Borneo

An island in the South China Sea belonging to Malaysia, Brunei and Indonesia, a holiday to Borneo offers adventures like nowhere else - most spectacularly in its two East Malaysian states, Sabah and Sarawak.

Known as 'The Land beneath the Wind' for its location below the typhoon belt, Sabah is a nature-rich wonderland complete with luxuriant jungle and sparkling ocean. This is the place to embark on a trek to the peaks of Mount Kinabalu, spot hatching turtles, cruise the Kinabatangan River to see orangutans and baby-faced Borneo pygmy elephants, and stay overnight in a traditional longhouse built from timber, thatch, and split bamboo.

Wild adventure begins at the Danum Valley Conservation Area, an ancient forest where you can brave the 1,000-foot jungle canopy walkway to spot clouded leopards, proboscis monkeys, and orangutans. Also impressive are Tabin Wildlife Reserve, Kinabalu National Park, and Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre, where you can see Asia’s orange ape in its native habitat.

For a barefoot luxury, the designer-led Gaya Island Resort ticks the boxes for five-star desert island decadence, whilst the chic Shangri-La Rasa Ria cuts it for those seeking sun-soaked glamour on stunning Pantai Dalit Beach. In Sarawak, coastal capital Kuching deserves a visit for its ornate temples, Chinese shop houses, Sarawak Museum, and orangutans galore at the Semenggok Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre. Beyond the city, visit Bako National Park for hiking trails and diverse wildlife including long-tailed macaques and giant monitor lizards. Also, explore Batang Ai National Park, most famous for its indigenous Iban people, rainforests, and wildlife.

For a more dramatic spectacle, head to Gunung Mulu National Park where the showstopper is the UNESCO-listed site Mulu Caves - the world’s largest underground chamber containing a number of record-breaking caverns. Marvel at the razor sharp limestone Pinnacles that soar skywards from the jungle floor, trek the Headhunters Trail and for a real “Attenborough” moment, watch in awe as over two million bats emerge from the yawning mouth of Deer Cave at dusk - a sight never to be forgotten.