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Check out brilliant Borneo's mountains and rainforest
You and Borneo meet in Kota Kinabalu – we think this could be the beginning of a beautiful friendship. Orangutans! In Sepilok! And elephants – maybes! – along the Kinabatangan River! Get hot and sweaty climbing up Mt. Kinabalu, then hot and wetty soaking in the Poring Hot Springs on the way down.
Try not to indulge in too much ikan panggang (stingray – a local delicacy) because at the end of this trip we’re taking you on a two-day hike to the top of South East Asia.
- Start
- Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia
- Finish
- Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia
- Destination
- Malaysia
- Code
- GTSC
- Physical rating
- Traveller’s rating
- 27 reviews
- Ages
- Min 18 , Max 29
- Group size
- Min 1, Max 16
Why you'll love this trip
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This is one of only two places in the world you can see wild orangutans – meet these friendly fellas swinging around, climbing up trees and just generally living their jungle life in the Sepilok Rehabilitation Centre
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Good mountains are hard to climb, but you’ll be a conqueror of epic Mt Kinabalu
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Monkeys, primates, simians everywhere! Well, here’s hoping as you cruise past the wildlife-filled banks of the Kinabatangan River
Is this trip right for you?
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You’ll get the chance to stay in variety of accommodation on this trip, a mixture of guesthouses, homestays, hostels, hotel and eco camp. It can be basic, but it’s always comfortable.
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A single supplement is only available on the hotel nights in Kota Kinabalu on this trip. All other nights will be based on twin or dormitory accommodation.
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The Mt Kinabalu trek is definitely challenging, including an altitude of more than 2,800 metres and an early morning summit in the dark. We recommend a good level of fitness to be able to enjoy this unforgettable climb.
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Itinerary
Notes: This trip visits places that are at high altitude, and as a result some people can suffer from altitude sickness, regardless of age or physical health. Please see the ‘Health’ section of the trip notes for more important information on this.
Accommodation
- Hotel (1 night)
Optional Activities
- Kota Kinabalu - Sabah Museum entrance fee - MYR15
- Kota Kinabalu - Mari Mari Cultural Village - MYR180
Meals Included
There are no meals included on this day.Notes: The homestay has twin share rooms with beds, mosquito nets and towels provided. Bathroom facilities are shared with Asia squat toilets and cold water bucket showers. The homestay is located in a Muslim community, so we ask that you bring a pair of long pants or long skirt, to cover your knees and keep your shoulders covered to be respectful towards your hosts.
Accommodation
- Homestay (1 night)
Included Activities
- Kinabatangan - Cultural Show
- Sandakan - War Memorial
Optional Activities
- Batu Tulug Caves - MYR15
Meals Included
- Dinner
Special Information
Please note a luggage limit applies to all internal flights on this trip which is 15 kgs. Any excess luggage will need to be paid to the airline direct. Geckos will not cover the cost of excess luggage.Please note the eco camp bush hut is located right in the heart of the jungle so facilities are basic. You will sleep inside A frame wooden huts, on raised platforms, with open air bathrooms on the ground floor, with Asian style bucket showers and a western style toilet. There is also communal washrooms.
Accommodation
- Jungle eco camp (1 night)
Included Activities
- Kinabatangan River - Sunset wildlife boat trip
- Kinabatangan River - Morning River Cruise
- Kinabatangan River - Cooking lesson
Optional Activities
- Kinabatangan River - tree planting - MYR50
Meals Included
- Breakfast
- Lunch
Accommodation
- Jungle Resort (dormitory room) (1 night)
Included Activities
- Sepilok - Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre
Optional Activities
- Kinabatangan River - boat cruise - MYR50
Meals Included
- Breakfast
Accommodation
- Jungle Resort (dormitory room) (1 night)
Optional Activities
- Sepilok - Rainforest Discovery Centre - MYR15
- Sepilok - Borneo Sun Bear Conservation Centre - MYR32
- Sepilok - Night walk - MYR50
Meals Included
- Breakfast
Notes: We consider the Mt Kinabalu trek to be a huge highlight of the trip but if you decide the trek is just not for you, we can provide alternative arrangements if advised at time of booking. Please note that if you decide not to climb no other activities will be included and you will be without a leader for the time the group is on the mountain. For more information on the trekking alternative please see the 'Itinerary Disclaimer' section in the Essential Trip Information.
