Borneo responsible tourism
But values are shifting. The importance of Borneo’s unique culture and nature is finally being recognised, and as the island becomes more accessible, responsible tourists from across the globe are traveling here to see these natural riches and to contribute to their protection. Far from the stampedes of mainland Southeast Asia, tourism here is largely being developed sensitively and sustainably. Income contributes to the wellbeing of communities, the preservation of the forests and of course, the orangutan rehabilitation centers. The steady yet controlled growth of tourism across this enormous island could provide hope for the survival of its most endangered species – as long as it is done well.
Our Borneo Vacations
Borneo orangutan vacation
Trekking, wildlife and beach adventure vacation to Borneo
Borneo tour, Great Apes and Beach escapes
Explore bustling cities, lush jungles and paradise beaches.
Borneo tailor made vacations, wildlife & beaches
A luxury tour of the best wildlife & beaches of Sabah
Luxury beach vacation in Borneo & Orangutans
Relaxation in one of nature's most picturesque settings
Sarawak family vacation
An action-packed vacation got the whole family to enjoy!
Borneo wildlife tour
Orangutans, Sumatran rhinos, elephants & bat exodus
Orangutan photography in Borneo
Develop your photography skills in Borneo
Borneo 8 day tour, the wild heart of Borneo
A unique experience in the untouched, beautiful Sarawak.
Family vacation in Sabah
Discover the best of Borneo in just under 2 weeks
Borneo Mount Kinabalu Climb Vacation
Adventure vacation to see wildlife and climb Mt Kinabalu
Sarawak wildlife & beach vacation
Encounter an orangutan & hike through virgin rainforest
Borneo tailor made tour on a shoestring
The Best of Borneo: Wildlife, Adventure, Idyllic Beaches
Orangutan conservation in East Kalimantan, Indonesia
Work with orangutans & sun bears in stunning East Kalimantan
Kuala Lumpur and Sabah wildlife tour
Wildlife adventure in the heart of Borneo
Wildlife conservation in Borneo
Conserve orangutans and elephants in Borneo's rainforests
Sarawak and Singapore vacation
Discover beautiful Sarawak with a 2 night Singapore stopover
Borneo vacation, Highlights of Borneo
The highlights of Sabah, from Orangutans to Mt Kinabalu
Borneo family tour
A fabulous family vacation including the best of Borneo
Tanjung Puting orangutan vacation, Borneo
Orangutan Adventure Vacation, Tanjung Puting, Borneo
Borneo vacation, Land below the wind
9-day tour of Malaysia's spectacular Sabah State
Singapore and Sarawak vacations
A wildlife and Cultural Vacation to Singapore and Sarawak
Borneo tour, Sarawak, Sabah & Brunei
Exotic Trans-Borneo Overland from Rainforest to Beach
Borneo wildlife vacation
Showcasing the best of Borneo - wildlife, rainforests and tropical beaches
Honeymoon in Borneo
Luxury Borneo Honeymoon, best of wildlife & luxury resorts
Borneo family volunteering vacation
Encounter orangutans and meet local tribes in magical Borneo
Borneo orangutan conservation volunteering
Care for rescued orangutans in beautiful Borneo
Sarawak and Sabah tour, Orangutans & Ibans
Explore Borneo's unique culture, heritage and wildlife
Borneo wildlife vacation with Mt. Kinabalu climb
Adventurous Borneo Wildlife & Mt. Kinabalu Climb trek
Malaysia and Borneo 15 day tour
Discover the highlights of Malaysia and Borneo
Wildlife & environment
Deforestation & the story of palm oil
“Deforestation” is a buzzword in Borneo. The island has lost over half its forests, with a third lost in the last three decades to palm oil plantations and loggers (legal and otherwise). Many rare and endemic species live here, including the proboscis monkey – found only in Borneo – the sun bear, pygmy elephant and clouded leopard. To give a sense of the wealth of biodiversity found here, on average, three new species were discovered in Borneo’s forests each month between 1994 and 2004. Many will have become extinct before we were even made aware of their existence.Malaysia's biggest marine park
While the future of Borneo’s forests remains undecided, at sea it’s a cheerier story. In May 2016, after 13 years of planning, Malaysia declared its largest marine protected area just off Sabah’s northern tip; the Tun Mustapha Park (TMP) now protects 10,000 square kilometres of marine landscape including a vast coral reef, mangroves and over 50 islands. It is situated within the highly biodiverse Coral Triangle.As well as thriving reefs, TMP encompasses commercial fishing areas and coastal communities – meaning that along with the gazetting of the park came sustainable management plans that will ensure fish stocks are allowed to recover and damaged reefs have chance to recuperate. Seagrass, fish, dugongs and green turtles thrive in this region, so the potential for developing well-managed, responsible tourism is high – and to prove that protecting this marine environment can prove more lucrative in the long run than destroying it.
