Travellers will be arriving at different times during the day so feel free to arrive at the joining point at any time as there are no planned activities, apart from our meeting and dinner. For those who arrive early, there is information at the reception desk to give you some ideas on what to do for the day. Your leader will contact you about a meeting time and group dinner on day 1. 

Kota Kinabalu, the capital of Sabah, is an intriguing city that was born between the Borneo jungle and the South China Sea. Having survived World War II bombings, KK now has a charm that can only be found in a frontier town. In your free time, you can immerse yourself in history at the Sabah State Museum, visit the Monsopiad Cultural Village, once home to a notorious head hunter, or explore the islands off Kota Kinabalu, excellent for swimming or snorkelling. Allow approx. USD10 for an island visit, although costs can vary depending on your negotiating skills, the time you wish to spend on the island and the number of people with whom you go.

Please note that your leader will collect your local payment today.

After our group meeting we travel to the base of Mt Kinabalu (bus, approx. 3 hours) to stay in the homes of the Dusun people, our guides on Mt Kinabalu. The Dusun are wonderfully warm and friendly people and while here, we learn about their spiritual, social and economic attachments to the mountain. The Dusun village we stay in is nestled amid picturesque hills in the shadow of the great Mt Kinabalu, the highest mountain between the Himalayas and New Guinea. The rock monolith looms over us as a daunting reminder of the climb we are about to embark on but don't be discouraged - our wonderful host Soppinggi will insist that you 'don't think about the mountain!'. 

Please note that this village has had very few visitors and we expect our travellers to respect and to act responsibly in this community. Please listen to your group leader who will explain how we can minimise our impact on this village.

After a short guided walk around the village, we travel to the headquarters of Mt Kinabalu National Park (45 minutes). There are some beautiful nature trails you can follow, around the headquarters and through lowland tropical forest. Otherwise, feel free to just relax in the afternoon.

We stay at the National Park headquarters overnight on day 3.

We begin the climb up Mt Kinabalu early in the morning on day 4, carrying overnight packs. It's not an easy walk, being uphill all the way, and you need to be prepared to tackle a trail made up of steep steps that vary considerably in size. Altitude can also affect you, regardless of your fitness level, and it will certainly slow you down a fair bit. However, there's absolutely no rush so take your time and enjoy the pristine environment - this is an area which boasts a remarkable variety of plant life, including some 1,000 species of orchid and the extraordinary carnivorous pitcher plant. We cover 6 km today (approx. 3-6 hours) and stop at Laban Rata (3,272 m) for the night. Go to bed early, so you're ready for the final climb the following morning. 

A certificate is available to prove that you completed the climb - this can be arranged for RM10.

IMPORTANT NOTES FOR CLIMBERS ON MOUNT KINABALU -
1. Identify your mountain guide(s) who will display an identification card.
2. Travel together in your own group and stay with the mountain guide(s).
3. Alert your mountain guide(s) if you have any difficulty.
4. Display your climbing permit and show it to park officials at check points in Timpohon Gate, Laban Rata and Sayat Sayat on your way up and down.
5. If for any reason, you are separated from your group on the mountain, please follow the white rope. If visibility is very low please hold onto the rope and follow it. (There is a thick white rope leading all the way from the vegetation belt above Panar Laban to the summit. This rope is marked with yellow reflective paint every 5 feet and is helpful for climbing up while providing safety on walking down. PLEASE FOLLOW AND USE THE ROPE FOR YOUR OWN SAFETY.)
6. The weather on the summit can deteriorate in a matter of minutes, with thick mist reducing visibility to 3 m, rainstorms and wind up to 120 km/h can occur at times. Please follow the rope, which will lead you to safety.
7. If you are separated from your mountain guide or lose sight of the rope, STOP IMMEDIATELY, stay where you are and blow your whistle to attract attention. PLEASE DO NOT TRY TO FIND YOUR OWN WAY OUT.
8. When climbing the summit please make sure that you are doing the following things -
- wearing warm clothes
- carrying a torch light (and spare batteries)
- carrying a raincoat
- carrying some energy food and water
- carrying a whistle

We rise very early this morning in order to catch the sunrise at the summit of Mt Kinabalu (4,095 m). It is difficult walking, but you'll feel a huge sense of achievement! Also, the view from the summit is stupendous - the jungles of Borneo in one direction, the South China Sea in the other, making every inch of the climb worthwhile. Be warned though, don't underestimate the cold - bring warm clothes! 

