Borneo Travel – Tips & Practical Advice

Tourists from most countries are not required to obtain a visa and receive an immigration stamp upon arrival at the airport or other entry point. In general, tourists from Western countries are allowed in without a visa for a stay of 1–3 months. Passports must be valid for 6 months or more.

For a full list of the nationalities that have visa-free entry and the length of stay allowed, please refer to the Malaysia Immigration website at www.imi.gov.my. The site changes often, so we do not list a specific address: go to the home page, switch the language to English, open the Visa page and click "Visa Requirement By Country".

The Malaysian Ministry of Foreign Affairs website at www.kln.gov.my also links to the immigration site's visa pages: on the home page click "Foreign Visitors", then "Visa Requirements". Alternatively, search for "Visa Requirement By Country Malaysia Immigration".

The best advice we can give is to follow the advice of your doctor. Whilst cases of malaria do occur in Sarawak and Sabah, they tend to be in remote areas that tourists rarely visit, and malaria tends to be absent from towns and cities. There is, however, a risk of malaria in rural and undeveloped areas of the interior, and some areas near the Indonesian border have a higher risk.

For a short stay (1–3 weeks) taking malaria pills should be no problem. According to the CDC, chloroquine is not an effective anti-malarial in Malaysia; atovaquone-proguanil (Malarone), doxycycline and mefloquine are options. Unless recommended otherwise, it is best to avoid stronger prescriptions such as Lariam (mefloquine), which can cause unpleasant side effects.

Yes, dengue fever occurs in urban and semi-urban areas of Malaysia, including Sarawak and Sabah. Dengue is a viral infection transmitted by Aedes mosquitos that bite during the day. You can reduce the risk by protecting yourself from mosquito bites. According to the CDC, the risk for international travellers appears small, but it increases during an epidemic or when staying in housing without air conditioning or screened windows and doors.

There is a relatively new dengue vaccine called Qdenga, but it is not suitable for everyone. It is only recommended for some travellers who have had dengue in the past: a person with no previous infection who is vaccinated and later infected risks severe dengue. Anyone considering the vaccine should consult their doctor.

The main thing is to reduce the chance of being bitten. Apply insect repellent on exposed skin and use a mosquito net when necessary, for example when camping in the jungle or staying in lodge- or camp-style accommodation in or near the rainforest. Where possible, stay in hotels with window screens or air conditioning.

After sunset, cover up as much as you can with long sleeves and trousers. Malaria is usually transmitted between dusk and dawn, whereas dengue is usually transmitted in the daytime.

If you will spend time in national parks or upriver areas (e.g. Batang Ai and Nanga Sumpa), we recommend a repellent containing 30–50% DEET. Milder sprays are fine in the city. Do not bother with herbal mosquito sprays: they do not work well in the rainforest and interior of Borneo, and some brands even attract wasps.

Note: 50% DEET repellent is not easy to buy in Malaysia, so bring it from home, where it is often labelled "expedition strength" or "tropical strength". Test it on your arm before you travel to make sure it does not cause a reaction. In Malaysia, the Guardian pharmacy chain sells a 15% DEET repellent called "Off".

If you are using both, put the sunscreen on first and then apply the insect repellent.

In addition to being up to date on routine vaccinations (e.g. measles/mumps/rubella, tetanus), many doctors recommend jabs for hepatitis A, hepatitis B and typhoid. Please ask your doctor what is best for you.

Please ask your doctor for specific advice. JE is transmitted by mosquitoes and is endemic in Sarawak, but it is predominantly a disease of children living in rural areas. There are cases in Sabah, though it appears less common. Travellers of any age can get JE, but the risk is low unless you spend extended periods in rural and farming areas with pigs, chickens, etc., or visit an area with a known outbreak.

Malaysia lost its rabies-free status in 2015 after an outbreak in the northern states of Peninsular Malaysia, which was contained; Sarawak and Sabah remained rabies-free at that time. In June 2017 the Sarawak government announced that rabies was present in Serian, a small town 50 km from Kuching, believed to have originated in West Kalimantan, Indonesia. Despite containment measures, including the vaccination of dogs, cats and other animals, rabies spread to Kuching and has since been found throughout Sarawak.

Government and some private hospitals in Kuching keep stocks of the rabies vaccine for post-exposure treatment. For the latest information see the Sarawak Disaster Information website.

If you are bitten by a dog, immediately wash the wound with soap and running water for 10–15 minutes (or just running water if there is no soap), then go to the nearest hospital for treatment and the post-exposure vaccine.

Rabies is not considered a major risk for most travellers in Sarawak, as the chance of a tourist being bitten by a dog is low. Sabah remains rabies-free. Travellers may wish to ask their doctor whether they need the pre-exposure rabies vaccine for Sarawak.

All tap water in towns in Sarawak and Sabah is treated and complies with Malaysia's national drinking-water standard, which is based on WHO guidelines. In theory it is safe to drink, but most Malaysians filter or boil it first. If you have a sensitive stomach, avoid tap water; it is fine for cleaning your teeth.

