Borneo
Take an adventure holiday in BORNEO with World Expeditions, one of the world’s leading travel companies.
The island of Borneo is host to three different nations. To the south and forming the bulk of the island is Indonesian Kalimantan, whilst in the north the small country of Brunei is wedged between the two Malaysian states of Sabah and Sarawak. Sabah’s Mount Kinabalu at 4093m is the highest peak between the Himalaya and New Guinea. Malaysian Borneo, in particular Sarawak, is covered in dense jungle with large river systems passing through. Land transport can therefore be uncomfortable off the main arteries. A preferred method of travel in Sarawak is by long boat or dug out canoe.
Sabah and Sarawak between them have over 25 different ethnic groups. Both have populationsmade up of Malays (around 20%), Chinese and Dayak. Dayaks are non-muslim Malays and there are said to be more than 200 Dayak tribes in the whole of Borneo. In Sabah, the main ethnic group is the Kadazan (25%) whilst Bajau (formerly Sulu Sea pirates) make up 10% and other smaller groups include Murut (5%), Sulu, Tidong and Orang Sungai (River People). Many of these ethnic groups have converted to Islam or Christianity and moved to the cities and towns. In Sarawak, the largest group is the Iban, formerly headhunters, now principally residing in Long houses along the Rejang and Baram rivers. Another group is the Bidayuh and there are also lots of smaller groups making up around 5% of the population of Sarawak.
Borneo is said to have the best wildlife viewing opportunities in all of Asia. It isn't hard to see why it has this reputation, when you can view such amazing wildlife in their natural habitat as the green and hawk-billed turtles on Turtle Island National Park, as well as the orang utans at Sepilok, the native proboscis monkeys along the Kinabatangan River, plus you have the opportunity to snorkel amongst an impressive underwater world at Lankayan Island’s coral reefs.
Featured Adventures
Borneo Adventure
Borneo Rajang River Cruise
