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Itineraries
Day 1
Kota Kinabalu
Welcome to Malaysia!
On arrival into Kota Kinabalu, please make your own way to the hotel. You will have a Welcome Meeting at 6.00pm in the hotel, where you will meet your tour leader and the rest of your group for a tour briefing, an orientation walk of the surrounding areas and an optional dinner at your own expense.
Special Information
Airport transfers are not included. Our transfer portal offers the option to book your airport transfers for an easier arrival experience (additional charges apply). Access to this portal will be available through your Traveller Hub once your booking is confirmed.
Day 2
Kota Kinabalu - Manukan Island Resor
Enjoy your breakfast before catching a boat to the island at 12:00 PM. Once you arrive, you can store your backpack at the island concierge.
Check-in is at 3:00 PM, so feel free to relax in a shaded spot, read a book, have lunch, and soak up the sunshine and sea breeze!
Snorkeling gear is available for rent if you'd like to take a swim. The rest of the day is free for you to enjoy at your leisure.
Inspiring Highlights
- Manukan Island
Special Information
Your travel time today will be approximately 1 hour.
Please pack for a 1-night stay on the island and leave the rest of your luggage in your Kota Kinabalu hotel.
Manukan Island is known to have jellyfish (especially from January to March), which can impact snorkeling. It is recommended to bring a rash vest or long-sleeved swimwear to protect yourself from stinging in case there are jellyfish in the region on your snorkeling trip.
If you plan to snorkel, you may rent a life jacket and snorkeling gear from your accommodation with a minimal refundable deposit.
Day 3
Manukan Island Resort - Kota Kinabalu
After breakfast, take a leisurely morning walk or dive straight back into the water. Check out in the late morning, then hop on a boat to the mainland.
Upon arrival, transfer to Mari Mari Culture Village. Discover the rich heritage of Borneo's tribes, their traditional homes, and unique delicacies. Experience daily life demonstrations as you explore traditional huts guided by locals.
Enjoy the evening at leisure.
Inspiring Highlights
- Mari Mari culture village with hi-tea
Special Information
Your travel time today will be approximately 1 hour.
Day 4
Kota Kinabalu - Kinabalu National Park - Kota Kinabalu
After an early breakfast, we will drive approximately 2 hours to the foothills of Mount Kinabalu. En route, we’ll stop at Pekan Nabalu market for refreshment breaks and to also sample the local produce. Continue to Kinabalu Park Headquarters to visit the Kinabalu Geopark Gallery and Botanical Garden.
Continue onto Kinabalu National Park where you will meet an experienced guide who will take us along trails in Malaysia’s first world heritage site. There are a few different options depending on your fitness level and interest. The mountain and its surroundings are among the most important biological sites in the world, with over 800 species of orchid, 600 species of ferns, 326 species of birds, and is the richest place in the world for the nepenthes insectivorous pitcher plants (five of the thirteen are only found here).
Afterwards, we will return to Kota Kinabalu where the evening is at leisure.
Inspiring Highlights
- Kinabalu National Park
- Kinabalu Park Headquarters
- Kinabalu Geopark Gallery
- Botanical Garden
Special Information
Your travel time today will be approximately 5 hours.
Day 5
Kota Kinabalu - Sandakan
This morning will be an early start, as you will be transferred to Kota Kinabalu Airport in time for your flight to Sandakan.
Upon arrival, we’ll visit the Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre, a remarkable facility focused on rescuing and rehabilitating Sun Bears. Here, you’ll learn about these endangered animals, many of whom have suffered mistreatment and captivity, and witness their recovery in a safe and natural environment. After the visit, we’ll proceed for lunch at a local restaurant.
Following lunch, we’ll head to the Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre, established to help reintroduce these incredible creatures back into the wild after lives of domestication or being orphaned. You’ll also have the chance to watch a short film in the reserve’s interpretation center, which highlights the orangutan rehabilitation process. Afterward, we’ll return to the hotel for check-in and some time to rest.
