TRAVEL KOTA KINABALU TO SEMPORNA

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. 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.

Kota Kinabalu 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. Fromn 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 you trip in Semporna, from where you can organise diving and snorkelling trips to Pulau Sipadan and other nearby islands.

The 1300km you will cover on this trip may seem like nothing once you have 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.