Malaysia

Regardless of your reasons for traveling to Malaysia, you’ll most likely spend a few days in the capital, Kuala Lumpur, and in some other famous places like Malacca and Georgetown. These two gems are famous for their plentiful history and culture as well as their unique gastronomy - a mixture of Malay, Chinese and Indian cuisines.

Kota Kinabalu and Kuching are the capitals of Sabah and Sarawak states respectively, as well as gateways to Borneo’s national parks and other cities like Ipoh (a colonial-style capital of Perak) and Johor Bahru (the gateway to Singapore). Malaysia is a traditional Islamic country, so respectful clothes are necessary for both men and women. To fully enjoy city walking, you might need a few items to make your exploring more comfortable.

Malaysia is renowned for its beautiful islands and beaches, and it’s easy to enjoy relaxing and chilling out on its striking coasts. Since it’s a tropical country and lies near the equator, the sun is brutal. Be prepared for this and bring some things which will allow you to get a beautiful tan, but not burns!

Beaches are not only for relaxing and soaking up the sun - Malaysia is one of the top destinations for snorkeling and scuba diving worldwide! The exotic Sipadan island holds a place in the top ten world scuba diving destinations. This treasure trove promises amazing underwater adventures featuring turtles, sharks, a huge variety of fish and countless other sea creatures you won’t want to miss.

Of course, you can rent some of the equipment necessary right at the beach. However, the quality and condition of this leaves much to be desired. You definitely don’t need to bring your scuba tank or belts, but at least you can bring your own snorkel equipment and wetsuit! Since the water is extremely warm, you can snorkel and dive in a long sleeve shirt and shorts or a bikini bottom. Though if you’re going to do proper, advanced diving, it might be a good idea to have a thicker wetsuit, since at the depth of 30 meters (e.g. Sipadan island) the water can get pretty chilly, not to mention staying underwater is more comfortable in a proper wetsuit.

Malaysia is a prime destination for jungle trekking! Whether you’re travelling across the peninsula or heading to the lush, rainforested paradise of Borneo, there are a huge variety of options to explore the jungle, both short (1-day) and long (up to 3-4 days). If you love watching wildlife, don’t miss this unique chance to see hornbill birds, proboscis monkeys, orangutans, lots of diverse insects and spiders, and a plethora of other amazing creatures. One of the top destinations for trekking in Malaysia is Mulu National Park, where you can do a variety of treks and activities.

However, keep in mind that the rainforest is a huge ecosystem and every creature, even if it’s very tiny, can protect itself well! For example, leeches are not something you’d want to mess with. While it’s not the absolute worst experience you could have, it’s still highly unpleasant. Also, your typical hiking boots are not an option in the Malaysian rainforest due its very high humidity. Since normal hiking boots are made of leather, some organisms could find them attractive and move in there. If this happens, then after only a few days of trekking, you’ll basically need to throw them away.

When I was preparing for my first jungle experience, I searched far and wide to find the type of boots which would be the best for me. Then, I recalled that the US army had created jungle boots specifically for its soldiers when there was a war in Vietnam. I googled this and ended up buying a pair of these boots. After I did few treks in them, I realized that I had made a very smart choice. The boots are made with an artificial fabric and materials which get dry much quicker than normal hiking boots (which is ideal, considering humidity). They also have very good ankle support and they are tall, so you can wear your leech socks and you won’t be afraid of getting bitten.

Other items mentioned below are also musts for jungle trekking. Garbage bags, for example, could be very useful when you have a boat ride somewhere in the depths of the jungle. If you put all your bags in separate garbage bags and seal them with a sealing tape, it keeps them from getting wet if it’s raining. I usually use 2-3 garbage bags for each of my bags - a solution which costs much less than a raincover for your bags. Additionally, considering how heavy the rain in the Malaysian jungles can be, a raincover won’t really help you at all!

Borneo is famous for its elaborate cave systems. If you visit Mulu National Park, make sure to do some exploring in the caves. There are plenty of choices: you can opt for some easier ones with your kids, or take the hardest cave trek known as “Clearwater Connection.” This is a one-day trek through several caves, and it ends with swimming in an underground river. It’s an unparalleled experience for non-professional speleologists! You’ll see lots of bats, snakes, spiders and scorpions - fascinating endemic creatures which have never seen the light of day! Some parts of the route are tough and you’ll have to squeeze your body into very narrow openings, so be prepared for a worthwhile challenge.

Mount Kinabalu is Borneo’s tallest (4101 m) mountain and one of the tallest mountains in all of Southeast Asia. Despite its stature, it’s actually quite an accessible mountain, and you don’t need to be an experienced climber to reach the summit. Simply prepare a few items you might need for the two days of trekking and get ready to live the story of a lifetime!

Frankly speaking, Malaysia is not a top destination for surfing. While it has some good surf spots, most of them are more suitable for skilled surfers. However, you can combine surfing with some other fun coastal activities, like going to the beach and snorkeling. A great place to do this would be the divine island of Tioman. For surfing, there are a few things you might need on hand.

Make sure you are up-to-date on routine vaccines before every trip. Don't forget to consult a doctor about necessary vaccination a few months in advance. Generally, these vaccines include the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine, diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis vaccine, varicella (chickenpox) vaccine, polio vaccine, and your yearly flu shot. The following vaccination recommendations are taken from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) webpage.

Of course, Malaysia is a country where you can have some qualified help. However, in some remote areas it will take a while to get proper treatment. Sometimes, not you but some of your traveling buddies might need help. Make sure you have something in advance against the following symptoms: