Individual Trip: Exploring Sabah in Northern Borneo, 8 days

Day 1: Athens – Kota Kinabalu (KK, as the locals call it)

Departure via connecting flight and arrival the next day in Kota Kinabalu, the capital of Sabah province in Borneo. A new, modern city with wide roads that was built from scratch after being completely destroyed by the Japanese and the Allies in World War II. The city is a crossroads for the Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park, with its beautiful coral islands, ideal for relaxation and exploring the rich underwater world.

Day 2: Kota Kinabalu (KK)

Arrival at the airport and transfer to the hotel. In the afternoon at 18:00, we will start a 4-hour evening city tour, beginning with the colorful traditional market to hunt for deals on local products and souvenirs. We will go up to Signal Hill to admire the panoramic view of the city and have dinner while watching a local dance show. The rest of the evening is free for a stroll before returning to the hotel for the overnight stay.

Day 3: Kota Kinabalu – Kinabalu National Park

After breakfast, we start quite early for a 3-hour drive to the lush Kinabalu National Park (also a UNESCO World Heritage site) in the Kundasang area, passing through beautiful villages and small towns.
The area is famous for its extraordinary variety of flora and fauna, hosting numerous endemic species of plants and animals found exclusively in the Sabah province. During the drive, we will enjoy impressive views of the imposing Mount Kinabalu, the highest peak in Malaysia and the largest between the Himalayas and New Guinea, which dominates the lush green landscape of the region.
Afterwards, we will make a short stop at the Nabalu Market, a popular local stop where residents of the surrounding villages sell fresh tropical fruits, vegetables, aromatic plants, traditional products, and handmade souvenirs. From the market, we will also have the opportunity to enjoy a panoramic view of Mount Kinabalu to photograph the impressive natural landscape.
Upon our arrival at Kinabalu Park, we will tour one of the park’s many nature trails. During the hike, we will get to know the unique natural wealth of the area up close, observe rare plant species, towering tropical trees, orchids, ferns, and other endemic plants, while the guide will inform us about the importance of the park’s ecosystem and biodiversity.
After the tour, we will have lunch at a local restaurant and then continue to Kundasang for our stay at the lodge. The rest of the day is free for rest or to enjoy the cool mountain environment and the idyllic atmosphere of the area at your own pace. Dinner and overnight stay.

Day 4: Kinabalu National Park – Sandakan

Breakfast and departure at approximately 11:00 a.m. heading east to the coastal city of Sandakan (the old capital of Sabah), which is the gateway to the pristine islands with the incredible underwater world of the Sulu Sea and, of course, the jungle rivers. Our route to Sandakan passes through the lush green ridges of the Crocker Range, offering impressive images of the Sabah mountain landscape. We will arrive in the afternoon and settle into our hotel. The rest of the day is free for a walk in the city and local markets.

Day 5: Sandakan – Sepilok (Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre) – Kinabatangan River – Sukau area (Bilit village)

Morning departure for the Sepilok Centre, arriving at feeding time for the orangutans at 10:00 a.m. The orangutans located there are in a natural environment and most are orphans, who for the first 10 years of their lives are acclimated to the jungle so that when they are released, they can survive in the wild. We will admire these friendly mammals eating and playing with each other, and if we are lucky, they will come close to us. Attention: it is good to watch our bags and mobile phones because they like to steal them.
Afterwards, we will also visit the sun bear sanctuary to observe them in a natural environment.
After a two-hour drive, we will arrive at Bilit jetty to board a speedboat for our short trip into the wild jungle of Borneo along the Kinabatangan River. Entering the river, it is good to have our binoculars and cameras ready to observe if the treetops are moving, as this means the proboscis monkeys are living there. We will also see crocodiles, pygmy elephants, wild exotic colorful birds, macaques, and many other species with the help of our experienced guides. We will arrive at our Bilit Rainforest Lodge for lunch, check into our rooms, and rest until the late afternoon when we will start a three-hour river cruise to observe the rich wildlife. Our exploration will continue until sunset with its amazing color combinations—a paradise for photographers. Before we reach our lodge, we will also see the amazing fireflies, which with their light—resembling thousands of tiny lamps—transform a tree into a Christmas one. Arrival at the lodge for our dinner. Overnight stay.

Day 6: Kinabatangan River – Sukau Village

Our day today starts very early at sunrise and before breakfast. We will continue our exploration into the jungles of Borneo, starting with a boat trip on the river to discover the Oxbow Lake, which in 50 years will disappear due to the trees floating in the water. Of course, when one lake closes, another opens. The colorful spectacle of sunrise together with the reflections in the water will reward you with some very good photos. We will observe all the morning animal species, and after reaching the lake through small tributaries, we will enjoy a coffee on the boat. Return to our accommodation for breakfast, rest, and lunch. At noon, another opportunity for a river cruise to observe pygmy elephants, orangutans, proboscis monkeys, crocodiles, and many other species of rare birds, mammals, or reptiles. Dinner and overnight stay.

Day 7: Kinabatangan River – Athens/Thessaloniki

After breakfast, departure for Sandakan for a short city tour and then transfer to Sandakan airport for the return journey via connecting flights. For those who wish, they can continue their excursion either to the pristine islands of the Sulu Sea or to the beautiful resorts of Kota Kinabalu on the South China Sea.

Day 8: Athens / Thessaloniki

Arrival in Athens / Thessaloniki.

Travel Notes