A piece of Malaysia for the whole family

Planning a holiday with your family, including young children?

Malaysia offers a variety of sights and options for families vacationing with children. There are many theme parks and natural reserves in Malaysia that will take your mind off finding things to keep you and your children entertained. The country is also safe for kids as the Malays by nature are very family oriented people.

Making KL your base is never a bad idea. There are many activities available in and around Kuala Lumpur itself. The Menara KL (known as the KL tower) is situated right in the heart of the city. This telecommunications building is a very modern structure and soars 421 meters high. It appears taller than the PETRONAS building nearby because it is built on a hill. The tower has an observation deck where you can enjoy a bird’s eye view of KL along with a documentary on the history of the city. After the documentary you can enjoy a relaxing meal on its revolving restaurant or enjoy a burger from one of the highest McDonalds in the world.

Menara KL is set atop Bukit Nanas or Pineapple Hill as it is known (which stands 94 meters above sea level). Pineapple Hill is home to the oldest gazetted forest reserve in the country with some age-old trees, flora and fauna indigenous to tropical climates. It is the only area of preserved tropical rain forest remaining in Kuala Lumpur today.

Sunway Lagoon Theme Park

In the state of Pahang (100 kilometers from KL) you’ll find Frasier’s Hill rising 1,500 meters above sea level on the Titiwangsa mountain range of Peninsular Malaysia. This charming hill resort is a favorite amongst tourists for its golfing facilities, Tudor cottages, enchanting forest trails and diverse flora and fauna. It is a haven for bird watchers. The resort has many quaint Tudor styled cottages available along with other hotels and chalets. Here you can enjoy a relaxed and refreshing holiday while the children indulge in horse back riding, mountain biking, archery and jungle treks.

Desaru, a one and a half hour drive from Johor Bahru is a resort destination where both adults and children can get some sun, sand and frolic. The beach resort has many rooms to suit your budget and no matter which one you choose you will never be far from the action. There is snorkeling, kite flying, horse riding, banana boat rides and many wading pools, or you can soak in the sun in the golden sands of the casuarina-lined beaches of Desaru. Aside from the beach activities there’s also an ostrich farm and many fireflies waiting to keep the family entertained. Come at night time and see the mangrove land lit up by fireflies! This truly is a sight to see. Desaru was and still is predominantly a fishing village so the resort offers a variety of sea food options in its ores of sea food restaurants.

From Peninsular Malaysia to the jewels of Borneo, Sabah and Sarawak – every location possesses great options for family holidays.

A tour of the jungles of Sabah with its flying squirrels, leopards, apes and many other varieties of wildlife are awe-inspiring stories that children carry back home. The Canopy walkway through the dense jungle is usually a favourite among children too. The Orangutan conservatory park in Sepilok is a sure fire favourite with kids. It is as educational as it is entertaining!

For the fit and young trekkers there is Mount Kinabalu. Though known to be an arduous climb, many a young person has summitted it effortlessly! The mountain offers many beautiful sights along the way including Poring hot springs and waterfalls to wash the tired muscles.

Sarawak’s rainforests are filled with hornbills – an interesting and colorful family of birds. The Kuching waterfront along the Sarawak River is a great place for kids to frolic and take boat rides to the fort. There is also a wonderful natural history museum, and Bako national park with its beautiful stretches of beaches and jungle trails.

The Kubah national park is an educational journey for kids who can get an insight into daily life in the wild. There are many picnic spots in picturesque settings to relax and take in the surroundings. You can visit a Iban longhouse and share insights with the Iban people while your kids play with the local Iban children.

The Niah caves (the longest limestone caves in the world) are a beautiful sight for the whole family to enjoy. A boat ride inside the caves is a journey into civilizations 400,000 years old.

Almost every beach or island in Malaysia has many activities for children. For those who want to start young there are diving and snorkeling instructors who accommodate children. Taking a leisurely boat ride or just generally frolicking in the sandy beaches while enjoying the hospitality of the local people is also a great plan for a family vacation.

