Yes. Lots of people on our trips are travelling solo. But by doing our trip you’ll instantly be part of a group, so it’s a great way to meet others and make friends! Most of our accommodation is twin or triple share, so we will put you in a room with someone of the same gender.
Trip Highlights
- Explore the bustling city center of Kota Kinabalu with hawkers stalls, fiery ocean sunsets, and night markets
- Know more about the culture and lifestyle of the people living around Mt. Kinabalu
- Experience a short hike through the gorgeous trails of Mt. Kinabalu
- Spend your days soaking in the freshness at the Deramakot Forest Reserve Wildlife
- Try snorkeling/ scuba diving at Gaya Island
- Meet a bunch of enthusiastic travelers from across the world

Trip Overview
If you are seeking a retreat after the pandemic, then it would be a great idea to escape to nature's lap in Borneo and trek up the mountains for a perfect view of the world below! Set out for this 8-day adventure through some of the most beautiful nature escapes anywhere in the world and soak yourself in the freshness that the place has to offer. Experience the goodness of cultural diversity, explore the wilderness, and weave the best tales with the adventurous souls you'll meet, from different parts of the world during this journey.
Inclusions
What are you Paying for?
- All Sabah land transfers airport to airport
- Meals as stated (3 breakfast, 5 lunch, 3 dinners)
- All entrance and permit fees
- Program as per itinerary
- Nature guides
- Tourism Tax
Not Inclusions
- Any video/camera entrance fees
- International/domestic flights
- Personal travel insurance
- Personal expenses and tips
Itinerary
Day 1
Arrival in Kota Kinabalu, Borneo
Welcome to Borneo! Once you arrive at Kota Kinabalu International Airport, our guide will be there to greet you. Hop on to the car for a 20 minutes drive by the coastal road to your hotel. A trip briefing will take place before you head out to explore the bustling city center of Kota Kinabalu with hawkers stalls, fiery ocean sunsets, and night markets.
Overnight: Hotel accommodation, private single/twin/double sharing with ensuite bathroom.

Day 2
Cultural Immersion & Mount Kinabalu Hiking Trails
Set out for a 2-hour scenic drive to the foothills of the majestic Mount Kinabalu. Once you arrive there, you'll have the chance to look around this secluded village, which is located at the foot of Mount Kinabalu before joining the host family for a traditional and locally prepared lunch. Post lunch, we'll head out for trekking through some easy trails, cool off in the mountain river, and enjoy the tranquility of being off the beaten track and surrounded by nature.
After a quick rest, we'll join the host family for a mouth-watering locally grown and sourced Dusun dinner. After dinner, the fun really begins! Learn the local traditional Sumazau dance and enjoy the energy of village life with distinctive bamboo music and gong performances.
Overnight: Mountain Village Homestay, private single/twin/triple sharing room with a common bathroom.
Meals included: Lunch and dinner.

Day 3- Day 5
Exploring the Deramakot Forest Reserve Wildlife & Forestry Education
After breakfast, we'll step out for an early morning hike at the Crocker Range of mountains, home to Mount Kinabalu. If the weather is on your side, you will have panoramic views of Mount Kinabalu along the famous Pineapple Ridge!
Later, we'll get out for a drive towards the Deramakot Forest Reserve. A must-see for any wildlife enthusiast, this place is a perfect example of how sustainable forest management can promote the protection and conservation of wildlife. The reserve itself is split into sections, some are completely protected for conservation whereas others are designated for sustainable and reduced impact logging. Despite being logged in places, it is one of the finest places to see many of Borneo’s rare and endangered mammals.
Some of the species that can be seen here are orangutan, leopard cat, binturong, slow loris, pygmy elephant, flat-headed cat, colugo, otter, civet, and Bornean gibbon. These species are not only seen here, but they are thriving in Deramakot. For many, the most iconic mammal species found here is the Sunda clouded leopard. The world's rarest cat, it is thought that the Sunda clouded leopard population in Sabah ranges between 1,500 and 3,000 individuals, and the Deramakot Forest Reserve has arguably the largest remaining population on Earth.
Over the next two days, we take a series of daily walks and night drives in the reserve in order to maximize our opportunities to see the diurnal and nocturnal wildlife whilst returning to the lodge for our meals throughout the day. During our night drives & walks in particular, we will be looking for cats. All 5 of the Bornean cats can be seen in this forest. In addition to the mammals, there is a great deal of birdlife for us to enjoy as well as we explore the reserve. More than 250 species have been recorded here and it is possible to see more than 50 different bird species in a day.
Overnight Deramakot Forest Reserve, private single/twin/double sharing with ensuite bathroom.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner.