Accommodation
- Hostel (dormitory) (1 night)
Optional Activities
- Mt Kinabalu - Guided walk around lower trails - MYR100
- Kundasang - War Memorial - MYR10
Meals Included
- Breakfast
- Dinner
Notes: The Mount Kinabalu climb requires a very good level of fitness, and we recommend that you build up your walking stamina before departure. We strongly recommend you increase your aerobic fitness at least 3 months prior to your trip. The final section involves climbing steep exposed rock - if the weather is wet or your tour leader feels your fitness is not sufficient you will not be allowed to summit.
Accommodation
- Mountain Rest House (dormitory) (1 night)
Included Activities
- Mt Kinabalu - 2 day climb
Meals Included
- Breakfast
- Lunch
- Dinner
Accommodation
- Hostel (dormitory) (1 night)
Meals Included
- Breakfast
- Lunch
Accommodation
- Hostel (dormitory) (1 night)
Optional Activities
- Poring Hot Springs - Canopy Walk - MYR5
- Poring Hot Springs - Orchid Conservation Centre - MYR15
- Poring Hot Springs - Butterfly Farm - MYR5
Meals Included
There are no meals included on this day.Accommodation
- Hotel (1 night)
Optional Activities
- Kota Kinabalu - Tunku Abdul Marine Park Scuba diving 3 dives - MYR380
- Kota Kinabalu - Sabah Museum entrance fee - MYR15
- Kota Kinabalu - Tunku Abdul National Marine Park - Snorkeling Trip - MYR117
- Kota Kinabalu - Mari Mari Cultural Village - MYR180
- Kota Kinabalu - Mountain biking day trip (min 2 passengers)) - MYR280
Meals Included
There are no meals included on this day.Meals Included
There are no meals included on this day.Meals
6 breakfasts, 3 lunches, 3 dinnersTransport
Boat, Bus, Plane, MinibusAccommodation
Jungle resort (2 nights), Homestay (1 night), Hostel (4 nights), Hotel (2 night), Eco Camp (1 night)Included Activities
- Kinabatangan - Cultural Show
- Sandakan - War Memorial
- Kinabatangan River - Sunset wildlife boat trip
- Kinabatangan River - Morning River Cruise
- Kinabatangan River - Cooking lesson
- Sepilok - Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre
- Mt Kinabalu - 2 day climb
Reviews
Our Discover Sabah trips score an average of 4.7 out of 5 based on 27 reviews in the last year.
Discover Sabah , February 2018
Ashlea Bylsma
Discover Sabah is an excellent tour for adventurous people who don't mind getting a bit dirty. There are some amazing opportunities to learn about local living, cuisine, and culture, as well as get a chance to talk and play with the kids. There are many opportunities to spot some rare and eveneven endangered wildlife playing around, especially at the orangutan rehabilitation centre, which was the highlight of the trip. The Mount Kinabalu hike required excellent mental strength and quite good physical fitness. I would recommend doing a fair bit of walking training beforehand (especially up and down steep hills - I didn't do a whole lot and still made it, but was sore for about 4 days afterwards). The tour guide, Nostalia was very knowledgeable, and a great help when it came to language barriers and any other questions or concerns we had.
Review submitted 17 Feb 2018
Discover Sabah, October 2017
Louise Stephens
This is an amazing company to travel with. I had the best experience ever and we were able to see a baby wild orangutan up close in the jungle. We had the best time trying to find animals in the jungle. Boreno is an awesome destination and should be on your list.
Review submitted 04 Nov 2017
Dates & availability
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There are currently no scheduled departures on our Discover Sabah trip. If you are interested in other trips in the region visit one of the links below.
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Important notes
1. A single supplement is only available on the Hotel accommodation in Kota Kinabalu on day 1 and day 10. Please contact your sales agent if you would like to book a single supplement for these nights.
2. The maximum luggage allowance on the internal flight flight is 15kg and Geckos won't cover the cost of luggage that exceeds this weight. .
3. Please provide passport details at time of booking in order for us to book your internal flight.
We recommend that you check your government's advice for their latest information on travelling in Eastern Sabah before your departure and ensure that your travel insurance covers you for all areas of your itinerary. Further information can be found in our "Safety" section of the Essential Trip Information. We also have links to prominent government travel advisories and any updates on issues affecting this trip on our Travel Alerts page www.geckosadventures.com/en-au/travel-alerts