Kinabalu Grand Circuit & Tea Gardens

Once you have arrived in Kota Kinabalu, you are transferred to your accommodation for a relaxing afternoon.

In the evening, you head to Sutera Harbour Marina Jetty to board a Sunset Dinner Cruise with North Borneo Cruises. You glide along the South China Sea, taking in panoramic sunset views from the upper deck or enjoying the live music on the air-conditioned dining deck below, with a buffet dinner served as passing islands and coastal lights create a magical backdrop.

You then return to the jetty and are transferred back to your accommodation for the night.

After breakfast, you travel to Tamparuli Town to cross the iconic Jambatan Tamparuli suspension bridge, celebrated in local folklore. You continue to Nabalu Market, where you can browse fresh produce and handicrafts with Mount Kinabalu in the background, and stop at a family-friendly recreation park with a selfie garden and rabbit farm.

You stop for lunch at a local restaurant before visiting Culvert View, a scenic spot offering photo opportunities with Mount Kinabalu as a backdrop, framed by colourful concrete culverts. The day concludes at Kundasang Market, where you can browse fresh produce and herbs, before transferring to your mountain accommodation for the night.

This morning, you set off on a sunrise hike up Sosodikon Hill, a short, easy trail offering sweeping views of the village and surrounding hills. From here, you visit Desa Cow Farm, known as "Little New Zealand of Sabah," where Holstein Friesian cows roam - you can feed the calves and sample fresh yoghurt and gelato. You continue to the Alpaca Club to hand-feed the only alpacas in Sabah, before exploring Kundasang Farmville, home to an aquaponic farm, a selfie garden, an ice cream bus and a cafe.

Following lunch at a local restaurant, you continue to Kinabalu National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and part of the Kinabalu UNESCO Global Geopark, rich in biodiversity with over 4,500 plant species, before heading back to your accommodation for a well-deserved rest.

After breakfast, you check out and continue to Poring Hot Springs, where you can unwind in Japanese-inspired open-air tubs surrounded by nature, or take a dip in a nearby cool pool.

You have some free time to explore the area - for the more adventurous, you can also take on a short walk from the main entrance to Kipungit Waterfall. You then take on the Canopy Treetop Walk, suspended 30 metres above the ground for a bird's-eye view of the surrounding rainforest.

Afterwards, you continue to Sabah Tea Garden, nestled among tea plantations at the foothills of Mount Kinabalu, where you check in to your cottage for a peaceful evening surrounded by misty hills and views over the estate.

After breakfast, you join a guided tour of Sabah Tea Garden's organic plantation and factory, learning about tea cultivation, processing and packaging amid the surrounding sounds of nature.

Following check-out, you visit a fish spa, where local fish gently nibble away dead skin, leaving your feet soft and refreshed. The day concludes with a scenic 3-hour drive back to Kota Kinabalu for an overnight stay in the city.

After breakfast, you check out and transfer to Kota Kinabalu International Airport for your departure, bringing your tour of Sabah to a close.