Day 6
Perfect One Day Scuba Diving/Snorkel Safari Program at Gaya Island
After drenching in the freshness of the forest, it's time to transfer to the Sutera Harbour Marina (10 minutes drive) and take our speedboat to Gaya Island. This is where our Dive & Adventure Centre is located. Enjoy a day of Snorkel Safari or try Scuba Diving for the first time. If you are already a qualified diver, enjoy a day of scuba diving in the warm tropical water. Get up close and personal with the huge array of tropical marine life including reef sharks, snappers, angel fish, clown fish and turtles, if you are lucky!
Overnight: Hotel accommodation, private single/twin/double sharing with ensuite bathroom.
Meals included: Lunch.

Day 7
Free day to explore
Today is your day! You must be having a bucket list of the things you wish to do, cafes you wanna try out, and souvenirs to buy - so take your time and tick all that off your list.
Overnight: Hotel accommodation, private single/twin/double sharing with ensuite bathroom.

Day 8
Bidding 'Goodbye' to Kota Kinabalu
Our guide will drop you off at Kota Kinabalu International Airport for your departure flight. As you embark on your journey home, you will leave behind footprints and bring home fond memories of your experience in Borneo.

Date
Accommodation
Hotel 17
Hotel 17 is located in Kota Kinabalu, within 1.2 km of Sabah State Museum & Heritage Village and 1.2 km of Karamunsing Capital. Featuring a bar, the 3-star hotel has air-conditioned rooms with free WiFi. The accommodation provides a 24-hour front desk and a concierge service for guests.
Mountain Village Homestay
Say good bye to the bright lights of the city and hello to nature & tranquility. Deep within the Crocker Range of Mountains 1hour, 35mins drive from Kota Kinabalu is the sleepy village of Lorong where we will stay in local homestays to experience the true spirit of rural Borneo. The mighty Mount Kinabalu at 4,093m provides a stunning backdrop to the village whilst the stunning Kadamian River flows nearby. Its hard to find a more serene and and soul replenishing location anywhere else.
A small number of households have joined the homestay initiative and each home offers one or two bedrooms for visitors. Comprising private or twin options each room shares a bathroom with the household and generally there are a number of toilet and shower rooms located at ground level whilst bedrooms are on the first floor, towels & bedsheets are provided. The kitchen and lounge areas are communal. There are no shops, no WiFi but there is network coverage for local phones.
Deramakot Forest Reserve Accommodation
A two hour 4WD safari style drive brings us to DFR. Accommodation is based within four chalets each comprising a communal lounge shared by three bedrooms. Each bedroom offers twin or private bedding, air conditioned and enjoys an en-suite bathroom. The accommodation is basic yet very clean and comfortable, towels & bed sheets are provided. There are no shops, no WiFi and the lodge does not sell drinks or alcohol but you are welcome to bring your own. There is intermittent network coverage for local phones. Meals & refreshments are taken a short 150m stroll from the chalets at the main restaurant area.
Note : In case of non availability at the above mentioned hotels, accommodation shall be provided in similar standard hotels.





FAQ's
Just let us know who you’re travelling with after you’ve booked and your relationship to them, and we’ll organise appropriate room shares for you. You can make a booking for more than one person as well from our booking system.
The trip starts and finishes in Kota Kinabalu in Borneo.
Arrival
You need to book a flight that lands into Kota Kinabalu International Airport (KBI) on the trip arrival date.
Departure
This tour ends on Day 8. You can book your departure flight from Kota Kinabalu International Airport (KBI) on this day.
The accommodation on this trip in twin/triple share and you will stay in hotels, homestay and a forest reserve during the journey.
You do not need a visa to enter Borneo for the duration of this trip. Travellers given permission to stay for 3 months upon arrival. For more info, check with your nearest Malaysian embassy.
We recommend you to consult your doctor to take the best advise on vaccinations for the country.
All of our tour prices are in GBP. To check the prices in your local currency you can use website such as www.xe.com which will give the accurate price after conversion in your local currency.
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