Itinerary Summary

  • Travel to Kota Kinabalu

  • Arrive at Kota Kinabalu airport and transfer to hotel

  • Transfer to Kiau village in the foothills of Mt Kinabalu for a cultural immersion in the Dusun way of life, overnight in homestay

  • Hiking and village tour, time with local community

  • Transfer to Kinabalu Park, explore trails around the base of Mt Kinabalu, and overnight in Kinabalu Park

  • Ascend to Laban Rata and overnight on the mountain

  • Descend to Kinabalu Park and transfer to Poring hot springs, overnight at Sutera Sanctuary Lodges

  • Full day in Poring, enjoy trails, natural hot pools, orchid garden, waterfalls and overnight at Sutera Sanctuary Lodges

  • Transfer overland to Sepilok, afternoon visit to Sepilok Rainforest Discovery Centre, overnight in Sepilok

  • Visit Sepilok orangutan & sunbear sanctuaries and transfer to Kinabatangan river, overnight at Hornbill Lodge

  • Kinabatangan Ruver Safari, nature and wildlife

  • Kinabatangan River and Gomantong Caves bat exodus, primate search, and night cruise

  • Turtle Island Turtle Sanctuary

  • Sandakan - flights home

PRINTABLE ITINERARY

Day 1 - Arrival day

Pick up from Kota Kinabalu airport and transfer to your hotel in the heart of Kota Kinabalu. Head up to the rooftop pool for a magical sunset over the islands before enjoying dinner at your own leisure in the city.

Overnight: Mercure Hotel Kota Kinabalu
Meals: No Meals

Detailed Itinerary

Day 2: Kota Kinabalu City Tour


Prepare for a fun and engaging day discovering the sights and sounds of Kota Kinabalu. From lively local markets to the serene beauty of the city’s floating mosque, your guide will lead you through Sabah’s capital while also giving you free time to shop and explore at your own pace.

Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant with your guide; dinner is at your own expense, giving you the chance to choose your favourite cuisine before heading to the mountains the following day.

Overnight: Mercure Hotel Kota Kinabalu
Meals: Breakfast & Lunch

Day 3: Kota Kinabalu to Kiau Village – Kinabalu UNESCO Geopark


After breakfast, leave the city behind and travel to Kiau village, nestled in the foothills of Mount Kinabalu, where your host family will be waiting to warmly welcome you. The Guas Nabalu Homestay programme was created to provide sustainable income for local families while helping to protect their traditional way of life.

A stay in Kiau not only supports the preservation of Sabah’s rich cultural heritage but also places you at the heart of Kinabalu UNESCO Geopark, with access to a network of scenic hiking trails that wind through rubber plantations, coffee farms, and lush secondary and primary forest.

Overnight: Guas Nabalu Homestay
Meals: Full board

Day 4: Kiau Village & Mt Nuluh Lingion


Today, you’ll set out on a hike to the summit of Mt Nuluh Lingion (1,420m), a perfect warm-up for your upcoming Mt Kinabalu climb and a chance to learn about local village life, traditional farming practices, and coffee processing. Activity timings may vary depending on weather conditions, and your local guide will advise you throughout the day.

Overnight: Guas Nabalu Homestay
Meals: Full board

Day 5: Kinabalu National Park – Malaysia’s First UNESCO World Heritage Site


After a relaxed breakfast, you’ll transfer to Kinabalu Park (1,520m) and spend the day exploring its many scenic trails with your guide. Enjoy dinner in the park and settle in for an early night before your climb begins.

Overnight: Sutera Sanctuary Lodges, Kinabalu Park
Meals: Full board

Day 6: Ascent to Laban Rata Resthouse – The Climb Begins!


Start the day with a buffet breakfast in the park before meeting your mountain guide, collecting your packed lunch, and transferring to Timpohon Gate (1,829m). From here, your ascent to Laban Rata (3,353m) begins. The trail takes you through four distinct elevation zones, each with its own unique vegetation and wildlife. The hike typically takes around five hours, depending on fitness and rest stops.

