Sabah Family Adventure · 24 Jul

🌊 Week 1

Semporna &
the Coral Triangle

Pearl Island Resort · 6 nights

Six nights on a water villa in the Coral Triangle — the most biodiverse marine environment on Earth. Expect overwater sunrises, turtles gliding beneath your villa, and some of the best snorkelling in Asia. This is where the holiday starts in earnest.

✈️

Fri 24 Jul · Travel

Singapore → Kuala Lumpur · Overnight at KLIA

Travel ▾

20:00

✈️ SQ128 · Singapore Airlines

Singapore → Kuala Lumpur · Arrives 21:10 · Booked ✓

21:30

🏨 Check in — Sama-Sama Hotel KLIA

5-star airport hotel. Direct skybridge to KLIA Terminal 1. Request a runway-view room — the kids will love watching the planes. Booked ✓

Late

🌙 Early night — big day tomorrow

MH2660 departs 07:15. Set alarms early! Breakfast from 05:30.

🏝️

Sat 25 Jul · Day 1 Semporna

KL → Tawau → Semporna Jetty → Pearl Island Resort

Travel ▾

07:15

✈️ MH2660 · Malaysia Airlines

KL → Tawau · Arrives 10:10 · Booked ✓

10:10

🚗 Private transfer to Semporna jetty

~1 hour drive. Pre-arranged by Pearl Island Resort. Grab a fresh coconut at the jetty market.

12:00

⛵ Speedboat to Pearl Island Resort

~15–20 min across Tun Sakaran Marine Park waters. First island views! Booked ✓

Arvo

🌊 Settle in · Snorkel off the jetty

Unpack, feel the sea breeze. House reef is right off the jetty — turtles and reef fish anytime. Watch the sunset from the water villa terrace.

🥾

Sun 26 Jul · Day 2 Semporna

Tun Sakaran Marine Park — Bohey Dulang Hike

Active ▾

08:00

⛵ Boat to Tun Sakaran Marine Park

Day tour via Pearl Island Resort ~RM160/pax. Guide, boat, lunch, life jacket included.

09:00

🥾 Bohey Dulang hike to the viewpoint

30–45 min moderate trail to 700m. Volcanic caldera + lagoon panorama — one of Sabah's best views.

⚠️ Start early — gets very hot by 10am

11:30

🤿 Mantabuan Island snorkel

Calm sheltered bay — jellyfish, clownfish, nemo, turtles. Perfect for kids. Beach picnic lunch included.

14:00

🏖️ Back to resort — free afternoon

Jetty snorkel or hammock. Order the giant mantis prawns for dinner (~RM20 each, half an arm long).

🤿

Mon 27 Jul · Day 3 Semporna

Sipadan Island Snorkel + Mabul House Reef

Active ▾

08:30

⛵ Sipadan Island — world's top dive site

Schooling barracuda and hawksbill turtles visible from the surface even for snorkellers. Truly unforgettable.

⚠️ Only 120 permits/day — booked via resort

14:00

🐠 Mabul house reef — free snorkel

Off the resort jetty, anytime. Turtles, nudibranchs, reef fish at your own pace.

18:30

🦀 Sunset dinner on the water

Flower crabs: RM60 = 15 crabs here vs 2 in KK! Also: tiger prawns, sea urchin, fresh fish.

🐢

Tue 28 Jul · Day 4 Semporna

Kapalai Sandbar + Mataking + Timba-Timba · Free Afternoon

Easy ▾

🐢

08:30

🏝️ Kapalai sandbar snorkel

Barely above sea level — mandarin fish, nudibranchs, extraordinary visibility. ~RM120/pax.

10:30

🐢 Mataking + Timba-Timba Islands

Timba-Timba: turtles in the shallows below the island. Mataking: lush, uncrowded, gorgeous.

13:00

🛁 FREE AFTERNOON — no agenda

Back by 1pm. Pool, hammock, read. Kids can snorkel off the jetty. This is intentional — enjoy it.

🛁

Wed 29 Jul · Day 5 Semporna

Full Free Day — Beach, Snorkel, Absolutely Nothing

Rest Day ▾

🌅

All day

🏖️ No agenda — completely free

No boat. No guide. No schedule. Wake up when you want. Snorkel off the jetty if the mood strikes. Watch the sea from the villa. Let the kids play in the water all day. This is what a holiday feels like.

🛶

Thu 30 Jul · Day 6 Semporna

Semporna Town · Bajau Laut Village · Pack for Tomorrow

Easy ▾

🛶

Morning

🛶 Semporna waterfront & market

Boat to Semporna town. Fresh tropical fruit stalls, dried seafood market. Very local and real.

Midday

🏘️ Bajau Laut stilt village

Guided boat visit to a sea nomad stilt village. One of the most memorable cultural stops of the trip — kids will talk about this for years. ~RM50–80/pax.

