Selamat datang! Welcome to Borneo, Malaysia. Your adventure begins in Kota Kinabalu with a welcome meeting at 6 pm. If you arrive early, maybe immerse yourself in the history of the city at the Sabah State Museum. You can also visit the Mari Mari Cultural Village or explore the islands off Kota Kinabalu – excellent for swimming and snorkelling. Tonight, perhaps head out with your group for a welcome dinner – your leader will have the best recommendations for local food and drinks. It’s very important that you attend the welcome meeting as we will be collecting insurance details and emergency contact information at this time. If you are going to be late, please let your travel agent or hotel reception know. Ask reception or look for a note in the lobby for more information on where the meeting will take place. This trip visits places at high elevations and, as a result, people can suffer from altitude sickness, regardless of age or physical health. Please see the ‘Medical and Health Information’ section of the Essential Trip Information for more important details.

Travel by minivan to a Kg Lobong-Lobong, a village that sits in the shadow of Mt Kinabalu – the highest mountain between the Himalayas and New Guinea. Be welcomed into the village, take a walk with the locals to learn about the village life and visit the local orchid farm. Enjoy some excellent home-cooked flavors while you are here and rest for a peaceful village night with your host family. Your travel time today will be approximately 2 hours. To ensure every family in the community benefits economically from tourism, your group will be split up to stay in different family homes. All homes are within walking distance and you’ll likely have other group members staying with you. The facilities will be shared in your homestay.

Continue your exploration of Kg Lobong-Lobong village life today. Check out the rubber farm, pineapple farm and rice paddy, depending on what is in season. And join the fellow villagers in their rice husking, fish fermentation or making tapai (a type of fermented food made from glutinous rice) and other activities for a rare chance to experience the local village life firsthand. Then cook up a storm with your hosts in the village community hall and enjoy a cultural performance prepared by the villagers.

Eat a good breakfast this morning and say goodbye to your friends in the village as it’s time to drive to Timpohon Gate to begin your trek up Mt Kinabalu. It’s no small feat – prepare for an uphill trail made of steep steps that vary considerably in size – but along the way you can take in the remarkable variety of plant life, including about 1000 species of orchid and the carnivorous pitcher plant (yes, really). After covering 6 km (approximately 4 to 6 hours), spend the night at a hostel near Laban Rata, located at 3,272m (10,735 ft) above sea level. Rest up for the final ascent (very!) early tomorrow morning. Your travel time today will be approximately 1 hour. The Mt Kinabalu trek is considered a huge highlight of the trip. Porters are available (at an extra cost) and are recommended. If you decide the trek is not for you, we can provide alternative arrangements if advised at the time of booking. For more information on the trekking alternative, please see the 'Itinerary Disclaimer' section in the Essential Trip Information. On this trek, altitude can affect you regardless of your fitness level, so everyone will take the trek at their own pace. It's important that you have educated yourself about the dangers of altitude sickness and its symptoms prior to the climb so you know what to look out for. Ensure you have warm layers, waterproof gloves, a hat, a head torch, a waterproof jacket, and good walking shoes/boots. The hostel has very basic, mixed-gender, multi-share bunk rooms. If you are feeling the chill, additional blankets can be hired from the park office, and ear plugs are recommended for light sleepers. Dinner tonight is filling but relatively simple. Vegetarian options will be vegetables, eggs, rice, and noodles. We totally understand that sometimes things don't go as planned, and your safety and comfort are our top priorities. However, if you choose to opt out of the climb or head back to the Kinabalu National Park HQ on your own accord, please note that you will need to cover any extra expenses that arise, such as accommodation and compensation for your mountain guides and porters.

Rise at around 2 am this morning to continue your trek – it’s tough, but the sunrise at the summit will be well worth it. At the top, take in the jungles of Borneo in one direction and the South China Sea in the other. After a well-deserved rest and plenty of pictures, return to Laban Rata for breakfast. Then, get started on the descent which can take between 3 - 6 hours. This evening, enjoy your overnight stay at a hostel within Kinabalu National Park. The window for reaching the summit trail is quite narrow, so you must make it to Sayat Sayat checkpoint by 5:30 am and follow the mountain guide's instructions about continuing. The mountain guide’s decision regarding safety on the mountain is final. After Sayat Sayat, a rope marks the trail to the summit. Waterproof gloves are recommended to protect your hands from rope burns and to keep them warm. The temperature can change very quickly up on the mountain, so bring clothes for all weather conditions. The climb from Laban Rata to the summit takes 2 to 4 hours. Due to the altitude, it can be hard going even for the very fit. The first section from Laban Rata is along man-made steps through vegetation. When you’re clear of the tree line, you’ll be walking up a series of wooden steps all the way to the final check point at Sayat Sayat. Descents can sometimes take longer than expected and we strongly encourage you to trek at a pace that feels comfortable for you. However, please note that if your descent from Panalaban to Timpohon Gate extends past 4 PM, you will need to cover an overtime allowance of MYR 15 per hour per guide. If you are unable to make the hike this morning, there are other alternatives that you may consider doing today. Please talk to your leader in advance about the possible alternatives.

