Malaysia Family Holidays

Borneo’s ancient rainforest and dense wild jungle of orang-utans are a real draw for adventurous families, with the mesmerising granite peak of Mount Kinabalu providing a majestic backdrop.

Start your adventure with a stay in one of the splendid family friendly hotels close to the main city of Kota Kinabalu – Shangri La Tanjung Aru is ideal for those who like to be close to town or Shangri-La Rasa Ria, an ideal family beach hotel just a 45 minute drive down the coast. Gaya Island (off the coast of Sabah) where some jungle-chic beach resorts have lifted Borneo’s style stakes to an all-time high! You no longer need to forego your contemporary comforts on a beach holiday to Borneo! Consider Bunga Raya, an authentic hideaway build within the rainforest around the most spectacular bay or the more contemporary Gaya Island Resort both have a family appeal.

However, be prepared to compromise your luxury for a few nights of jungle authenticity in a nature lodge along the banks of Sabah’s Kinabatangan River where you can witness the treetop antics of proboscis monkeys, see wild orang-utans and encounter the remarkably tame and passive Borneo pygmy elephants.

We have created a wonderful family adventure combining a few nights in Kota Kinabalu with a jungle adventure, finishing with a relaxing beach stay or we can tailor an itinerary to suit your exact requirements.

By its very nature as a jungle and rainforest island, Borneo can be hot and humid for most of the year with the highest rainfall generally falling between November and March so we’d recommend travelling between April and October – perfect for an Easter or summer family break.

Langkawi is one of only four inhabited islands in an archipelago of 99 tropical islands off the north-west coast of Peninsula Malaysia. It is blessed with beautiful beaches, emerald waters and virgin rainforest and is easily accessible from the UK, or from a variety of hubs in Asia including Kuala Lumpur, Singapore and Phuket. Its location, just 800 kms from the equator, ensures that it boasts a year round warm climate (although September to October tend to bring the most rainfall). It is also home to one of our absolute favourite family resorts – the Four Seasons Langkawi, located on a beautiful beach with beautifully spacious rooms accommodating a family of four, or upgrade to the Family Beach Villas with a separate room for the kids and an absolute beachfront – perfect for the little ones to play out front whilst the parents relax on the private deck or pool.

Another West Coast resort which may appeal to nature lovers is Pangkor Laut Resort, located on a private island with sweeping sandy bays and covered in lush green rainforest – ideal for families with older children looking to spend time with each other – the island itself is a natural playground for kids to explore.