Discover Sabah: Off the Beaten Path in Malaysian Borneo - 14 Days

Day 1: Arrive in Kota Kinabalu

Upon arrival at Kota Kinabalu International Airport, meet your driver at the Arrival Hall to transfer to your accommodation. The drive will take approximately one hour. After arriving at your accommodation, check into your room, and spend the rest of the day at leisure.

Day 2: Explore Kota Kinabalu and the Mantanani Islands

Enjoy breakfast at the resort, then go on a one-hour drive across scenic landscapes to the Kuala Abai Jetty in Kota Belud. Cruise toward the Mantanani Island Group, which consists of three islands, namely Mantanani Besar, Mantanani Kecil, and Lungisan.

After an hour's ride to reach Mantanani Besar, there will be a safety briefing on the use of the equipment. Following the briefing, you'll ride the boat to one of the snorkeling locations. Swim, float, and snorkel before returning to the island for lunch at the lodge. After lunch, hop on the boat to visit another snorkeling site. In the afternoon, cruise back to the mainland and onward by road transport back to Kota Kinabalu, where you will arrive in the early evening.

Day 3: Arrive in Poring and Trek Through the Jungle

Take breakfast at the resort and spend your morning relaxing at the beach or pool. Check out in the late morning, and meet your driver in the lobby. Sit back and relax as you transfer to Poring, an approximately two and a half to three-hour drive. As you get closer to the mountain, the winding roads provide great views over the valleys and the peak of the mountain.

Have lunch at a restaurant in Poring where you can leave your larger luggage in a safe room. From here, you and your local guide will start trekking into the jungle to the Lupa Masa Jungle Camp. The hike will take approximately one hour. Arrive at the camp in the mid-afternoon and make yourself comfortable. Just a few steps from your room runs a crystal clear river where you can swim to cool down too before a vegetarian dinner at the camp.

Day 4: Day at Leisure in Poring

After breakfast, you can plan your activities for the day at leisure. Consider exploring the camp's surroundings along trails through the jungle or visiting the waterfalls close to the camp. So, ask your guide for suggestions this day. Lunch and dinner are served at the camp. After dinner, relax by the river and read a book while listening to the sounds of the rainforest.

Day 5: Visit the Kinabalu National Park

After breakfast, pack your things and check out. Trek back to the Poring area, meet your driver, and store your luggage inside our vehicle to reach the Canopy Walkway at 200 feet (61 m) above the ground, a rare opportunity to get a bird’s eye view of the rainforest. Lunch will be at a local restaurant, after which you'll visit the Butterfly Farm or take a dip in the open-air Japanese Style bathtubs with hot sulphuric water. Afterward, transfer to your accommodation at Kundasang and check in.

After a short rest, meet your guide again and head to Kinabalu National Park, driving through scenic countryside with its beautiful mountain range. Covering an area of 291 square miles (754 sq km), it is crowned with Southeast Asia's highest mountain, Mt. Kinabalu, at 13,435 feet (4,095 m). Take the opportunity to enjoy the majestic view before arriving at Kinabalu Park.

Go on a guided walk along the nature trails with a park naturalist and guide, then visit the Mountain Garden or Plant Research Centre. See the smallest orchid in Borneo and discover the diverse vegetation. Learn about the flora and fauna of the park at the Exhibition Centre and see interesting slideshows of animals and plant species unique to Mount Kinabalu. Return to the resort where dinner will be served.

Day 6: Go on a Night Safari in Deramakot

After breakfast, transfer to Telupid and Deramakot Forest Reserve, which is located approximately 118 miles (190 km) from Kundasang. The first part of the journey from Sandakan to Telupid is on paved roads. Arrive in Telupid for lunch, then for the two-hour journey to Deramakot field base. Four-wheel drive vehicles are used for this stretch of the journey for roughly 43 miles (70 km) of sometimes bumpy gravel tracks.

Upon arrival, check in to the park-style chalet accommodation. Then go on a forest walk near the base station. After dinner, go on a four-by-four night safari to look for wildlife. After nearly two hours of ‘spotlighting’ and searching for wildlife, you will return to the lodge to overnight.

