The Ultimate 2-Week Borneo Itinerary for Families
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We spent several weeks travelling through Borneo with our kids, exploring both Sabah and Sarawak as part of our family gap year — and it quickly became one of the most memorable parts of our time in Southeast Asia.
If you’re drawn to wild nature, incredible wildlife, and meaningful adventure, Borneo really does pack a punch. What surprised us most, though, was just how accessible it is with kids. With good transport links, comfortable accommodation, and experiences that don’t require hardcore trekking, it’s entirely possible to build an unforgettable Borneo family holiday without burning everyone out.
This 2-week Borneo itinerary is designed specifically for families. It balances bucket-list wildlife encounters — orangutans, sun bears, pygmy elephants — with downtime on beautiful beaches and at a family-friendly resort, which we found was crucial when travelling with kids.
In this post, I’ll share our exact Borneo itinerary, including:
- a day-by-day guide of where to go and what to do
- where to stay at each stop
- how much to budget for this exact trip
- practical tips for travelling Borneo with kids
- how to combine adventure with rest for a successful family trip
If you’re planning Borneo and wondering whether it’s right for your family, this itinerary will show you exactly how it can work.
Table of Contents
- Day 1: Arrive in Kuala Lumpur
- Day 2: Gentle exploring in KL
- Day 3: Travel to Sepilok, Sabah
- Day 4: Sepilok – Orangutans and Sun Bears
- Day 5: Sepilok – Visit the Rainforest Discovery Centre (day and night)
- Days 6 & 7: River Kinabatangan Tour
- Day 8: Travel to Kota Kinabalu
- Days 9-13: Relaxation, beach time and family fun at Borneo’s best family resort
- Day 14: Start the journey home
- How much will this 2-week Borneo itinerary cost?
- Got a bit more time in Borneo?
- Want this Borneo itinerary in an easy, printable format?
- Frequently Asked Questions About This Borneo Itinerary
- Looking for more Malaysia travel inspiration?
Day 1: Arrive in Kuala Lumpur
If you’re heading to Malaysian Borneo from overseas then your first landing place is likely to be in Kuala Lumpur on Malaysia’s mainland. And if you’ve flown long-haul with kids, then you are going to need a little bit of time to rest, recuperate and get over the jetlag. KL is also a fab family travel destination in it’s own right, with loads of family-friendly things to do, even on a budget.
Relax at your hotel’s swimming pool, grab some street food as an intro to the amazing Malaysian cuisine and settle in. If you’ve got any energy, take a Grab over to KLCC – marvel at the Petronas Towers and let the kids splash in the free waterpark.
Day 2: Gentle exploring in KL
Hopefully by Day 2 you’ve had a good night’s sleep and are itching to get out and see a bit more of KL. This is a city with a huge amount on offer for a family visit.
To balance education, culture AND family fun, these are our recommendations for your one full day in Kuala Lumpur
Morning: Explore Batu Caves
The huge limestone cave complex just outside Kuala Lumpur is home to a number of Hindu temples and shrines. With it’s colourful steps and huge golden Murugan statue, it’s an absolutely breathtaking sight.
And whilst it might feel like a world away from KLCC, it’s actually only a 20-minute journey in a Grab taxi (costing around £2-3/US$2.75-4 each way). Admission is free; make sure that adults are respectfully dressed with knees and shoulders covered (kids are fine in shorts and t-shirts).
I would highly recommend visiting Batu Caves in the morning, before the heat of the day and the tour buses roll in.
Afternoon: Let the kids run wild at Berjaya Times Square Theme Park
The malls in Kuala Lumpur really are something else. This is not mall life as you might have experienced it elsewhere – malls in KL ARE life. Not only are they places to shop but they also house huge food courts (with delicious food options), playgrounds, cultural and art shows – and at Berjaya Times Square, a whole indoor theme park.
There’s rides and games here for every age, including a pretty big rollercoaster that loops round the whole place. There’s VR quests, arcade games and a tiny train running through the middle. There’s also a virtual aquarium – but trust us on this, it’s absolutely terrible – you’re far better spending your time on the rides.
| Where to stay | On a budget? Try one of the apartments in Lucentia Residences. Not only are the suites perfect for families, staying here also means you get access to a stunning infinity pool with views over KL, an Olympic-sized pool on the Ground Floor, hot tubs and a gym. The Rainforest Junior Suite is compact but a big hit with kids. For a bit more space, book in to the 2-bedroom Harmony Luxury Suites. Want a bit more luxury? Book a Family Suite at the Shangri-La Kuala Lumpur. The kids get to sleep in their own private tipi, there’s chocolate fountains at breakfast and a gorgeous pool to cool off in. We loved our stay here! |
| Where to eat | For an easy, air-conditioned intro to Malaysian food for you and the kids, take a Grab to the Suria KLCC mall, right underneath the Petronas Towers. The Signature food court here has a HUGE range of different foods you can try, all easily under one roof. On Day 2 (when you’re hopefully feeling a bit more adventurous!) head to Jalan Alor for some of the world’s best street food. |
| How to get there | The easiest way to get from KL International Airport to your accommodation is via Grab taxi. This should cost around £14-16/US$19-22 in total. |
Day 3: Travel to Sepilok, Sabah
I know, I know – we’re on Day 3 and haven’t even made it to actual Borneo yet on this Borneo itinerary. But today is the day!
