Original
Explorer
Sabah Adventure
11 days • 4.9
5
Excellent
240 reviews
11 days
Start
Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia
Finish
Sandakan, Malaysia
Trip Code
TMSC
Min Age
15
Trip Size
1 - 16
Physical Rating
Meals
10 breakfasts, 6 lunches, 6 dinners
Transport
Private mini van, River boat, Speed boat
Accommodation
Chalet (1 night), Resort (1 nights), Homestay (2 night), Hostel (2 nights), Hotel (2 nights), Jungle Lodge (2 nights)
From £1,725(11 days)
Trip Informations
Why you’ll love this trip
Climb Mt Kinabalu – the literal pinnacle of all treks in South East Asia – with local guides whose families have trekked the mountain for generations. Watch the sunrise at the peak after a morning hike and spot diverse flora and fauna along the way.
Spend time getting to know the unique wildlife of Borneo at conservation sanctuaries for orangutans and sun bears.
Join a local ranger to witness the life cycle of sea turtles, who come ashore on Turtle Island to lay their eggs on the beach. At night, you’ll watch the hatchlings make a dash down the beach on their way to their new life.
Cruise down the Kinabatangan River and search for wildlife in this rich and unique jungle ecosystem – if you’re lucky, you may see wild pygmy elephants!
Spend two nights in a Dusun village in the shadow of Mt Kinabalu – the highest mountain between the Himalayas and Papua New Guinea. Spend time with your friendly hosts, explore a local vegetable farm and watch a cultural performance.
Is this trip right for you?
Summiting Mt. Kinabalu is an exhilarating challenge that should not be underestimated. On the second day of the trek, we begin our ascent at 2 AM to witness the breathtaking sunrise from the summit. Standing at approximately 4,095 meters (13,435 feet) above sea level, it promises an unforgettable experience but requires an excellent level of fitness to complete successfully.
Read our blog here for everything you need to know about climbing Mt Kinabalu: https://www.tuuur.com/adventures/guide-to-climbing-mt-kinabalu-borneo/ https://www.tuuur.com/adventures/guide-to-climbing-mt-kinabalu-borneo/ (https://www.tuuur.com/adventures/guide-to-climbing-mt-kinabalu-borneo/)
You'll need to pack some specific items for this trip. Check the ‘Packing List’ in the Essential Trip Information for more details so you are prepared.
On this trip, you will experience a wide range of accommodation types: shared dormitory rooms in hostels, a homestay, a resort, a jungle lodge, and hotels. Some may be a little more basic than our standard hotels, but their unique locations and close proximity to nature are what make them special.
Itinerary
Explore the lush wildlife paradise of Sabah, Borneo
Get to know a land of natural beauty and rare wildlife on this Borneo adventure through Sabah. With its collection of unique animals, ancient traditions, tribal villages, rescued orangutans and scenic views, Sabah has something for everyone. You’ll experience it all over 11 days in Borneo – climbing Mt Kinabalu at sunrise, watching sea turtles lay their eggs with an expert local ranger by your side and sharing laughs with your local hosts in a remote village. Visit conservation sanctuaries, search for local wildlife at different times of day and night along the Kinabatangan River (including pygmy elephants if you’re lucky) and explore the wilderness of the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Kinabalu National Park.
