Sabah Adventure

Summiting Mt. Kinabalu is an exhilarating challenge that should not be underestimated. On the second day of the trek, we begin our ascent at 2 AM to witness the breathtaking sunrise from the summit. Standing at approximately 4,095 meters (13,435 feet) above sea level, it promises an unforgettable experience but requires an excellent level of fitness to complete successfully.

Read our blog here for everything you need to know about climbing Mt Kinabalu: https://www.intrepidtravel.com/adventures/guide-to-climbing-mt-kinabalu-borneo/

You'll need to pack some specific items for this trip. Check the ‘Packing List’ in the Essential Trip Information for more details so you are prepared.

On this trip, you will experience a wide range of accommodation types: shared dormitory rooms in hostels, a homestay, a resort, a jungle lodge, and hotels. Some may be a little more basic than our standard hotels, but their unique locations and close proximity to nature are what make them special.

1. Please provide passport details at the time of booking, as these are essential for booking services on this trip, including your Mt Kinabalu permit.

2. A single supplement is available if you’d prefer not to share a room on this trip. The single supplement excludes Days 2 and 3 (Dusun Village), 4 and 5 (Mt Kinabalu), and 9 (Turtle Island), where you will be in shared accommodation. It is subject to availability. Please speak to your booking agent for further information.

3. Some governments may have increased travel advice levels in place for parts of Eastern Sabah, including Sandakan and Turtle Island. Ensure you check your government’s foreign travel advice for the most up to date information before you travel. If you have any questions about whether the current advice level affects your travel insurance coverage, please contact your insurance provider. Travel insurance is compulsory for all Intrepid traveller and must cover all destinations and activities on the itinerary. In addition to the increased security presence in the region, we have additional safety measures in place on our trips to comply with local regulations, including not travelling by boat at night and only travelling on approved routes and vessels.

What you need to bring will vary according to when you are travelling. Generally speaking, we recommend you pack as lightly as possible and make sure that you are able to carry and lift your own luggage, and walk with it for short distances. As well as your underwear, toothbrush and other items you always need to pack for travel, below are some items that you specifically need for this trip., LAUNDRY
There will be limited laundry facilities on this trip. We recommend you pack a few sets of clothes to wear when you don’t have access to a laundry.

LOCAL DRESS
Malaysia is a liberal Muslim country, and many Malaysian women do not wear headscarves. However, Malaysia may be conservative compared to standards you may be accustomed to at home, and you should dress accordingly. As a general guideline, shoulders, cleavage and knees should be covered when travelling in Borneo except on the beach. Wearing skimpy clothing is considered disrespectful to local culture in many of the small local communities we visit.

ESSENTIALS
- T-Shirts/cotton shirts
- Long-sleeved top (for evenings when mosquitoes are out)
- Long trousers/long skirt/shorts (denim not recommended due to humidity – cotton or quick-drying clothes are better)
- Walking shoes or hiking boots with a good grip
- Sandals/flip flops
- Sun protection – hat, reef safe sunscreen, sunglasses, lip balm
- Insect repellent
- Small to medium-sized day backpack (for overnight trips at Mt Kinabalu and Turtle Island)
- Head torch (for when you are climbing the summit of Mt Kinabalu in the dark as you will need your hands free)
- Waterproof jacket
- Warm hat and waterproof gloves
- Warm layers (for climbing Mt Kinabalu temperatures can drop to below freezing, so make sure you pack several layers that can be added/removed as you ascend/descend)
- Waterproof bag cover or plastic bags
- Swim suit

You need to bring a main piece of luggage as well as a small to medium backpack for overnight trips (30-35 litres/8-9 gallons) to Mt Kinabalu and Turtle Island. In this, you will need to carry a change of clothes, a head torch for the trek, toiletries, warm clothes and any other essentials. While trekking, you will leave your main piece of luggage at a central point and return following the trek.

RECOMMENDED
- Personal medical kit. Your guide will carry a larger kit, but we recommend you carry items such as mild painkillers, adhesive bandages and electrolytes.
- Trekking pole(s)
- Camera
- Spare batteries/chargers
- Electrical travel adaptor plug for Malaysia
- Hand sanitiser
- Water bottle – Some hotels may have filtered drinking water to refill your bottle.
- Money belt or pouch
- Backpack or bag with shoulder strap (recommended over bags with wheels)

OPTIONAL
- A good book, a journal and/or music
- Playing cards
- Travel washing line and bio-degradable washing detergent

We do not allow the use of video cameras or filming with phones when staying in the villages as this is highly intrusive for locals.

MORE!
You can always check out our ultimate packing list for further packing tips and suggestions., https://www.intrepidtravel.com/packing-list, WATER BOTTLE
Please bring your own water bottle to refill. Although it can be difficult to avoid bottled water when travelling, please use the water dispensers which are provided on some of our vehicles and at some of our accommodation. When unable to avoid bottled water, it is better to buy the largest available and distribute it into your smaller bottle for the day. Some travellers like to bring a bottle with its own filtration system or water purification tablets. If you are walking or trekking as part of your trip, you will need to carry at least 2 litres of water with you.

