Traveling Borneo

Being the third largest island in the world, Borneo is a home for many creatures and wonders in the world. Westhill Consulting Travel and Tours in Jakarta features this magnificent island with a lot more secrets than what have been discovered.

The island is divided among three countries: Malaysia, Brunei and Indonesia. With 1,151 km. distance from Indonesia’s capital, Jakarta, 389 km. from Brunei and 1,412 km from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Borneo is a combination of all three cultures and any other cultures that occupants have left behind.

Adventure doesn't get more exciting than Borneo. With luscious rain forests, endangered wildlife and diverse culture - this destination is perfect for adventure and nature lovers with its abundant supply of rain forest.

The two East Malaysian states Sabah and Sarawak lie in the north, surrounding the rich Islamic Sultanate of Brunei, while the Indonesian state of Kalimantan occupies most of central and southern Borneo.

The island boasts remote jungle beauty, tropical adventure and tribal cultures, and is home to half of all known plant and animal species in the world. Many reviews show that this wildlife wonderland has orangutans, the Sumatran rhino, the Bornean pygmy elephant and thousands of unique flowering species. Borneo is a colorful paradise combining relaxation and adventure with its idyllic beaches, scenic mountains and rich culture.

Kalimantan is Indonesia's share of the great island of Borneo. It is by far the biggest part of the island, covering about two third of it. You would think that the very name "Borneo" alone is enough to attract crowds of visitors here, but that is far from being the case - the crowds go to the more developed Malaysian third of the island instead.

All the better for those who still make the effort: Kalimantan remains raw, unexplored and almost totally unspoiled by tourism. Sure, it has had its share of the evils of our era, with logging companies, plantations and miners all taking their share of its mighty rainforests, and modernization penetrating its coastal cities. But its huge size alone ensures that there is plenty left to experience: in the centre of the island the rainforests can still seem endless, Dayak culture retains its authentic flavor with hospitality still genuine, and even coastal national parks offer good chances to spot exotic wildlife like orangutans and proboscis monkeys. Even the cities, most of them traditional seats of Malay sultanates can be worth a look, with attractions ranging from nightlife through palaces to Asia's best floating markets.

Warning though: travelling around Kalimantan takes time - plenty of it. Plan carefully, and don't even think of "seeing it all" in one trip!