Borneo’s equatorial climate means it's hot and sticky all year round. Temperatures don't vary widely, and precipitation remains fairly constant apart from a pronounced drier season from January to April.

Peninsula Malaysia experiences a western monsoon from early May through to late Sept and eastern from Oct to March. Our island extensions reflect this as we swap between Langkawi and the Perhentians according to season. Note, rain is usually in short, sharp bursts rather than constant drizzle.

Our Malaysia small group tour format is ideal for single travellers. Many meals are taken together, family-style, with the aim to create an impression of travelling with a group of friends instead of a typical tour group. There are no compulsory single-person charges although if you don’t want to share a room, single-room supplements are available.

You have the choice of booking a ‘land only’ tour or one including return flights from the UK to Malaysia. In the latter case., we can offer a wide range of options, using airlines such as Malaysian, Emirates or Qatar. (Direct options are available for West Malaysia although, for Borneo, a change in KL is required.) Please note, due to fluctuating prices, figures for ‘with flight’ tours on the website are only approximate but we’ll do our best to find suitable prices and routes for you.

At present, there are no compulsory inoculations for Malaysia and Borneo however, hepatitis A, polio, typhoid and tetanus are all recommended.

A useful resource for travel health info is the Travel Health Pro site.

Happily, the WHO reports that all districts of West Malaysia have been malaria-free since 2018 with Sabah and Sarawak classified as low risk. If you do consider taking antimalarials please consult a specialist first.

Tipping is discretionary although local staff do appreciate a gesture for their hard work and dedication. It's hard to give a precise guideline, as it does depend on the group size, but more info can be found on the individual tour pages.

You are required to pay a 10% deposit in order to confirm your tour booking with the balance due no later than 60 days prior to the tour starting date. Note that all major credit cards are accepted without surcharges.

Where possible we use smaller, boutique-style hotels with most city options fall into a comfortable 3-4* category. In country areas, we select lodge-style resorts while our Cameron Highlands choice is B & B/homestay style. Island resorts are generally low-key with chalet-type rooms.

Approximately half of the meals are included, as we believe that local cuisine is an important element in discovering a region. Guides will select authentic, local restaurants in addition to showing you Malaysia's famous street food options, providing a guided tour of local specialities while allowing plenty of time to do your own thing.

Myriad Malay, Chinese and Indian eateries offer a wide choice for both vegetarian and vegan diets so absolutely no problem at all. Your guide will be aware of any specific dietary requirements or allergies for inclusive meals and will be on hand to offer suggestions and recommendations for your 'free' meals.

Despite the archaic 'official' line, on the ground, Malaysians are generally very tolerant people, particularly towards foreign visitors. Nonetheless, in rural areas, the country remains conservative and discretion should be shown. Public displays of affection, of any orientation, are best avoided.