Itinerary
- Day 1
Kuala Lumpur
You'll arrive in Kuala Lumpur and get settled into the capital. Your group leader holds a welcome meeting at 6 pm, but if you land early there's time to walk through Petaling Street Market in Chinatown or check out the River of Life. An optional group dinner at Jalan Alor lets you try local street food and see the buzz of Bukit Bintang if that sounds good to you.
Optional Activities
- Petaling Street Market visit
- River of Life walk
- Group dinner at Jalan Alor
- Bukit Bintang exploration
Landmarks/POIs Petaling Street Market River of Life Bukit Bintang 
- Day 2
Kuala Lumpur to George Town
After taking the local metro to the train station, you'll head to Butterworth and then get a private transfer to George Town on Penang island, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Your leader gives an orientation walk to help you get your bearings, then the day is yours to explore. You might find hidden temples, wander Little India, or do a self-paced street art tour. Your leader can point you toward good local restaurants.
Included Activities
- Orientation walk in George Town with leader
Optional Activities
- Hidden temples visit
- Little India exploration
- Street art tour
Landmarks/POIs George Town Little India 
- Day 3
George Town
Start with a guided walking tour through George Town's streets, seeing historical buildings, old shopfronts, and street art. Then you'll visit the Pinang Peranakan Museum to look at over 1000 antiques and collectables. The afternoon opens up for you to relax or check out optional spots like Kapitan Keling Mosque, Arulmigu Balathandayuthapani Temple, The Clan Community of Penang, or the Wonderfood Museum.
Included Activities
- George Town Heritage walking tour
- Pinang Peranakan Museum visit
Optional Activities
- Kapitan Keling Mosque visit
- Arulmigu Balathandayuthapani Temple visit
- The Clan Community of Penang visit
- Wonderfood Museum visit
Landmarks/POIs Pinang Peranakan Museum Kapitan Keling Mosque Arulmigu Balathandayuthapani Temple Wonderfood Museum - Day 4
Teluk Bahang
After a relaxed morning, a private transfer takes you to Teluk Bahang, a small fishing village. Your homestay hosts welcome you and serve lunch. You'll visit a batik factory to learn hand-painting, then play traditional games with your group. Later there's a walk around the village learning about net-making and fishing, followed by dinner your hosts prepare. The evening ends with a Silat performance where you can pick up some moves yourself.
- Meals
- Lunch (Lunch at homestay), Dinner (Special dinner prepared by homestay hosts)
Included Activities
- Batik factory visit
- Traditional games
- Fishing village walking tour
- Home cooking demonstration and dinner
- Silat (martial art) performance
Landmarks/POIs Teluk Bahang - Day 5
Teluk Bahang to Ulu Muda Forest
You'll grab breakfast at a local market and say goodbye to your hosts before heading by private transfer to Ulu Muda Forest for two nights. After lunch at Lake Muda Jetty, you board a boat to Earth Lodge in Kuala Labua, an eco-lodge run with low carbon practices. A river cruise that evening looks for elephants, macaques, and proboscis monkeys. The night is free to settle in and rest.
- Meals
- Lunch (Lunch at Lake Muda Jetty, freshly prepared by locals)
Included Activities
- River cruise with wildlife spotting
Optional Activities
- Local market breakfast visit
Landmarks/POIs Ulu Muda Forest Lake Muda Jetty - Day 6
Ulu Muda Forest
Following breakfast, you trek into Bukit Labu with an expert guide who shares knowledge about native plants and wildlife including elephants. A picnic lunch happens by the river, then you trek back and visit the Salt-lick hot springs where local animals come for minerals. Another river cruise in the late afternoon gives you more chances to spot wildlife.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Picnic lunch by the river)
Included Activities
- Bukit Labu hike with expert guide
- Hot Spring Saltlick visit
- River cruise for wildlife spotting
Landmarks/POIs Bukit Labu - Day 7
Ulu Muda Forest to Cameron Highlands
After breakfast you leave the forest and head back to the jetty, then take a private transfer to Cameron Highlands. This cool, serene area is blanketed in rolling tea plantations. You'll arrive mid-afternoon with free time to wander local market stalls and try typical Malay cuisine.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Local market stalls exploration
- Typical Malay cuisine tasting
Landmarks/POIs Cameron Highlands 
- Day 8
Cameron Highlands
Start the day like locals do at a street stall with Malay-style breakfast to go. Then trek through mist-shrouded mossy forest while your guide points out unique plants under that rich green moss. You'll explore a local tea plantation to learn how tea gets made and see endless rows of green shrubs covering the hillsides. The afternoon is yours to visit Cameron Floral Park or have high tea at Jim Thompson Tea Room.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Traditional Malay breakfast from local street stall)
Included Activities
- Hike in mossy forest area
- Tea plantation visit
Optional Activities
- Cameron Floral Park visit
- High tea at Jim Thompson Tea Room
Landmarks/POIs Cameron Floral Park - Day 9
Cameron Highlands to Kuala Lumpur
You'll take the local express bus back to Kuala Lumpur, then hop the metro to your hotel, arriving mid-afternoon. The rest of the day is free to explore this energetic city. Head to the observation deck on the 451-m Petronas Twin Towers or see the Sultan Abdul Samad Building if those interest you. An optional farewell dinner in the evening celebrates your trip.
Optional Activities
- Petronas Twin Towers observation deck visit
- Sultan Abdul Samad Building visit
- Farewell dinner
Landmarks/POIs Petronas Twin Towers Sultan Abdul Samad Building 
- Day 10
Kuala Lumpur to Kota Kinabalu
A private transfer takes you to KL airport for your flight to Kota Kinabalu. Your driver picks you up on arrival and takes you to your hotel. You'll have free time, then meet your new group at a 6 pm meeting.
