Borneo Bike and Hike

Arrive Kota Kinabalu, transfer to guesthouse, introductions, resting, briefings.

Transfer by vehicle up to the start of the first cycle stage at a mountain pass at 1400m. Cycle downhill for around 30-45 minutes then up and down for 2 hours before we reach the hostel near a 30m waterfall on the back road to Poring. Approx 40km with 1100 m of descent and 200 m of ascent at the end.

Cycle to Poring Hot Springs area on back road. This is likely to take between 4 and 6 hours depending on cycling speed. En-route stop and visit the memorial commemorating the final campsite of the allied prisoners of the infamous WW2 Sandakan Death March. Approx 75km with around 200m of ascent. It goes down to about 400m via two good hills and then up at the end to 600m We spend the night in the park hostel, chance to relax the legs in the hot tubs

After breakfast, trek 30 mins through the forest to spend an exciting day and nights in a jungle camp with clear rivers and waterfalls to relax in. We can also take short hikes out into the rainforest. We sleep on mattresses or in hammocks in the camp shelters.

You will be collected at Poring Hot Spring before being driven to Kiau Valley where we will begin the ride. We then ride down through Kiau Valley to Kampung Kaung ( 20KM ride) with excellent views of the jungle-clad valley and Mount Kinabalu. When we get to the end of the rideable trail, we put the bikes onto the truck and from here we walk through Kampung Kaung where we begin the jungle trek ( If weather permits). We make a few river crossings until we arrive at the paddy fields of Kampung Tambatuon where we overnight in the village community homestay. There are comfortable dorms and a huge veranda facing the granite walls of the western flanks of Mount Kinabalu. In the evening, there will be a sit-down dinner of local cuisine prepared by our guides with local rice wine to chat through the day’s thrills while the team service the bikes and get ready for the second day’s adventure.

This is a full day in the saddle. We head north on mostly gravel roads for 25km, stopping to swim in cool rivers and entertain the bemused locals. There are lots of cool drinks supplied by the support vehicle along the way. We stop for some local cuisine at the quiet frontier town of Taginambur for lunch. We then continue riding to our hotel in Kota Belud, a bustling district town just north of Mount Kinabalu. Tonight, we will have dinner at Joe’s café (Dinner location will be advised upon the guest’s strict diet. Alcohol at own account if there is any), a piece of Kota Belud’s history, very popular among the allies during the WW, and a home town for one of the tribes in Sabah, known as Bajau or sea gypsy. Originally from the south of Philippines, they have been settled down on the coast from many years ago, and establish their horse riding skills, thus they have been also called the Cowboys of the East.

15kms of riding on very scenic and quite hilly roads with almost no traffic (but plenty of cows!) and stunning views of the northern gullies of mount Kinabalu, including the infamous Low’s Gully. The mountain of Tamboyukon, Sabah’s 3rd highest peak sits in the foreground, forbidding in its jungle shroud. A full day in the saddle. Today’s journey will take us to the military camp or known as Paradise Camp. This camp was built by the British and Australian soldiers during the Second World War as an outpost to stop the advancing Japanese soldiers from the North of Borneo. We continue on sealed road before we enter the gravel section in the jungle for 15kms before we finish the ride by the river. Take a well-deserved swim in the river while our guides load the bikes and gear back in the support vehicle and ready to transfer to lunch. Don’t worry, there is a changing room.  Once ready we’ll take a 40 minute drive to Big Fin Dive Resort. Spend the next 2 nights relaxing at this small but beautiful resort.

Free and Easy – optional activities include: Diving, snorkelling, kayaking, stand-up paddle boarding, jungle walks.

Check out of Big Fin after lunch and drive 2 hours to Kinabalu National Park. There are well marked trails around the base of the mountain which offer great sightings of many birds and small mammals. Get a good night’s sleep before your mountain trek the following day.

Today we begin our climb of Mount Kinabalu using the Mesilau Route on the South East side of the mountain. The climb up to the Laban Rata hut will take around 5-7-hrs as it is a steep ascent from 2000m to 3250m.

Today we climb to Mt Kinabalu summit then descend via the regular route to Timpohon Gate, the Park HQ then a quick transfer to the nearby lodge. This will be a long day of around 12-14 hrs with 700m of ascent followed by around 2300m of descent.

Depart to Kota Kinabalu