Kinabalu Peaks & Gaya Island Escape

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.