Introduction
Four to five weeks of travel time in Sabah will let you cover the highlights and get you off the tourist conveyor belt for a bit, too. Visits to mountains/jungles/islands are typically packaged as all-inclusive deals with transport, activities, accommodation and meals. Even as an independent traveller, it’s often the only way to access some places. If you have less time, check our classic Sabah in two weeks itinerary, which covers the most popular sights.
When to go
Wet or less wet are the choices in the rainforest. October to February is the official monsoon, and it’s hot and humid most of the time (except for the Mount Kinabalu region). Temperatures are around the high 20s to low 30s (Celsius), and the humidity is high at around 80 percent. The drier months of July and August are popular and you may wish to pre-book activities and accommodation, or at least be flexible. Chinese tourists have recently discovered the delights of Sabah and during Chinese holidays it’s wise to book a room, particularly in island areas.
Festivals
Sabah’s cultural calendar is dotted with a handful of events. April sees the colourful Regatta Leppa in Semporna, and all over Sabah in May, the harvest festival Pesta Kaamatan is celebrated by the indigenous Kadazan-Dusun. One of Sabah’s biggest events, Kota Belud’s Tamu Besar, is in October. Other festivals are dedicated to the local crops of sago, corn, coconut and durian.
Advance bookings
Numbers are limited for climbing Mount Kinabalu and diving Sipadan. If you plan on doing either book well in advance of your trip to Sabah. Advanced bookings for Turtle Island Marine Park are also recommended. However, sometimes last-minute bookings are possible for all if you’re flexible.
Day by day
Day 1 and 2 — Kota Kinabalu
Kota Kinabalu may not seem much on first impression but there’s enough here to keep you busy for a couple of days. Head out to the islands of Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park for some beach time, ride the historic steam train on The North Borneo Railway (Wednesdays and Saturdays); cook up a Sabahan feast at A Taste of Borneo cooking class, or have fun with the locals at Mari Mari Cultural Village. If it’s raining, stop by the floating mosque or the Sabah Museum, or pick up a souvenir at the markets. Don’t miss the stunning sunsets and be sure to eat your way around town — you won’t be losing any weight this trip. Kota Kinabalu’s night market is a hungry traveller’s paradise.
Day 3 and 4 — Kinabalu Park
Grab a minivan to Kinabalu Park and be awed by Malaysia’s highest peak. Spend the day walking the park trails before you hit the mountain path. Book well in advance for your mountain climb as numbers are limited. Enjoy the climb and look out for the world’s smallest rhododendron and the world’s tallest moss along the way, as well as the endemic orchids and pitcher plants. You’ll spend a night on the mountain before you summit.
Day 5 and 6 — Poring
This morning is a very early rise, but the thrill of getting to 4,095.2 metres under your own steam is hard to beat (you’ve been training, right?). Take the descent slowly then jump in a share taxi to Poring in time for a quick soak in Poring Hots Springs before you walk into Lupa Masa jungle camp. Even after a good night’s sleep you’re probably feeling a little sore, but a jungle trek will stretch those aches and pains away or a swim in the river might be just the ticket. If nothing works, there’s always rice wine.
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Reviewed by
Sally Arnold
Sally spent twelve years leading tourists around Indonesia and Malaysia where she collected a lot of stuff. She once carried a 40kg rug overland across Java. Her house has been described as a cross between a museum and a library. Fuelled by coffee, she can often be found riding her bike or petting stray cats. Sally believes travel is the key to world peace.
