Borneo: where it is, when to go and what to see

Borneo is an almost unknown land, little considered by tourists and of which not much information can be found on the web, although in reality its territory is rich in natural beauty that is certainly worth a visit.

Borneo is home to a biodiversity that cannot be found elsewhere in the world, with 15,000 species of flowering plants, 3,000 species of trees, 420 species of birds and over 221 species of land mammals, including primates such as the Sumatran rhinoceros and the Malayan bear. Furthermore, the rainforest that occupies most of Borneo's land is the only existing natural habitat for the Pongo, better known as the orangutan.

Add to this the paradisiacal beaches, islands and atolls, the coral reef and all the marine species that inhabit the surrounding waters. We're sure we've intrigued you, so here's some information on Borneo to find out where it is, when to go and what to see!

Informed travel: useful info

• Inhabitants: 21258000

• Capital: Balikpapan (Indonesia) - Kuching (Malaysia) - Bandar Seri Begawan (Brunei)

• Languages: Bahasa Indonesia, Bahasa Melayu, English, Malay, Chinese, Mandarin, Tamil

• Local currency: Malaysian Ringgit (€1.00=4.69 MYR) - Brunei Dollar (€1.00=1.80 BND) - Indonesian Rupee (€1.00=16101.36 IDR)

• Climate: tropical, average temperatures 24/32 °C

• Vaccinations: yellow fever vaccine is mandatory for travellers who have even just transited through the airport of a country at risk of transmission. Malaria prophylaxis and vaccinations against hepatitis and cholera recommended

• Entry requirements: passport required with residual validity of at least 6 months

• Distance from Italy: 11000 km (10-12 hours flight time)

Location

Borneo is anisland in South-East Asia whose surface area is occupied by three different states, each of which administers its own part of the territory with laws and currency of its respective country. To the north lies tiny Brunei, the centre from east to west is occupied by Malaysia while to the south liesIndonesia, which comprises most of the island's surface area.

How to get there

• From Milan or Rome: Borneo is not directly connected to Italy, but is well connected to several Asian cities. Kuala Lumpur, Jakarta and Singapore are the main stopovers to be made and all three cities can be reached from Milan and Rome by flying with KLM, Quatar Airways andEmirates making an initial stopover in Amsterdam, Doha or Dubai. Immediately afterwards you will need another flight, usually to Bandar Seri Begawan (Brunei) or Kuching (Malaysia). For the latter you can chooseAir Asia, a low-cost airline that connects Borneo directly with many Asian cities at very low prices. Flights to Bandar Seri Begawan from €866.00 - Flights to Kuching from €579.00

• From major European capitals: Amsterdam is the best-connected European city to Borneo, from which you can reach Borneo in around 25 hours thanks to direct KLM flights to Kuala Lumpur, Jakarta and Singapore, which will be the only stopover you need to make before continuing withAir Asia, again direct, to your destination.

When to go? Info on climate and best time

• Climate: Hot and humid tropical climate characterised by consistently high temperatures between 24 and 32 °C and year-round rainfall occurring between afternoon and evening, especially from June to September in the north and from December to March in the south. The sea maintains consistently high temperatures between 27 and 29 °C

• Best period: tends to be from May to October when the rainfall decreases

• Period to avoid: January and December as these are the rainiest months

• Advice: As Borneo is a vast territory, straddling the equator and with a wide biodiversity, we advise you to choose the time of your trip by consulting the climate of the individual countries that make it up, going into the specifics of the areas you intend to visit

SEE ALSO: When to go to Indonesia

9 things to see: beaches and places of interest

1. Maratua is a small island in Indonesian Borneo belonging to the Derawan archipelago in the east, consisting entirely of a single long white beach. This island is one of the few inhabited ones on which accommodation can be found even though it is still ignored by mass tourism despite its splendid colours and wild nature.

2. Derawan Beach is, like the previous one, an island in the Derawan archipelago formed by a long white beach bathed by crystal-clear sea and surrounded by magnificent coral reefs

3. Pulau Sangalaki is another beautiful island of the Derawan archipelago, even smaller and quieter than the previous two, where you can enjoy absolute peace and swim among sea turtles, manta rays and stingrays that dominate the local waters

4. Pulau Sipadan is an island in Malaysian Borneo, one of the absolute best places for snorkelling and diving. It is home to many tropical oceanic species among which you can swim and enjoy the colourful coral reef.

5. Turtle Island National Park is a national park full of sea turtles of all species, declared such because of the habit of these little animals to lay their eggs there. The park is formed between the waters of three islands in Malaysian Borneo, of which Pulau Libaran is the main one.

6. Gunung Mulu National Park is a nature park in northern Malaysian Borneo that is home to a biodiversity so vast that it is difficult to find elsewhere in the world. The park is home to over three hundred animal species and three thousand plant species, and also includes breathtaking caves, limestone mountains and dense rainforest.

7. Sepilok Orang-Utan Rehabilitation Centre is one of the few centres that protects orang-utans, especially orphans and those rescued from captivity, being an endemic species in Borneo but unfortunately also endangered. It is located in Sabah, in northern Malaysian Borneo, and its interior will leave you speechless at the natural habitat and the kindness that distinguishes the operators in caring for them

8. Kelambu Beach is a beach in northern Malaysian Borneo, a typical paradise-white tropical beach that is actually a tongue of land stretching from Borneo towards the sea for several kilometres

9. Muara Beach is a beach in Brunei, perhaps the most beautiful in the country, characterised by a long stretch of golden sand, blue sea and dense vegetation behind it

What to do in Borneo: excursions and tours

How much does a holiday in Borneo cost? Prices, offers and tips

The cost of a holiday in Borneo depends a lot on which stops you intend to make. As we have already mentioned, there are three currencies in the territory, each with a different exchange rate and value, due to the presence of three different states. All in all, Indonesia, Malaysia and Brunei are fairly inexpensive countries, so if you don't have high expectations and want to beat classic itineraries, you can get by with little. What costs more are in fact the excursions with prices ranging from €50.00 to €100.00 per day, but to reach some places, especially remote islands and atolls, are necessary or alternatively you need a lot of time and patience to get there. On the contrary, the numerous national parks cost less than €5.00 and can be visited independently, and even transport, the most common means of getting to the places most visited by tourists, is very cheap and allows one to get around with just €2.00. Accommodation and catering are also very low-cost services! In fact, you can find hostels and hotels from €5.00 to €15.00 per night and eat full meals for an average of €7.00 per day.

• Where to stay: Hotels and B&Bs from €17.00 per room - see offers

• Cheap flights: Flights to Bandar Seri Begawan from €866.00 - Flights to Kuching from €579.00