Itinerary Details
This 10 days itinerary is an exciting adventure in amazing Borneo for discovering the irresistable beauties. It not only includes the prominent natural and cultural attractions in Kinabalu City and Sadakan, but offers a challenge to climb the awe-inspiring Mount Kinabalu. A fantastic natural expedition with numerous exciting outdoor activities will undoubtedly make an unforgetable holiday for adventure lovers.
Welcome to Kota Kinabalu!
On arrival at Kota Kinabalu International Airport, you will be welcomed by our tour guide and be transferred to the hotel for checking in.
The rest of day is free to relax.
Overnight in Kota Kinabalu.
Accommodation option:
- Horizon Hotel
- (4 Ratings)
breakfast and lunch
In the morning, free to discover the charms of Kota Kinabalu city on your own.
In the late afternoon, you will enjoy North Borneo Cruise with dinner. Your guide will pick you up to Sutera Marina Jetty. Around 5:00 PM, your evening trip will cruise along Sabah’s west coast and pass the islands and water villages .
You are free to wander around the vessel. Panoramic ocean views, warmth of the setting sun and gentle sea breeze grace the upper-deck while a live band is playing the wonderful melody in the restaurant below. Dinner will be served with Sabah’s culinary experience. You can indulge in dessert or drinks as you enjoy the splendid sunset on the sea level. Kota Kinabalu’s coastline now comes alive with dazzling city night lights.
Around 7:00 PM, your rendezvous at sea comes to end. You will disembark from the cruise at the Sutera Marina Jetty and transfer back to hotel by car.
Overnight in Kota Kinabalu.
Accommodation option:
- Horizon Hotel
- (4 Ratings)
North Borneo Cruise
North Borneo Cruise
breakfast and lunch
After breakfast, check out and depart for Kudat(3 hours). Arriving at Kudat, take a cruise to the Northern Tip of Borneo, also known as Tanjung Simpang Mengayau where South China Sea meets the Sulu Seas in the east. Here, you can stroll on the expanse of white sand or enjoy the view of dramatic rocky outcrops.
Proceed to the Bavanggazo Village for visiting longhouses. The village is built entirely by local materials and home to the Rungus people, a sub-tribe of the indigenous Kadazandusun. You will learn some about their unique bead work, lifestyle and costumes.
Next, move forward to the Borneo HoneyBee Centre to visit the honey farm and to taste the raw honey straight from the comb!
Overnight in Kudat.
Accommodation option:
- Kudat Golf & Marina Resort
- (3 Ratings)
Northern Tip of Borneo
breakfast and lunch
After breakfast, depart to Kinabalu National Park with 3 hours' driving.
The journey goes through picturesque landscapes of mountainous roads that winds along the Crocker Range. En route, stop at Nabalu Market, where the native residents gather to sell hand-crafted souvenirs, home-grown vegetables and fruits.
The temperature will be low near Kinabalu Park. Upon arrival, you can enjoy the cool breeze when get to know the blossoms of Borneo along the trails of the Botanical Garden. Kinabalu Park boasts an estimate of 4,500 species of plants, including 1,500 species of orchids, and has over 300 species of birds and 290 different types of butterflies. If lucky, you may have chance to see the Rafflesia, the largest flower in the world. And the majestic view of Mount Kinabalu will be available on clear day.
Overnight in Kinabalu National Park.
Accommodation option:
- Sutera Sanctuary Lodges At Kinabalu Park
- (3 Ratings)
Taman Negara Kinabalu
Taman Negara Kinabalu
breakfast and lunch
In the morning, you will depart to Kinabalu Park Headquaters. Upon arrival, all necessary registrations and fees will be accomplished by your guide, including assigning your mountain guide and applying for ID Tags. You and your mountain guide will then be dropped off at the starting point, Timpohon Gate.
The first half trip is a 6km trek up to Panalaban with rest-stops and toilets along the way. It will take 4-5 hours. As you ascend to an elevation of 1,300 meters, the landscape changes from a dense tropical rainforest in lowlands to mossy-alpine vegetation. Various orchids and pitcher plants can be seen along the way.
Upon arrival at Panalaban Base Camp (3,272m), check into your accommodation. Buffet dinner will be served at restaurant.
Overnight in Kinabalu Park.
Accommodation option:
- Laban Rata Resthouse
Panalaban Base Camp
breakfast and lunch
In the early morning, continue the second half of your Mt. Kinabalu climb with head torch. If weather permitting, you may be able to witness the crack of dawn penetrate the clouds.
Then, return to Panalaban Base Camp for breakfast before checking out. Afterwards, trek back to the base of the mountain, which usually takes up to 4 hours. At the start of the trail, the driver will pick you up to hotel. The rest of day is free at leisure, you can relax and have a good rest.
Overnight in Kinabalu Park.
Accommodation option:
- Sutera Sanctuary Lodges At Kinabalu Park
- (3 Ratings)
Kinabalu Mountain
breakfast
After breakfast, check out and drive to Kota Kinabalu airport for a flight to Sandakan.
Upon arrival, you will be transferred to hotel. The rest of time is free for you to relax or explore the city on your own.
Overnight in Sandakan.
Accommodation option:
- Sabah Hotel
- (4 Ratings)
breakfast and lunch and dinner
After breakfast, check out and drive to the Gomantong Cave, located within the Gomantong Forest Reserve. It is the largest bird’s nest cave in Sabah and the home to millions of bats and swiftlets. Tourists can see the collection of bird's nest from February to August every year.
Next, continue on an approximately 30 minutes’ driving to Sukau, one of the richest ecosystems on the Lower Kinabatangan River. Upon arrival at Kampung Bilit, hop on a boat down the river to your accommodation.
After checking in, the real adventure will start. You will join a Kinabatangan River Cruise to discover wildlife along the river. It is a good chance to spot endemic Proboscis Monkeys, gibbons and rare bird species, and even rare Pygmy Elephants if lucky. After river cruise, have dinner in the dining hall. In the evening, you can go for a complimentary night safari cruise where you can spot nocturnal animals, crocodiles and birds.
Overnight in Sandakan.
Accommodation option:
- Sukau Rainforest Lodge
- (3 Ratings)
Kinabatangan River
breakfast and lunch
After breakfast, check out and leave for the famous Sepilok Orang Utan Rehabilitation Centre situated in the Kabili-Sepilok Forest Reserve(2 hours) . Upon arrival, you will watch a short video documentary to learn about the rehabilitation of orphaned Orang Utan. At feeding time, you will walk on boardwalk through the rainforest to the feeding platform where you can witness the Orang Utan feeding. You may also encounter Orang Utans closely when they frolic in the natural habitat.
After enjoying some time with the Orang Utans, you will proceed to Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre, which provides cares to rescued Malayan sun bears, the smallest bears in the world and only found in Southeast Asia. Inside this center, visitors can learn about sun bears and observe them foraging, climbing in the forest freely.
After the tour, transfer hotel in Sandakan city. The rest of day is free at leisure.
Overnight in Sandakan.
Accommodation option:
- Sabah Hotel
- (4 Ratings)
Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre
Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre
breakfast
After breakfast, you will be free at leisure until your guide pick you up to airport for your onward flight.