The island of Borneo, shared between Malaysia, Indonesia and Brunei, is one of the best wildlife-watching destinations in the world. With exotic animals like orangutans and pygmy elephants, it is a bucket list trip for many. With that in mind, it is important to ask when is the best time to visit Borneo.
Time it right and you’ll make memories to last a lifetime, potentially spotting Borneo’s Big Five along the way. Get it wrong and you’ll likely spend your time looking for animals but actually seeing very little. And that’s before we get to the constant downpours, dodgy boat crossings and leeches in the wet season! 😱
The best time to visit Borneo is from April to September. But, there is more nuance to a visit than that sentence suggests! Keep reading for my advice about when to plan a trip to Borneo plus tips from our community who have visited across the calendar.
Related: (opens in new tab)
- 🗺️ Southeast Asia Climate Planner
- 📍 2 and 3-Week Borneo Itineraries
- 🦧 Sabah Travel Route
- 🐒 Sarawak Travel Itinerary
When To Visit Borneo – Weather and Festival Guide 🌤️🎉
Climate Change 🌎🔥
As the planet continues to warm, seasons and temperatures get harder to predict. While the above guide provides a good overview of the best time to travel to Borneo, it is important to remember that climate change is forcing disruptions to established weather patterns. Borneo is a tropical island and weather can be erratic and unpredictable at all times of year.
Dry Season in Borneo ☀️
The best time to visit Borneo is from April to September during the dry season. During these months, you can expect mostly dry weather, with hot humid days. This time of year is perfect for those on wildlife spotting trips as less rain encourages the animals out towards the rivers, making sightings easier.
Fruiting season begins at the end of May and runs until August which provides the best time to see wild orangutans on a trip to the Kinabatangan River or Danum Valley. If you are hoping to spot orangutans at Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre or Semmengogh Nature Reserve, be aware that they are often harder to spot during the fruiting season; it is easier to forage food in the jungles, so their visits to the reserves are less frequent. Travellers looking to dive around Borneo will find the visibility best during the above months.
“I visited Sabah in May, meaning my trip fell in the dry season but before the peak months of July and August. The sunny and warm weather was perfect for spending time on the beaches of the Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park. It also happened to be the start of the fruiting season in the rainforest, which is the best time of year for seeing orangutans in the wild, which I did!”
Lisa, Writer at South East Asia Backpacker
Turtle fans are in luck! These beautiful reptiles lay their eggs year-round, however, it is best to visit Malaysian Borneo’s Turtle Islands from July to October when the sea is calmer.
Borneo’s dry season is the best time to beach-hop throughout the region. With some spectacular beaches close to the Tip of Borneo, this is the time to top up your tan! Trekking enthusiasts will also want to take advantage of the good weather. Dry season is the best time to tackle Mount Kinabalu and hike through Mulu National Park.
Burning Season in Borneo 🔥
Southeast Asia is infamous for its hazy season, which impacts different parts of the region at various times. Unlike other countries in Southeast Asia, Borneo’s burning season is not the result of slash-and-burn farming. Instead, it comes from its drained peatlands, which are highly flammable. Mostly, these fires take place in Kalimantan, Indonesian Borneo, but the haze blows right across the island, meaning that Malaysian Borneo is also affected. Fires only happen in the dry season, commonly during October.
Wet Season in Borneo 🌧️
“I visited Borneo towards the end of the rainy season. I figured that as I would be travelling south through the island, I’d be following the changing seasons and hopefully avoid the worst weather. It worked out almost to plan. My first few days in Kota Kinabalu were characterised by low-hanging clouds and lots of rain. I thought I’d made a terrible mistake and would be spending the next month dodging showers! Thankfully, this wasn’t the case and the weather improved throughout my visit. The best thing about visiting at the very end of the rainy season was that I still got low season prices and there was plenty of space in hostels and hotels, so I didn’t need to plan too far in advance!”
Tim, Writer at South East Asia Backpacker
November to February is the wet season in Borneo. During this time, rainfall is at its highest levels which can make for miserable jungle trekking conditions. In areas of Borneo where the infrastructure is not so well established (we’re looking at you Kalimantan), landslides are possible, disrupting overland transport.
“We were in Brunei, Kota Kinabalu and Sibu. It rains only for a short time. Then it’s sunny or cloudy. Kota Kinabalu had more rain than the other two places, but we managed to go out. We enjoyed our time. Bring sun protection! Very high UV levels!”
Laila, South East Asia Backpacker Community Member
Sea crossings are also rough which means trips to any of the Turtle Islands at this time of year can be a bit of a gamble. I visited Selingan Island in February and my crossing was okay but I later heard that one of the boats had capsized a couple of days after I’d visited! Luckily, everyone was fine but it would put me off taking this trip at the tail-end of rainy season again!
Despite the wet season bringing more precipitation, rain affects tropical Borneo year-round. Trekking conditions in the jungle can be a bit grim and leeches are common. However, one advantage to visiting during the off-season is that there is less competition for lodgings and it’s possible to find a good bargain!