Landmarks/POIs Kota Kinabalu - Day 11
Dusun Village
By minivan you travel to a Dusun village in the shadow of Mt Kinabalu, the highest mountain between the Himalayas and New Guinea. Your homestay hosts welcome you with lunch, then you visit a local vegetable farm to learn planting and harvesting. That evening there's a special village cultural performance after you cook dinner with fresh vegetables from the farm.
- Meals
- Lunch (Welcome lunch at homestay), Dinner (Farm-to-table dinner with fresh vegetables)
Included Activities
- Local vegetable farm visit
- Village cultural performance
Landmarks/POIs Mt Kinabalu Dusun Village - Day 12
Kundasang
Walking with your leader, you head to the local vegetable market in Kundasang. You'll browse freshly harvested produce, unique seasonal fruits like tarap and rambutan, local snacks, wild honey, and traditional Borneo crafts. Chat with vendors about local produce and how it goes into traditional Sabah cuisine. The afternoon is free, so you might relax in the open-air baths at Poring Hot Springs before heading back.
Included Activities
- Kundasang market visit
Optional Activities
- Poring Hot Springs visit
Landmarks/POIs Kundasang Market Poring Hot Springs - Day 13
Day 1
After a good breakfast you say goodbye to your village friends and drive to Timpohon Gate to start trekking up Mt Kinabalu. The uphill trail has steep steps of varying sizes, but you'll see about 1000 orchid species and carnivorous pitcher plants along the way. After covering 6 km (roughly 4 to 6 hours), you'll spend the night at a hostel near Laban Rata at 3,272m (10,735 ft) above sea level. Get rest for the early start tomorrow.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Mt Kinabalu Climb - Day 1 (Timpohon Gate to Laban Rata)
Landmarks/POIs Mt Kinabalu Timpohon Gate Laban Rata - Day 14
Day 2
Around 2 am you rise for the final ascent to the summit. It's a tough climb, but the sunrise from the top makes it worthwhile. You'll see Borneo's jungles in one direction and the South China Sea in the other. After resting and taking pictures, you head back to Laban Rata for breakfast. The descent takes 3 to 6 hours, and you'll spend the night at a hostel within Kinabalu National Park.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Mt Kinabalu Climb - Day 2 (Laban Rata to Summit to descent)
Landmarks/POIs Mt Kinabalu - Day 15
Kinabalu National Park to Kinabatangan River
By private bus you travel into the steamy rainforest to Bilit, a small village on the Kinabatangan River banks. A short boat ride takes you to a comfortable jungle lodge right on the riverbanks, ideal for spotting wildlife. A sunset boat ride has you looking for macaques, orangutans, proboscis monkeys, and pygmy elephants. A night walk searches for nocturnal animals like civets, owls, and the rare slow loris.
Included Activities
- Afternoon wildlife cruise
- Night jungle walk
Landmarks/POIs Kinabatangan River Bilit - Day 16
Kinabatangan River
An early morning boat safari has you watching for different species that come out at different times. After breakfast, the in-house guide takes you on a journey through the historical Kinabatangan community to learn its traditions from before tourism arrived. You'll explore traditional craftsmanship and actually make traditional fish traps while hearing local stories. That understanding of their sustainable way of life will stick with you. Another river excursion happens in the afternoon.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Dawn wildlife cruise
- Fish trap making and storytelling with local community
Landmarks/POIs Kinabatangan River - Day 17
Kinabatangan River to Sepilok
After breakfast you leave the jungle lodge and travel by private minivan to a guesthouse near the Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre. From the viewing platform you'll watch and photograph orangutans swinging onto the feeding platform. Observe young orangutans learning to climb a specially built jungle gym. Optional visits include the Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Center to see rescued bears, or the Rainforest Discovery Centre with its treetop walkways and info about Borneo's flora and birdlife.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre visit
Optional Activities
- Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Center visit
- Rainforest Discovery Centre visit
Landmarks/POIs Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Center Rainforest Discovery Centre - Day 18
Sepilok to Turtle Island Marine Park
You'll transfer to Sandakan, leave your large bags at the hotel, and walk with an overnight bag to a nearby jetty. A speedboat takes you past small fishing villages and bamboo fish traps to Turtle Island Marine Park. The afternoon is free for swimming, snorkelling, or relaxing on the beach. In the evening, an expert ranger takes a select group out to watch giant green turtles coming ashore to lay eggs under moonlight. You'll see rangers release protected hatchlings as they dash toward the ocean, something you'll remember.
Included Activities
- Turtle Island Marine Park visit
- Turtle hatchery visit and turtle egg-laying observation
Optional Activities
- Swimming
- Snorkelling
- Beach relaxation
Landmarks/POIs Turtle Island Marine Park - Day 19
Turtle Island to Sandakan
After breakfast you return to the mainland and walk back to your hotel. The day is free to explore Sandakan however you want. Consider visiting Agnes Keith House, home of an American writer known for her Borneo accounts during World War I. The Sandakan War Memorial sits on the site of a Japanese POW camp and tells about the tragic Sandakan Death Marches when 2,400 POWs were forced through Borneo's jungles. St Michaels and All Angels Church is a rare stone building that escaped 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/POIs Agnes Keith House Sandakan War Memorial St Michaels & All Angels Church Puu Jih Shih Chinese Temple - Day 20
Sandakan
Your adventure wraps up today after breakfast. If you want more time exploring Borneo, additional accommodation can be pre-booked, so just talk to your booking agent ahead of time about staying longer.
- Meals
- Breakfast
