The capital of Brunei is a compact city of grand mosques, riverside villages and royal landmarks. Highlights include the gleaming Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddien Mosque and the vast Istana Nurul Iman, the Sultan's official residence. Nearby Kampong Ayer, a historic settlement of houses built on stilts over the Brunei River, offers insight into a centuries-old riverine lifestyle.
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Brunei / Bandar Seri Begawan
Kalimantan / Balikpapan
One of the principal cities of Indonesian Kalimantan, Balikpapan is an important centre for the oil and gas industry. The city also serves as a gateway to nearby natural attractions such as the Sungai Wain Protection Forest and Samboja Lestari, an orangutan and sun bear sanctuary managed by the Borneo Orangutan Survival Foundation.
Kalimantan / Pontianak
Located on the equator in West Kalimantan, Pontianak is a lively riverside city at the confluence of the Kapuas and Landak rivers. Visitors can see the Equator Monument marking the zero-degree latitude line and explore bustling markets along the Kapuas River, the longest river in Indonesia.
Kalimantan / Tanjung Puting National Park
One of Indonesia's most important conservation areas, this vast national park in Central Kalimantan is famed for its orangutan population. Visitors typically explore the park by traditional riverboat known as a klotok, travelling through the swamp forest to observe orangutans and other wildlife in protected habitats.
Sabah / Diving
Borneo offers some of the finest diving in Southeast Asia, particularly along the east coast of Sabah. Sipadan Island is widely regarded as one of the world's top dive sites, famous for its dramatic drop-offs and abundant marine life including turtles, reef sharks and large schools of barracuda. Other notable sites include Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park, Mabul, Kapalai and Layang-Layang Island in the South China Sea.
Sabah / Kinabatangan River
The Kinabatangan River region is one of the best places in Borneo to see wildlife in its natural habitat. Boat safaris along the river pass through lush floodplains where visitors may spot proboscis monkeys, orangutans, pygmy elephants and numerous bird species. The area is widely regarded as one of Southeast Asia's richest wildlife corridors.
Sabah / Kota Kinabalu
The capital of Sabah lies between the South China Sea and the dramatic silhouette of Mount Kinabalu. The city is a convenient base for exploring Kinabalu Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site famous for its biodiversity and climbing routes. Offshore, the islands of Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park offer coral reefs, clear waters and white-sand beaches.
Sabah / Sandakan
Once a bustling trading port, Sandakan today is best known as a gateway to Sabah's wildlife-rich east coast. The nearby Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre allows visitors to observe rescued orangutans in a protected forest setting, while the Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre focuses on the world's smallest bear species. Sandakan also offers river safaris along the Kinabatangan.
Sarawak / Gunung Mulu National Park
One of Southeast Asia's most extraordinary natural landscapes, this UNESCO World Heritage Site in Sarawak is renowned for its immense limestone cave systems and jagged karst formations. The park contains some of the largest cave chambers on Earth, including the vast Sarawak Chamber. Boardwalks and forest trails lead through dense rainforest to caves, waterfalls and the famous limestone pinnacles.
Sarawak / Kuching
Sarawak's capital sits gracefully along the Sarawak River and serves as the main gateway to the state's rainforests and national parks. The city blends colonial-era architecture, lively waterfront promenades and excellent museums, including the Borneo Cultures Museum. Nearby attractions include Bako National Park, known for its proboscis monkeys, and the Semenggoh Wildlife Centre, where rehabilitated orangutans roam freely in the surrounding forest.
Wildlife centres
Several conservation centres across Malaysian Borneo offer opportunities to learn about endangered species and rehabilitation efforts. The Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre near Sandakan is among the most well-known. The Semenggoh Wildlife Centre near Kuching is another important site for orangutan conservation, while the Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre focuses on protecting the island's native sun bears.
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