This was one destination that really surprised us on our family gap year – we went from not knowing much about Malaysia to absolutely loving it. We spent time in Kuala Lumpur, Penang, Langkawi, Melaka, Kuala Selangor and in Borneo (in both Sabah and Sarawak) and it felt like the destination that just kept on giving.
There’s unbelievable wildlife spotting in the Kinabatangan and Bako National Park in Borneo (plus orangutans). Kuala Lumpur is a real gem of a city, fusing together cultures and modern life with loads for kids to do. And then Penang and Langkawi make for fab island getaways with beaches and some of the tastiest food anywhere in the world.
These are our guides, tips and recommendations if you’re thinking of visiting Malaysia with kids.
Borneo Family Travel
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Best things to do in Sandakan and Sepilok, Borneo
Trying to figure out the best things to do in Sandakan for your Borneo trip? This part of Borneo is one of those places that feels properly wild — but amazingly, it manages to do this without making travel feel that hard. It’s incredibly easy to explore (even with kids), and somehow packs in orangutans,…
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Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre Review: Visiting with Kids
Spending weeks travelling through Borneo as a family, as part of our family gap year, completely changed how our kids see the natural world. Wildlife and nature were a huge focus of our year away — not just seeing animals, but understanding conservation, habitats, and the very real challenges wildlife faces. These were experiences they…
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Things to Do in Kuching With Kids: Family Travel Guide
When we were planning the Borneo leg of our family gap year through Southeast Asia, Kuching wasn’t originally at the top of our list. Like many travellers, we were focused on the headline destinations in Sabah — orangutans, rainforests, and Mount Kinabalu. Sarawak felt a little more off-the-radar. But after spending several weeks travelling through…
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Where to stay in Borneo with Kids
Planning a family trip to Borneo sounds wildly adventurous… until you actually start trying to figure out where to stay in Borneo with kids. Do you base yourself in Sabah or Sarawak?Should you splurge on a jungle lodge?Is it worth paying extra for a pool when it’s that humid?And will your children survive without air…
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A trip from Kuching to Bako National Park with Kids
If you’re planning a trip to Borneo with kids, chances are wildlife is high on your wish list. But while most families head straight to Sabah, we decided to add something different to our itinerary — a boat-only national park just 1.5 hours from Kuching that felt like stepping onto a desert island. And surprisingly,…
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Kuching Itinerary: What to Do in Kuching for Three Days
We spent several weeks exploring Borneo across both Sabah and Sarawak — and while most visitors head straight for Sabah’s iconic wildlife spots, we were genuinely surprised by just how much Sarawak had to offer. Kuching, in particular, completely won us over. And yes, part of this was to do with my youngest’s obsession with…
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Borneo Family Holiday Guide: What It’s Really Like With Kids
We spent several weeks travelling across Sabah and Sarawak in Malaysian Borneo as part of our family gap year — and it ended up being one of the biggest highlights of the entire trip. Borneo had always felt like a dream destination: pristine rainforest, extraordinary wildlife, and those once-in-a-lifetime experiences you usually only see on…
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The Ultimate 2-Week Borneo Itinerary for Families
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…
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Kinabatangan River Tour With Kids: Wildlife Safari in Borneo
If you’re travelling through Borneo with kids and dreaming of a real wildlife experience — immersed in the jungle, spotting amazing animals in their natural habitat — then a Kinabatangan River tour is one of the most unforgettable things you can do as a family. We visited the Kinabatangan River during our family adventure through…
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Best Place to See Orangutans in Borneo: Sepilok with Kids
If seeing orangutans in Borneo with kids is high on your family travel bucket list, there’s one place that stands out above the rest: the Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre. Founded in 1964, this world-famous sanctuary is widely regarded as the best place to see orangutans in Borneo, offering unforgettable up-close encounters in a natural rainforest…
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Rainforest Discovery Centre Sepilok Review: Visiting with Kids
After spending several weeks travelling through Borneo with our kids, across both Sabah and Sarawak, one thing became very clear: this part of the world offers some of the best wildlife and nature experiences anywhere on the planet. And while Borneo might sound wild, remote, and difficult to navigate with children, the reality surprised us….
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Shangri La Rasa Ria Review: Is This the Best Family Hotel in Borneo?
Planning a trip to Borneo with kids and wondering where to stay? In this Shangri La Rasa Ria review, I’m sharing our honest experience staying at one of Sabah’s most talked-about resorts — and whether it truly deserves its reputation as the best family hotel in Borneo. We stayed at the Shangri La Rasa Ria…
Mainland Malaysia & the Islands
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Visiting Batu Caves with Kids
During our family gap year we wanted to introduce the boys to different cultures and beliefs as part of their worldschooling education. One of our favourite experiences was visiting Batu Caves with kids, just outside Kuala Lumpur. Batu Caves is one of the most visually striking places we visited in Malaysia. With its towering golden…
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Shangri-La Kuala Lumpur Review: Best Family Hotel in KL?
Kuala Lumpur is packed with amazing hotels, but finding one that works well for families can be surprisingly tricky. When you’re travelling with kids, you need more than just a nice room. Space, location, a good pool and genuinely family-friendly service all make a huge difference. During our family gap year travels in South East…
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3-Day Langkawi Itinerary for Families
If you’re looking for a Langkawi itinerary that balances white-sand beaches, jungle adventures, and enough downtime to actually feel like a holiday — this is exactly how we structured our stay as a family. After several weeks of faster travel through Malaysia, Langkawi was our reset button. It’s one of those rare places where you…
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Kuala Lumpur on a Budget: A Family Cost Breakdown
We spent six weeks travelling mainland Malaysia as part of our family gap year, and Kuala Lumpur ended up being one of the biggest surprises of the trip — not just for how much there is to do with kids, but for how affordable it is as a family destination. KL is modern, well-connected, packed…
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Langkawi Mangrove Tour With Kids: What to Expect
Langkawi was one of our slower stops during our family gap year through Malaysia — a place to chill out a little after busier travel days, but still will plenty to do when we wanted to explore. While it’s easy to spend your time here on the beach or by the pool, we wanted to…