The Mt Kinabalu climb is quite challenging so the fitter you are the more enjoyable the experience will be. We recommend that you undertake regular aerobic exercise in the weeks before you travel, particularly if you are not in the habit of regular exercise. Walking, jogging, swimming or riding a bike are all good ways to increase your aerobic fitness, which will allow you to enjoy the trek to its fullest. Please note for those that do not wish to climb Mt Kinabalu you are not obliged to, it is an option to have accommodation arranged and stay at the base of Kinabalu at Park Headquarters. Please advise your agent at the time of booking if you do not wish to climb Mt Kinabalu so that the appropriate arrangements can be made.

Dreamtel Hotel - Kota Kinabalu, 5 Jalan Padang, Kota Kinabalu, 88000, MALAYSIA, Phone: +(60) 88240333

Centrally located in down-town Kota Kinabalu, rooms are equipped with private en suite, TV, AC, phone, in room safe, tea/coffee making facilities, the hotel also provides a restaurant, free wi-fi internet access & 24 hour front desk.

Alternate Joining Point

Intrepid offer a pre arranged transfer service option. Enquire with your agent and advise your flight arrival details at least 14 days prior to your trip departure. If you have purchased an arrival transfer you will be met after exiting customs. Our representative will be holding a sign with your name on it.

At Kota Kinabalu Internal Airport If you have any problems and cannot locate our transfer representative on arrival (the driver is only able to wait for 1 hour past your scheduled arrival time) please go to the Airport Information counter (located on the same floor at arrivals) and ask them to call our transfer operator at +60 13 371 6333 . If you flight is delayed or you have been put on a different flight number please call our local operator in advance to let them know.

If you want to take a taxi on arrival please go to the taxi service counter – here the rate is a set rate of 35 MYR and they will issue a voucher to use with the taxi’s parked outside. If you arrive between 12am – 6am expect to pay a 50% surcharge

Normal check in time at the hotel is after 2pm

Hotel Sandakan, Block 83, Town Centre, 4th Avenue, Sandakan, 9000, MALAYSIA

Hotel Sandakan, strategically located at Town Centre. Only 20 minutes drive from the airport and within walking distance to business district, tourist attractions, center market & the new shopping mall. All rooms with window and private bathroom. Free Wifi access inside the room and hotel’s public areas for in house guests.

Alternate Finish Point

If you have a transfer to the Sandakan Airport your transfer driver will collect you from your Guesthouse 3 hours before your flight time. If your transfer has not arrived within 15minutes of the scheduled pickup time please ask the hotel / guesthouse reception to call our transfer operator Sepilok Tropical Wildlife Adventure on their 24 hour number on +6012 860 0866. Your group leader will reconfirm this with you before departing.

Breakfasts included: 10

Lunches included: 6

Dinners included: 6

While travelling with us you'll experience the vast array of wonderful food available in the world. Your group leader or local representative will be able to suggest restaurants to try during your trip. To give you the maximum flexibility in deciding where, what and with whom to eat, generally not all meals are included in the trip price. This also gives you more budgeting flexibility. As a rule, our groups tend to eat together to enable you to taste a larger variety of dishes and enjoy each other's company. If you have dietary requirements and/or food allergies, please let your booking agent know prior to departure.

Please note occasionally the summit trail will be closed due to strong winds or heavy rainfall. When this happens no trekkers will be able to summit. This is a safety measure and is enforced by Sabah Parks staff and is beyond Intrepid's control. This can happen at any time of the year including outside of the wet season.

CHINESE NEW YEAR:
An important 15 day festival for the Malaysian Chinese, based on the lunar calendar in January or February. In 2025, the Year of the Snake is scheduled to be held from 29 January.This can be a busy time and some transport delays, shop closures and reduced opening hours at some sites may be expected, but there are also many fabulous festivals and rituals to observe during this time, so it's a great time to travel. Although we make all reasonable efforts to avoid disruption, a flexible approach from travellers is appreciated if choosing to travel during this time in Malaysia.

RAMADAN
The important month of Ramadan will be in progress 1 March to 30 March 2025 and the Eid ul-Fitr festival will be held directly at its conclusion for 3-4 days. Ramadan is a festival of sacrifice where the devout refrain from eating or drinking during daylight hours. During Ramadan, business hours are shortened, including opening hours at some tourist attractions. Alcohol is not permitted during daylight hours and many restaurants will be closed. While you should expect some delays and inconveniences during this period, the month is a fantastic opportunity to travel in a Muslim country and witness this unique period, particularly the nightly celebrations when the sun sets and the fast is broken. Please note that although the Eid ul-Fitr festival can also be a fascinating time to travel it's a period of national holiday. Most government offices and businesses will be closed and some tourist site opening hours may be affected.

While we always endeavour to provide the best possible holiday experience, due to the nature of travel and the areas we visit sometimes things can and do go wrong. Should any issue occur while you are on your trip, it is imperative that you discuss this with your group leader or local representative straight away so that they can do their best to rectify the problem and save any potential negative impact on the rest of your trip.

We recognise that there may be times when your group leader or local representative may not be able to resolve a situation to your satisfaction - if this is the case, please ask the group leader or local representative to speak to their direct manager.

You may also choose to provide details in your online feedback, which we ask you to complete within 30 days of the end of your trip. Please do be aware that it is very difficult for us to provide any practical help after the trip is completed, so informing us while still travelling will give us the opportunity to resolve the issue in real-time.

For general contact details please use the following page: https://www.intrepidtravel.com/contact-us

In case of a genuine crisis or emergency, you can reach our local office on the numbers below:

Available for phone call or WhatsApp call on +60 138 815 813

Please note some of the multishare or dormitory accommodation on this trip may be mixed gender.