Bespoke wildlife safaris, private trips and family holidays in Borneo

We offer a personalised service, creating unique tailor made itineraries for travellers planning a once in a life time adventure. Working in both Malaysian states of Borneo, Sabah and Sarawak, our bespoke trips can combine any number of the tropical destinations on offer to fit any length of time.

Our holidays cater for all types, from the intrepid and active to family holidays in Borneo looking for something more accessible for younger children. We have a successful record of creating inventive and exciting Borneo holidays with our team who have years of living and working in Malaysia Borneo. 

Contact us with your dates and preferences and a budget and we will endeavour to help build you a great trip. We try hard not to go to the 'usual' places or parks, but to offer something a bit different and unique. Our wildlife guides are experienced in some of the more remote parks like Deramokot and Danum Valley. 

You can choose a private wildlife guide for yourself or to join with others, although the cost for a private guide is obviously more. Generally we provide guides for each location, and drivers to do the transfers in our vehicle or by aircraft, but some people opt for a single guide to be with them throughout. There are different options which we can discuss with you. 

Borneo wildlife and birding safaris

We specialise in the more remote wildlife reserves including the famous Danum Valley and Maliau Basin, as well as Deramakot Forest Reserve and the Imbak Canyon. The Kinabatangan River and flood plains come high on many a traveller's plans and for good reason; offering some of the most accessible wildlife viewing opportunities in Borneo, travel is by boat rather than foot on these sunrise river safaris. 

Diving and snorkelling in Borneo

Dotted with white sand beaches and coral reefs, the natural wonders are just as enticing below the water as above. The Sipadan archipelago is a must-see destination for all dive enthusiasts, while many islands offer world class snorkelling too. Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park, situated just off the coast of Kota Kinabalu is a tranquil getaway from the city, and Bako National Park offers secluded sandy bays to visitors from nearby Kuching. It's perfect too for family holidays in Borneo.

Still a little-known gem of Borneo, swaths of white sand fringe the Northern 'Tip of Borneo' and hide a collection of accommodation options for travellers. From village homestays, to private beach chalets, these secluded bays are perfect for unwinding after an adventurous Borneo holiday. 

Trekking on Mount Kinabalu and other peaks

For the active and adventurous, a wealth of treks and climbs await exploration. As the highest peak between the Himalayas and Papua, Mount Kinabalu is a challenging but popular climb, giving travellers sunrise views as far as the ocean from the top if its granite peak. With fascinating flora, Borneo's second highest peak Trus Madi is a scenic yet less visited alternative to Mount Kinabalu in the Crocker Range National park. Sarawak's Gunung Mulu is another challenging yet accessible peak. Rising from the forest canopy, this mountain dominates the landscape with a sheer rock face across a sea of impenetrable trees.

Trekking in the rainforest and meeting indigenous tribes

A rainforest trek should feature on any visitors trip to Borneo; from Mulu National Park to the lost world of Sabah's Maliau Basin, Borneo is home to awe-inspiring rainforests. As experts in adventure travel, our staff and local guides have spent years leading guests through the forests and can recommend the best reserves and trails to visit. From the easy trails of Lupa Masa Jungle Camp to the challenging multi-day treks, delving deep into the hearth of Borneo with the Penan Tribe, those looking for an alternative jungle adventure will find the trip for them.

Experiencing an ancient culture in heart of Borneo

The cultural diversity of Sabah and Sarawak is unrivalled; a mixture of religious and ethnic communities thrive together to make up Borneo's distinct cultural heritage. The gateway cities of Kota Kinabalu and Kuching themselves offer a myriad of crafts, cuisine and cultural experiences. As a responsible travel company, we pride ourselves on working with several local communities in Sabah and Sarawak, supporting sustainable tourism initiatives where visitors hire local guides and stay in family homestays. Sleeping in a longhouse with the famed headhunters of the Iban tribe, exploring rivers and rapids with the Murut people of Orou Sapulot, trekking to hidden waterfalls and caves with the Penan Tribe or seeking wildlife on he banks of the Kinabatangan River with the Abai villagers; few travellers ever forget the generous hospitably and captivating experience of staying with their host families. 

What Should I Pack for My Bespoke Trip?

Since these trips are all unique, a kit list will be different for each. However, here is a general overlook at what to pack for a trip to Borneo.

Why choose us for your bespoke trip to Borneo?

Our staff have years of experience living and working in Borneo so know first hand the best places to visit on your Bespoke Borneo holiday.We never outsource to other travel providers and our local staff in Kuching and Kota Kinabalu will manage all your in-country logistics.

Adventure Alternative has won the World Responsible Travel Awards twice and also received accreditation by Sustainable Travel International for our sustainable business model. We know that at a local level, tourism can really improve peoples lives. We work closely with local people and help them develop adventurous, high quality holidays that provide unique and rewarding experiences for our visitors. 

Our ethos is to make a profit with a sustainable tourism model that delivers positive social, economic and environmental benefits to the communities and areas where we work, so our travellers can be assured that their trip will contribute to growing community of responsible travellers.

In Borneo we have offices in Kuching and in Kota Kinabalu and over the years we have gained a strong reputation for providing trips that are not the run-of-the-mill wildlife trips and adventure holidays in this part of the world. We set up the company in order to offer something different, and we have a great wealth of experience and knowledge to draw on. Typically our clients come to us with a set of dates, a budget and a general idea of what they would like to see and experience; over a number of emails we gradually help to build something that is unique and special to that individual or group.