Details
Important
Before you decide to travel with GEEO, it is important that you read all of the program information on this page. Our programs are quite adventurous, and we find that travelers who review the full trip details are happier with their experiences.
Trip Notes & Expectations
ACCOMMODATION
Our program fees are based on double-occupancy accommodation (see "Single Travelers" below if you do not have a travel companion and would be interested in a private room). We would like to stress that the nature of the accommodation when compared with other areas of Southeast Asia is sometimes of a lower standard than normally provided on GEEO programs. This is often due to the location and type of activities involved (i.e., high on a mountain and in remote jungle areas). Accommodation is always clean and usually makes up in character and location for what it might not provide in glamour and additional services.
TRANSPORTATION
We use a mix of transportation that gets our guests from location to location safely. Sometimes you will have full days and nights of transportation as our trips tend to cover a lot of ground. The transportation will often be an adventure in itself.
LUGGAGE
Pack light and bring luggage which is compact and lightweight, and which you can easily transport. The carrying of your luggage remains your responsibility at all times.
ACTIVITY LEVEL & PACE
Make sure you have thoroughly read the itinerary and can handle the group activities, which sometime include day hikes with your daypacks. This trip includes hiking that is suitable for most fitness levels. The heat and humidity are the biggest physical challenges. Stay hydrated! We recommend always carrying snacks with you. Meals can sometimes be far apart.
TRAVEL WARNINGS TO EASTERN SABAH
Various countries have a travel warning for Eastern Sabah. Please visit your government website (e.g., U.S. Department of State travel advisory) and check with your insurance that any warnings will not affect your insurance coverage, as travel insurance that covers the entire itinerary is mandatory on our tours. The safety of our travelers is our number one priority. We will continuously monitor the region and will only run programs areas that we believe to be safe.
GROUP LEADER
All GEEO/G Adventures trips are led by a Chief Experience Officer (CEO), whose role is to take the hassle out of travel and help you get the most from your trip. They’ll share information about the places you visit, suggest activities and restaurants, and introduce you to our local friends. While not traditional guides, CEOs have broad knowledge of the region’s history, culture, and daily life. On some excursions, local guides are used for deeper insight—giving you the best of both worlds.
PROGRAM DETAILS
Single Travelers
Traveling solo? You’re in good company—about half of our participants do the same.
Shared room by default. The program fee covers one person in a twin room. We’ll pair you with a roommate of the same gender if you don’t have a travel companion.
Want a private room? Most trips offer a
“My Own Room” (single-supplement) upgrade. Check the price in the
Extra Services section, then email travel@geeo.org to reserve it. You pay the single-supplement only if you request it.
My Own Room Exception: Receive private accommodation every night except night 2 (homestay).
Emergency Contacts
If you need urgent help during your trip,
call the local G Adventures office first. If no one answers, leave a detailed message with your name and contact information so they can return your call as soon as possible.
EMERGENCY CONTACT NUMBERS:
G Adventures Office Bangkok, Thailand
From outside Thailand: +66 92 338 9222
From within Thailand: 092 338 9222
If for any reason you are unable to reach the G Adventures local office, please call the numbers listed below to connect with their Sales team, who will happily assist you.
Toll-free, North America only: 1 888 800 4100
Calls from UK: 0344 272 0000
Calls from Germany: 0800 365 1000
Calls from Australia: 1 300 796 618
Calls from New Zealand: 0800 333 307
Outside North America, Australia, New Zealand, Germany and the UK: +1 416 260 0999
Packing List
See our blog post of
staff recommended gear to help you pack for your upcoming travels. You must be able to carry your own luggage—up stairs, on and off of transport, and during 15 to 20 minute walks. Bring
one small or medium backpack or rolling bag (22-30lb) and
one daypack for daily items. Space is limited on transportation, so oversized bags cannot travel.
As you prepare your packing list, we recommend checking average weather conditions for your destination on a site like
Weather Spark for the time of year you will be traveling.
Suggested ItemsOptionalDocuments
- Light windproof/waterproof jacket or umbrella
- Sun hat
- Personal clothing for hot weather (t-shirts, shorts, etc.)
- Hiking pants – convertible/zip-off and quick dry recommended)
- Daypack – a normal book bag is fine for this
- Hiking boots/sturdy walking shoes
- Sport sandals or flip-flops
- Sunblock
- Sunglasses
- Watch or alarm clock (or use your phone)
- Flashlight or headlamp (or use your phone)
- Light weight silk sleep sheet
- Travel pillow
- Clothes for religious sites – knees and shoulders must be covered
- Shawl or scarf (for temple visits)
- Small Flashlight
- Toiletries – your hotels will have soap and shampoo
- Camera (or use your phone)
- First-aid kit, including: lip salve, aspirin, bandaids, anti-histamine, Dramamine, Imodium or similar tablets for mild cases of diarrhea, electrolyte powder, insect repellent, extra prescription drugs you may be taking
- Money belt
- Water bottle
- Phone/tablet for internet – most hotels have WiFi
- Chargers for electronics as well converters/adapters, if needed
- AirTags or Tile trackers
- Packing cubes
- Earplugs
- Snacks – packing a few granola bars is a good idea; you can also buy snacks when you get there too, so don’t go crazy
- Ziplock bags
- Reading/writing material
- Hand sanitizer/baby wipes
- Passport (with photocopies)
- Any entry visas or vaccination certificates required
- Travel insurance ID card
- Flight itinerary/boarding pass(es)
- USD/EUR cash
- Credit/debit card
- G Adventures vouchers
- GEEO Classroom action plans for your group – this is sent a few days before departure
: Laundry facilities are sometimes offered at the hotels. You can also use a local laundromat, if necessary. We recommend packing enough clothes so you don't have to do laundry.