Inclusions
Meals
10 breakfasts, 6 lunches, 6 dinners
Transport
Private mini van, River boat, Speed boat
Accommodation
Chalet (1 night), Resort (1 nights), Homestay (2 night), Hostel (2 nights), Hotel (2 nights), Jungle Lodge (2 nights)
Included activities
Dusun Village - Guided village walk
Dusun Village - Cultural performance
Dusun Village – Local Vegetable Farm Visit
Kundasang - Market Visit
Mt Kinabalu National Park - Mt Kinabalu Climb
Kinabatangan River - Afternoon Wildlife Cruise
Kinabatangan River - Night jungle walk
Kinabatangan River - Fish Trap Making & Story Telling
Kinabatangan River - Dawn Wildlife Cruise
Sepilok - Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre
Turtle Island - Turtle Island Marine Park
Turtle Island - Turtle Hatchery Visit
Optional activities
Kota Kinabalu - Sabah Museum entrance fee - MYR15
Kota Kinabalu - Tunku Abdul National Marine Park Snorkeling Trip (min. 2 - without transport) per person - MYR345
Kundasang - War Memorial (Entrance Fee) - MYR15
Poring Hot Springs - Hot Springs (Open Bath Tub) - (3 hours) - MYR10
Poring Hot Springs - Canopy Walk - MYR10
Poring Hotspring (Entrance Fee) - MYR50
Poring Hot Spring (Slide Pool) - MYR5
Poring Hot Spring (Entrance) - MYR50
Walai Tokou Day Trip Package (Min 2 people) - MYR260
Sepilok - Rainforest Discovery Centre - MYR30
Sepilok - Sun Bear Conservation Centre - MYR50
Sandakan - Agnes Keith House - MYR15
Sandakan - St Michaels and All Angels Church - MYR10
Sandakan - Puu Jih Shih Chinese Temple - Free
Sandakan - War Memorial - Free
Dates and availability
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Important notes
1. Please provide passport details at the time of booking, as these are essential for booking services on this trip, including your Mt Kinabalu permit.
2. A single supplement is available if you’d prefer not to share a room on this trip. The single supplement excludes Days 2 and 3 (Dusun Village), 4 and 5 (Mt Kinabalu), and 9 (Turtle Island), where you will be in shared accommodation. It is subject to availability. Please speak to your booking agent for further information.
3. Some governments may have increased travel advice levels in place for parts of Eastern Sabah, including Sandakan and Turtle Island. Ensure you check your government’s foreign travel advice for the most up to date information before you travel. If you have any questions about whether the current advice level affects your travel insurance coverage, please contact your insurance provider. Travel insurance is compulsory for all Tuuur traveller and must cover all destinations and activities on the itinerary. In addition to the increased security presence in the region, we have additional safety measures in place on our trips to comply with local regulations, including not travelling by boat at night and only travelling on approved routes and vessels.
Reviews (227)
5 stars
210
4 stars
12
3 stars
5
Stuart
May 13, 2025
Felix was an outstanding leader on our Borneo trip. His deep knowledge, cultural sensitivity, and infectious enthusiasm for travel created a truly memorable experience. He balanced adventure with insight, ensuring we connected with the environment and local communities. A fantastic guide who made the journey both meaningful and enjoyable.
Eleanor
May 13, 2025
Fantastic trip. The itinerary was very well thought through and executed perfectly. Our guide Felix was brilliant and you couldn’t have asked for a better person to be your leader. Mount Kinabalu was a highlight as well as all of the wildlife we managed to see. I would highly recommend this tour.
Jai-Hin
May 13, 2025
This trip was fantastic. Climbing Kinabalu and seeing the turtle nesting were truly highlights. The food and organisation of the trip was great, would 100% recommend if you like hiking, nature and the outdoors!
Lily
May 07, 2025
It’s all in the name, what an adventurous trip. A good mix of go go go and down time. I loved all the animals, that made my trip.
Lucy
May 06, 2025
Alexandra
May 06, 2025
So many incredible experiences that I never would have had otherwise.
Beth
May 05, 2025
Sabah Adventures was a brilliant trip and a great way to explore part of a beautiful place! The diversity on daily activities was ideal, everything was organised impeccably, our leader Felix was brilliant and the whole trip was a lot of fun!!
Yue
Apr 29, 2025
Everything is nicely arranged. We are clearly given the time schedules and all information needed. Nusri was able to answer all questions and showed a lot of patience to solve problems we’ve made by ourselves in the tour.
Kelly
Apr 28, 2025
The Sabah Adventure Borneo was a fantastic experience that I would thoroughly recommend. Climbing Mount Kinabalu was challenging but the highlight of the trip along with being immersed in the beautiful landscape and wildlife. Our guide Felix was very knowledgeable and made our trip fun. Can’t believe how much we fitted in and still had plenty of downtime. The food and accommodation were great.
James
Apr 27, 2025
Excellent trip - jam packed With wildlife and some Culture thrown in. Guide expert in own right and shared knowledge - thank you Jeffrey and Intrepid for a trip of lifetime!
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