Arvo

🌅 Last Semporna sunset

Pack bags. Watch the final sunset from the water villa terrace. Farewell seafood dinner.

🦧 Week 2A

Kinabatangan &
Sandakan Wildlife

Borneo Jungle Adventure · 3 nights + Ormond Sandakan · 1 night

Borneo's Amazon. A 4-day deep dive into the world's most accessible jungle wildlife corridor — wild orangutans, pygmy elephants at sunrise, proboscis monkeys, and crocodiles by torchlight. This is the adventure heart of the trip.

🚗

Fri 31 Jul · Transfer Day

Semporna → Kinabatangan River Lodge (~4hr drive)

Travel ▾

🚗

07:30

⛵ Checkout Pearl Island Resort

Boat to Semporna jetty. Last mantis prawn breakfast if possible. Car to book

09:00

🚗 Private car to Kinabatangan

~4 hour scenic drive via Lahad Datu. Stop for lunch midway at Lahad Datu town.

14:00

🏕️ Arrive Borneo Jungle Adventure

Check in. Feel the river air. Hear the jungle sounds. The wildlife begins now. Booked ✓

16:00

🚤 Afternoon river cruise

First sighting: proboscis monkeys, macaques, hornbills, egrets. Wear long sleeves at dusk.

🌅

Sat 1 Aug · Kinabatangan Day 1

Dawn Cruise · Jungle Trek · Afternoon & Night Safari

Active ▾

06:30

🌅 DAWN RIVER CRUISE

THE highlight of the whole trip. Wild pygmy elephants drinking at the bank. Orangutans overhead. Proboscis monkeys leaping. Bring a jacket — cool on the water.

⭐ Best moment of the entire 16 days

10:00

🌿 Morning jungle trekking

Guided walk through riparian forest. Hornbills, lizards, incredible insects the kids will love.

14:30

🥾 Afternoon jungle walk

Second guided walk — different trail, different wildlife. Guides spot things you'd never see alone.

16:00

🚤 Afternoon river cruise

Late afternoon light is beautiful on the Kinabatangan. Second boat, second bank, new sightings.

🌙

Sun 2 Aug · Kinabatangan Day 2

Final Dawn Cruise · Checkout · Sandakan · Sepilok

Active ▾

06:30

🌅 Final dawn river cruise

Last morning on the Kinabatangan. Often the best sightings are on the final day.

08:30

🏕️ Checkout Borneo Jungle Adventure

Big breakfast. Pack up. Transfer to Sandakan ~2hrs.

13:00

🦧 Sepilok Orangutan Centre · 3pm feeding

Nursery (baby orangutans!) at 2:30pm. Main platform at 3pm. Cash only at gate — RM30 adult, RM15 child.

16:00

☀️ Sun Bear Conservation Centre

5 min walk from Sepilok. World's only sun bear facility. Elevated walkways — you look DOWN into the forest where the bears forage. Moving and funny.

Evening

🏨 Check in — Ormond Sandakan

Dinner at Sandakan Central Market — fresh seafood cooked to order, unbelievably cheap. To Book

✈️

Mon 3 Aug · Transfer Day

Sandakan → Kota Kinabalu · Check in Shangri-La Rasa Ria

Travel ▾

✈️

09:00

🧳 Checkout Ormond Sandakan

Bags in car. Light morning. Breakfast in town.

TBC

✈️ AirAsia · Sandakan → KK

~45 min flight. To Book

Evening

🏨 Check in — Shangri-La Rasa Ria

Garden Wing Deluxe Family Room. Arrive, exhale. Dinner at Tepi Laut beachside food market. Booked ✓

🏝️ Week 2B

Kota Kinabalu —
The Wind-Down Week

Shangri-La Rasa Ria · 5 nights

Five nights at Malaysia's #1 Family Resort. Culture, island beaches, wildlife, a proper spa day, and real rest. KK is where the trip slows down beautifully — great food, a huge pool, a 64-acre nature reserve, and Mount Kinabalu glowing on the horizon.

🏖️

Tue 4 Aug · KK Day 1

Arrive & Settle In · Sunrise Hike · Batik Painting

Easy ▾

06:00

🌄 Sunrise hike + jungle breakfast

Ranger guides through the 64-acre reserve. Coffee + pastries at the viewpoint. Mount Kinabalu on clear mornings.

10:00

🎨 Batik painting class

Free activity at the resort. Kids make a proper batik to bring home. Great souvenir.

Arvo

🏊 Kids pool + water slides

Garden Wing pool has two water slides and staff-led activities. The kids will not want to leave.

🎭

Wed 5 Aug · KK Day 2

Mari Mari Cultural Village · Free Afternoon

Easy ▾

10:00

🎭 Mari Mari Cultural Village

5 tribal longhouses: Bajau, Kadazan-Dusun, Murut, Lundayeh, Rungus. Blowpipe demos, fire-starting, traditional food. 4.7★ / 3,800+ reviews. ~RM180/adult, ~RM140/child. Booked ✓

⚠️ Sessions fill up — booked in advance

13:30

🛁 Free afternoon

Done by 1:30pm. Pool, Gaya Street, Suria Sabah mall, Handicraft Market, or just the beach at the resort.