Inspiring Highlights
- Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre
- Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre
Special Information
Your travel time today will be approximately 5 hours.
Your internal flight for this day is arranged by our local partner. Specific flight details will be provided by your Tour Leader upon arrival and cannot be provided in advance. Please note that these group flights cannot be upgraded, amended, or checked in online. Your Tour Leader will manage the check-in process for the group.
Your included flight allows one checked bag up to 20kg (44 lbs), and one 7kg (15 lbs) carry-on, with options to increase your luggage allowance at the airport if needed.
Alcohol is not served in Sabah Hotel.
Please be informed that the AV Room and Visitor Information Centre at Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre will be temporarily closed from 7 August to 7 October 2025 to facilitate upgrading works. The closure is expected to last approximately two months.
All other facilities, including the feeding platform and outdoor areas, will remain open and fully operational during this period. Scheduled tours to the centre will proceed as usual.
Day 6
Sandakan - Selingan Turtle Island
After breakfast, you will be transferred by road to the local jetty, in time for your boat transfer to Selingan Island, famous for its turtle hatchery. The boat transfer will take approximately 1 hour as you pass small fishing villages and bamboo fishing traps.
On Selingan Turtle Island, green turtles come ashore to lay their eggs every night of the year. In the afternoon, there's time for swimming, snorkelling or some quality time lazing about on the beach of this tropical island.
In the evening, be touched by the sight of giant green turtles coming ashore to lay their eggs under the moonlight and watch the researchers as they release protected hatchlings and guide them in their frantic dash to the ocean. Beware that this is a very delicate environment, and you must follow instructions from your leader and the local rangers to ensure minimal impact on the turtles.
You will spend the night on the island.
Inspiring Highlights
- Selingan Turtle Island
- Turtle Hatchery
Special Information
Your travel time today will be approximately 4.5 hours.
Please note that Sabah Park has decided to discontinue the rental of snorkelling gear, life jackets, fins, and other related equipment until further notice.
Should you wish to snorkel, it is recommended to bring your own snorkeling gear or buy a set at the jetty before heading to the island (approx. RM50).
You will also be required to bring your own beach towel today.
Clients without a life jacket who wish to swim must sign an indemnity form to acknowledge the risks before proceeding with snorkelling.
It is necessary to travel light to the island for various reasons including the capacity of the boat and the island having no permanent jetty. We strongly recommend taking an overnight bag with only necessities - your remaining luggage will be securely stored and returned to you upon arriving back in Sandakan.
Due to the limited capacity of accommodation, Single Supplements are not available for this night and solo travellers will be roomed with other solo travellers of the same gender whilst staying at the chalet.
Whilst here, you will need to adhere to the strict rules and regulations dictated by the staff.
- Use of personal cameras whilst on the island incurs an RM10 per unit fee (camera fee contributes to conversation costs)
- Flash photography is prohibited
- Video taking and flash photography are prohibited
Please note:the beach closes from 05:00pm onwards and activities on the beach are no longer allowed.
Day 7
Selingan Turtle Island - Sandankan - Kinabatangan
Enjoy an early breakfast before departure at 7am. Take the return boat trip to the mainland where you will pickup your luggage and then proceed to Kinabatangan. We will stop by at Gomantong Cave (not inclusive of camera fee), the largest limestone cave in Sabah, renowned for its bird nests and home to millions of swiftlets.This area is a habitat for 10 species of primates, including Gibbons, Red leaf langurs, macaques, orangutans, slow lorises, and western tarsiers. If you are lucky, you will also encounter 8 species of hornbills, such as the Rhinoceros Hornbill, Pied Hornbill, Black Hornbill, along with a variety of kingfishers, bulbuls, trogons, flycatchers, sunbirds, broadbills and many other wildlife species.