Days 7-8: Take a Sunrise Safari in Deramakot

Rise before the sun for a pre-dawn four-wheel-drive safari. Drive along the various tracks in the reserve, looking for wildlife before returning to the lodge for breakfast. After breakfast, go on an optional jungle walk or catch up on some sleep. Return to the lodge for lunch, then enjoy the afternoon at leisure. You'll go on another 4WD night safari after dinner. Overnight at the lodge.

Day 9: Visit the Orangutan Rehabilitation Center

Receive an early morning wake-up call and depart on a dawn walk through the rainforest. Return to the lodge and have breakfast before transferring to the Sepilok area, about a three-hour journey. Arrive and get dropped off at your accommodation at Sepilok, where you can check into your room. Visit the Orangutan Rehabilitation Center and nearby Sun Bear Center to get up-close and personal with our closest relatives, the orangutan. The newly-opened Sunbear Center has a wealth of information on sun bears and the rescue work too.

Take lunch at a local restaurant, and return to your accommodation after lunch. In the late afternoon, proceed to visit Labuk Bay, where you will get to meet the pot-bellied monkeys that primarily live in the mangrove forests of Borneo. From a safe distance, you can take some great photos of these unique long-nosed creatures. Return to the accommodation, and have dinner at the lodge.

Day 10: Enjoy Libaran Turtle Island

After breakfast, depart the lodge and transfer toward Sandakan, an hour's drive. Arrive at the Sandakan Yacht Jetty, and board the speedboat that will take you to the Libaran Turtle Island. Once on the island, check in and spend the rest of the day as you wish. You can go for a swim in the sea, read a book, or just relax on the beach.

In the afternoon, there is a village walk you can join. Dinner is served at the resort, followed by a briefing on turtle conservation. At night, turtles might come ashore to lay their eggs. If this is the case, the ranger will wake you if you wish. If you’re lucky, you might also help the rangers release baby turtles into the sea.

Day 11: Visit Nature Lodge Kinabatangan

Enjoy your breakfast by the beach, and then check out. Drive through the narrow, winding road of Bilit village and arrive at Bilit Jetty. Our friendly boat captain will arrange your bags in the boat, assist you with your safety jacket, and transfer you across the river, where you will begin your wildlife adventure, starting at Nature Lodge Kinabatangan.

You'll be welcomed with a refreshing drink at reception, and our friendly staff will conduct an orientation. During your stay, you will be briefed at the lodge on safety procedures and activities. Collect your room keys and settle into your room. The adventurous boat cruise will start in the late afternoon, so be ready at the jetty 10 minutes before departure.

Day 12: Go Searching for Wildlife in Kinabatangan

Wake up to the sound of birds and get ready for the morning river cruise. Meet your guide at the jetty, and enjoy the morning breeze while you search for wildlife along the river bank. The wildlife is most active during the early morning and in the evening. Most of them have stayed there overnight, and they will look for food before moving into the forest, away from predators and the hot sun.

You then have a bit of time around lunch to catch up on a book, take a nap, or sign-up for other activities. Meet your guide for a walk along the Kinabatangan River. In the late afternoon, join another afternoon river cruise to see more wildlife and birdlife. Each river cruise offers different sightings, so you may recognize some of the wildlife and birdlife from the wildlife presentation, or your nature guide will help you identify other animals. After dinner, go for some night trekking to watch sleeping birds and nocturnal creatures of the jungle.

Day 13: Make the Most of Free Time in Sandakan

Wake up early and depart the lodge with a two-and-a-half-hour transfer toward Sandakan. Arrive and be dropped off at your hotel, where you can check in. Spend the rest of the day at leisure with plenty of time to do any additional activities you may want to schedule.

Day 14: Depart Sandakan

Enjoy breakfast at the hotel, and meet the driver for a transfer to the airport after check-out. Say goodbye to Sabah, the land below the wind, and board your flight home.

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