Discover Sabah Borneo: Immerse in Culture, Wildlife, and Nature in Malaysia

Day 1: Arrival Kota Kinabalu - transfer to Hotel Arriving in Kota Kinabalu International Airport, where we will meet and I will transfer you to Dreamtel Hotel for check-in. Depending on your arrival time – we will go to Tanjung Aru beach for a sunset walk then send you back to the hotel. Sabah is ranked the 4th best sunset on the planet by `Time Magazine`. Distances and journey time: Transfer from Kota Kinabalu Airport to The Dreamtel Hotel: (10KM) 20 minutes Day 2: Kota Kinabalu (B/L) Enjoy your breakfast at the hotel. Then at 9am, we drive to Kionsom for Mari Mari Cultural Village. Discover the captivating traditions and customs of North East Borneo's 5 main tribes, and uncover the rich heritage of Sabah's cultural tapestry at Mari Mari Cultural Village. Experience the essence of "As It Was... As It Is..." as you delve into the vibrant mosaic of Sabah's culture. From the skilled farmers and traders of the Dusun and Rungus to the resourceful hunters and fishermen of the Lundayeh, the adventurous cowboys and sea gypsies of the Bajau, and the legendary warrior tribe of the Murut, each group contributes to the vibrant cultural tapestry of Sabah. Immerse yourself in the timeless essence of these traditions, connecting with the past and present, and witness the remarkable blend of history and contemporary life. Optional; If your arrival was late on Day 1 we will go to Tanjung Aru beach for sunset walk on the evening. Overnight at Dreamtel Hotel Distances and journey time: Transfer from Hotel to The Mari Mari Cultural Village: (18KM) 35 minutes

Day 3: Kota Kinabalu – Sutera Mantanani Jetty – Mantanani Island (B/-/-) Meet at 10:00 and we will start our adventurous journey by vehicle for a 1 hour 45 minutes drive from Kota Kinabalu to Sutera Mantanani Jetty, Kota Belud. Along the way we will stop over a few places. ETA arrive at Jetty at 13:45. You will be required to fill in a liability form and be given a short briefing by the resort's staff. At 14:15, depart from the jetty to Mantanani Island. The travel is between 30 minutes to 1 hour depending on the weather conditions. Upon arrival, register at the front office and attend to luggage storage. Then free at your own leisure. Non-motorized sea activities are available upon request (complimentary snorkeling equipment / kayaking / and other non-motorized activities around the island). Drone photoshoot can also be requested at the front desk. Sunset Walk at 17:00. You will be taken to the best sunset spot on the island where you can enjoy the mesmerizing view of the surrounding sea at sundown. Dinner by your own at the resort's restaurant. After dinner, we may proceed for the night tour of the day to witness the bioluminescent blue tears (subject to season). Overnight at Sutera @ Mantanani Island Resort & Spa Please take note: For safety reasons, the boat transfer may cancel / turn back if the weather or sea condition is deemed unsafe for the journey to proceed. Others activities at special rates as below (pay by yourself): - ATV ride at RM53.00 nett per every 30 minutes - Diving sessions are available as follow: Discovery scuba dive RM250.00 nett per person or Leisure dive at RM320.00 nett per person Distances and journey time: Transfer from Dreamtel Hotel to Sutera Mantanani Jetty: (76KM) 1 hour 45 minutes. Sutera Mantanani Jetty to Mantanani Island by speed boat: 30 mins to 1 hour.

Day 4: Mantanani Island – Sutera Mantanani Jetty – Cabana Retreat – Boat ride for Firefly at Night (B/-/-) Breakfast at 07:00 at the Resort's Restaurant. Please go ahead for the snorkelling session at 09:00. Observe the beautiful ocean fish & corals underwater. Check Out from your accommodation at 11:30 and get ready for your transfer back to the mainland. Depart Mantanani Island at 13:00 by boat to Sutera Mantanani Jetty. Upon arrival, we will proceed to Cabana Retreat nearby. Free at leisure At 18:45 we depart to the jetty for river cruise to see the firefly. Overnight at Cabana Retreat Notes: Non-motorised sports are available for free depending on the availability (paddle board and surfing) Distances and journey time: Mantanani Island to Sutera Mantanani Jetty by speed boat: 30 mins - 1 hour. Sutera Mantanani Jetty to Cabana Retreat: (1.8KM) 5 minutes. Cabana Retreat to Jetty for Firefly: (4KM) 5 minutes

