Kota Kinabalu, Sabah 

including Mount Kinabalu - 4000 meters, highest in S.E.Asia.

The Mountain

From  Kinabalu - transit to the National Park; two hours through scenic mountainside up to a cool 5000 feet. Overnight at one of the mountain huts or hostels. For climbers, start 6 hour climb (steep walk) early next morning to Laban Rata Hut at 11,000 feet altitude. Hot soup and plenty of blankets there, before the 3 a.m. climb to the summit at 14,000 ft and close to zero degrees. See the sunrise over Borneo ...........

Breakfast back at the Laban Rata Hut and start slow descent back to Park H.Q.

For non-climbers, overnight in Cecilia's Lodge (above), a wooden mountain hut about a mile from the National Park H.Q., where there are superb marked walks around the Park, an excellent museum, slide shows and food available in the canteen; afterwards, back to the quiet seclusion of Cecilia's Lodge, which is only a few minutes walk from the "Fairy Garden" and "Rose Cabin", excellent Chinese run establishments with similarly good food!

Next day, around midday, all meet again at Cecilia's Lodge and transit down to Seaside Travellers’ Inn, Kinarut, Kinabalu,  to recover, bathe, explore the coral islands and seashore. Horse riding and white-water rafting available; excellent snorkeling.

 

Coral Islands only trip.

 

From the hotel, transfer to Manukan or Sulug Island by Sabah Parks ferry or local speedboat and stay in the new wooden cabins perched on the side of the hill. There is a good restaurant, small swimming pool, tennis and barbecues, but best of all the peace and seclusion when all the other "day-trippers" go home. Truly an enchanted island with the best and easiest snorkeling in Borneo.

                            

 

Trip to Sepilok Orang Utan Sanctuary

Fly Kinabalu to Sandakan on the East Coast of Sabah (7 a.m. flight), arriving in time to join in the first feeding time; they know you're coming and will follow you along the plank walk trail, getting closer all the time!

Kinabatangan River Reserve

                                       

After lunch at Sandakan, a two hour drive to the River Lodge at Sukau in the heart of the Kinabatangan Reserve; evening and early morning river trips to see all the bird life and watch the Proboscis monkeys. Elephant come down from time to time to the riverside and mix with the smaller wildlife along the banks. Overnight at the Lodge in traditional but comfortable surroundings, with all meals provided.

 

 

Return  via Guomontong Caves to Sandakan for  City Tour before evening flight back to Kinabalu.

               Lodge at Sukau