Sabah. Here you will also get to see clouded leopards and pygmy elephants as you pass through on a guided trek or climb high in the treetops on a canopy walk for an amazing, different perspective on this unspoilt rainforest paradise.

Borneo also has some charming cities, such as Kuching, where you should definitely spend some time and immerse yourself in the indigenous people’s culture at the Sarawak Cultural Village. With recent data showing that UK visitors account for a third of long-haul travellers to Sarawak, and numbers up nearly 8% in less than a year, more travellers seem set to discover Borneo’s charms.²

Find out more about the other places featured in our Destinations to Watch 2026 report.

¹ ABTA’s Holiday Habits research 2025-26 
² Sarawak Tourism Board, November 2024