Itinerary
- Day 1
Kota Kinabalu
You'll arrive in Kota Kinabalu and meet your group at 6 pm. If your flight gets in early, there's time to check out the Sabah State Museum, head over to Mari Mari Cultural Village, or swim and snorkel at nearby islands. Your leader will point you toward good local restaurants for a welcome dinner tonight.
Optional Activities
- Visit Sabah State Museum
- Visit Mari Mari Cultural Village
- Swimming and snorkelling at islands off Kota Kinabalu
Landmarks Sabah State Museum Mari Mari Cultural Village - Day 2
Kota Kinabalu to Dusun Village
A minivan takes you to a Dusun village below Mt Kinabalu. After welcome lunch at your homestay, you'll visit a local vegetable farm to see how planting and harvesting work. You can pick fresh vegetables for dinner preparation. Later, there's a village cultural performance to wrap up the day.
- Meals
- Lunch (Welcome lunch at homestay)
Included Activities
- Guided village walk in Dusun Village
- Local Vegetable Farm Visit
- Cultural performance
- Welcome lunch at homestay
Landmarks Mt Kinabalu Dusun Village - Day 3
Kundasang
Walk to the local vegetable market in Kundasang with your leader to see freshly harvested produce and seasonal fruits like tarap and rambutan, plus local snacks and wild honey. Talk with vendors about local ingredients and traditional Sabah cooking. The afternoon opens up, so you can relax in Poring Hot Springs before heading back to your homestay.
Included Activities
- Market visit in Kundasang
Optional Activities
- Visit Poring Hot Springs
- Canopy walk at Poring Hot Springs
- Open-air hot spring bath at Poring Hot Springs
Landmarks Kundasang Market Poring Hot Springs - Day 4
Mt Kinabalu Climb (Lower Section)
After breakfast, you'll drive to Timpohon Gate to start your Mt Kinabalu trek. The trail goes uphill with steep steps through diverse plant life, including around 1,000 orchid species and carnivorous pitcher plants. After 4 to 6 hours of trekking roughly 6 km, you reach the hostel near Laban Rata at 3,272m (10,735 ft). Rest well for tomorrow's early ascent.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Mt Kinabalu Climb - Lower section
Landmarks Mt Kinabalu Timpohon Gate Laban Rata 
- Day 5
Mt Kinabalu Summit & Descent
You'll rise around 2 am for the final ascent to Mt Kinabalu's summit. Watch the sunrise from the top with views across Borneo's jungles and the South China Sea. After resting and taking photos, you head back to Laban Rata for breakfast. The descent takes 3 to 6 hours, and you'll spend the night at a hostel in Kinabalu National Park.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Breakfast at Laban Rata after descent begins)
Included Activities
- Mt Kinabalu Climb - Summit and descent
Landmarks Mt Kinabalu Kinabalu National Park - Day 6
Bilit
A private bus takes you into the rainforest toward Bilit on the Kinabatangan River. After a short boat ride, you're at your jungle lodge. You'll spot wildlife from the riverbanks, then head out on a sunset boat ride looking for macaques, orangutans, proboscis monkeys, and pygmy elephants. A night walk finishes things off as you search for nocturnal animals like civets, owls, and the rare slow loris.
Included Activities
- Afternoon Wildlife Cruise on Kinabatangan River
- Night jungle walk
Landmarks Kinabatangan River Bilit 
- Day 7
Kinabatangan River
An early morning boat safari helps you spot wildlife. After breakfast, an in-house guide leads you through the historical Kinabatangan community to learn about traditional practices and craftsmanship. You'll actively make traditional fish traps and gain a deeper feel for the local sustainable way of life. Another river boat excursion happens in the afternoon.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Dawn Wildlife Cruise on Kinabatangan River
- Fish Trap Making and Story Telling in Kinabatangan community
- Afternoon Wildlife Cruise on Kinabatangan River
Landmarks Kinabatangan River - Day 8
Sepilok
You'll say goodbye to the jungle lodge after breakfast and head by private minivan to a guesthouse near Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre. Watch orangutans swing onto the feeding platform and observe young ones learning to climb. If you want, there's the Sun Bear Conservation Centre to see rescued sun bears or the Rainforest Discovery Centre with treetop walkways and Borneo birdlife.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre visit
Optional Activities
- Sun Bear Conservation Centre visit
- Rainforest Discovery Centre visit with treetop walkways
Landmarks Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre Rainforest Discovery Centre 
- Day 9
Sandakan to Turtle Island
You'll transfer to Sandakan and leave large bags at your hotel. Walk with just your overnight bag to the nearby jetty and travel by speedboat past fishing villages and bamboo fish traps to Turtle Island Marine Park. Swim, snorkel, or relax on the beach. In the evening, a local ranger takes you out to watch giant green turtles come ashore to lay eggs under moonlight, and you'll see rangers release protected hatchlings.
Included Activities
- Turtle Island Marine Park visit
- Turtle Hatchery Visit - viewing egg-laying and hatchling release
Optional Activities
- Swimming at Turtle Island
- Snorkelling at Turtle Island
- Snorkel Hire
Landmarks Turtle Island Marine Park Sandakan - Day 10
Sandakan
After breakfast, you return to the mainland and walk back to your hotel. You have a free day to explore Sandakan. Visit Agnes Keith House, the restored home of an American writer who documented life in Borneo during WW1, or the War Memorial built on a former Japanese Prisoners of War camp site. You can also check out St Michaels and All Angels Church, a rare stone building that survived major war damage.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Agnes Keith House visit
- Sandakan War Memorial visit
- St Michaels & All Angels Church visit
- Puu Jih Shih Chinese Temple visit
Landmarks Agnes Keith House Sandakan War Memorial St Michaels & All Angels Church Puu Jih Shih Chinese Temple - Day 11
Sandakan
Your Borneo adventure ends after breakfast today. If you want to stay longer and keep exploring, additional accommodation can be pre-booked.
- Meals
- Breakfast