Bottled mineral water costs around RM 1 for 500 ml and RM 2 for 1.5 litres in supermarkets in Sarawak, and RM 1.50–2.00 (500 ml) and RM 2.50–3.00 (1.5 litres) in Sabah. Bottled drinking water (distilled or reverse osmosis) is much cheaper than mineral water.

To avoid single-use plastic, carry a reusable water bottle. Some cafes and restaurants in Kuching and Kota Kinabalu have refill stations, some free and some for a small fee (around 50 sen). Most coffee shops sell a glass of iced water for 30–50 sen.

The cylindrical ice tubes served in drinks in Malaysia are mass-produced in ice factories and are generally safe. Most restaurants, coffee shops and many food stalls use them. To be 100% sure, ask for a drink without ice; cold canned and bottled drinks are available almost everywhere, even in small towns and villages.

Leeches are common in the rainforest and you may meet them on jungle treks in parts of Sabah and Sarawak. Leech bites may be irritating but are generally not considered harmful. Remove a leech by detaching it with your fingernail or flicking it off. The wound may bleed for a while; wash it with soap and water when you get back to your room.

Insect repellent and leech socks reduce the chance of bites. Leeches are very common at Tabin and Danum Valley in Sabah, so leech socks are recommended there, and on the Red Ape Trail in Sarawak. They are sometimes found on the jungle trails at Ulu Ai, but not usually on treks at Bako National Park.

They are often hard to find in Sarawak but readily available in Sabah. In Kuching, Greek's Outgear Discovery (Tel: 082-413217) on the 2nd floor of Sarawak Plaza, Jalan Tunku Abdul Rahman, occasionally has stock. In Kota Kinabalu they are sold at Borneo Outdoor Gear in the Suria Sabah shopping mall and at Tech City Outdoor Shop (Tel: 088-222157), No. 5 Jalan Gaya, next to Jesselton Point. Tabin Wildlife Resort and Borneo Rainforest Lodge in Danum Valley also sell them.

The climate is tropical, with temperatures from a cool 22°C in the evenings to a sultry 34°C in the daytime. Relative humidity is consistently high, typically 70–90%.

The best time is the dry season from March to October. July–August is the peak tourist season, when key attractions such as Danum Valley and Bako National Park are often full and guides can be hard to get, so book well in advance. April–June is a good time to visit, with less rain and fewer crowds; September and October are also usually dry and quieter.

The rainy season (landas) normally runs from November to February, though some years it arrives early or late or extends into March. Rainfall peaks in December and January. Sarawak receives 3,300–4,600 mm of rain a year depending on location; Sabah is drier, with 2,500–3,500 mm.

You can still travel in Sabah and Sarawak in December and January, but expect lots of rain, especially in Sarawak. Some years are not too bad, with heavy storms followed by a few blue-sky days, and there are fewer crowds and lower hotel prices.

The days are hot and humid, so light, comfortable cotton shirts are best. Casual wear is fine for most occasions in the city; shorts and T-shirts suit trips to the interior. Bring swimwear for cooling off in rivers and waterfalls, but please respect local modesty. Light rainwear is a must.

On longhouse trips, bring thin towels and a sun hat, and a comfortable sarong for the evenings (easily and cheaply bought locally). Thin long-sleeved shirts and long trousers protect you from mosquitoes in the evenings. If you are climbing Mount Kinabalu you will need warm clothing (fleece, thick socks, a woollen hat).

For trips with a lot of hiking through rainforest or rugged terrain, bring comfortable hiking or walking shoes that can handle jungle streams and muddy trails. For shorter trips, a good pair of sneakers will do. Also pack flip-flops or sandals. Large shoe sizes are often hard to find in Sarawak and Sabah.

If you are visiting Ulu Ai, Nanga Sumpa and Lubok Kasai, bring good walking shoes for the jungle trails and waterproof sandals with good grip for the longboat trips: getting in and out of the boat at the waterfall or a riverside picnic, your feet will get wet.

If you plan to climb the Pinnacles in Mulu or Mount Kinabalu, bring a pair of light gardening gloves for grip and protection against sharp rock. A torch, or better a head torch with spare batteries, is always useful and a must for caving or our frogging tour of Kubah. A small backpack and water bottle are handy, and plastic bags or dry bags keep clothes and cameras dry, especially on tours with boat trips.

Besides personal toiletries, bring insect repellent. A basic first-aid kit should include plasters, mild antiseptic cream for insect bites and scratches, cotton swabs, tissues, bandages and painkillers. Most medicines are available in local pharmacies, often cheaper than in Western countries.

