LAUNDRY – There will be no laundry facilities on this trip. You will only be able to organise laundry in Kota Kinabalu at the start and end point of this trip.
LOCAL DRESS
Malaysia is a liberal Muslim country, and many Malaysian women do not wear headscarves. However, Malaysia is very conservative when compared with standards you may be accustomed to at home, and you should dress accordingly. As a general guideline, shoulders, cleavage, and knees should be covered when traveling in Borneo except when on the beach. Wearing skimpy clothing is considered disrespectful to the local culture in many of the small local communities we visit.
ESSENTIALS
- Quick-drying clothing is highly recommended
- T-Shirts/cotton shirts
- Long-sleeved top (for evenings when mosquitoes are out)
- Long trousers/long skirt/shorts (denim not recommended due to humidity – cotton or quick-drying clothes are better)
- Walking shoes or hiking boots with a good grip and ankle support or locally bought Adidas Kampung
- Walking Poles for support on steep uphill sections and longer descents
- Sleeping bag/sleeping bag liner (please note you can rent a sleeping bag from Maliau Basin Study Center at a cost of RM30 per night. We recommend you bring your own sleeping bag liner for additional comfort if you a renting a sleeping bag). Note no pillows, blankets or towels are provided at the camps. Some people prefer to just sleep under sleeping sheet/liner due to high humidity.
- Flip flops
- Sun protection – hat, sunscreen, sunglasses, lip balm
- Hand sanitizer
- Water purification tablets or method
- Torch/flashlight/head torch - battery powered
- Waterproof jacket
- Swimming costume
- Leech socks or pairs of long football socks
- Lightweight, quick dry towel
- Water bottle
- Medium waterproof pack. You will need to bring a small to medium backpack – approx 40L
- Dry bags/plastic bags
- Sarong for privacy when changing clothes - can be bought locally
- Insect repellent - 75-100% DEET
- Basic first aid kit
- Eco-friendly soap or body wash
Please note you can leave your luggage at the Maliau Basin Study Center and carry your pack for 4 days while trekking. In this, you need to carry some dry clothes, a torch/flashlight, toiletries, a waterproof jacket, a sleeping bag/sleeping sheet, energy snacks, water, and any other essentials.
We do not allow the use of video cameras when staying in the villages as it can be perceived by the local people as highly obtrusive.
MORE!
If you need some further tips for packing, you can always check out our ultimate packing list.
PORTERS
If you would like to hire a porter to carry your day pack, please let your sales agent know at least 14 days prior to departure. The porters must be pre-booked to guarantee availability. The costs can be paid locally direct to the porter and will be confirmed at the time of the request.
WATER BOTTLE
Please bring your own water bottle to refill along the way. Although it can be difficult to avoid bottled water when travelling, please use the water dispensers which are provided on some of our vehicles and at some of our accommodation. Your group leader or local representative will advise whether tap water is safe to drink in your destination, and if it is, you can simply refill it with tap water. When unable to avoid bottled water, it is better to buy the largest available and distribute it into your smaller bottle for the day. If you are walking or trekking as part of your trip you will need to carry at least 2L of water with you.