Upon arrival at the rainforest lodge, check into your accommodation before having lunch. This afternoon, you will embark on your first river safari to view wildlife and birds in its virgin rainforest habitat. Arrive back at the lodge with time to freshen up before dinner.
Inspiring Highlights
- Gomantong Cave
- Kinabatangan River Safari
Special Information
Your travel time today will be approximately 3 hours.
Day 8
Kinabatangan
Spend today fully immersed within nature as you have early morning and afternoon river safaris.
The Kinabatangan River wildlife includes rarities such as the Bornean gibbon, Borneo pygmy elephant, orangutan and proboscis monkey with myriad species of birds that will keep you glued to your binoculars.
Inspiring Highlights
- Kinabatangan River Safaris
Day 9
Kinabatangan - Sandakan
Enjoy breakfast with the beautiful morning view of the Kinabatangan River before heading back to Sandakan.
Enjoy lunch in Sandakan and continue your visit to the Sandakan Memorial Park. The park commemorates the sacrifice and suffering endured by both Australian and British soldiers who were held by the Japanese as Prisoners of War between 1942 and 1945.
Next, you will visit the Puu Jih Shih Buddhist Temple, located on a steep hilltop where you can have a magnificent view overlooking Sandakan Bay and the Town Centre. From here, continue to one of the oldest churches in Sabah, St. Michael's Church (entrance fees at own expense) where you can see a century-old building where Christianity is preached.
You will also visit the Agnes Keith Museum to learn about life in the colonial days of Agnes & Harry Keith. Harry was the first conservator of the Forestry Department in Sabah and Agnes was the author of the three famous books called Land Below the Wind, Three Came Home, and White Man Returns.
Return to your hotel and enjoy your evening at leisure.
Inspiring Highlights
- Sandakan Memorial Park
- Puu Jih Shih Buddhist Temple
- St. Michael's Church
- Agnes Keith Museum
Special Information
Your travel time today will be approximately 2 hours.
Day 10
Sandakan
Today, we say farewell to Borneo!
Please make your own way to the airport in time for your departure flight.
Thank you for travelling with Inspiring Vacations. We hope you had a memorable experience.
Special Information
Airport departure transfers are not included but can be arranged and paid for on-site (approximately MYR 88). Please inform your tour guide, and they will take care of the arrangements for you.
- Accommodation: 5 nights in 4-star hotels, 2 nights rainforest lodge, 1 night island resort & 1 night on Turtle Island
- Meals: Breakfast daily, 6 lunches & 3 dinners
- Transport: Domestic flight from Kota Kinabalu to Sandakan
- Touring: Fully escorted small group tour (max 16 guests)
- Experiences: Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre, Sun Bear Conservation Centre & Kinabatangan River wildlife cruise
Important Notes:
- Land-only package (international flights not included)
- Physical Rating 3: Moderate walking and nature-based touring
- Unique wildlife encounters including orangutans, turtles & rainforest ecosystems
- Travel Insurance – your North Travel consultant can provide you with a quote. Get a quote now.
- Tourism visa or transit visa if required
- Upgrades to Premium Economy, Business Class and First Class available and to be quote at the time of booking.
- Itinerary deviations (e.g. extensions or specific airline requests). This will be quoted by a North Travel consultant at the time of booking.
- Professional service fee's (if any)
Advertised prices are not guaranteed until confirmed at booking. Prices are dynamic and may be affected by foreign exchange, airline, cruise, tour and supplier changes beyond North Travel’s control.
By making a booking or enquiry with North Travel, you agree to our General Terms and Conditions. Please visit https://northtravel.co.nz/terms-and-conditions/
While it's not strictly mandatory for all bookings, North Travel highly recommends and, in many cases, requires you to have adequate travel insurance for international travel, and strongly advises it for domestic trips. It's a non-negotiable for your peace of mind and protection.
On some itineraries and tours you may be required to have comprehensive travel insurance by the travel supplier. One of our consultants can guide you on this.
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