Malaysia and Borneo Escorted Tours

Discover Malaysia and Borneo

The Essence of Malaysia

Juxtaposing colonial and contemporary architecture in its cosmopolitan capital, Kuala Lumpur, and going wild in Borneo with forest canopy walks, Mt. Kinabalu trekking, and Marine Reserve sea-life, Malaysia is myriad landscapes and a multi-cultural character.

Why choose a tour in Malaysia?

From the buzz of the capital to the Bornean call of the wild, Malaysia is a country of colour, cultures, and contrasts. One day you’re visiting dragon-clad pagodas in a sophisticated city, another watching the mesmerising exodus of millions of bats from their cavern’s mouth, meeting tribal people in a traditional village, or joining the birds in the treetops on a skywalk bridge.

On the mainland peninsula, Kuala Lumpur’s short but eventful evolution is outlined in British colonial buildings, Malay mosques, Chinese temples, soaring skyscrapers, modern air-conditioned malls, and a fabulous mix of food stalls and restaurants.

Most famous for orangutan ‘men of the forest’, Malaysian Borneo stretches across the north of the island, from the western Sarawak region to Sabah at the eastern end.

In Sarawak, Kuching is Borneo’s largest city; multi-ethnic, multi-lingual, multi-cultural, and celebrating feasts from Chinese New Year to Good Friday and Gawai Day, its riverfront park poised for spectacular sunset views, its colonial avenues teamed with a bazaar of shophouses.

A terrific UNESCO World Heritage Site, Gunung Mulu National Park is a stunning landscape of high peaks and deep gorges, limestone pinnacles, luxuriant rainforest, and phenomenal caves. It’s said that the Sarawak Chamber of the Clearwater caves could hold forty jumbo jets.

Sabah is a small state, with a handful of towns and an abundance of nature, from coral reefs to trekking trails, and tropical flora and fauna.

Its major cities are Sandakan, spreading from its harbour to the hills in a vibrant mix of fishing trawlers, colonial houses, and temple sites; and Kota Kinabalu, the regional capital. Set beside the South China Sea, in a central spot for forays to rainforests, Marine Park islands, and the slopes of Mount Kinabalu, it is famed for its feast of cuisines, Old Town markets, and views from Signal Hill.

In Sabah’s wonderful wilderness, there are Borneo pygmy elephants, langur ‘leaf monkeys’, crocodiles, and colourful bird species in the Sukau rainforest; macaques and elusive proboscis monkeys on the shores of Oxbow Lake; bats and black swiftlets in the Gomantong Caves; and two renowned and remarkable animal sanctuaries.

The Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre prepares the smallest bears in the world for their return to the wild; and the famous Sepilok Forest Reserve is focused on rescued orangutans, where the youngsters learn their life skills in an outdoor nursery.

When to go on Malaysia holidays

Malaysia’s equatorial climate varies little throughout the year and can be summed-up as hot, humid, and rainy. Average daytime temperatures are around 30°C, rising a few degrees between April and August; and the nights very rarely fall below 20°. There is no dry season, but the tropical rains tend to come in the afternoons, in relatively short but torrential downpours.

Who are Malaysia tours suited to?

A truly unforgettable experience for adventurers, wildlife watchers, bird-spotters, botanists, and the culturally curious, tours in Malaysian Borneo are enchanting, enthralling, and exciting, in equal measure; while the mainland capital, Kuala Lumpur, is a cosmopolitan contrast, with street markets, food stalls, and modern malls tucked between steel and glass towers. Travelling in small-groups, Jules Verne tours get up-close with flora and fauna, to deliver the best experience for like-minded solos, couples, friends, and families.

Why book Malaysia tours with Jules Verne?

With 45 years’ experience and a passion for creating extraordinary adventures, Jules Verne takes you to iconic landmarks and lesser-known sites, with expert tour guides who share their local knowledge, and show you hidden gems. Our journeys in Malaysia include stays at riverside and rainforest lodges, visits to the stilt-house village of Gayang to witness the lifestyle of the Bajau ‘sea nomads’, and to Sarawak Cultural Village, a living-museum of traditional arts and crafts; a tree-top view of the lush landscapes from the Mulu Canopy Skywalk; and wildlife watching from the water with a boat float on the Kinabatangan River.

Our guided tours to Malaysia are ABTA and ATOL protected, and we offer a 100% price guarantee, so you can book with complete confidence.