Day 1: Leave UK
Say goodbye to the UK for 2 weeks, it's jungle time baby!
Day 2: Arrive in Kota Kinabalu
From the airport, you'll be checked into the guesthouse in Kota Kinabalu, the capital of Malaysia's Sabah state, known for it's surrounding bustling markets, beaches and waterfront. In the evening we'll hopefully have a little time to explore the city before we head off into the middle of nowhere! You'll have your first taste of Malaysian cuisine and have a chance to meet your trek mates before getting a good nights sleep for the first day of the trek!
Day 3: Tudan to Tapioca Camp
It's an early start as we're whisked away to the small village of Tudan. We'll begin our trek here, already at 1,500m above sea level. We'll meander over forested hills and rugged trails and pray we don't hit a downpour.
We'll meet local tribespeople along the way, learning what they gather to eat and collecting some for ourselves, Expect to find wild ferns, tapioca leaves, bamboo shoots and wild ginger. Hopefully we'll collect enough to make a tasty dinner feast! Our camp for the night is at 1,200m and next to a small, fresh stream.
On our first evening, we'll learn how to use the machete, set up camp, build fires, long drop toilets and even hunt for frogs. This is wild trekking at it's best, living off the natural world and sleeping under the stars.
Day 4: Hike to Mousedeer Camp
Hopefully you've had a good first nights sleep at camp and if not, we're up early anyway! We'll quickly pack up camp, leaving no trace, and head off for another day trekking through the jungle. We'll use the machete to clear sections of the trail, gradually heading downhill. Our guide will point out local flora and fauna, poisonous plants and edible berries we can forage.
We'll camp tonight at 900m by another stream, easing into our evening camp routine of foraging, lighting fires and working as a team. If we have time, we might go for a night walk to see some of the nocturnal wildlife. We'll learn how to make blowpipes from bamboo, build shelters and generally have an epic time off grid and nowhere near any WiFi.
Day 5: Hike to Sauna Boot Camp
We'll be getting knee-deep into it today, literally. Wading through streams and rivers to get to where we're going, we'll meander downhill, foraging vegetables for dinner.
Home for the night will be Sauna Boot Camp at 500m, where we'll have the chance to fish for dinner and make animal traps. We'll even make our own cooking utensils from bamboo!
Day 6: Hike to KG Pinahawan and transfer to Kinabalu Park
Day 6's trek is a relatively brief one. We'll be picked up in the late morning and dropped by the river for a quick wash and dip before heading to the local village. Then it's time for a serious rest before we attempt Mt Kinabalu in the morning.
Day 7: Trek up Mt Kinabalu to Laban Rata
We'll pack a bag just for the one night of camping on the Mt Kinabalu summit and leave out things at the park base. It'll take us around 6 hours of trekking through jungle vines and forest to get to the Laban Rata hut at 3,280m. It's a steep climb and we'll be ready fro a rest at the end of the day, but we'll be excited by the hype of summiting in the morning!
Day 8: Mt Kinabalu Summit to Kota Kinabalu
We'll wake at 2.30-3am, psyched with adrenaline for summiting Borneo's highest mountain at 4,095m. We'll make our way up foot ladders and granite paths where hand rails stretch up to the top. This section is steep but fairly easy underfoot.
Hopefully we'll reach the summit just as the sun is breaking. If it's a clear day there'll be views of the coast, surrounding forests and local villages. It's a truly spectacular summit and worth every day leading up to it. Then there'll be time for some photos and celebratory snacks before we head down to the resthouse for a well-deserved breakfast.
In the afternoon we'll head back to Kota Kinabalu where we'll have time to rest or explore after our unforgettable morning.
Day 9: Rest day in Kinabalu
If you spent yesterday napping and recovering, now is the time to explore the city! If you haven't quite got your adventure fill yet there'll be chance to go zip-lining, mountain biking, diving, white-water rafting or sightseeing.
Day 10: Trip to Sandakan
If you can't get 2 weeks off work, you're welcome to end your trip at this point and return home. Alternatively, stay and experience what the local area has to offer with some epic day trips.
Today there'll be the opportunity to fly to the city of Sandakan to visit the Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre to watch the morning feeding and learn about the animals.
Then we'll hop on a bus to the Kinabatangan River where we'll catch a wildlife boat ride. The Kinabatangan River boasts some of the most diverse river species on Earth, such as pygmy elephants, crocodiles, rhinoceros hornbills and rare insects. If you fancy seeing it from a different perspective, you can also go at night, which is a truly unforgettable experience.
Day 11: Kinabatangan River Safari
After a good night's sleep in our riverside lodge we'll spend another day soaking up what the river has to offer with more wildlife cruises and a chance to wander around local trails. We'll enjoy a final night eating together in our riverside lodge and reflect on the trip and what we've learned.
Day 12: Gomantong Cave and departure
In the morning before our flight from Sandakan we'll visit the famous Gomantong cave, the largest cave in the Sabah region. From here we'll begin our journey back towards the UK.
Day 13: Arrive back in the UK
Home time! Hopefully you'll have spent 2 amazing weeks off grid, exploring a totally new way of life. It own; t be long before you're plotting your next adventure.
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