Franz ElizMy aunt and I had always wanted to explore our homeland, Sarawak. For us, the best way to do it was by going on an adventure and having our loved ones join us.
Coincidentally, my uncle, who was working in New Zealand then, was back in Kuching for a holiday. Like us, he had always wanted to visit Borneo Highlands. He wanted to bring his whole family along, too.
So we organised a trip to Borneo Highlands in 2018. Other family members also joined in. This trip was a great way for our family to bond.
We started our journey to the beautiful jungle resort early. It’s better to explore the area while the weather is cool.
A Brief About Borneo Highlands
Most Sarawakians know about Borneo Highlands. I wouldn’t say it’s the most popular travel attraction in Sarawak. But it’s definitely one of the best places to visit near Kuching.
I recommend Borneo Highlands to travellers looking for underrated travel destinations in Malaysia that can offer them a back-to-nature experience. The Borneo Highlands Resort and the Hornbill Golf & Jungle Club are nestled within a lush rainforest.
Whenever the weather in Kuching gets uncomfortably hot, many locals like to go to Borneo Highlands to escape the heat. It’s also a great place to burn calories as it requires a lot of walking.
Visitors Can Spend the Night at Borneo Highlands
Like my family and me, many locals visit Borneo Highlands to enjoy its picturesque scenery. Nature lovers may be tempted to spend the night there. Not every day one wakes up happily to the surreal sight of the Borneo rainforest. And the resort’s 18-hole golf course is truly every golfer’s paradise.
Apart from fun outdoor activities, Borneo Highlands also offers traditional jungle Bidayuh spa services that involve herbal treatments and calming massages.
What’s interesting about this local attraction is that it’s located at the Sarawak-Kalimantan border. So if you ever dream of stepping into another country without a passport, Borneo Highland’s the place to do it!
Fun facts:
- Did you know that you can rent the entire golf course for RM25,000 per day? Erm, I’ll have to give it a pass.
- Every year, the Sarawak bird race and bird-watching event are held at Borneo Highlands.
That’s cool. I have an Australian friend who really loves birds. She’s going to love this place. To find out more about the event, visit the Sarawak tourism website.
My family and I really enjoyed our time in Borneo Highlands. As much as we wished to spend the night at the resort, we didn’t. Maybe next time. Despite the many unimpressive online reviews regarding the resort’s quality of service, I still hope to eat and sleep there someday just for the experience – because why not?
Getting there
To get to Borneo Highlands, it’s best to drive. If you don’t have local friends to take you, you could rent a car in the city first. Optionally, trips can be arranged and organised by any local travel agent.
Borneo Highlands is about an hour’s drive from Kuching, depending on the traffic.
Driving into Borneo Highlands can be challenging. That’s because the area is very hilly. The resort is snuggled within beautiful hills of 1,000 metres above sea level.
But there’s no need to worry as cars are allowed to park at the car park located at the foot of the resort, not far from the registration counter. You can walk from there.
First Entrance: Foot of the Resort
From here, visitors can choose to park their cars and walk along the resort’s hilly and winding roads for the next 4 km or drive until the next car park before exploring the whole retreat haven.
Those who choose the first option can rest assured that they won’t have problems burning their brake pads or blowing up their car tires. Many people have experienced these problems, hence the importance of always keeping this in mind before driving all the way up from the foot of the resort to the main entrance.
There’s no need to walk all the way up to the main entrance if you don’t feel like it. You’ll need good stamina for that. But if you’re up for the challenge, go for it. Otherwise, take a ride on the resort’s 4WD van. It’s not free, though.
Second Entrance: Main Entrance
From the main entrance, visitors can have their vehicles parked at the parking space available not far from the guard house.
Going down is very challenging as the one-way road is very steep and narrow. So be extra careful when driving down the hilly road. Accidents have happened there.
Exploring the Rainforest Haven
Borneo Highlands is nestled within the untouched natural beauty and lush tropical rainforests. One can experience tranquillity and peace there, far away from hectic city life.