• Light, comfortable clothes: shorts, loose long-sleeved shirts, cotton T-shirts, long trousers and a sarong for the evenings
• Comfortable walking shoes that can handle jungle streams and muddy trails
• Swimwear (please respect local modesty)
• Thin towels (they dry quicker in the humid climate)
• Sun hat and sunscreen
• Personal toiletries
• Insect repellent (30–50% DEET works well in Sarawak and Sabah)
• Plastic bags or a dry bag to keep clothes and cameras dry
• Water bottle
• Torch or head torch with spare batteries
• Flip-flops or sandals
• Small backpack or daypack
• Raincoat or poncho

On many tours part of the journey is in open boats, exposed to rain or sun, so sunscreen and a good hat are a must. Wrap your clothes and belongings in plastic bags when packing, and always keep something dry to change into.

The Malaysian Ringgit (RM or MYR); 1 Ringgit = 100 sen. Notes come in RM 1 (blue), RM 5 (green), RM 10 (red), RM 20 (orange), RM 50 (green-blue) and RM 100 (purple), and there are 5, 10, 20 and 50 sen coins.

By all means bring a little Ringgit, but you will usually get a much better rate changing USD, euros, pounds, AUD, etc. in Malaysia. For example, changing pounds to Ringgit in the UK can give you 15–20% less than in Malaysia.

Yes. Malaysian banks are linked to networks such as PLUS, Maestro and Cirrus, and ATMs are readily available in towns and cities.

Yes, Visa and MasterCard are widely accepted; American Express less so. Shops often have a RM 50 minimum for card payments.

Kuching is generally a safe city; attacks on tourists are so rare that they make the headlines. Kota Kinabalu needs some extra care in certain areas but is also generally safe. In both, leave valuables in the hotel safe and carry only the cash you need.

Bag snatching by thieves on motorbikes has increased across Malaysia in recent years. Be aware of your surroundings and keep your bag close, on the pavement side rather than the road side, or tucked under your arm. Do not wrap the straps around your arm or shoulder, and never hold on if someone grabs your bag: let it go, as victims have been seriously injured. Do not leave your phone or valuables on the table at roadside stalls or coffee shops.

Calls from hotels are expensive, so buy a prepaid SIM card from a Malaysian mobile company. Local calls are cheap, international calls are relatively cheap, and you avoid roaming charges. SIM cards are sold in telecom shops (bring your passport) and top-ups in convenience stores. Not all providers have good coverage in Sarawak and Sabah, so stick to major ones such as CelcomDigi and Maxis.

In a word, slow. All major towns have internet access, but coverage and speeds in rural areas are patchy. Hotels, restaurants, cafes and fast-food outlets in the cities usually offer free Wi-Fi.

230/240 volts at 50 hertz, with 3-pin sockets like those in Britain. Adaptors are available from major hotels and department stores, but we recommend bringing your own.

Yes, most of our tours are suitable for children. Some involving serious trekking (e.g. the Pinnacles, the Red Ape Trail) or climbing (the Kinabalu summit climb) are not suitable for young children.

We think so, and many families have enjoyed visiting Nanga Sumpa; naturally, older children get more out of the trip. We have taken families with babies and toddlers, though this is rare as the trip involves a 1½-hour longboat ride. We have children's life jackets, but if you bring a baby or small toddler please bring your own infant life jacket so that it fits properly.

Yes. On most tours, children travelling with paying adults receive discounts, which vary by tour. For example, on the vast majority of tours in Sarawak:

• Children aged 5 and below: free
• Children aged 6–11: 50% off the adult rate

On day trips in Sandakan:

• Children under 2: free
• Children aged 2–4: 50% off the adult rate
• Children aged 5–11: 20% off the adult rate

Children aged 12 and above pay full price. These discounts apply to tours only, not hotel rooms, other accommodation or overnight tours (e.g. Kinabatangan River, Sukau and Abai). For questions about children's discounts, email us at info@borneoadventure.com.

No, we recommend that you do not give gifts to longhouse residents. Traditionally, visitors do not bring gifts.

You can see semi-wild orangutans at two rehabilitation centres: Semenggoh near Kuching and Sepilok near Sandakan. There are also several places in Sabah and Sarawak where you can see orangutans in the wild; see our guide to the 5 best places to see wild orangutans.

Malaysia has a single time zone, 8 hours ahead of GMT (7 hours ahead during UK summer time) and 13 hours ahead of New York (12 hours during US daylight saving time).

There are public buses in both cities, but schedules and reliability can be an issue and the buses are often old, so expect some waiting. One of the quickest and most convenient ways to get around is the ride-hailing app Grab, which is much cheaper than a taxi.

Yes, with a valid driving licence. Many rental companies want to see your home licence; an international driving permit alone is often not enough. Malaysia drives on the left, as in the UK. Roads in Sabah and Sarawak are not as good as in Peninsular Malaysia, and self-drive is less common but possible. Rental prices in Sabah and Sarawak are high, often making a private transfer just as cost-effective.

Tipping is not a strong custom in this part of the world. Most hotels and restaurants add a 10% service charge, so an extra tip is welcome but not necessary. It is normal to leave a little for hotel housekeeping and the bellboy when checking out, and your guide will appreciate a small gratuity if they have done a good job.