Malaysia (Sabah and Sarawak), Asia

Borneo in July

Prime time, and the busiest. Turtle nesting season is underway. Book lodges and Kinabalu permits months ahead.

BestHighs near 90F (32C), relatively dry

Mount Kinabalu above Kundasang, Sabah, Borneo — BorneoPhoto: kallerna, CC BY-SA 4.0

The straight answer

July is one of the best months of the year to visit Borneo. Prime time, and the busiest. Turtle nesting season is underway. Book lodges and Kinabalu permits months ahead.

Weather: Highs near 90F (32C), relatively dry
Crowds: 4 of 5
Prices: 4 of 5

What July is like in Borneo

July is prime time and the busiest month. Highs are near 90F (32C), and it is relatively dry. Turtle nesting season is underway. Prices are high, and lodges and Kinabalu permits need to be booked months ahead.

This month suits families on summer break and anyone wanting the best conditions. Book everything early. For fewer crowds, April and May are good alternatives. Families should plan the Sepilok, sun bear, and Kinabatangan loop first, then add a beach day near Kota Kinabalu. Leech socks help on jungle walks, even in the dry season, and a dawn river cruise is the best wildlife hour of the day.

Make the most of July

What is especially good about Borneo this month.

Turtle nesting

Green and hawksbill turtles nest nightly on the Turtle Islands, where overnight visitors are strictly limited.

Rainforest World Music Festival

If it falls this month, the festival brings global music to Kuching.

Prime diving

Good visibility at Sipadan and calm seas.

What to pack for July

Reef-safe sunscreen
Leech socks
Quick-dry clothes
A headlamp with a red light for turtle watching

Our timing tip

Book Turtle Islands stays as early as possible, since only a few overnight spaces exist.

Book Borneo for July.

Sponsored links to Expedia and Vrbo. We may earn a commission; it never changes a verdict.

Hotels. Expedia
Hotels in Borneo
Opens a hotel search for Borneo in July, dates filled in. Book early for the best months: the good rooms go first.
Hotels for July
Vacation rentals. Vrbo
Vacation rentals in Borneo
Whole homes, condos and villas. Usually the better deal for families and groups, with a kitchen and room to spread out.
Rentals on Vrbo
Tours and tickets. Expedia
Tours and tickets in Borneo
Timed-entry tickets, day trips and guided tours in Borneo for July. Popular slots sell out in the best months.
Tours and tickets

What's on in July

Rainforest World Music Festival

Midyear, usually June or July, varies by year

Held at the Sarawak Cultural Village near Kuching, with global and indigenous musicians. Hotels in Kuching book up.

Turtle nesting season

Peaks roughly July to October

Green and hawksbill turtles nest nightly on the Turtle Islands, where overnight visitor numbers are strictly limited.

Things to do in Borneo

Full guide

Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre

Feeding times draw the most visitors. The adjacent Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre is worth the extra hour.

Official site ↗Tickets and tours →

Kinabatangan River

Dawn and dusk boat cruises for proboscis monkeys, hornbills, crocodiles, and sometimes pygmy elephants. Drier months are best.

Tickets and tours →

Mount Kinabalu

Climbs require a permit, a licensed guide, and an overnight at Laban Rata. Permits are limited and book out months ahead for midyear.

Official site ↗Tickets and tours →

Danum Valley

Primary rainforest with some of the best wild orangutan and gibbon viewing in Borneo. Lodges are limited, so book early.

Tickets and tours →

Gunung Mulu National Park

Huge caves, the Pinnacles limestone spires, and a bat exodus at dusk. Reached by small plane from Miri or Kota Kinabalu.

Official site ↗Tickets and tours →

Sipadan and Semporna

World-class diving with daily permit limits. April through December usually brings the best visibility.

Tickets and tours →

Beat the crowds

Travel in April, May, or September instead of July and August. The weather is similar and lodges and permits are easier to secure.
Book Kinabalu permits and Kinabatangan and Danum Valley lodges early; they are the real bottleneck, not crowds on the trail.
At Sepilok, arrive for the morning opening rather than feeding time to avoid the tour bus rush.
For Sipadan, pick a dive operator with guaranteed permit days; other days you dive nearby Mabul and Kapalai, which are excellent in their own right.

Know before you go

Mount Kinabalu climbs require a permit, a licensed guide, and accommodation at Laban Rata; trails can close temporarily after heavy rain or rockfall.
Sipadan access is limited to a fixed number of divers per day, allocated through licensed dive operators.
Turtle Islands Park allows only a small number of overnight visitors, so the few spaces sell out early in nesting season.
During the heaviest monsoon rains (December to February), river levels rise, some jungle trails close, and boat trips can be cancelled.

Borneo in July, quick answers

Is July a good time to visit Borneo?

July is one of the best months of the year to visit Borneo. Prime time, and the busiest. Turtle nesting season is underway. Book lodges and Kinabalu permits months ahead.

What is the weather like in Borneo in July?

Highs near 90F (32C), relatively dry.

Is Borneo crowded in July?

Borneo is busy in July, though mornings and late afternoons stay workable.

What is happening in Borneo in July?

Rainforest World Music Festival (midyear, usually june or july, varies by year); Turtle nesting season (peaks roughly july to october).