Day 5: Cabana Retreat – Tambatuon – Lobong Lobong (B/L/D) A 07:30 and we will continue our adventures journey by vehicle for 1 hour 15 minutes’ drive from Cabana Retreat to the Eco Village of Tambatuon located in the foothills of Mount Kinabalu in a beautiful valley by the Kedamaian River. This is a traditional Dusun Village where there is a chance to catch a glimpse into the life of the villagers. First, be introduced to the local trekking guides and go on a short tour around Tambatuon Eco Village before departing for about 6-hours trek to Tanak Nabalu Homestay situated in Lobong Lobong Village at the base of Mount Kinabalu. Today’s trek will pass the valley between the two villages. Trekking through rice paddies, farmland and some jungle trails to the backdrop of Mount Kinabalu. Start the trek over Tambatuon’s famous suspension bridge before taking a gentle trek on flat terrain meandering alongside a beautiful river flowing from Mount Kinabalu. Stop for a packed lunch enroute and enjoy the surrounding scenery. Listen to the guides as they explain the local farming techniques, river harvesting, rubber tapping and fruits and vegetables grown in the plantations of this fertile land. Trek through open plantations before a short and undulating trail through the rainforest and over a shallow river. There are some short but steep climbs before the final stretch as the trail opens up between villages. Arrive at Lobong Lobong Village late afternoon to a warm welcome from the villages. Settle into the designated families’ homestay (twin rooms with communal toilet and showers). Tuck into light snacks served by family. Dinner will be served at homestay. Overnight at Tanak Nabalu Homestay Distances and journey time: Transfer from Cabana Retreat to Tambatuon: (56KM) 1 hour 15 minutes

Day 6: Lobong Lobong – Sepilok, Sandakan (B/-/-) After breakfast continue journey to Sepilok in Sandakan. We stop over at the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Kinabalu Park. Enjoy the refreshing cool air as you head to the botanical garden. The Kinabalu Park botanical garden has an impressive collection of mountain flora and showcases some of the many species of plants that can be found within the park. On a clear day you can see the 4,095-metre peak of Mount Kinabalu, the highest mountain in Malaysia and one of the highest peaks in South East Asia. Then we proceed to the next destination. We might stop over at Kundasang small town and maybe Luanti river for foot massage - fish spa (Optional) before continues your scenic drive to Sepilok. Overnight at Sepilok Jungle Resort Distances and journey time Transfer from Lobong Lobong to Sepilok: (246KM) 5 hours

Day 7: Sepilok – Kinabatangan (B/-/D) Wake up early in the morning and have breakfast at 0700hrs. After breakfast proceed to Sepilok Orang Utan Rehabilitation Centre and to the feeding station in the forest. Then proceed to Sun Bear Conservation Center for the world’s smallest bear in its natural environment. After lunch, we drive overland to Bilit, Kinabatangan River. After check-in have an afternoon tea with some local bites. Then embark on the adventure of your life to spot the elusive Proboscis Monkey, Orang Utan, Silver-Leaf Monkeys, Macaques, Crocodile, birds, and many more. Enjoy cruising along the mighty Kinabatangan River and be mesmerized by a myriad of wildlife along the riverbank. You might even sight the world smallest elephant – Borneo Pygmy Elephant in search of food at the riverbank during certain seasons. When the sun goes down, it’s time for dinner. Overnight at Bilit Adventure Lodge (Standard AC Room) Distances and journey time Transfer from Sepilok to Bilit Adventure Lodge: (105KM) 2 hour 30 mins Optional: Night walk can be arranged, pay locally @ RM10.00 nett p/pax/hrs. Tree planting also can be arranged, pay locally @ RM10.00 nett p/tree Day 8: Kinabatangan (B/L/D) At 06:00hrs, morning river cruise in search of more wildlife and birds. Then back to Bilit Lodge for breakfast. Join a morning jungle walk to experience the riverine forest. Then trek back for lunch. On the late afternoon, get ready for our last afternoon river cruise to a different part of the Kinabatangan River to see more wildlife. Back to Bilit Lodge and free at leisure. Dinner will be served at the lodge. Overnight at Bilit Adventure Lodge (Standard AC Room)

Day 9: Kinabatangan – Gomatong Cave – Sandakan (B/-/-) After breakfast, at 0830 hrs depart Bilit Lodge for Gomantong Cave (if it is open to visit) to explore the largest limestone & bird nests cave in Sabah. There are two cave complexes – Simud Hitam (Black Cave) soaring up to 90 metres high and the more accessible of the two, and Simud Putih (White Cave), where the more valuable nests are found. Only Simud Hitam opens to the public and is about 5-10 minutes’ walk from the registration centre. A well-maintained boardwalk gives you easy access to exploring the cave. After the cave, we drive to Kinabatangan small town for lunch - own expenses. Then we continue our journey to visit museum Agop Batu Tulug in Kinabatangan area. It is an isolated limestone hill and get ready to trek up for about 40 metres in height and is part of the Labang limestone formation, 20-25 million years ago. It was used as an ancient log coffin burial site from about 500 to 900 years ago. There are three main caves in Agop Batu Tulug, namely Agop Sawat (upper cave), Agop Lintanga (middle cave) and Agop Suriba (lower cave). The caves here (Agop Sawat and Lintanga) contained more than 125 ancient log coffins, which represent one of Sabah’s unique cultural heritages. Then we continue our journey back to Sandakan. Overnight at The Pavilion Hotel Distances and journey time: Transfer Bilit Adventure Lodge to Gomatong Cave: (23KM) 25 mins Transfer from Gomatong Cave to Kinabatangan Town: (34KM) 40 mins Transfer from Kinabatangan Town to Agop Batu Tulug: (28KM) 35 mins Transfer from Agop Batu Tulug to Sandakan Town: (107KM) 2 hours 10 mins Day 10: Sandakan – to your next destination (B/-/-) Depart Sandakan for onward journey. Distances and journey time: Transfer from Hotel to Sandakan Airport: (13KM) 21 mins