The best time to visit Borneo is during the dry season, which runs from March to September. This makes it a great stop when you’re trying to dodge some other Southeast Asian countries’ wet seasons. The dry season is also the best time to travel to Borneo to see Orangutans in the wild – one our top things to do in Borneo!
If you choose to visit Borneo in the rainy season the tropical climate produces humidity levels of 80% and temperatures around 30°C, making it sticky and uncomfortable.
As always, our favourite time to visit Borneo is during the shoulder seasons, May & June or September & October and that is exactly what we did; we headed over in June when it was less crowded but still comfortable weather.
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When Is The Best Time Of The Year To Visit Borneo?
When booking your trip to Borneo you want to avoid the wet or monsoon season which happens from November to February. January sees the highest rainfall, which leads to animals hiding amongst the dense vegetation and less sightings. Interestingly if you’re heading to Brunei the driest month is February.
The best time to visit Borneo depends on what you want and where you’re going. Head over in the shoulder seasons to miss the crowds, or visit during the high season to get the best chance of seeing Borneo’s wildlife.
So, if you’re wondering when is the best time to visit for you, depending on where you’re going and what months you have available, read on.
🗺️ Your Ultimate Borneo Map
On our way, we created a Google Pinned Map with all the places we visited in Borneo. Grab your Pinned Map today and start planning your adventure!
Geography Overview
The island is split into three countries, Indonesia, Malaysia (States of Sabah and Sarawak) and Brunei. Depending on where you go the geographic locations have different weather and season patterns. The island has an equatorial climate which has consistent weather conditions throughout the year, Borneo sits around 30°C. Rainfall occurs all year round but some months experience more intense rain.
Map Of Borneo’s Regions
Regions Of Borneo
When to travel to Borneo? It depends on what region you plan to visit…
Sabah (Malaysia)
Famous for Mount Kinabalu and one of the most visited areas of Borneo. Here you can see diverse wildlife including orangutans, proboscis monkeys and pygmy elephants.
Sarawak (Malaysia)
Sarawak is famous for its extensive cave systems, ancient rainforests and endemic wildlife.
Discover our top things to do in Sabah and Sarawak!
Brunei
Known for its wealth, Islamic architecture and unspoiled rainforest.
Indonesia Borneo (Kalimantan)
Explore the Tanjung Puting National Park to see wild orangutans.
Seasons In Borneo
- Wet (November to March): The Monsoon season brings heavy rainfall across most of the island.
- Dry (April to October): Conditions become drier, sunnier and less humid.
Best Time To Visit Sabah
Top Destinations In Sabah
- Sepilok Orangutan Centre – See semi-wild primates swing through dense jungle plus observe the nursery where young orangutans come to learn vital skills.
- Rainforest Discovery Centre – Walk the skywalk through the rainforest canopy and see what animals you can find.
- Sun Bear Conservation Centre – See the smallest bear in the world up close!
- Kinabatangan River Experience – Stay on the banks of the Kinabatangan River with Tungog Eco Camp and experience all the rainforest has to offer.
Stats on Sabah
- Driest Month: March
- Wettest Month: October
Best Time To Visit Sarawak
Top Destinations In Sarawak
- Go Spelunking in Kuching – Home to some of the best underground caves in the world such as Batu Cave, Fairy Cave and Wind Cave.
- Explore Bako National Park – Home to mesmerising rock formations and ancient forest.
- Mulu National Park – Home to the largest cave chamber and the longest cave system.
Stats on Sarawak
- Driest Month: April
- Wettest Month: December
Best Time To Visit Brunei
Top Destinations In Brunei
- Visit the Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddinen Mosque – See the famous gold dome.
- Explore Kampong Ayer Water Village – Known as ‘Venice of the East’.
- Discover Ulu Temburong National Park – Head out on rainforest walks and river cruises.
Stats on Brunei
- Driest Month: February
- Wettest Month: October
Best Time To Visit Indonesian Borneo
Top Destinations In Kalimantan
- Explore Tanjung Puting National Park – Take a river tour to find wild orangutans and proboscis monkeys.
- Visit Derawan Islands – Snorkel with sea turtles and swim in the famous jellyfish lake.
- Experience the Mahakam River – Learn about the tradition Dayak Villages.
Stats on Indonesian Borneo
- Driest Month: August
- Wettest Month: November
Dry Season Months
April – Dry weather and good hiking conditions, April is a great shoulder season to visit Borneo when it is less crowded.
May – Another great shoulder season making it a great time to travel on a budget. The weather is good for hiking and spotting orangutans.
June – The start of turtle season off Lankayan Island and hot and dry across Borneo making it a good time of the year to travel here.
July – The busiest time to visit Borneo due to the dry weather, turtle season and orangutan sightings.
August – Another busy month with higher prices and lots of tourists, baby turtles hatch on the beach and plenty of wildlife is seen gorging themselves on the fruit trees.
September – The weather remains dry and it’s starting to get less busy making this a great time to visit some of the highlights Borneo has to offer.
October – The best time to visit for diving at Sipadan and a shoulder season for budget travellers.
Wet Season Months
Low Season In Borneo brings lots of rain to replenishes the rainforest and high humidity, often 80% making it harder to travel and spot wildlife.
Our Experience Of Visiting Borneo In June
We headed to Sabah for two weeks in June just as it started to get busy for the high tourist season. We experienced little rain but were joined with lots of other tourists. If you enjoy travelling outside of peak season we recommend April, May or October. Of course you need to be prepared for rain any time you travel as after all it is the rainforest… so don’t forget to pack your waterproof!
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Essential Items You Need For Borneo
Allowing you to fill up water whenever and wherever with peace of mind, plus you’re helping the environment
The week sprays will not work! Make sure to bring a high DEET percentage spray made for the tropics. We also use Mosquito Wipes.
Binoculars To Spot The Wonderful Wildlife
You’re most likely heading to Borneo for the wildlife. Don’t miss out on seeing these amazing animals up close and pack a good pair of binoculars!
Life while travelling will never be the same again! Charge multiple devices all at once in any country… game changer.
Top Tips For Travelling Borneo
If you’re visiting Borneo, here’s our top tips:
- Try Nasi Lemak – The national dish of Malaysia, Nasi Lemak is fresh grated coconut and steamed rice served on banana leaves.
- Book flights in advance – they can become expensive if you leave it last minute… Also don’t forget your Apple Airtags to track your bags.
- Don’t skip the Kinabatangan River – It may be pricey but this is where you’re going to see most of Borneo’s wildlife, including wild orangutans, proboscis monkeys and pygmy elephants.
- Dress for the jungle – Pack long sleeve, lightweight materials that cover you from mosquitos but will also keep you cool. Don’t forget your Raincoat as tropical downpours are frequent.