The climb from Laban Rata to the summit takes between 2 and 4 hours. Even if you are very fit you may find this section of the climb difficult because of the altitude. This can make you feel quite nauseous and short of breath. The trail is marked by a white rope that is also useful to help you up some of the steep sections. Gloves are recommended to protect your hands from rope burn (as well as to keep them warm!).

After returning to Laban Rata for breakfast at the restaurant, we descend the mountain (3-5 hours) in time for lunch. We continue on to Poring Hot Springs (approx. 1 hour by bus), where we have time to soak our weary limbs in the famous thermal pools - sheer bliss! We stay here for 2 days.

On day 6 there are a number of optional activities from which to choose. Traverse the canopy walkway, where you can view the jungle as the birds and monkeys do, or visit the enchanting butterfly farm. Each of these has a nominal charge. You may also choose to trek to the lovely Laganan Falls or just laze about in the hot and cold pools.
 

From the steam of Poring Hot Springs, we enter the equally steamy jungle, travelling first through palm oil plantations on a morning bus ride (approx. 5 hours). Our program at Kinabatangan is run by a local ecological organization, MESCOT. 

The MESCOT project aims to provide villagers with environmental education and the means of making a living from their forests, without the need for its destruction by chainsaws. Part of the program is to develop an ecologically sound wildlife and eco-tourism centre, owned and operated by the villagers themselves. After learning about forest rehabilitation, we head by boat (approx. 30 minutes) or on foot (approx. 1 hour, at an easy pace) into the jungle to spend the night. This is the best way to experience the true wild Borneo. Wild elephants are rarely seen but we will hopefully find crocodiles, macaques, wild orangutans and freaky-looking proboscis monkeys, while hornbills fly in the skies overhead. Be prepared for an adventure!

On day 8 we are invited into the homes of a local traditional Malay village for a night. Experiencing the ways and traditions of the locals firsthand like this is an amazing privilege and your leader will explain local cultural expectations to ensure that we make the most of our stay. Tonight, we are billeted out into different homes throughout the village, where the sleeping and bathing arrangements are very basic.
 

We travel overland by bus to Sandakan (approx. 1.5 hours), the commercial hub of the district. The journey into town gives a good indication of the vast areas of rainforest that have been cleared for palm plantations. 

Sandakan was once the capital of British North Borneo and traditionally has strong trading ties with Hong Kong. We have free time here to catch up on laundry and banking as well as to explore the city. The Cantonese influence here is evident in the lively harbourside market, the many Chinese temples as well as the local cuisine. Head out for a delicious meal at a local kedai kopi (coffee shop) or get some insight into the city's past at the emotive war memorial park, built on the sight of a Japanese POW camp. This site also marks the starting point of the tragic Sandakan Death Marches, on which 2,400 POWs were forced to walk through the jungles of Borneo. By the end of the march, only 6 Australians survived, and only because they had escaped.

Travelling by speedboat (approx. 1.5 hours) past fishing villages and bamboo fish traps, we head out to Turtle Island where every night of the year giant green turtles come ashore to lay their eggs. In the evening, we hope to witness this heartwarming display and help the researchers as they release protected hatchlings and guide them in their frantic dash to the ocean. It is a moving experience that makes you think twice about trying illegally traded turtle egg delicacies! 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. Photographing the turtles is permitted by the local government but is not recommended as it disrupts the turtles. If you would really like to take home a memento with you, photographs are available for purchase.

Afterwards, there is time for swimming, snorkelling or lazing about on this tropical island where we stay for a night in 'chalets'. Snorkelling gear is available for hire.

After our return to the mainland (45 minutes), we continue on to a guesthouse located near the Sepilok Orangutan Reserve (approx. 30 minutes by taxi). The reserve is set up to help re-introduce these wonderful creatures back into the wild after a life of domestication or having been orphaned. As we walk into the reserve to watch semi-wild orangutans being fed, it is essential that we follow instructions from the park warden. We are not permitted to interfere with the orangutans as human contact must be kept to a minimum.

We fly back to Kota Kinabalu where we conclude the trip in a seaside guesthouse south of the city. Relax by the pool or explore the surrounding islands on foot or by boat. It is also possible to go horse riding along the beach and through local villages. Expect to pay about USD30 for a 2-hour ride.
 

Your tour ends today. You are free to depart any time as no activities are planned. Our beach stay is a short taxi ride from the airport.