An introductory tour to Kota Kinabalu, the State Capital of Sabah – The Land Below The Wind. Proceed to Sabah Foundation Building – one of the hanging structure in the world.  Stopover at the Buddhist Temple.  Visit the Sabah State Museum which displays artifacts from Sabah’s past and diverse cultures prevalent in  North Borneo.  Pass by the State Mosque – this resplendent structure, with its majestic domes and gold motifs, is a spectacular sight.  Drive to Tanjung Aru to see the imposing sights of the long sandy beach.

   Drive North 45  minutes from  Kota Kinabalu to Mengkabong river.  Catch a boat for a cruise into the Mangrove forest for a close up view of the stilt-rooted Mangrove vegetation that thrive in saline water, providing ideal breeding ground for many forms of marine life.  This unique ecosystem is now protected in many parts of Malaysia.  Catch a closer look at the local way of life as you cruise by the Mengkabong Fishing village, home to the Bajau people, one of Sabah's indigenous groups who live in homes over the water.   These clusters of houses on stilts are connected by plank walks and  rickety  bridges  and  the   main  form of transportation within the village is canoe or small boat.  The Bajaus, also referred to as sea gypsies, are fisher folk and live a lifestyle quite unhurried by modern civilization. 

   Leave Kota Kinabalu via the Tuaran highway to driving past industrial areas.  At Tuaran, 45 minutes away, visit the native market for a touch of local color.  Here, rural produce such as betel nut, dried and fresh fish, local vegetables and fruits are sold. A suspension bridge by the marketplace is a point of interest. A 10-minutes ride away is the Bajau Village of Mengkabong, clusters of homes built on stilts over the water.  A latticework of plank walks link the houses and function as lanes.  Small native boats and canoes are the main form of transportation. The Bajaus, also known as Sea Gypsies, are one of Sabah's many indigenous peoples.  Once great sea-farers, they are today fisher folk, farmers and businessmen.

   White water rafting as an adventure sport has gained in popularity in recent years. Experienced  rafters  instruct  newcomers  to this sport on proper techniques and safety procedures.  All participants are equipped with safety helmets and life jackets. Other than the thrill and excitement of riding the roaring rapids, white water rafting is also an opportunity to see the forests and countryside. The Kiulu river is an hour and a half by road north of Kota Kinabalu.  Drive past rice-fields, rubber plantations and orchards to the cross roads town of Tamparuli.  Take in the magnificent views of the surrounding countryside from the hilltops.  By the banks of the river, participants assemble for a briefing on safety procedures. With headwaters from Mt Kinabalu, this river provides a Grade II to III experience, suitable for newcomers to this exciting sport.  Deep pools punctuate rapids - indulge in body-rafting or swimming. 
What to bring: Change of clothings (2 sets), towel, swim wear,  sun block, sandals/ 
sneakers for Rafting & Slippers.

   Mt. Kinabalu, standing at 4,095 m above sea level is the highest mountain in South East Asia.  Its foothills and surrounding has an incredible diversity of flora and fauna.  The Kinabalu  Park  covers an  area  of  754 sq  km  with an altitude range up to the summit of Mt. Kinabalu thus encompassing the five main vegetation zones.  The Park has become the focus of naturalists and nature lovers. The tour to Kinabalu Park leaves via the Tuaran highway, driving past rice fields, rubber plantations, small  towns  and  scattered  villages.  This  2-hour ride  also  traverses   the   Crocker  Range  with  panoramic views   of  the surrounding countryside.  A photo stop and a quick visit to the road side native market are also scheduled. At the Park, a jungle walk into the temperate forests (altitude 5,100 ft) is also scheduled.  The forest trails are graded and the walk may last one to one a half hours. Lunch is included. Visit the Exhibit Centre and Mountain Garden to learn more about the natural wonders in the Kinabalu Park.

   Journey north for a 3-hour ride through the Crocker Range driving pass rice fields, small towns and scattered villages to the Kundasang Valley then further east to poring.  Enroute admire the spectacular view of Mt. Kinabalu, standing at 4,095 m above sea level is the highest mountain in Malaysia.  Upon reaching Poring, located on the eastern part of the Kinabalu Park, trek through tropical rainforest to a Canopy walkway (located 100 feet above ground level) to view epiphytes growing on the tree tops (1 hour trek).  Time permitting, take a dip at the Hot Springs where the sulphuric content of the natural springs are said to have therapeutic value.  Depart Poring for the Park Headquarters, enjoy the cooler temperature at this higher altitude after the hot humid atmosphere of Poring.  Opt for a jungle walk into the temperate forest at the mountain garden. Tour leaves the Kinabalu Park at 1530 hrs. Lunch is included.