Journey by private bus into the steamy rainforest to Bilit – a small village on the banks of the Kinabatangan River – and then take a short boat ride to the comfortable jungle lodge where you’ll spend the night. Located on the riverbanks, the lodge is a brilliant place to spot wildlife. For even better spotting, head out on a sunset boat ride and look out for macaques, orangutan, proboscis monkeys and pygmy elephants. End your day by searching for nocturnal wildlife like civets, owls and the rare slow loris on a night walk. Your travel time today will be approximately 5 hours. Rubber boots and leech socks are recommended and available to hire.

Embark on another boat safari early this morning – different species come out at different times, so keep your eyes peeled! After breakfast, join the in-house guide for an insightful journey into the historical Kinabatangan community, which thrived long before tourism developed in the area. Explore traditional practices and craftsmanship and actively engage in the crafting of traditional fish traps. This hands-on experience provides a profound understanding of the local culture and heritage, fostering a deeper appreciation for their sustainable way of life. Then, head back on the boat for another river excursion in the afternoon.

Say goodbye to your jungle lodge after breakfast and hit the road in a private minivan to a guesthouse located near the Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre. Established to help reintroduce these wonderful creatures back into the wild after a life of domestication or being orphaned, this sanctuary offers a unique opportunity to witness conservation in action. From the viewing platform, watch and photograph the orangutans as they swing into view onto the feeding platform. Observe young orangutans as they learn how to climb a specially constructed jungle gym in a new nursery. To see more of Borneo’s creatures, there’s the option to visit the Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Center. Here, rescued sun bears, many of whom have endured years of mistreatment, are given a second chance at life. Learn about the rehabilitation process and how they are reintroduced back into the wild. You can also opt to visit the Rainforest Discovery Centre, where you can roam the treetop walkways while you learn more about the flora and birdlife of Borneo. Your travel time today will be approximately 2 hours.

This morning, transfer to Sandakan to leave your large bags at the hotel and walk with your overnight bag to a nearby jetty. Travel by speedboat, past small fishing villages and bamboo fish traps, to Turtle Island Marine Park. In the afternoon, there will be some time for swimming, snorkelling or lazing about on the beach. In the evening, you’ll join an expert local ranger and a select group of visitors to watch giant green turtles coming ashore to lay their eggs under the moonlight. Watch the rangers as they release protected hatchlings and guide them in their frantic dash to the ocean. This is a moving experience that will stay with you long after your trip is over! Your travel time today will be approximately 1 hour. The accommodation on Turtle Island is very basic. Be ready for a late night as often the nesting turtles don't come to the beach until after 10 pm. You will wait together in the dining hall until your group is called by the rangers. We recommend bringing games, cards, books or other items to help pass the time. Artificial light can disrupt the natural behaviour of female turtles and their young hatchlings. To avoid disturbing the turtles, we encourage you to bring red-light headlamps to witness the full experience. November – February is monsoon season in Borneo, and the journey to Turtle Island can be rough. On rare occasions, we may need to alter your itinerary if the boat journey becomes too dangerous. Please be aware that Sabah Park has temporarily suspended the rental of snorkelling equipment, including masks, snorkels, fins, life jackets, and related gear. If you plan to snorkel during your trip, we recommend bringing your own gear. Alternatively, snorkelling sets are available for purchase at the jetty before departure to the island (approx. RM50). As part of the park’s requirements, guests who wish to swim but do not have a life jacket will be required to sign an indemnity form acknowledging the associated risks before entering the water.

After breakfast, return to the mainland and take a short city tour visiting local market before heading to your hotel. The rest of the day is free to explore Sandakan as you wish – perhaps you’ll call into Agnes Keith House, the restored home of an American writer best known for her accounts of life in Borneo during WWII. Or you could visit the Sandakan War Memorial, built on the site of a Japanese Prisoners of War camp. Learn about the tragic Sandakan Death Marches, when 2400 prisoners of war were forced to walk through the jungles of Borneo and only six survived. Another great option is St Michaels & All Angels Church, a rare stone building in Sabah that managed to avoid major damage in the war.

Your adventure ends today after breakfast. Additional accommodation can be pre-booked if you wish to spend more time exploring Borneo - just speak to your booking agent ahead of time.