The most beautiful place

Borneo Hotels

Borneo holidays in Sabah, Sarawak, Kalimantan, Brunei
Kindle Wireless Reading Device, Wi-Fi, Graphite, 6" Display with New E Ink Pearl Technology

Hotels and Accommodation in Sabah

Sabah has plenty of accommodation for the business and leisure traveller which can suit all budgets. Room rates of the major business hotels are generally quite attractive and good offers can be found via the internet or even upon arrival. During the busy holiday periods hotels in Sabah and Sarawak can be quite full and early room reservation may be adviseable.

Hotels, resorts and accommodation in Sabah

Best Western Kinabalu Daya Hotel
Hyatt Regency Kinabalu
The Jesselton Hotel
Kinabalu Rose Cabin
Nexus Resort Karambunai
Shangri-La Rasa Ria in Sabah
Shangri-La Tanjung Aru
Sutera Harbour Resort

Hotels and Accommodation in Brunei Darussalam

Brunei has plenty of accommodation for the business and leisure traveller and all budgets.

Hotels, resorts and accommodation in Brunei

The Empire Hotel and Country Club
The Sheraton

Hotels and Accommodation in Sarawak

There is also no shortage of business hotels, resorts, guesthouses and lodges in Sarawak. The largest selection of hotles is in Kuching and Miri.

Hotels, resorts and accommodation in Sarawak

Holiday Inn Resort Damai Beach
Merdeka Palace Hotel

Best hotel rates in Borneo

Best hotel rates in Sabah, Sarawak, Brunei, Kalimatan and Labuan may usually be obtained via the booking a hotel via the internet or through personal negotiations with the hotel

Borneo Hotels Reviews

The majority of resorts and hotles of the larger well known groups usually receive good reviews by their guests.

Broneo Tourism and sabah Travel

Borneo Tourism

Sabah, Sarawak, Kalimantan and Brunei

Borneo Tourism is a global Borneo travel and tourism portal, covering travel and tourism, sights, hotels, resorts, wildlife - orang utan, and nature, diving and snorkelling, travel news on Sabah and Sarawak on Malaysian Borneo, Kalimantan on the Indonesian part of Borneo, and Brunei Darussalam.

Borneo Travel and Tourism

BorneoTourism.com provides information and resources for all your Borneo travel and tourism needs. Find Sabah, Sarawak, Kalimantan and Brunei tourism information, including an accommodation and hotel directory and offers. The site also offers a Borneo destination guide giving information on sights, attractions, getting there, weather and best time to travel, wildlife and nature, including orang utans, turtles and other interesting wildlife, culture, tours, events, sports, including golf and diving as well as access to Borneo holidays, adventure tours, volunterring and much more.

Sabah Tourism and Travel

The Sabah tourism and travel guide covers sights and attractions including wildlife and nature highlights such as Mount Kinabalu, Orang Utan Sanctuaries, the Turtle Island, virgin rainforest as well as towns, such as Kota Kinabalu, Lahad Datu, Papar, Ranau & Mt. Kinabalu, Sandakan and Semporna. The Sabah destination sections features also hotels and resorts, as well as key facts about the Malaysian state of Sabah.

Sarawak Tourism and Travel

The Sarawak tourism and travel guide covers sights and attractions including wildlife and nature highlights such as Royal Mulu National Park, Niah Caves, Orang Utan Sanctuaries, the Turtle Island, rainforest as well as information on towns, such as Kuching, Miri, Sibu and Kapit. The Sarawak destination sections features also hotels and resorts, as well as key demographic facts about the Malaysian state of Sarawak.