Upon arrival, check in and take time to rest before enjoying a buffet dinner and watching the sunset from above the clouds. Afterwards, head to bed early to recharge after a big day on the mountain.

Overnight: Laban Rata Resthouse
Meals: Full board

Day 7: Summit Day and Via Ferrata


Wake up around 2:00 am (or at the time advised by your guide) and enjoy a light supper at Pendant Hut before beginning your ascent to the summit of Mt. Kinabalu (4,095 m). With your headtorch lighting the way, continue your climb in the cool, dark early morning hours. Arrive at Low’s Peak as the sun rises—weather permitting—and take in the incredible views from the highest point between the Himalayas and New Guinea, and the most prominent peak in Southeast Asia. Congratulations on a major achievement!

After celebrating at the summit, begin your descent with your guide to the meeting point at the 7.5 km mark to start the Low’s Peak Circuit Via Ferrata, beginning around 6:30 am. During the activity, you’ll traverse a series of cables and ladders while enjoying dramatic views of the Crocker Range plateaus, deep valleys, and surrounding villages.

Around 11:00 am, return to Pendant Hut for a well-earned brunch before checking out at 12:00 pm and beginning your descent to Timpohon Gate. Upon arrival, you may collect an optional certificate confirming your successful summit (RM10 per certificate), as well as your Via Ferrata completion certificate.

Afterward, continue to Poring and check in at Sutera Sanctuary Lodges. Enjoy dinner at the Rainforest Restaurant before settling in for a well-deserved rest.

Overnight: Sutera Sanctuary Lodges, Poring
Meals: Full board

Day 8: Poring Hot Springs – Rest & Relaxation


Today is dedicated to rest and recovery after your climb. Enjoy breakfast, then take a soothing dip in the hot springs, wander along a short trail, or visit the orchid garden — or simply relax and soak up the sights and sounds of the rainforest. This day is unguided, but all activities within the hot springs area are clearly signposted. Please note that some activities may have small entrance fees (RM2–RM15) at your own expense. Lunch and dinner are also at your own expense and can be enjoyed a la carte at Rainforest Restaurant or at the nearby local eateries.

Overnight: Sutera Sanctuary Lodges, Poring
Meals: Breakfast

Day 9: Poring to Sepilok – Jungle Adventure

After breakfast, transfer overland to Sepilok, a scenic 4–4.5 hour drive from Poring. Upon arrival, enjoy lunch and settle into your accommodation before joining your guide for a walk along the spectacular canopy trail at the Sepilok Rainforest Discovery Centre.

In the evening, embark on a guided night walk to experience the rainforest after dark, then return to your hotel for dinner.

Overnight: Tanini Sepilok
Meals: Full board

Day 10: Sepilok Sanctuaries & Kinabatangan River


Depart from Tanini Sepilok between 8:45–9:00 am and begin your visit to the orang-utan sanctuary. Watch the younger, playful orang-utans in the nursery and catch the 10:00 am feeding session. Around 11:00 am, your guide will lead you to the sun bear sanctuary to observe the world’s smallest bear species from raised walkways.

Next, travel approximately 2 hours overland to Hornbill Lodge and enjoy lunch on arrival. After settling into your room, embark on your first river cruise at 4:00 pm. Over the next two hours, your guide will help spot proboscis monkeys, long-tail and pig-tail macaques, silver leaf monkeys, orang-utans, crocodiles, birds, and more. Return to the lodge for dinner, then join your guide for an included night walk to experience the rainforest after dark.

Overnight: Hornbill Lodge
Meals: Full board

Day 11: In Search of Borneo’s Big Five


At dawn, join a second river cruise as the Kinabatangan River comes to life. Keep an eye out for birds, including Borneo’s endemic hornbills, and watch for various primates. Return to the lodge for breakfast, then take a guided jungle walk in search of orangutan signs, such as nests, or even spot the animals themselves if you’re lucky.