Stop by the Simanggas Waterfall
Before reaching the resort’s main entrance, my family and I stopped by Simanggas Waterfall. The water was cool, clear and clean. We walked around and took pictures together under the morning sun.
Since the weather can be quite unpredictable (it could rain anytime!), we took as many group photos as possible together.
After spending 30 minutes at the waterfall, we drove to the resort’s main entrance and parked our cars. We took everything we needed such as water, snacks and so on.
Explore the Area by Foot
While everyone in the group was walking towards the Borneo Highlands welcome sign, I kept myself busy exploring a small wooden house not far from the car park. It looked like a resting place.
There I found a traditional wooden staircase that led to the upper floor of the building. Although I was curious to climb up the stairs, I chose to walk away and join the group back. I never figured out what was on the upper floor. The building looked run-down, and so was the toilet nearby.
There weren’t many tourists around. Many of them took the resort’s van to get around. We didn’t want to do that just yet, as everyone in the group came to walk around and burn some calories. After the harvest celebration, exercise is very much needed to help us get back in shape.
Enjoy the Local Blooms and Trees
As we walked, we came across a beautiful garden where the flowers bloom beautifully. I had to take pictures of them for remembrance.
It was sunny that day. While it’s true that the morning sun is good for us, it can be bad when it’s close to noon time. I put on my sunglasses and wrapped a scarf around my head for sun protection.
We sweated a lot and stopped by different rest stops from time to time. We came across a small bridge and several beautiful country houses along the way.
See Indonesia From the Kalimantan Viewpoint
The Kalimantan viewpoint is one of the resort’s special highlights. We didn’t walk all the way up there. Due to my aunt’s health (she just had surgery), we decided to take a ride with the resort’s 4WD van, big enough to accommodate up to 10 people.
Upon arriving at the viewpoint, we took a good look at the view. We were blown away by how beautiful it was.
It’s important to be careful when taking photos near the signpost. It’d be horrible to fall 600 metres down! Parents with kids must always have their little ones supervised.
Note: Be careful when taking photos near the signpost. It’d be horrible to fall 600 metres down! Parents with kids must always have their little ones supervised.
Sit by the Swan Lake
After we visited the Kalimantan viewpoint, we went to Swan Lake. There we saw water lilies floating gracefully on the lake. I didn’t see any swans, though. The atmosphere at the lake was good – quiet and relaxing.
The area gets many mosquitoes, so be sure to carry your own insect repellent body spray to avoid getting bitten.
There are small huts around the lake for people to relax or picnic. We munched on light snacks there while enjoying the view. The golf course next to the lake seemed to be empty. In fact, we didn’t see anybody golfing that day.
Have a Swim Before Leaving Borneo Highlands
Before heading back home, we stopped by the waterfall again. It was a good excuse to stop, especially upon noticing my aunt’s car was smoking. Her brake pads overheated.
While waiting for her car to cool down, we rested at the waterfall. We sat on the beautiful rocks there. As soon as we noticed dark clouds starting to cover the sky, we quickly got ready to leave.
After spending a couple of hours in Borneo Highlands, we continued our journey back home. Thankfully, we arrived home safely.
Apart from the attractions mentioned in this article, there are several others not to be missed, such as the resort’s horticulture nursery, organic farm and Chinese tea house.
Would I Return to Borneo Highlands?
Overall, it was a good trip. My family and I really enjoyed our rainforest walk.
I would return to Borneo Highlands if my friends and families joined me. While I surely can visit it again alone, I much prefer spending my time there with my loved ones.
While I mentioned a lot about walking around the area, note that visitors can also cycle if they like. But it can be challenging.
As mentioned earlier, the next time I go there, I would love to spend the night and wake up in the magical rainforest.
Unfortunately, my aunt had to spend a lot of money fixing her car. To avoid a similar problem, many visitors opt to park their cars at the foot of the resort and then take the resort’s 4WD van service. Consider doing that, too.
