Tips of Borneo – A North South East West Look

Quick Summary

• Borneo has four “tips,” not just one. While the northernmost point — Tanjung Simpang Mengayau in Kudat, Sabah — has become synonymous with the name “Tip of Borneo,” the island also has distinct southernmost, easternmost, and westernmost extremities, all located in Kalimantan, Indonesia.
• Each tip has its own draw. The north offers dramatic ocean views where the South China Sea meets the Sulu Sea. The east opens up to the Derawan Islands, a world-class scuba diving destination with extraordinary marine biodiversity. The west connects to Singkawang, a uniquely Chinese-heritage city that hosts the largest Chap Goh Meh procession in the world.
• The south tip is more curiosity than destination — it’s a quiet stretch of beach in South Kalimantan with little infrastructure, though the nearby provincial capital Banjarmasin offers river tours and a diamond and jewellery market, a nod to the region’s storied gem-mining history.

Mention ‘the tip of borneo’, the one in Kudat, Sabah immediately comes to mind. This reference has become so popular that its actual name, Tanjung Simpang Mengayau, has become an afterthought. Regardless, this significant landmark should be on the intrepid traveler’s bucket list. But there are other the tips of Borneo to be found on the third largest island in the world.

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Related: Read our Borneo Holiday FAQs here

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Therefore, to ascribe a cardinal direction to a place begets the next question. 

Where are the Cardinal Points of the Tips of Borneo?

Location map of the respective extreme cardinal points of Borneo.

The Northernmost Tip

The northernmost tip of Borneo is where two seas meet; the South China Sea and the Sulu Sea. Devoid of markers, this metaphor is a matter for your visual imagination. The view is magnificent. The expanse evokes grandeur and the stormy seas give perspective to human frailty. Furthermore, this popular tourist attraction is an accessible 2.5-3 hour drive from Kota Kinabalu, the state capital of Sabah. Being the first to lay claim to the title of ‘Tip of Borneo’, the ascription has stuck with this 

After Tanjung Simpang Mengayau, three other points warrant looking into. They are located in Kalimantan, Indonesia. They are the southernmost, easternmost and westernmost ones.

The Southernmost Tip

There is no southernmost tip per se to follow the conventional wisdom. Instead, it is a point along a secluded stretch of beach in South Kalimantan. And this is exactly how Google Maps displays it – ‘The southernmost point of Borneo’. Its nearest landmark is about 2-km away from Menara Suar (lighthouse) Tanjung Selatan.

Unlike the northernmost tip, there’s nothing much to do here. Should you venture this far, you can claim to be further south than anyone in Borneo! This may not be the bragging rights for many. But, there’s definitely one at the South Kalimantan’s Chempaka Diamond Fields. In 1995, local miners unearthed a sparkling diamond the size of a pigeon egg. . Named the ‘Trisakti’ stone, the diamond weighed 166.67 carats.

Banjarmasin is the provincial capital of South Kalimantan. The city has its fair share of things to do. For one, you can hunt for bargains at the Diamond and Jewellery market!

The Easternmost Tip

This point is in the province of East Kalimantan. What this easternmost point lacks above ground, the sea north of it more than makes up for it. This is where a group of 31 islands known as the Derawan Islands cluster. The sea here contains some of the richest marine biodiversity on earth. And the islands are set up for tourism; scuba diving, snorkelling and resort living. So, it comes to no surprise that Derawan Islands is in the country’s tentative list for a World Heritage site.

The Mahakam river is the lifeblood of the province.  It runs through the provincial capital, Samarinda. River boat tours are the mainstay on this third longest (980-km) river of Borneo.

The Westernmost Tip

23-km away from the westernmost point of Borneo, is the provincial city of Singkawang. It is the only town in Indonesia with a distinct oriental feel. Reason being that 70% of the population is of Chinese origin. The hundreds of Chinese temples dotting the landscape lend credence to the atmosphere. In particular, the city organises the biggest Chap Goh Meh procession in the world. This marks the end of the Chinese New Year celebration.

Singkawang is the closest Indonesian city to the Sarawak capital of Kuching. Land travelling time takes about 5 ½ hours including a border crossing.  There are two checkpoints. On the Indonesian side is the Aruk Custom, Immigration and Quarantine centre (CIQ). The Biawak CIQ makes up the Malaysian side. 

First-mover Advantage.

So there we have. There are more to the tips of Borneo than just a tip. It so happened that Tanjung Simpang Mengayau, Sabah had the first-mover advantage. By the way, you might be interested to read one tip of Borneo that matters to Sarawak. The tip ‘Where Borneo Begins @ Tanjung Datu‘.

It begs the notion how one frames the ascription, doesn’t it? 🙂