Enjoy lunch overlooking the river, with time to rest before an afternoon river cruise to discover more of the area’s unique wildlife. After dinner, join a night walk or opt for an additional night cruise along the riverbank to observe nocturnal creatures.

Overnight: Hornbill Lodge
Meals: Full board

Day 12: Gomantong Caves, Primate Search & Night Cruise

Rise early for a dawn river cruise with your guide before returning to the lodge for breakfast. Afterward, explore a jungle trail with your guide for another chance to spot wild orangutans and learn more about the rich flora and fauna along the Kinabatangan River.

In the mid-afternoon, visit Gomantong Caves and explore Simud Hitam via a wooden boardwalk, learning about the traditional swiftlet nest harvesting. Orangutans are often spotted near the caves as well. As the sun sets, climb a steep staircase to the top of the limestone outcrop for a chance to witness the spectacular exodus of over a million wrinkle-lipped bats, pursued by bat hawks hunting their evening meal. For those preferring less climbing, the bat exodus is usually visible from ground level at the car park. Return to the lodge for dinner and enjoy a complimentary night cruise (minimum 2 guests per cruise).

Please note: The bat exodus is weather-dependent, and as with all wildlife sightings, it cannot be guaranteed. The climb to the viewpoint involves approximately 500 steps and requires a reasonable level of fitness.

Overnight: Hornbill Lodge
Meals: Full board

Day 13 — Turtle Island Hatchery Programme

After an early breakfast, depart at 7:00am for the Sandakan Jetty to register for your visit to Selingan Island, part of the Turtle Island Marine Park. The boat transfer to Selingan takes approximately 45 minutes.

Once you have registered and checked in, the rest of the day is yours to enjoy—swim, snorkel, or explore the island at your leisure. Lunch is served at 12:00pm.

After dinner, we wait for the park rangers to signal the arrival of turtles coming ashore to lay their eggs. You’ll have the opportunity to witness this remarkable process, followed by the rangers collecting and transferring the eggs to the Sabah Parks hatchery for protection. Conditions permitting, you may also observe the release of baby turtles making their way to the ocean.

Overnight: Twin rooms on Turtle Island
Meals: Full board

Please note: If you are travelling with large suitcases, pack a small overnight bag for Turtle Island. Due to limited space on the boat, main luggage will be stored securely on the mainland.

Day 14: Travel Day

After an early breakfast, check-out and return to Sandakan jetty, continue on to Sandakan airport for flights home.

Meals: Breakfast

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PRINTABLE ITINERARY

Inclusions

Flights and transfers

New Zealand Guide and local guided services (except at Poring Hot Springs)

Meals as indicated in the itinerary

Transfers: Kota Kinabalu – Kinabalu Park – Sepilok – Kinabatangan – Sandakan

Accommodation (twin-sharing basis):

  • 2 nights Mercure Hotel, Superior Room

  • 2 nights Guas Nabalu Homestay

  • 1 night Sutera Sanctuary Lodges, Kinabalu Park – Hill Lodge

  • 1 night Laban Rata Resthouse – Dormitory

  • 1 night Sutera Sanctuary Lodges, Poring – Kelicap Twin

  • 1 night Tanini Sepilok – Superior Room

  • 2 nights Hornbill Lodge – River Chalet

  • 1 night Turtle Island

Entry fees for listed activities

Mount Kinabalu climbing fees, tourism fee, including permit, insurance, certificate and guide

Exclusions

Travel Insurance

Meals other than stated and drinks

Alcohol drinks

Poring Hot Springs - Additional activity fees: Canopy walk, butterfly garden, hot tub slide pool (about $4 NZD or AUS)

Camera fees - Sepilok Orang Utan Rehabilitation Centre: For any camera with zoom lens from 100 to 400mm, video camera or other video recording equipment for personal use are chargeable at RM10.00 (about $4 NZD or AUS) per unit. For any camera (fixed-lens – 400mm and above ) or any film-making equipment are chargeable at RM1,000.00 per unit.