The first part of your Borneo adventure is over in Sepilok. To get there, you’ll need to take a direct flight from Kuala Lumpur to Sandakan. There are regular flights with AirAsia; flight time is around 3-hours.
Once you’ve arrived in Sandakan, take a Grab straight to Sepilok. There are a couple of sights in Sandakan itself (including the highly educational Sandakan Memorial Park and a visit to the Agnes Keith House) but if you’re on a limited timeframe then getting to Sepilok ASAP is your best bet.
A Grab taxi from Sandakan Airport to Sepilok should take around 30mins and will cost around £10-15/US$13.50-20.50.
Settle in to your hotel in Sepilok and get ready for some Borneo adventure tomorrow.
Day 4: Sepilok – Orangutans and Sun Bears
There are several things that are an absolute must-do on any Borneo itinerary. And the Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre is one of them. This is a huge reason why people come to Borneo and for good reason.
Morning: Marvel at the playful orangutans at Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre
Read our full review of our visit to Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre here
Getting to see these marvellous animals in real life is absolutely joyful. The Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre works hard to help the primates in it’s care and slowly get them to the point where they can fend for themselves in the wild.
There’s an outdoor nursery where you can sit and watch young orangutans swinging from the climbing frames and playing. But the real draw here is the feeding platforms. This is where the magic happens – at feeding times you’ll see the orangutans swinging in through the trees to grab themselves a share of the contents of the fruit baskets.
Watching the boys’ faces as the first orangutan swung across the ropes and on to the platform was a massive highlight of our entire family gap year.
Feedings happen at 10am and 3pm. One of the advantages of staying in Sepilok is that you can stay for both sessions and maximise your orangutan watching. Your ticket allows you to re-enter later in the day too. Which means you can head to the 10am feeding, then duck out and across the road to the other brilliant conservation centre next door.
Afternoon: Learn about the world’s smallest bear at the Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre
Once you’ve spent a morning with the orangutans, you can nip across the road (literally a five minute walk) to the home of the world’s smallest bears.
This is another excellent rehabilitation centre (featured on David Attenborough’s ‘Asia’ series). The staff here are brilliant – they hover around the viewing platforms answering any questions and filling you in on the antics of the bears.
A visit here will last for around 1-2hours. So you can fit this in and then head back to the orangutans for the afternoon feeding at 3pm.
Day 5: Sepilok – Visit the Rainforest Discovery Centre (day and night)
Read our full review of the Rainforest Discovery Centre here.
Day 5 of your Borneo itinerary is all about the Rainforest Discovery Centre. This world-class nature experience is a journey right in to the Borneo rainforest. It’s immersive and educational, but also highly accessible. Even younger kids will be able to wander the 620m Skywalk through the forest canopy.
Daytime: Walk the Skywalk and learn about the rainforest
During daylight hours you can visit the RDC independently and follow the huge Skywalk through the trees. There’s a huge number of birds to spot from here and you can really soak up the sights and sounds of actually *being* in a rainforest.
There’s an exhibition hall with some pretty good displays that walk you through the flora and fauna of the ecosystem. You can also wander through the Plant Discovery Garden to see examples of the flora here.
There’s a small cafe that’s good for a cold drink whilst looking out over the lovely lake (but don’t bother with the food here).
You’re likely to be pretty hot and sweaty after a couple of hours here, so head back to your accommodation to cool off in the aircon for a while in the afternoon (or the pool if you’re lucky enough to have one).
Evening: Explore the rainforest in the dark
To see a completely different side of the rainforest, book on to a Night Tour with one of the RDC’s excellent rangers. It’s incredibly exciting to experience the jungle in the pitch black, for adults and kids!
The tour starts at twilight when the rangers take everyone up on to the Skywalk to silently wait for the Giant Flying Squirrels to make an appearance. And when they do – when you see them soaring through the trees – it’s utterly spellbinding.
As the light fades the rangers split the visitors into small groups for a tour of the rainforest. They’ll point out birds who are settling in for the night, huge spiders, scorpions and – if you’re lucky – maybe even a slow loris or a tarsier.