What you can do
Simply visiting TMP while in Sabah is one of the most valuable things you can do – and ensuring you do so with a responsible operator with a commitment to protecting this fragile environment. For extra points, pack an eco friendly sun screen to wear while in the water to avoid contamination, and gather any discarded bottles or plastic bags you may find in the sea. Be sure to report to your vacation company any irresponsible actions on behalf of your boat driver or tour guide – such as dropping anchor on the coral, touching marine life or disturbing nesting sea turtles or hatchlings.
Volunteering – responsibly
After hearing about the plight of the world’s last orangutans, it’s natural to leap at the opportunity to volunteer with them, and to support their conservation. However, philanthropic travelers should take a step back: choosing the wrong volunteer placement is not just worthless – it can actually cause even more harm. A common cold can quickly kill a baby orangutan, and spread rapidly throughout the group. Additionally, fully wild orangutans will avoid contact with people; it is the ones who have become habituated to our presence that are caught straying on plantations or farmland – or attacking a human. So any contact they have with people reduces their chances of successful rehabilitation, and reintroduction into the wild.Pick your placement well. Most involve daily tasks such as cleaning, constructing and repairing enclosures, building climbing frames and maintaining paths. You should never be offered the chance to come into contact with the orangutans themselves to avoid the spread of disease.
“Now and again you do come across a project that allows hands-on volunteering – however, these volunteers will have been in quarantine for 10 days, and the tests you have to go through are quite rigorous. There is also quite a significant amount of training – this just isn’t suitable for someone on a two-week vacation.”
“If you can, call or email the office of the people you are visiting. They should be able to tell you where their funds are spent, and what they are in need of most. If people don’t reply then you can usually find out more by reading their mission statements and comparing which projects they highlight on their websites. Keep in mind that smaller, younger sites may be organised differently to more developed or more tourist focused sites.”
Roger Salwey, from our tailor made vacation specialists Oyster Worldwide:
“People need to ask what volunteers have actually done – what have they achieved? Ask to speak to someone who has actually done it to find out more.”
People & culture
But all of Borneo’s indigenous people are seeing their traditional lifestyles eroded by deforestation, urbanisation and the introduction of industries such as mining, and with the loss of these lifestyles, their knowledge of the forest, its wildlife and plants will also disappear.
Community tourism is a way for visitors to learn about these traditions; for local communities to continue practising them and sharing the knowledge with younger generations; and for people who have faced ongoing discrimination by the government and businesses to demonstrate that their culture, their sustainable way of life and their knowledge is valuable – even in the modern world. Some of the best community tourism projects are in Sarawak, where you can stay in the communal longhouse, live alongside the tribe and your money should go directly into community and conservation initiatives.
“Our project is in Batang Ai, where there are wild orangutans. You stay with a local Dayak tribe and go out trekking with them in the forest, which provides local jobs. Additionally, that particular community was on the point of being evicted from the forest by the government, but now that they’ve established themselves as a money making tourist center, the government were less inclined to kick them out. It really does help.”
Responsible tourism tips
“Women travelers must be careful with how they dress across Borneo – and even more so in Kalimantan. It’s so religious in Indonesia that you must cover your shoulders and wear at least three quarter length trousers. Definitely no strappy vests, even though it’s so hot – it’s just not the right thing to do at all. That applies in towns – but if you’re going to visit tribes you’re really going to shock them if you’re wearing very little.”