Kalimantan Tourism and Travel

The Kalimantan tourism and travel guide covers interesting wildlife, nature and cultual sights and attractions in the Indonesian provinces of South Kalimantan, West Kalimantan, East Kalimantan and Central Kalimnantan such as the Tanjung Puting National Park, which was founded by Dr. Binute Galdikas, Mount Palung Wildlife Reserve and Kutai National Park, a unique forest home to rare birds and home to some of Borneo's last wild orang utans. The Kalimantan destination guide also provides information on the major towns such as Banjarmasin, Pontianak, Samarinda as well as features also business and leisure hotels and resorts, as well as key demographic facts about the Indonesian part of Borneo.

Sabah tourism

Sabah Tea Garden plans to attract visitors to its resort.

Sabah Tea Garden which began as an organic tea plantation in Ranau district has now expanded to become a popular holiday destination for both local and foreign tourists.Located in one the oldest rainforests in the world, with the picturesque Mt Kinabalu as its background, Sabah Tea Garden is known for its 100% organic tea.

Managed by Sabah Tea Sdn Bhd's Ipoh-based unit, Yee Lee Corp Bhd, Sabah Tea Garden is an ideal place for nature lovers and those wanting to relax away from the busy city life. It offers various holiday and tour packages tailored for its visitors.The “tea garden” encompasses an area measuring 2,509ha and is 2,272 ft above sea level. From the total area, only 485.6ha are used for the cultivation of tea and tourism activities while the rest remains a tropical forest rich with flora and fauna.

The Rungus-style longhouse at Sabah Tea Garden.

With the Sabah state government projecting a tourist arrival of about 2.4 million to the state this year, Sabah Tea Garden is taking advantage of this to promote its tourism and holiday packages, general manager Ismail Martin Kong Abdullah tells a group of journalists on a familiarisation programme to Sabah.The programme is organised by Firefly and Sabah Tourism.“We receive an average of 15,000 tourists a year and we are aiming for 16,000 visitors this year,” Ismail says, adding that 60% of the visitors are locals and the rest are foreigners with the majority of them coming from Australia and Europe.

Among the attractive tour and holiday packages that Sabah Tea Garden offers are a two-day one- night stay, a three-day two-nights package as well as day trips, team building programmes, company meetings and rainforest camping.There are several types of accommodation facilities at the resort including longhouses, cottages and camp sites.The company had also invested RM1mil to build several new English-style cottages equipped with beds, sofas as well as LCD TVs. The rate for the cottage stay is RM240 per night.

There are two longhouses designed to resemble the Rungus longhouse. Rungus is one of Sabah's many ethnic bumiputra groups.The floors and walls of the longhouse are built from bamboo and woodskin such as kayu bakau, belian and nibong.The longhouse is divided into several rooms with each room costing RM120 for a night's stay.Ismail says they are built with the idea of giving the tourists a taste of the local culture and an opportunity to experience living in a longhouse.Each of the rooms in the longhouse has a bed and a mosquito net while the bathrooms are located outside the longhouse.

There are also other facilities including halls for meetings as well as restaurants and souvenir shops besides Internet connection for the guests.“Many of the foreign tourists opt for the longhouse as they want to experience living like the locals while the local tourists will go for the cottages.“We also get bookings from many large corporations, government agencies, universities, and schools that want to hold their meetings, family day and team activities here,” Ismail says.Sabah Tea Garden provides river trekking, jungle trekking, batik painting, fish massage, visits to the tea plantations and factories as well as cultural shows.

On the production of its tea, Ismail says Sabah Tea Garden is the sole producer of organic tea in Borneo.The company exports 15% of its products to Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Britain and Singapore while the remaining is for domestic consumption.Exports contribute about 10% to the company's income, Ismail says.The trip to Sabah Tea Garden from Kota Kinabalu takes about a two-and-a-half hours on land.For foreign tourists wishing to visit the state, travel has now become easier as there are many airlines offering their services to the state including Firefly, a unit of Malaysia Airlines.The state government is trying to increase the number of tourists to the state and further develop its tourism industry.Alone21Sabah Tea Garden in Ranau is an ideal destination for a retreat and for those wishing to see the splendour of nature