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Generally, all year round is good to visit Sabh Borneo but the month of May would be the busiest time as there are many events being held.
Sabah does not have distinct wet or dry seasons. It is warm throughout the year with occasional tropical rain-showers or rainstorms - usually in the afternoons cooling the air and keeps the rainforests green.
Temperatures rarely rise above 32 degrees Celsius and along the coast rarely drop below 20 degrees Celsius at night. In the interior and at higher altitudes it can get cold at night.
The best time to visit the east coast is between May and September as this is outside the rainy season. It is also the best time to see the turtles, which make nightly landings at various locations to lay their eggs. November to January is the rainy season , rains are usually short lived , if any, and temperatures remain warm.
Summer clothes are recommended. However, visitors to Kinabalu Park (especially climbers) must definitely bring warm and water-proof clothes as advised.
Borneo is hot and humid all year. There can be tropical showers at any time.
Rainy season can occur between November and December .
Location
Positioned at the crossroads of South-East Asia, Malaysia is covering a territory
of about 336,700 sq. km. This area is divided into two regions - Peninsular Malaysia
(States of Federation of Malaya), extending from South-South-East from the border
of Thailand and the Provinces of Sarawak and Sabah situated on the Northwestern
coastal region of the Borneo island. Peninsular Malaysia consists of Eastern and
Western coastal areas, with mountain ranges stretching from North to South reaching
elevations of 2153 m (7,000 feet) in some places.
Malaysian Borneo, covering the states of Sarawak and Sabah, is characterised
by alluvial coastal plains, behind which lie hills and mountain ranges. Mount
Kinabalu is the highest mountain peak of Malaysia, located in Sabah, reaching
a height of 4100m (13,455 feet). This region includes some of the world's oldest
tropical rainforests, containing a huge variety of flora and fauna, especially
in the highlands.
Health Requirements & Tips
It is advisable to visit your doctor at least 4-6 weeks prior to your trip
to Malaysia. The earlier you will go the more time you will allow for shots to
take effect. The immunizations required for travelers visiting all Asian countries
are listed below:
- Yellow Fever Vaccination certificate is required only from those visitors
coming from or passing through Yellow Fever Endemic areas (e.g some countries
from Africa and South America). The international certificate of vaccination against
Yellow Fever has a validity of ten years, starting ten days after the vaccination.
According to article 68 of the International Health Regulations of the World Health
Organisation, visitors without a valid Yellow Fever vaccination certificate will
be quarantined on their arrival to Malaysia.
- Hepatitis B vaccine (if you are exposed to blood, for example - health workers,
have sexual contacts with local population, have a medical treatment or stay longer
than 6 months in the region)
Rabies (if you are exposed to wild or domestic animals through your work or holidays)
Especially important for back-packers.
- Typhoid vaccination (it is recommendable because of the presence of the S.typhy
strains resistant to several antibiotics in the Asia region)
- Malaria - whilst not a requirement for beach resorts or Kuala Lumpur, if you
are travelling around the countryside in Peninsular Malaysia and definitely for
Malaysian Borneo you must take an appropriate course of anti-Malaria drugs. Consult
your doctor.
- Cuts and abrasions. These can get infected much more easily in the tropics,
and should be disinfected immediately.
- Jungle Trek Precautions: You will need sensible walking shoes, a macintosh
and a number of useful items such as a torch, small rucksack etc. for these, depending
on how "bush" the tour may be going. Ask for advice.
- The Water in large hotels and resorts is generally safe, but bottled water
is widely available and cheap.
Religious Services
Malaysia is multi-religious, but Islam is the official religion, although there
are sizable Christian, Buddhism and Hindu minorities.
It is important to remember to remove your shoes when entering places of worship
such as Mosques and Indian Temples. It is also advisable to stand aside during
the prayers and ask permission before taking pictures.
Public Holidays
Malaysia is a country rich in festivals that are very colourful and exciting,
reflecting the spirit and unity of each race practising their different cultures
and religions.
- Chinese New year (24-25 January )
- Muslim's Hari Raya Qurban Celebration (6-7 March) each year the dates are
subject to change;
- Maal Hijrah (26 March)
- Labour Day (1 May)
- Wesak Day (7 May)
- Birthday Celebration of SPB Yang di Pertuan Agong (2 June)
- Maulidur Rasul - (Birthday Celebration of Prophet Muhammad S.A.W) (4 June)
- National Day (31 August)
- Hindu's Deepavali Celebration (14 November) each year the dates are subject
to change
- Muslim's Hari Raya Celebration (16-17 December) each year the dates are subject
to change
- Christmas (25 December)
Phone / Internet
Local Calls
Local directory assistance Tel: 103
International Calls
International Exchange Operator Tel: 104
Getting There
12 hr flight (non stop) plus 2½ domestic flight.
