LONELY PLANET'S OFFICIAL ITINERARY INFORMATION
Itinerary: Sabah Solo
THREE WEEKS/KOTA KINABALU TO SEMPORNA
The 1300km you'll cover on this trip may seem like nothing once you've tramped the 18km up and down Mt Kinabalu, so sit back and enjoy the fantastic variety, from idyllic islands to wildlife-packed jungles, of this three-week itinerary.
The main reason people come to Sabah is to climb Mt Kinabalu; assaults on Malaysia's highest peak can be launched from the state capital, Kota Kinabalu (KK). All up, a trip to the mountain and back, plus exploring the trails around the national park headquarters and a visit to Poring Hot Springs, will take you five to six days. KK is also the jumping-off point for the Tunku Abdul Rahman National Park, a cluster of five lovely islands offering beautiful beaches.
A six-hour bus ride will take you east to character-filled Sandakan, the base for various wildlife-viewing activities, including a visit to the Turtle Islands National Park, Sepilok Orang-Utan Rehabilitation Centre and Sungai Kinabatangan, one of the best places in Southeast Asia to see fauna.
From Sandakan head south towards the Danum Valley Conservation Area, where you can enjoy various ecotourism activities - including a not-to-be-missed night drive safari - from the luxurious Borneo Rainforest Lodge. Finish up your trip in Semporna, from where you can organise diving and snorkelling trips to Pulau Sipadan and other nearby islands.
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