The boat pulls away from the lodge jetty before the sun's properly up, mist still lying on the Kinabatangan and a hornbill calling somewhere over the trees. Your guide cuts the engine near a fig tree, and everyone goes quiet. Nobody's thinking about their shirt, and that's the point of getting what to wear in Borneo right before you leave: clothes that stay comfortable in the heat, keep the mosquitoes off and dry out overnight, so all you've got to think about is the riverbank.
This guide follows the classic wildlife route through Sabah, the part of Malaysian Borneo where most UK Borneo tours go, and works out what to wear at each stop, from Kota Kinabalu and Sepilok to the river lodges and the beach at Rasa Ria. There's a printable Borneo packing list further down, built for a wildlife trip rather than a hiking or trekking expedition.
What to wear in Borneo: the short answer
Think light, loose and quick drying, with your arms and legs covered whenever you're near the forest. Borneo is hot and humid in every month, rain sweeps through the Borneo rainforest hard and often, and the insects are busiest at dawn and dusk, which is exactly when the best wildlife cruises go out.
So the core of your Borneo clothing is simple:
- Lightweight, breathable shirts with long sleeves, in synthetic or linen fabrics that dry fast
- Loose long trousers, plus a pair of shorts for the hotel and the beach
- Closed walking shoes or light boots with a grippy sole, and sandals for the evenings
- A wide-brimmed sun hat and a light waterproof jacket or poncho
- Neutral colours such as khaki, olive, grey and beige
Cotton is comfortable at home, but in Borneo's humidity a cotton T-shirt soaks up sweat and simply won't dry. Swap most of it for technical fabrics or linen, and pack enough tops to change once or even twice a day.
Why the heat and humidity change the rules
Step off the plane in Sabah and the air wraps round you like a warm towel! Sabah sits close to the equator, so there's no cool season, just wetter and drier spells. You'll sweat on a gentle stroll, and anything wet you rinse out at night may still be damp in the morning.
That's why quick-drying clothing matters so much here. A couple of pairs of lightweight trousers that dry overnight will do far more for you than a stack of jeans, and they leave room in the case for the essentials.
There's a catch, though.
Hotel rooms, coaches and the internal flights are often air-conditioned, and the switch from steamy outdoors to a chilly lobby can catch you out. A thin fleece or cardigan in your daypack sorts it, and you'll want it on the long-haul flight from the UK too.
Dressing for each part of a Borneo wildlife tour
An organised holiday moves you between very different places, sometimes on the same day. Here's what works at each stop.
| Part of the holiday | What to wear | Keep in your daypack |
|---|---|---|
| Kota Kinabalu and village visits | Light trousers or a knee-length skirt, shirt that covers the shoulders, sandals or trainers | Sun hat, water bottle, a scarf or shawl |
| Sepilok and the Sun Bear Conservation Centre | Long sleeves, long trousers, walking shoes | Camera only on the walkways; repellent goes on before you go in |
| River cruises at dawn and dusk | Long sleeves, neutral colours, a hat | Rain jacket or poncho, dry bag, binoculars |
| Jungle walks and boardwalks | Long trousers tucked into socks, shoes with grip | Leech socks if it's been raining, insect repellent |
| Gomantong Caves (optional on some tours) | Non-slip shoes, clothes you don't mind getting grubby | Rain jacket for the walk in |
| Rasa Ria beach resort | Swimwear at the pool and beach, cover-up elsewhere | Sunscreen, sunglasses |
River cruises on the Kinabatangan
The boats at Abai and Sukau go out early and come back as the light fades, the times when animals are most active along the banks. Mornings on the water can feel surprisingly fresh, and a sudden downpour can sweep in from nowhere. Wear long sleeves in muted colours, keep a waterproof on your knee and put your camera in a dry bag. Pack a water bottle and binoculars for a Kinabatangan River cruise, as the best sightings are often high in the canopy.
Jungle walks, boardwalks and the night walk
Travelsphere's own page says sturdy shoes are essential, as some walks cross slopes and footbridges that can be rough underfoot. Boardwalks get slippery after rain, so grip matters far more than a heavy boot, and you won't need hiking boots for this kind of trip. Tuck your trousers into your socks on forest trails, which turn muddy after a storm. On the evening jungle walk at Sepilok, take a small torch or head torch, keep the beam off the animals' eyes, never use a flash and follow your guide's lead on distance.
Sepilok and the Sun Bear Conservation Centre
The Orangutan Appeal UK's page for the Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre asks visitors to wear light, breathable clothing and comfortable walking shoes. Bags, food and drink aren't allowed on the walkways, and secure lockers wait at the entrance. So put your repellent and sunscreen on before you go in, and carry little more than your camera.
Remember this is a rehabilitation centre, not a zoo: you stay on the walkways and never approach or touch the orangutans.
Kota Kinabalu, villages and the mosque
Malaysia is a mostly Muslim country, and away from the beach and the pool it's polite to cover your shoulders and knees. That's easy in the hot weather with loose trousers, a skirt below the knees or a light linen shirt. If you go inside the City Mosque, Sabah Tourism says visitors wear a coverall provided at the door, so you don't need to pack anything special.
Rasa Ria and the beach
Here you can finally relax, with swimwear at the pool and on the beach and a sarong to throw on for the walk back. Rasa Ria sits inside its own nature reserve with walking trails, so keep your walking shoes handy, and pack one smart-casual outfit for dinner.