We recommend Malaysian Airlines
– Voted Best Cabin Staff for the last Five Years!
Economy Class
- Seat pitch at 34" is bigger than most other airlines.
- Adjustable head rest with side wings.
- Adjustable foot rest and generous leg room.
- Personal seatback entertainment on 16.5 cm screen.
- Personal telephone to make Worldwide calls or to other Passengers.
- Children's menu, entertainment channel, video games and special gifts.
- 20 kg luggage allowance.
Golden Club Class
- Seat pitch 50", reclining to a comfortable 145 degrees.
- Adjustable side wings on the headrest.
- Electronically controlled leg rest.
- Lumbar support.
- Personal high tech entertainment on a foldaway 26 cm screen.
- Personal telephone.
- Office facility to send emails and faxes using your own lap top.
- Wide menu choice and wine list.
- "Fastrack" immigration and customs clearance.
- Access to pre-flight executive lounge.
- 30 kg luggage allowance.
First Class
Enjoy all the features of Golden Club class with the following added benefits
- Electronically controlled seats with a pitch of 76", reclining to 165
degrees.
- Three way extendable leg rest.
- First class cuisine, champagnes and vintage wines.
- Exclusive check in facilities, top priority baggage reclaim at the airport.
- Access to Golden Club Lounges at Heathrow and Kuala Lumpur where you can take
a shower, or a nap, watch TV or even check your emails.
Packing List
Essential Clothes:
We recommend you travel light to Borneo so you have more space to take goodies
back–all items below can be bought cheaply once in Borneo.
Towels and dressing gowns are provided at all 5 star resorts –Don’t
waste space in your suitcase.
Shorts (2); Long slacks/trousers; Long sleeve blouse/t-shirt; Flip-flops ("thongs")
or sandals; Thin jersey/jacket; T-shirts (4); Sarongs for beach and sleeping.
Try to bring only a small hold-all, suitcase or rucksack; inland flights only
allow 10 kgs of baggage anyway. If you need extra (warm) clothes for climbing
Mt Kinabalu, these can be left separately at your accommodation base.
You can buy most essentials here, very cheaply, if you do forget something!
Useful Items
Torch; Aspirin; Camera; Driving Licence; Passport; Cash – about £10
per day minimum. Mosquito repellant
Please let us know if:
- You have any allergies/special foods/medication
- You are over 6ft tall or weigh over 100 kgs!
- You hold more than one passport other than British passport
- Any other special requirement
All the countries that Exquiste Borneo Travel arrange trips to have recommended
health precautions. Whilst we are happy to give you general information, it is
your own responsibility to check all relevant recommendations and also to get
the most up-to-date health information for the destinations you are visiting
It is important that you see your GP or a travel clinic well before travelling
to make sure that you have taken all necessary health precautions. Some vaccinations
require more than one visit with a period of weeks between injections, and malaria
precautions need to be started prior to departure, so you should try to arrange
a visit at least 6 weeks before departure.
The Medical Advisory Service for Travellers Abroad (MASTA):
MASTA Travellers Health Line gives a ‘Health Brief’ specifically
tailored to your journey on 0906 822 4100 (premium rate call 60p/minute).
Your brief will give information about immunisation and malaria as well as any
Foreign Office advice and latest health news. Be prepared to leave your name,
address and journey details. Lines are open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
MASTA
52 Margaret Street,
London
W1W 8SQ
Telephone: 0906 822 4100
www.masta.org
Alternatively call the British Airways Travel Clinic on 0207 439 9584, or a
School of Tropical Medicine.
VISAS
Visas are not currently required for British passport holders travelling to
our featured Latin American destinations. However, visas are required for many
of our Asian destinations. Our visa service minimises the time and inconvenience
involved, and we will handle the majority of the administration for you. Other
destinations issue a visitor card or visa on arrival. Wherever you travel to,
passports should have at least 6 months of validity beyond the date that you depart
the country you are visiting.
TRAVEL INSURANCE
We offer a range of quality insurance policies which are ideally suited to
the holidays that we arrange. We recommend an annual multi-trip insurance policy,
as it offers much better value for money if you are planning to take more than
one trip a year. If you book a trip with us and decide not to take our insurance
policy, we will ask for details of your cover for our records.
Please contact us to discuss and for further details on our policies.
For More Information Please Visit : http://wikitravel.org/en/Malaysi
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