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A shorter Borneo experience taking in the best of Sabah — vibrant Kota Kinabalu, the dramatic highland scenery around Mount Kinabalu, island snorkelling in the Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park and an introduction to Borneo's extraordinary rainforest. Eight days, small group, personally escorted throughout.
Arrive in Kota Kinabalu and transfer to your hotel. Head down to the waterfront for sunset and a welcome dinner. Overnight in Kota Kinabalu.
Morning at the Mari Mari Cultural Village, with its five traditional Sabah tribal houses. In the afternoon, drive south to the Klias Wetlands for a river cruise — proboscis monkeys gathering at dusk, then fireflies lighting the mangroves after dark. Overnight in Kota Kinabalu.
A full day island-hopping in Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park — Manukan, Sapi and Mamutik — snorkelling over coral, white-sand beaches and clear water just offshore from the city. Overnight in Kota Kinabalu.
Drive north to Kota Belud and boat across to Mantanani — a trio of islands ringed by reef. Afternoon snorkelling and time on the beach. Overnight on Mantanani.
A full day on and around the island — reefs, sandbars and quiet beaches, with a good chance of turtles and reef sharks. Overnight on Mantanani.
Return to the mainland and drive up into the mountains to Kinabalu Park. Afternoon at the botanical garden and an easy foothill trail beneath South-East Asia's highest peak. Overnight in Kundasang.
Poring Hot Springs and the treetop canopy walkway, followed by the Kundasang war memorial and Desa Dairy Farm with Mount Kinabalu as the backdrop. Overnight in Kundasang.
Scenic drive back down to the coast, stopping at the Nabalu market for highland views and local produce. Free afternoon on Gaya Street and a farewell dinner. Overnight in Kota Kinabalu.
A final morning in Kota Kinabalu before your transfer to the airport for your flight home.
Our team has led small-group adventures across Asia, East Africa, the Caucasus and South America since 2006. We know the routes we run inside out — and we run them personally.
Never more than 10 people on this tour. Small groups move differently — you get into places larger groups can't, spend more time in the moment and actually get to know the people you're travelling with.
You book your own flights, so you have full flexibility over your dates, airline and route. We're always happy to advise on the best connections — just ask when you enquire.
No booking engine. Enquire and our team will be in touch within 24 hours to discuss everything personally — and to tailor the trip around your schedule and what matters most to you.
“I’ve just returned from Sabah, Borneo — quite possibly one of the dream trips of all my years travelling the world. Our guide, Shah, was absolutely spot on: he knew every corner of the places we visited and brought the region’s history, culture and wildlife to life like a storyteller. I hadn’t expected such beauty in the natural surroundings, and our accommodation on Mount Kinabalu was on another level — a calm and beauty I haven’t found even deep in the Amazon of northern Brazil. I can’t wait to join one of their tours again.”
“We had the most amazing time in Borneo — genuinely one of the most unforgettable trips we’ve ever taken. Sabah’s west coast completely won us over: the canopy walks, the views across to Mount Kinabalu, and the warmth of everyone we met along the way. But for me, the real magic was the islands just off Kota Kinabalu — crystal-clear water, quiet beaches and some of the best snorkelling I’ve ever done. Everything was so beautifully organised that we never had to think about a thing; we simply relaxed and enjoyed it. We came home already planning our next adventure — thank you, Tourio!”
“I never imagined, in my entire life, that I could experience a region and a journey filled with so much joy and pleasure. Shah, our leader, surprised us at every single moment of the trip — his knowledge and warmth turned an already special adventure into something truly unforgettable. I saw and learned things that had never once crossed my mind, and I came home with a completely new perspective. Borneo belongs on everyone’s bucket list — and especially with Tourio. Thank you for a trip I’ll treasure for the rest of my life.”