Be aware that you do have to book Night Tour tickets in advance as these are popular and do frequently sell out.
| Where to stay | On a budget? You’ll find that Sepilok is not quite as cheap as elsewhere in Malaysia. Our favourite budget option here is Sepilok B&B. It’s got big, air-conditioned family rooms (with bunk beds for the kids) and it’s just a few minutes walk from the Rainforest Discovery Centre. Want a bit more luxury? Sepilok Forest Edge Resort has beautiful chalet-style wooden rooms and is in a great location for getting to all the main sights in Sepilok. Plus it has a gorgeous pool – perfect for cooling off in after a day of exploring. |
| Where to eat | Sepilok doesn’t have a huge range of eateries to choose from; it is actually a pretty small village after all. Both Sepilok B&B and Sepilok Forest Edge Resort have decent restaurants attached to them so if you’re staying at either these are your easiest and best bet in an evening. The hotels here tend to be pretty flexible with eating times to accommodate night tours at the Rainforest Discovery Centre too (as long as you let them know in advance that you might need a late meal). |
| How to get there | You’ll need to fly in to Sandakan from elsewhere in Malaysia (airlines include AirAsia and Malaysia Airlines). Once on the ground, a Grab taxi is the fastest and easiest option for getting from Sandakan to Sepilok. |
Days 6 & 7: River Kinabatangan Tour
Full details on visiting the Kinabatangan River with kids are in our review here.
If you’re bringing your kids to Borneo, it’s likely the wildlife that drew you to this part of the world. And this is where it gets really wild and spectacular. No Borneo itinerary would be truly complete without a Kinabatangan River safari. This is your chance to see orangutans, pygmy elephants, proboscis monkeys, crocodiles, hornbills and much, much more – actually in the wild.
Seeing pygmy elephants crashing through the undergrowth beside you, spotting crocodiles by torchlight on a night safari and gliding along the river at sunrise – this is the stuff of family travel dreams.
The easiest way to experience the river is to book a stay at one of the Kinabatangan River lodges that are dotted along it’s banks. Tours include a lodge stay, transport to/from Sepilok or Sandakan, all meals and a number of boat safaris with a guide to spit the famous wildlife.
Again, this is all surprisingly easy, even with kids. The journey from Sepilok only takes a couple of hours (by minivan and then boat), the lodges are very comfortable (despite their very remote location) and the wildlife spotting is all done from the boat. No sweaty trekking through the jungle required here.
| Where to stay | There are a number of lodges to choose from, each with different price points. We loved our stay at Osman’s Homestay. It’s family-run, a tiny, homely little spot and Osman is an excellent guide. It also has a bit more of a DIY approach to some of the other bigger tour companies as you can pay-as-you-go for the boat safaris (so can do as many or as few as you feel like). River Junkie run a number of tour options to the Kinabatangan River and came highly recommended by fellow Borneo travelling families we met along the way too. |
| Where to eat | All meals will be included as part of your stay. The lodges along the river are very remote so there are no other options! Fortunately the food is surprisingly good and we found there was plenty of choice for all of us, including the kids. |
| How to get there | Kinabatangan River tours will all include transfers to/from either Sepilok or Sandakan. For this itinerary, you can arrange to be picked up from your hotel in Sepilok and then dropped off directly at Sandakan airport at the end of your river adventure. |
Day 8: Travel to Kota Kinabalu
On the final morning of your Kinabatangan River stay, your lodge can arrange for you to be dropped off back at Sandakan Airport. From here, it’s a short flight to Kota Kinabalu for your final stop on your Borneo itinerary.
Flights run several times a day to Kota Kinabalu so you can liaise with your river lodge to check which time works best.
Days 9-13: Relaxation, beach time and family fun at Borneo’s best family resort
Read our in-depth review of our stay at the Shangri-La Rasa Ria here.
The last stretch of your Borneo itinerary is all about relaxing – and recovering from all the adventures you’ve had so far. One of the reasons Borneo works SO WELL for a family holiday is the fact that you can blend real adventure and wild experiences with a chilled out stay at one of the world’s best family resorts.
The Shangri-La Rasa Ria is just that. Based on it’s own huge private stretch of beach about 45mins North of Kota Kinabalu, this is a wonderful, wonderful spot for families. It’s a resort that really redefines the idea of family-friendly. There’s gorgeous beachfront pools, a vast array of kids activities, playgrounds, a games room and even a dedicated section at the restaurant buffet just for kids.