   Sandakan is 40 minutes by air from Kota Kinabalu (airfares not included).  A rewarding experience is a visit to the Sepilok Orang Utan Rehabilitation Centre, 20 minutes by road from Sandakan.  Here, in the Sepilok forest reserve, orphaned or captive orang utans are taught survival skills so that they may return to their natural habitat.  They are then released into the forest to roam free.  To aid the orang utans adapt to the wilds, a supplementary diet of bananas and milk are laid out on feeding platforms twice a day.  Before feeding times, some orang utans may leave the refuge of the forest for the feeding platform.  From the viewing platform, visitors may watch and photograph the apes as they swing into view on ropes and vines.  Feeding time in the morning is at 10 am. Leave Sepilok for lunch at the local restaurant. A quick tour of Sandakan is scheduled for the afternoon.  This thriving port is strategically located at the mouth of one of the best natural harbors in the region.  Once the capital of the British North Borneo chartered company in 1884, it is now the connecting town to other destinations on the East Coast of Sabah. Lunch is included.

   A day filled with sun, sand and sea on an idyllic tropical island where you can lull away all your urban worries.  A 15 minutes boat ride from Kota Kinabalu seafront takes you to one of the five islands at the Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park.  Each island is surrounded by fringing coral reefs where you can swim, snorkel or unwind or just simply do nothing but laze around on the sandy white beaches to soak in the sun.  For the snorkellers, an adventure into the multihued underwater world awaits you with its unending kaleidoscope of colors and shapes flashing past.  You will be picked up and sent back to your point of embarkation at a pre-arranged time by the boat-crew. Lunch is included.

   The tour begins with an early morning ride over the Crocker Range, revealing to the visitor the panorama of the Borneo countryside.  Arrive at the Rafflesia Information Centre to obtain locations of buds/flowers.  In the event that a bloom is not available for viewing, the forest trek is still an option.  This area is covered by rich lowland rainforests up to an altitude of about 3,500 ft; a walk into its depths can be an interesting experience for those inclined towards nature.  Alternatively, continue on the road to Tambunan, an agricultural town nestled in a wide valley.  Here, visit a rural village before lunch at restaurant.  Return to the city to arrive in the late afternoon.  
Lunch is included.

   The weekly market in rural towns is called "tamu".  One of the most interesting and colourful tamus in Sabah is in the hill-town of Kota Belud, a 1.5-hour drive away from Kota Kinabalu.  Every Sunday, the locals gather at the tamu?grounds to barter and bargain and exchange news and views with the local community, the tamu is more a social event than a commercial one.  Vendors from the big towns peddle wares such as cassettes and calculators while visitors browse through the baskets and batik. Although Kota Belud is populated by various ethnic groups, the Bajaus invariably draw the most interest.  Through the generations, they have developed an affinity with the horse.  Coupled with their reputation as fierce warriors of old is their expertise with horses.  Today, they train horses for the turf club. Stop at a ceramic pottery on the return journey.  Pots and jars make up a significant part of Sabah native culture.  Sabah pottery is known for its distinctive inset design.

   Journey north about 3 hours to meet the Rungus people in their longhouses – famous for their beadwork and rattan weaving skills.  Enroute stop by the local market to mingle with the Bajaus and Dusuns as you visit their local markets to learn about their lifestyle from their produce.   After lunch, drive through coconut plantations to Simpang Magayau, the northern most point of Borneo where the South China Sea meets the Celebes Sea.  Enroute back, stop by Kg. Sumangkap to learn the art of Gong making, an important heirloom amongst the local people here. 
Lunch is included.

   Gaya is the largest of five islands belonging to the Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park.  The islands are fringed by white sands and covered with rainforests inland. Just 10 minutes from Kota Kinabalu, start the trek at Park Headquarters.  The nature trail is over a varied gradient, through forest consisting of dipterocraps, artocarps, oaks and palms, bamboo and ferns, tidal mangroves and vines.  This trail of about an hour and a half emerges at Padang Point opposite Sapi Island, where a quick ferry ride of 3 minutes will bring you to a lunch and refreshments. Enjoy the sun and sea, snorkel and swim till early afternoon when the ferry will return you to the mainland. 
Lunch is included.

   A visit to the night market for a touch of local color is also an opportunity to put bargaining skills to the test. Settle down to a dinner of Malaysian cuisine complemented with tropical fruits.