Kinabalu Peaks & Gaya Island Escape - 6 Days

From £1,450

Trip Snapshot

Age range

0 - 100

Start / End

  • Kota Kinabalu
  • Kota Kinabalu

Physical rating

2/5

Guide style

Self Guided

Meals included

9

Highlights

  • Kota Kinabalu - Cruise the coastline at sunset with an included buffet dinner and live acoustic music aboard a chartered boat
  • Tamparuli - Cross the Jambatan Tamparuli suspension bridge, a local landmark steeped in folklore
  • Nabalu - Browse a market selling fresh produce, snacks and handmade souvenirs beneath the Crocker Range
  • Kundasang - Visit Desa Cattle Farm to feed calves and sample fresh dairy at the foot of Mount Kinabalu
  • Kinabalu Park - Cross a treetop canopy walk, before easing into open-air sulphur hot springs and exploring Malaysia's first UNESCO World Heritage Site
  • Gaya Island - Snorkel with a marine biologist and follow nature trails in search of proboscis monkeys within Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park
Recommended before you book

Everything you need to picture the adventure and pack with confidence — in one free PDF.

What's inside the PDF

  • Day-by-day itinerary
    Every day mapped out, covering activities, travel times, meals and where you'll stay.
  • Packing & kit list
    Exactly what to bring, from clothing and essentials to luggage guidelines and what's available to hire locally.
  • What's included
    Accommodation, transport, guides and meals, so you can see exactly what your price covers.
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Summary

Discover the natural wonders of Sabah on this 6-day tour from Kota Kinabalu. Begin with a sunset dinner cruise along the coast, complete with a buffet and live acoustic music. From here, cross the historic Tamparuli suspension bridge, browse the market at Nabalu, and meet the cattle at Desa Cattle Farm before reaching the cool mountain air of Kundasang. Next comes Poring Hot Springs, where a treetop canopy walk and a soothing hot spring bath await, followed by Kinabalu UNESCO Global Geopark's diverse plant life. The tour continues with a speedboat transfer to an island resort within Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park, offering beaches, snorkelling and nature trails, before returning to Kota Kinabalu for departure.

Itinerary

  • Day 1

    Kota Kinabalu Arrival & South China Sea Sunset Dinner Cruise

    Once you have arrived at Kota Kinabalu International Airport, you are transferred to your accommodation to check in. With the rest of the day free, you might spend time wandering the waterfront or browsing one of the local markets.At 4:45 pm, you are transferred to Sutera Marina Jetty to board a Sunset Dinner Cruise with North Borneo Cruises. As you cruise along Sabah's coastline, you pass scenic islands and small water villages, taking in sweeping sea views and a cool breeze from the upper deck as the sun sets. Below deck, an air-conditioned dining area with local decor sets the scene for a buffet dinner showcasing Sabah's flavours, accompanied by live acoustic music.As Kota Kinabalu's shoreline lights come into view, you cruise back along the waterfront before being transferred to your accommodation.

  • Day 2

    Tamparuli Suspension Bridge, Nabalu Market & Desa Cow Farm

    This morning, you are collected from your hotel lobby to begin a day of sightseeing through Sabah's countryside. Your first stop is the town of Tamparuli, where you cross Jambatan Tamparuli, a suspension bridge well known locally for the folklore surrounding it.From here, you continue along the winding roads of the Crocker Range to Nabalu Town, where you can browse a market selling fresh produce, snacks, and local handicrafts and souvenirs. You stop for lunch at a local restaurant before continuing to Desa Cattle Farm, set at the foothills of Mount Kinabalu across 199 hectares of pasture. Here, you can mingle with the cattle, feed the calves, and sample fresh dairy products.Continuing to Kundasang, you check in to your accommodation and notice the refreshing mountain air at this higher altitude. The rest of the afternoon is free, giving you time to take in the mountain views before a dinner and a peaceful overnight stay surrounded by the mountains.

  • Day 3

    Poring Canopy Treetop Walk, Hot Springs & Kinabalu UNESCO Geopark

    This morning, the mist clears over Mount Kinabalu as you make your way to Poring Hot Springs for a Canopy Treetop Walk, suspended 60 metres above the forest floor after a short hike, with sweeping views over the surrounding jungle. Afterwards, you can relax in the open-air sulphur hot springs, set amid landscaped gardens, or opt for a cool dip instead.Following lunch at a local restaurant, you continue to Kinabalu UNESCO Global Geopark - Malaysia's first UNESCO World Heritage Site, covering 754 square kilometres at an elevation of 1,500 metres and home to Mount Kinabalu, one of Southeast Asia's highest peaks. With a guide, you take a stroll through the Botanical Garden, learning about the park's biodiversity along the way.You then return to Kota Kinabalu, where the rest of the day is free for you to relax or continue exploring the city.

  • Day 4

    Speedboat to Gaya Island Resort, Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park

    This morning is free for you to relax, before you check out and are transferred to the jetty for a scheduled speedboat crossing to your next accommodation, arriving after a short 10-minute journey.Set within Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park, the accommodation welcomes you with a drink on arrival before you check in and settle into your villa, which looks out over the surrounding mangrove forest towards Mount Kinabalu.The rest of the afternoon is free to enjoy the setting, with a choice of several on-site restaurants for dinner this evening. Please note: check-out from your Kota Kinabalu accommodation is required by 11 am.

  • Day 5

    Free Day: Turtle Conservation, Snorkelling with Marine Biologist & Nature Trails

    Today is free for you to relax - you might spend the day on the beach, by the pool, or simply unwinding in your villa.Optional activities include a visit to the resort's marine centre to learn about sea turtle conservation and coral cultivation, a guided snorkelling session with a marine biologist, or a nature trail in search of wildlife such as proboscis monkeys and red giant flying squirrels.You could also visit the spa for a treatment inspired by Sabah's indigenous traditions, before choosing how to spend your evening - whether that's dinner at one of the on-site restaurants, a walk along the beach, or time relaxing in your villa.

  • Day 6

    Gaya Island Checkout & Kota Kinabalu Airport Departure

    After breakfast, you check out and take a scheduled speedboat back to the mainland, before being transferred to Kota Kinabalu International Airport for your onward flight, bringing your tour of Sabah to a close.

What's Included

  • Meals

    Breakfasts: 5, Lunches: 2, Dinners: 2

    Vegetarian options are available on all meals throughout the adventure.

    Vegetarian options available

  • Local Guide

    Self Guided
  • Wifi

    Wifi is available during the adventure. In some areas and / or accommodation / transport Wifi may be free.

Dates & Prices

  • Sep 2026

    from £1,450
  • Oct 2026

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  • Nov 2026

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private departures available

Make this tour private

Every departure on this trip can be booked just for your own group — your dates, your people, the same expert local guides.

What changes when you go private

  • Travel with just your own group
    No other travellers on the trip — just the people you choose to bring
  • Travel on your schedule
    Pick your exact start date—no fixed group departures or rigid timetables.
  • Exclusively for your party
    Enjoy this handcrafted itinerary with a dedicated private guide just for you.
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Essential trip information

Our Important Notes and Packing List cover all essentials, from necessary equipment to inclusions, ensuring you're fully equipped and informed for this extraordinary adventure and more.

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