And then to top it off, because this is Borneo, there’s even a private nature reserve on site. You can book on to sunrise hikes, night walks and the kids can even shadow a ranger for the day as part of their Junior Naturalist programme.
| Where to stay | The Shangri-La Rasa Ria is the whole reason for your stay back in Kota Kinabalu. Soak up the family atmosphere and relax after all the jungle-based adventures earlier in the trip. |
| Where to eat | The huge breakfast is included in the room rate at the Shangri-La. You can also choose to go all-inclusive if you want to take all the hassle out of your stay. The food in all the restaurants is excellent and there is so much choice. If you’re on a tighter budget, you can also order meals via Grab to the hotel. We opted for this on several nights of our stay. |
| How to get there | From Kota Kinabalu airport you’ll need to take a Grab taxi; the journey takes around 45minutes and will cost around £20-25/US$27-34. |
Day 14: Start the journey home
Sad times – your 2-week Borneo itinerary ends here. Luckily you’re going home with a huge stack of awesome family memories (and probably around 1,000 new photos on your phone to go through).
You can fly direct from Kota Kinabalu to Kuala Lumpur to pick up your return flight. If you need a bit more time to connect in KL, take a flight on the evening of Day 13 and spend one last night in KL instead.
If you’re putting together your trip, take a look at our favourite places to stay in Borneo to help you choose the right base.
How much will this 2-week Borneo itinerary cost?
If you followed this exact Borneo itinerary, your costs would look something like this (for a family of four):
Accommodation: £1,690/US$2,300
- 2 nights in Kuala Lumpur in a two-bed apartment: £130/US$177
- 3 nights in Sepilok in a family room at Sepilok B&B: £160/US$218
- 2 nights at Osman’s Homestay on the Kinabatangan River (including all boat safaris, transfers and meals): £400/US$544
- 7 nights in a family room at the Shangri-La Rasa Ria (including breakfast): £1,000/US$1,360
Activities: £136.60/US$185.85
- Rainforest Discovery Centre (day visit): £17/US$23
- Night Walk at the Rainforest Discovery Centre: £26.50/US$36
- Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre: £22/US$30
- Borneo Sunbear Conservation Centre: £27.50/US$37.50
- Berjaya Times Square Theme Park: £44.60/US$60.70
Internal Flights (including check-in luggage): £650/US$885
- Kuala Lumpur-Sandakan: £300/US$408
- Sandakan-Kota Kinabalu: £100/US$136
- Kota Kinabalu-Kuala Lumpur: £250/US$340
This makes a total of £2,476.60/US$3,369.36 for all accommodation, internal flights and main activities.
Of course you’ll then have daily costs of food and ground transport, which will vary depending on your own travel style and budget. As a rough guide these were some of our basic daily costs:
- Grab taxi: £1-2/US$1.36-2.72 for short journeys (10-20mins)
- Meals for four in a restaurant: £6-20/US$8-27
- Laundry: £3.50/US$4.75 per load
Given the amazing, once-in-a-lifetime experiences you can pack in to this two week itinerary for Borneo, it really is incredible value.
Got a bit more time in Borneo?
If you’re exploring more of the island, we also spent time in Kuching in Sarawak, which offers a completely different side of Borneo.
Combining your adventures in Sabah with our Kuching itinerary gives you a great mix of wildlife and culture. In just three days you can add in even more amazing experiences, including visiting a traditional head-hunting village and taking a day trip out to Bako National Park – a fantastic way to see even more wildlife in a completely different setting.
Want this Borneo itinerary in an easy, printable format?
Planning a trip like this with kids can feel overwhelming — especially when you’re juggling flights, wildlife stops, travel days, and downtime. To make it easier, we’ve put together a free PDF version of this 2-week Borneo itinerary, based on our real family trip.
The PDF includes:
- the full day-by-day itinerary
- accommodation suggestions
- travel logistics between each stop
- budget guidance for families
- all in one place, ready to save or print
👉 Sign up below to get your free Borneo itinerary PDF and start planning a family adventure your kids will never forget.
Frequently Asked Questions About This Borneo Itinerary
Yes. Borneo is surprisingly family-friendly, offering comfortable accommodation, short internal flights, and wildlife experiences that don’t require strenuous trekking. With good pacing, it works very well for families with kids.
Sabah is particularly well-suited to families, with highlights like Sepilok, the Kinabatangan River, and family-friendly resorts near Kota Kinabalu. This itinerary focuses on areas that are accessible and rewarding with kids.
Getting around Borneo is easier than many people expect. Internal flights are short and affordable, and most major wildlife destinations arrange transfers, making logistics straightforward for families.
Borneo can be very good value for families, especially considering the quality of wildlife experiences. Costs depend on accommodation choices, but this itinerary includes a realistic budget breakdown based on our own trip.
Yes. The itinerary is flexible and can be adjusted by adding rest days, skipping night activities, or shortening wildlife stays depending on your kids’ ages and energy levels.
Absolutely. This Borneo itinerary works perfectly as part of a longer family gap year or extended travel through Southeast Asia, offering meaningful experiences without constant travel fatigue.
Looking for more Malaysia travel inspiration?
Check out our other travel guides, reviews and tips for planning the perfect Borneo family holiday. Plus wider Malaysia too!