Kinabalu Park, if your tour goes up the mountain road
Some holidays, including Newmarket's and Titan's, spend time around Kinabalu Park and Kundasang in the hills. It's much cooler up there, especially at night, so pack a fleece. You won't need mountain kit, as none of the holidays we compare climbs Mount Kinabalu.
Leech socks: do you need them in Borneo?
Leeches are the part of the Borneo jungle everyone asks about, and honestly, the anticipation is worse than the reality! They live on the forest floor and wake up after rain, and your guide deals with them every day.
Leech socks are long cotton or canvas socks that go over your normal socks and tie or fasten below the knee, with your trousers tucked in. On the classic route most walking is on boardwalks, paths and stilted walkways, where leeches are far less of a bother, but a pair weighs almost nothing and is reassuring on a wet trail. Some lodges in deeper rainforest, such as in Danum Valley, provide them for guests.
Mosquitoes, sun and rain: the health side
Clothing is your first line of defence against bites. The NaTHNaC advice on insect and tick bites suggests loose clothes with long sleeves and long trousers tucked into socks, and says clothing treated with permethrin gives a high level of protection. It recommends DEET-based repellent, put on after your sunscreen. Dengue is a risk in Malaysia and its mosquitoes bite by day, so stay covered in daylight too. Check NaTHNaC's Malaysia page and see your GP or a travel clinic well before you go.
The tropical sun is strong even through cloud, and on the open river there's nowhere to hide from it. A wide-brimmed hat, sunglasses and high-factor sunscreen do the job.
And the rain? It's warm, heavy and usually short. A lightweight, breathable rain jacket or a sturdy poncho is better than a thick waterproof coat, which you'll soon be sweating inside. Some people simply carry a compact umbrella for town. A small dry bag keeps your passport and camera safe on the boats.
Your printable Borneo packing list
Not sure what to pack? Tick these off as you go. It's built around an organised wildlife holiday with river lodges and a beach stay, not a trek or a climb.
- Long-sleeved shirts in quick-drying, breathable fabric
- Short-sleeved tops or T-shirts in technical fabric, enough to change daily
- Light long trousers (zip-off ones double as shorts)
- Shorts or a knee-length skirt, and one smart-casual outfit
- Thin fleece or cardigan for air conditioning and the flight
- Walking shoes or light boots with good grip
- Sandals or flip flops for the lodge and the pool
- Socks you can tuck trousers into, and a pair of leech socks
- Swimwear and a sarong or cover-up
- Wide-brimmed sun hat and sunglasses
- Lightweight rain jacket or sturdy poncho
- Insect repellent and high-factor sunscreen
- Small torch or head torch for the night walk
- Binoculars and a camera with spare batteries
- Dry bag, refillable water bottle and a small daypack or rucksack
- Your usual medication in your hand luggage, plus a basic first aid kit
- Soft overnight bag or backpack for the lodge nights
- Passport, travel insurance details and a copy of your booking
Luggage, laundry and what the organised holiday handles
The jungle lodges at Abai and Sukau are reached by boat, and Travelsphere's page for The Best of Borneo says your main luggage can't go on the boat transfers. You take a soft overnight bag with your toiletries, chargers and medication, and your case waits for you.
Everything else is taken off your hands. Porterage, transfers, the internal flights and the boats are all part of the holiday, and your Holiday Director is there to tell you what the next day needs, whether that's walking shoes for the boardwalk or a rain jacket for the cruise. Other operators set their own limits, Newmarket's page for instance allows a single suitcase with a weight limit, so check your booking notes.
Many hotels offer a laundry service, so ask at reception, and quick-drying clothes rinsed in the sink are often wearable by morning. Plan your washing for the stops where you stay more than one night, such as Kota Kinabalu and Rasa Ria.
Before you go, read the FCDO travel advice for Malaysia and check it again shortly before you travel. Its warning about the islands off Sabah's east coast doesn't cover Kota Kinabalu, Sepilok or the Kinabatangan, where the classic route runs.
Getting ready for the trip
Once your case is sorted, our Borneo itinerary guide shows how the days fit together, the Borneo food guide covers what you'll eat at the lodges and in town, and our page on Malaysia visas for UK travellers explains the entry paperwork. If you're still choosing your holiday, compare the routes, lodges and flights side by side on our Borneo tours page. Get the clothes right, and the boat at dawn does the rest.
Holidays that go there
Let a tour handle the internal flights, the river boats and the jungle lodges.
Travelsphere
The Best of Borneo: Orangutans and Rainforests with Singapore add-on
The Best of Borneo wildlife tour with three nights in Singapore added before the flight home.
- Sepilok orangutans
- Kinabatangan river cruises
- Rasa Ria
- Singapore
From £4,759about £297 a day · per person
See dates
Newmarket Holidays
Borneo's Orangutans and Rainforest Adventure
Sandakan, Sepilok, the Kinabatangan and Kinabalu Park, finishing with four nights on the beach at Rasa Ria, with flights from Heathrow.
- Sepilok orangutans
- Kinabatangan river cruises
- Kinabalu Park
- Rasa Ria
From £3,188about £245 a day · per person
See dates
Titan Travel
Wild Borneo
A small-group wildlife tour from Kota Kinabalu through Kinabalu Park, Sukau and Sandakan, ending at Rasa Ria, with home pick-up for the flight.
- Kinabalu Park
- Kinabatangan river cruises
- Sepilok orangutans
- Rasa Ria
PriceSee live priceTitan Travel site
See datesPrices are per person sharing, from the operators' own sites when we checked in October 2026. They change with dates and offers, so check the live price before you book.
