General Tour Information
ENTERING MALAYSIA: A valid national passport or other internationally recognized travel document endorsed for travel to Malaysia is required. American tourists on a recreational visit not exceeding 3 months do not need a visa. Participants from other nations should consult the nearest Malaysian tourist information bureau or diplomatic office.
MALAYSIA MAP AND COUNTRY INFORMATION: You can view Malaysia maps in the University of Texas series here. You can review the U.S. State Department background notes on Malaysia here.
HEALTH: The current recommendation of the Centers for Disease Control is that travelers to Malaysia (to remote parts of peninsular Malaysia and all of Sabah [Borneo]) take anti-malarial precautions, specifically, the drug mefloquine (brand name, Lariam), as the strains of malaria found in Malaysia are chloroquine-resistent. Not everyone can take mefloquine, so discuss this or the alternatives with your doctor.
The CDC further recommends vaccinations for Hepatitis A or immune globulin (IG) and for typhoid. Typhoid vaccination is particularly important because of the presence of S. typhi strains resistant to multiple antibiotics in this region. Further recommended (as might be necessary) are booster doses for tetanus-diphtheria and measles, and a one-time dose of polio vaccine for adults. You can view the latest CBC traveler’s advisories here.
Except for yellow fever, applicable to those who come from infected countries or those who have recently been to an infected country, there are no immunization requirements for Malaysia.
Although minor intestinal problems do occur in the tropics, Malaysia is remarkably free of these complaints. Malaysians are very particular about their drinking water, and drinking water in a restaurant or cafe will have already been boiled.
PACE OF THE TOUR: The pace of this tour is relatively easy. Our Malaysian leaders, Dennis and Mano, don’t believe in forced marches; the average distance covered being about 2 kms per ‘birding period’. While in Taman Negara, we’ll hike on forest trails that can be somewhat strenuous especially if they are wet. Our pace is very slow, of course, but on some days we may walk up to four miles. Since there is a lull in the bird activity in the middle of the afternoon, siestas are usually scheduled. The mornings will be early (as early at 5:45 AM departures from the hotel in some places). Evening or early morning owling is offered where possible for those who want to participate. Most of the trails are undulating, and steep (but short) uphill climbs are necessary in some places. The leaders will inform the group of trail conditions ahead of time so that if anyone wants to opt out, he or she has that opportunity.
CLIMATE: Malaysia’s climate is basically tropical. In the hill resorts the lowlands, the daytime temperature ranges from about 70°F (mid-day) (mid-50s at night) in the lowland resorts to about 90°F in other areas. Night time temperatures will be correspondingly lower. The humidity is quite high which may make it seem hotter. Rainfall can be expected at any time in brief, heavy downpours. Total annual rainfall averages between 200 and 260 cm (between 77 and 100 inches), and falls mostly from October to February.
ACCOMMODATIONS: Oue hotel in Kuala Lumpur is a 4-star hotel. Our Inn at Fraser’s Hill has 24-hour electricity, private bathrooms with hot water. Our lodging in Taman Negara has air conditioned rooms with private bathrooms (tepid water in instant hot-water heaters). Our lodge in Danum Valley is an upmarket wildlife lodge (along the line of the world renown Tiger Tops in Chitwan National Park in Nepal) with fan-cooled rooms with private facilities and hot/cold water showers. Our Sukau Rainforest lodge is an award-winning ecotourism lodge, with twin-bedded rooms with ceiling fans; private bathrooms with solar-powered hot water; 24-hour electricity provided by solar-powered cells, supplemented by generators as needed. The accommodation in Kinabalu Park is simple but adequate. Bathrooms may be shared here. Hot water provided by boiler and 24-electricity provided by generator.
A limited number of single rooms are available at Kinabalu Park, Borneo. We will do our best to get single rooms for those participants requesting single accommodation.
DRESS: Dress informal everywhere.
TRANSPORTATION: Land travel will be in an air-conditioned minibus and, in Borneo, the odd passenger microbus. For Taman Negara, river transfers and excursions will be in long-boats powered by an outboard engine (with or without canopy depending on length of time), operated by Taman Negara authorities, and at Sukau, small boats with no canopy with an outboard and/or electric engine will be provided by the Sukau Rainforest Lodge management.
SMOKING: We request that you do not smoke in the vehicles or when the group is gathered for meals, checklists, etc. If you are sharing a room with a non-smoker, please do not smoke in the room. If you smoke in the field, we ask that you do so well away and downwind from the group.
GENERAL INFORMATION & CONDITIONS OF WINGS TOURS: Please take a moment to read the WINGS General Information & Conditions. This section contains important information about how we conduct tours, e.g., what is included in the tour price, refund and cancellation policies, pace of the tours and other information that will help you prepare for the tour.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: A more complete General Information for Tours to Malaysia will be sent to each registrant on receipt of their booking. Final information with instructions for meeting the group, hotel address, etc. and your air tickets will be sent to you about three weeks before the tour starts. Other news will be communicated as necessary. If you have any questions about any aspect of the tour, please contact us.
Updated: September 2007