Passports and Visas
Travelers are responsible for securing all required travel documents and meeting the entry requirements for every country on their itinerary, including applicable transit/layover countries.
PASSPORT
All travelers must have a passport valid for
at least 6 months beyond your trip dates with enough blank pages for stamps.
Need to apply or renew? Start here.
ENTRY/VISA REQUIREMENTS
Visa rules change frequently—always verify the latest requirements on the
U.S. State Department Country Information Pages. Non-U.S. passport holders should verify requirements with your country's official government resources. Use the tool below to see entry requirements for your specific itinerary.
Entry information below is provided by Sherpa, a third-party service and trusted G Adventures partner. You must search each of your destination countries separately; “Add connection” solely searches transit visa requirements. Additional fees apply if you choose to purchase any services through Sherpa.
Money Exchange
The local currency on Borneo in Sabah is the
Malaysian Ringgit (MYR). For current exchange rates, visit
www.xe.com.
Credit/Debit Cards: Credit cards (especially Visa and Mastercard) are accepted at many hotels, shops, and restaurants, but not everywhere. Some vendors may also charge an international transaction fee, so check with your bank before you travel.
Cash: For small purchases, tipping, or places that don’t take cards, we recommend using ATMs to withdraw local currency while traveling. If you bring U.S. dollars to exchange, the bills must be new, unmarked, and in excellent condition—damaged or older notes are often rejected.
Emergency Funds: Bring
at least $200 USD (or the equivalent in local currency) in cash for emergencies in case of ATM or card issues. Always carry more rather than less to avoid feeling short of funds while traveling.
See the Estimated Trip Costs section at the bottom of this page for budgeting guidance.
For more advice, see our post,
Smart Travel Finances: Your Guide to Money, ATMs, Fees, and Safety Abroad
Tipping
Tipping is optional but appreciated and goes a long way for the people who look after you on the trip. If you are happy with the service, use these ballpark amounts and adjust as you see fit:
- Service providers/Waiters:
10% of the bill.
- Local guides and drivers:
$1.50-3.50 USD per person per day.
- G Adventures tour leader (CEO):
$20-25 USD per person per week.
Tipping Kitty: On some trips, your CEO may suggest a
“tipping kitty” where everyone contributes at the start of the tour, and the CEO uses that pooled amount to tip service providers for the group as a whole (not including your CEO). If your CEO doesn’t mention it and you’d like to use a kitty, we recommend asking about it early in the trip. Your CEO will advise the suggested amount and preferred currency for the kitty.
Vaccinations
GEEO cannot provide any medical advice, so it is very important to consult your doctor or a travel clinic about which vaccinations you will need for your trip. We recommend contacting
Passport Health, which has travel clinics located throughout the United States. You can also check the
CDC's recommended vaccinations for your destination. Please take this seriously!
Flights
Wait for official trip confirmation via email from GEEO before booking your flights. Prices tend to be lowest 90–120 days out, but that window varies by route and year. Neither GEEO nor G Adventures bear responsibility for any flights purchased before the trip is confirmed.
This program begins and ends in Kota Kinabalu. Check the itinerary for the required arrival date. Aim to arrive no later than mid-afternoon for the 6 p.m. Day-1 welcome meeting, and consider arriving a day or two early to buffer flight delays and see more of Kota Kinabalu. You can depart any time on the final day of the program.
Plugs and Converters
Malaysia uses
Type G plugs (also found in the UK and Ireland), and the voltage is
240V. To use your electronics safely, you’ll need to consider:
1.
Adapter (plug shape)
Adapts your U.S. plug to fit another type of socket. See our recommended
all-in-one travel adapter in our Gear Recommendations post.
2.
Converter / transformer (voltage)
Steps the outlet voltage down to 120V for U.S. appliances that can’t handle higher voltage.
How to know which you need: Look at the fine print on the plug or power brick. An
“Input 100-240 V” means the device is dual-voltage and works worldwide with only an adapter—phones, laptops, and most camera chargers fall into this category. If the label shows
“Input 120 V” (hair dryers, curling irons, some shavers), it could be damaged on high voltage. Pack both an adapter and a travel voltage converter. Converters are inexpensive and sold online or in the travel aisle of many stores.
Weather
The weather in Borneo is characterized by constantly high temperatures, an ever-present chance of rainfall, and an abundance of sunshine. It is a magnificent travel destination year-round.
The average high temperature is around 90ºF, and the average low is around 75ºF.
