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Travel to Borneo
Flying to Borneo
Most international visitors arrive in Borneo via the Malaysian states of Sabah and Sarawak, which are well connected to major cities across Southeast Asia.
Brunei International Airport (BWN), serving the capital Bandar Seri Begawan, is another important gateway to northern Borneo. Royal Brunei Airlines operates direct flights from London Heathrow, making it one of the few ways to reach the island directly from Europe without changing aircraft. From Brunei, travellers can easily continue overland into neighbouring Sarawak or take short regional flights across the island.
Kuching International Airport (KCH) serves as the main gateway to Sarawak, with regular flights from Kuala Lumpur, Singapore and several regional destinations. From Kuching, travellers can easily reach nearby national parks such as Bako and Gunung Gading, as well as venture deeper into Sarawak's interior.
Kota Kinabalu International Airport (BKI) in Sabah is the busiest air hub on the island. The airport handles numerous flights from Kuala Lumpur and other Malaysian cities, along with direct connections from Singapore, Hong Kong, Seoul, Taipei and several Chinese cities. Its coastal location makes it a convenient starting point for exploring Mount Kinabalu, the islands of Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park, and the wildlife-rich regions of eastern Sabah.
For travellers heading to Indonesian Borneo, the principal aviation gateway is Sultan Aji Muhammad Sulaiman Sepinggan International Airport (BPN) in Balikpapan, East Kalimantan. The airport has extensive domestic connections with Jakarta and other major Indonesian cities, and also handles a limited number of international flights. Balikpapan serves as an important transport hub for the region and lies relatively close to the site of Indonesia's new capital, Nusantara.
Flight times:
There are direct flights from London to Brunei, with Royal Brunei Airlines operating services from London Heathrow to Bandar Seri Begawan. The flight takes approximately 15 hours and 25 minutes.
There are no direct flights from London to Kuching, Kota Kinabalu or Balikpapan; typical journey times are around 16 hours to Kuching, 17 hours to Kota Kinabalu, and 22 hours to Balikpapan, depending on the route and connections.
Travel by rail
It is not possible to reach Borneo by rail, as the island is not connected to mainland Asia by any railway network.
Driving to Borneo
As Borneo is an island, it is not possible to reach it by road from mainland Asia.
Getting to Borneo by boat
It is possible to reach parts of Borneo by sea, although international passenger services are limited. Sabah has historically had ferry connections with the southern Philippines, particularly between Zamboanga and Sandakan, though schedules can be irregular and travellers should check current availability in advance.
More commonly, regular ferry services operate between the island of Labuan (a Federal Territory of Malaysia) and neighbouring Brunei.
Cruise ships:
Borneo occasionally appears on Asian cruise itineraries. Cruise ships sometimes call at Kota Kinabalu in Sabah and at Muara, the port serving Brunei's capital, Bandar Seri Begawan. Smaller expedition cruises focused on wildlife and rainforest exploration may also visit Sandakan or more remote parts of the island, though large cruise ship visits remain relatively limited.
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