12 Day Sabah on a shoestring (SB/LT_12SoaS) - 12 days / 11 nights
An affordable long tour designed for backpackers and budget travellers! This trip combines the flexibility to explore many of Sabah's landmarks (especially Sabah's capital Kota Kinabalu (KK)) on your own within a general set itinerary so you don't miss out on the best attractions with the leadership of a knowledgeable guide.
What do I get to do?
Explore many parts of Sabah on your own, longhouse stay, cycle along remote long houses and villages, stay and explore the trails at Mount Kinabalu park, see some of Sabah's unique wildlife such as orang-utans, birds, monkeys and many more and some thrilling whitewater rafting.
Accommodation
Borneo Backpackers Hostel, Park dormitory accommodation
Rate 2009 (subject to change without prior notice)
RM3550 per person, minimum 2pax (seat in coach/join in tour/non private)
Single supplement: Add RM300.00 per person
High season surcharge at Sukau Rainforest Lodge: RM260.00 per person (July – August)
Extension stays at Borneo Backpackers RM25 per pax per night.
What does it include?
Tours and land/boat transfers (please see exclusions below), accommodation and meals specified, life jackets and helmets (rafting), entrance fees and English speaking nature guide.
What does it exclude?
Camera fee at Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre and items not mentioned.
Exclude flights as well. Recommended:
MH2042 etd 0730hrs/0810hrs - BKI/SDK (KK to Sandakan)
MH3037 etd 1850hrs/ 1925hrs - SDK/BKI (Sandakan to KK)
or Airasia flights with similar time as as above
Itinerary Updated 2009
Day 1 Kota Kinabalu (KK)
Arrive Kota Kinabalu International Airport, meet and transfer to Borneo Backpackers. Rest of day at own leisure to explore city centre. Overnight at Borneo Backpackers.
Day 2 KK (Breakfast)
Free at own leisure or do you own optional trip to nearby island for sunbathing and snorkelling (You are recommended to pre-book boat at Borneo Backpackers’ reception counter).Overnight at Borneo Backpackers.
Day 3 Kudat (Breakfast / Dinner)
Depart early morning for a 2 ½ hours journey to Kudat, the land of the last longhouses in Sabah. After lunch, we set off our journey to the ‘Tip of Borneo”. Witness the picturesque view of South China Sea meeting Sulu Sea.
Proceed to our overnight guesthouse for check in. If weather permits, cycle (optional) through scenic villages, oil palm estates and farms to Mompilis Village Longhouse. Enjoy fresh coconut drink and witness cultural activities while mingling with the friendly local folks and children. Note: Optional cycling is only available for adult
Return to longhouse homestay for shower. Enjoy a traditional-style dinner followed by colourful cultural performance by the local Rungus community. Overnight in twin share room. Mattress and mosquito net are provided.
Day 4 Kudat to Kundasang (Breakfast)
Wake up to the calls of roosters and enjoy the tranquility of the village. Take your breakfast before we trek to the nearby rubber estate. Test your skill at rubber tapping. Depart to Kota Marudu for lunch before we continue our journey to Kinabalu Park Headquarters at Kundasang, approximately 3 hours drive from Kudat. Free at own leisure upon arrival. Overnight at dormitory hostel.
Day 5 KK
Free at own leisure at Kinabalu Park. Overnight at dormitory hostel.
Day 6 Kundasang to KK
In the afternoon, meet and transfer back to Kota Kinabalu. Overnight at Borneo Backpackers.
Day 7 KK to Sandakan to Sukau (Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner)
Transfer to airport for morning flight (45 minutes) to Sandakan. On arrival, proceed to Sepilok Orang Utan Rehabilitation Centre for video show. Trek ten minutes through the rainforest on wooden plank walks to witness the feeding of the Orang-utans at 1000hrs. Continue to Sandakan jetty for boat journey to Sukau Rainforest Lodge along Sabah's longest river, the Kinabatangan with opportunity to view birds and wildlife in virgin mangrove, wetland and rainforest habitats. Late afternoon take a river cruise using electric motor in search of some of the 10 primate species including Proboscis monkeys as they settle down on treetops along the Kinabatangan River. Return for solar heated hot shower, candle light dinner and slide show conducted by naturalist guide. Overnight at Sukau Rainforest Lodge.
Day 8 Sukau (Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner)
Wake up to the calls of gibbons and hornbills. A 0600hrs morning river cruise up the Kinabatangan River to view more birds and wildlife. Proceed to the Kelenanap ox-bow lake for a short jungle walk (if weather permits). Experience the wilderness of Borneo. You have the option to visit our 64 acres Kinabatangan Wildlife Corridor Regeneration Program (KWICORP) site to learn about reforestation of degraded riverine reserve. In the afternoon, we proceed for another river cruise for more wildlife. After dinner an optional night safari cruise (at a surcharge) spotting nocturnal animals, crocodiles and birds. Overnight at Sukau Rainforest Lodge.
Day 9 Sukau to Sandakan to KK (Breakfast / Lunch)
After breakfast, return to Sandakan by boat journey. Have lunch before we proceed for a short tour of Sandakan town including the Australian War Memorial. Transfer to airport for late afternoon flight to Kota Kinabalu. On arrival, transfer to Borneo Backpackers for overnight.
Day 10 KK (Padas River Whitewater Rafting) (Breakfast / Lunch)
Pick up from hotel and transfer by coach to Tenom. Arrive at Tenom and proceed to a village near Pangi, get change and get ready for the fun filed thrilled ride by using only plank of wood and several ball bearings (push cart trolley) up to Pangi. The thrilling yet scenic ride will take around 1 hour. The 30km white water rafting, making it the longest rafting journey in Borneo begins. After the 9th kilometers of rafting which covers seven classes 3-4 rapids, a quick stop for a sumptuous lunch at Rayoh Station before continuing the rafting journey down the majestic rainforest of Borneo. Ending point will be at Halogilat then boatride to Beaufort town. Freshen up and onboard the coach back to hotel.
Bring along swim-suits, shoes with rubber soles, extra dry clothes and no valuables. Life jackets and helmets are provided. All participants are required to sign liability release.
Day 11 KK (Breakfast)
Free at own leisure. Overnight at Borneo Backpackers.
Day 12 KK (Breakfast)
Departure transfer to airport or extension of stay.
End of Service
Best time to visit
This trip is available all year. The peak season in Sabah is from June to August.
Getting here
KK can be easily reached via Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA), Kuching or certain international destinations. From KLIA, catch a flight by either MAS (www.mas.com.my) or AirAsia (www.airasia.com). There are daily flights.
Responsible Tourism (RT) practices
The Sukau Rainforest Lodge is built on stilts using different Borneo hardwood species and is completely self sufficient in water and power supply, utilising rainwater and solar energy. Electric motors are used for river safari tours to wildlife areas to minimise air and noise pollution and reduce stress to the wildlife. Every room has an attached bathroom with solar hot water shower. Energy is reused for lighting such as cooking oil.
Multi-award winner Sukau Rainforest Lodge was named British Airways “Tourism for Tomorrow Award 1997” for the Pacific Region, and has received runners-up for "Green Hotelier of the Year 1999" and "IH&RA Environment award 1999" by the International Hotel & Restaurant Association (IH&RA). It is a low impact Eco-Lodge with in-house “green policies” and Code of Practice. The grounds of the resort also includes two elephant 'passes' that allows a corridor for elephants to migrate.