“I visited Kuching, Miri, Labuan and Kota Kinabalu from Jun 25th and Jul 7th. There was no heavy rain in Kuching and Labuan, but heavy rain in the late afternoon and evening in Miri and Kota Kinabalu. You can visit some places until 3 or 4 pm. Watch the clouds carefully.”
Junji, South East Asia Backpacker Community Member
Shoulder Season in Borneo ☁️
The months of March and October are the shoulder season months for Borneo tourism. While they are not as good for wildlife spotting as the dry season, they provide a much better opportunity to see animals than the wet season! Advance bookings are less important for tours and you’ll get to experience the island before the bulk of the tourists descend!
Shoulder season is a great time to visit Bako National Park. You’ll get to avoid the majority of rain and share the area with fewer people than during the height of summer. Periods of sunshine will entice the animals out of the forest while the comparatively small crowds will keep them in the open.
While the middle of the dry season is the best time to dive in terms of visibility, those hoping to see whale sharks will want to time their visit to Borneo with March or April.
“Honestly you’re going to get rain in the tropics no matter when you go. I did Malaysia in October/November a few years ago. I didn’t find the rain too bad. Do your stuff in the morning, usually the rain doesn’t kick in until the early afternoon. Just pack appropriately.”
Jaimee, South East Asia Backpacker Community Member
Festivals in Borneo 🎉
Chinese New Year is the first major festival of the year in Borneo. It falls sometime in February and lasts for a couple of weeks. During this time, travellers often head over to Borneo from Peninsular Malaysia and China, meaning accommodation in the cities can fill up fast. Make sure you reserve your bed in advance to avoid getting stuck with accommodation you wouldn’t choose! If you’re keen to get involved in the festivities, keep an eye out for the streetside lanterns, dragon dances (often occurring on the street or in shopping malls) and street food events.
For travellers visiting Brunei, don’t miss the Hari Raya celebrations which occur annually at the end of Ramadan. Over three days, it is possible to enter the Sultan’s Palace, Istana Nurul Iman, and even meet the royal family!
The week-long Borneo Cultural Festival takes place in July in Sarawak. It showcases music, art and food from across Borneo and offers a wonderful experience to learn about the culture.
The Rainforest World Music Festival happens close to Kuching and spans three days in July or August. It is one of the largest music festivals in Southeast Asia. If music is your jam, you can also time your visit to coincide with the Borneo Jazz Festival, which also takes place annually in July.
The Borneo International Kite Festival is one of the most unique festivals which occurs on the world’s third-largest island. Since its inception in 2005, the event has been held at Bintulu Airport. As well as kite flying en masse, there are local food pop-ups, craft areas and cultural performances. It takes place in late September/early October.
FAQ
What is the average year-round temperature in Borneo?
Temperatures in Borneo average between 27°C and 32°C year-round.
What is the average humidity in Borneo year-round?
The humidity in Borneo floats around 80% for much of the year.
What is the average rainfall per month in Borneo?
Around 220 mm of rain is normal per month for Borneo but it can exceed 4,000 mm during the rainest months!
When is the best time to see birdlife in Borneo?
Endemic birds can be seen year-round but October to April is the best time to see migratory species.
When is the best time to visit Borneo for wildlife?
If wildlife spotting is your aim, you should visit Borneo during the dry season.
Is Borneo safe to visit?
Yes, Borneo is safe for travellers to visit. Although it’s been through a turbulent time in the recent past, especially in Eastern Sabah, Borneo is a safe place for travellers as long as you take some basic precautions!
No matter where you go, Borneo dishes up adventure in spades! While Malaysian Borneo has the best infrastructure, intrepid travellers will find plenty to love on the Indonesian side of Borneo too. Brunei is also an often overlooked destination that is well worth a look.
Deciding when to go to Borneo shouldn’t be too hard either – as a general rule, the dry season (April to September) presents the best weather, making trekking enjoyable and heightening your chances of seeing rare and exotic wildlife.
Contributors:
South East Asia Backpacker is a ‘travel diary for everyone’. This article has been written with the help of backpackers and local experts. We would like to thank…
🙏 Tim Ashdown | Writer at South East Asia Backpacker
🙏 Lisa Barham | Writer at South East Asia Backpacker
🙏 Jaimee | South East Asia Backpacker Community Member
🙏 Laila | South East Asia Backpacker Community Member
🙏 Junji | South East Asia Backpacker Community Member
Sheree Hooker | Editor @ South East Asia Backpacker + Winging The World
Sheree is the awkward British wanderluster behind Winging The World, a blog designed to show that even the most useless of us can travel. Follow Sheree’s adventures as she blunders around the globe, falling into squat toilets, getting into cars with machete men and running away from angry peacocks. In recent years, Sheree has also taken on the role of editor at South East Asia Backpacker.