🏝️

Thu 6 Aug · KK Day 3

TAR Marine Park — Manukan + Sapi Islands

Easy ▾

08:00

⛵ Ferry from resort jetty → Manukan Island

Shangri-La runs its own boats — no need to go to Jesselton Point. Clear water, excellent snorkelling, jungle trail to Sunset Point. Beach BBQ lunch.

13:00

🤿 Sapi Island hop

Quieter than Manukan, good coral close to shore. Optional zip-line between Sapi and Gaya Island.

Evening

🍹 Sampan Bar — sunset cocktails

Drinks on the beach as the sun goes down over the South China Sea. Order whatever you like.

🧖

Fri 7 Aug · KK Day 4

Spa Day · Pool · Beach · Absolutely No Obligations

Rest Day ▾

💆

Morning

💆 CHI Spa at Shangri-La Rasa Ria

Local techniques using Sabahan ingredients. Book treatments in advance — fills up.

⚠️ Book spa ahead via resort concierge

All day

🏖️ Pool · Beach · Complete rest

Long lunch. Kids in the Club (free, 8am–7pm). Afternoon nap. 3km beach walk. Sunset cocktails. Room service for dinner. This day is non-negotiable — protect it.

🐘

Sat 8 Aug · KK Day 5 · Last Full Day

Lok Kawi Wildlife Park · Farewell Dinner

Easy ▾

🐘

09:30

🐘 Lok Kawi Wildlife Park

Rescued pygmy elephants, orangutans, sun bears, proboscis monkeys. Animal show at 11:15am. A perfect gentle finale for the wildlife chapter. ~30 min Grab south of KK city.

15:00

🛍️ Last souvenirs — KK Handicraft Market

Sabahan crafts, batik, spices, dried seafood, wood carvings. 5 min walk from the waterfront.

19:00

🦀 Farewell Dinner

Last night in Sabah — order everything. Flower crabs, tiger prawns, fresh catch. Upperstar or Tepi Laut at the resort. Cheers to a brilliant family adventure!

🇸🇬

Sun 8 Aug · Departure

Fly KK → Singapore · Home in time for National Day! 🎆

Travel ▾

🇸🇬

09:00

🧳 Checkout Shangri-La Rasa Ria

Hotel limousine to airport — arrange night before at reception. Allow 45–50 min to airport.

10:15

🚗 Transfer to KK International Airport

Check in 2hrs before — international flight. Arrive by 10:15am for 12:15 departure.

12:15

✈️ TR491 · Scoot · KK → Singapore

Arrives 14:40. Home for National Day evening fireworks! 🎆 Booked ✓

Before you go

Essential Tips 💡

🌿

Reef-Safe Sunscreen Only

Conventional sunscreen is banned near Sipadan and all TAR Marine Park islands. Buy reef-safe sunscreen in Singapore — harder to find in Semporna.

💵

Cash & Currency

1 SGD ≈ 3.4 MYR. Carry cash for Semporna markets, Sepilok entrance (cash only — RM30 adult), and Kinabatangan lodge tips.

📱

Grab & Transport

Grab works in KK + Sandakan city. Pre-arrange private drivers for Sepilok, Labuk Bay, and Kinabatangan. Download offline maps before leaving SIN.

🦟

Kinabatangan Essentials

Long sleeves + light trousers for all river cruises. Mosquitoes are active at dusk. Light jacket for the 5:30am dawn cruise — cold on the river.

🦧

Wildlife Etiquette

No flash photography at Sepilok. Stay quiet on river cruises — noise scares animals. Never feed wildlife. Follow all guide instructions at all times.

🍤

Must-Eat in Semporna

Mantis prawns (half an arm long, ~RM20), flower crabs (RM60 = 15!), sea urchin, tiger prawns. Order these every single night.

🌧️

Weather

July–August is dry season on the east coast — hot and sunny. Pack a light rain jacket for Kinabatangan afternoons. Humidity is high everywhere.

🩺

Health

No special vaccinations required. Hepatitis A + Typhoid recommended. Bring motion sickness tablets for long boat days and the river cruises.

🏨

Hotel Check-ins

Standard check-in is 3pm. Rasa Ria and Pearl Island can usually do early check-in — call ahead. Keep passports easily accessible for all hotel registrations.

Sabah FamilyAdventure

Semporna &the Coral Triangle

Kinabatangan &Sandakan Wildlife

Kota Kinabalu —The Wind-Down Week

Sabah Family
Adventure

Semporna &
the Coral Triangle

Kinabatangan &
Sandakan Wildlife

Kota Kinabalu —
The Wind-Down Week