• Hotels/guesthouses (11nts), multi-share (4nts), jungle camp (1nts), open air dorms (2nts), homestays (3nts)

• Plane, minibus, speedboat, longboat, local bus

Day 1 Kota Kinabalu

Experience the frontier charm of Kota Kinabalu, the capital city of Sabah sandwiched between palm oil plantations and the sultry South China Sea.

Day 2 Dusun Village

Learn about the spiritual, economic and social ties that the locals have with the imposing Mt Kinabalu at a village homestay.

Days 3-4 Mt Kinabalu

Fuelled by fresh mountain air and stunning views, scale the slopes of Mt Kinabalu. It's a challenging climb, but there's plenty of opportunities to enjoy the region's remarkable flora and fauna.

Days 5-6 Poring Hot Springs

Wake early to catch sunrise at the summit - the view from the top is awe-inspiring with the jungles of Borneo in one direction and the South China Sea in the other. Scramble down to Poring for a well deserved soak in their Japanese-style hot springs that are said to have healing properties for the skin.

Days 7-8 Kinabatangan Jungle Camp/Homestay

Enter the steamy rainforest of Kinabatangan. See how the locals contribute to its conservation on a visit to MESCOT, a project that provides villagers with environmental education. Then continue into the jungle by boat. Join in a cooking class and spend the night in simple huts amid hornbills, wild orangutans and macaques. Later, get a privileged view of Malay culture on a stay in a traditional village. This will be a great opportunity to brush up on Malaysian language skills.

Day 9 Sandakan

Bask in the liveliness of this busy commercial centre, home to historic Chinese temples and a charming island-studded bay.

Day 10 Turtle Island

Pass by fishing villages and bamboo fish traps on a speedboat ride to Turtle Island. Be touched by the sight of giant green turtles coming ashore to lay their eggs.

Day 11 Sepilok Orangutan Reserve

The soulful eyes of Borneo's famous creatures will melt hearts on a visit to the Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre. Learn about forest conservation on an optional visit to the Rainforest Discovery Centre (RDC), or check out the cheeky proboscis monkeys at a sanctuary in Labuk Bay.

Day 12 Kota Kinabalu

Appreciate the impressive collection of tribal artefacts at the Sabah Museum or marvel at a fine example of Islamic architecture at the State Mosque.

Day 13 Kuching

Take time to visit one of Kuching's museums.

Day 14 Bako National Park

Soak up lush jungle surrounds.

Day 15 Kuching

In free time, perhaps take a leisurely stroll along the riverbank to watch the tambang ferries glide by or head to the Sarawak Museum to learn about the region's indigenous people and culture.

Day 16 Iban Longhouse

Be welcomed in the longhouses of the Iban people and spend an evening learning about their amazing history and culture. Over a glass of local firewater, share stories, get an insight into their day-to-day life and hear about their fascinating headhunting history.

Days 17-19 Mulu National Park

Spend two days exploring one of the most dramatic parks in Asia. Climb to the summit of the Pinnacles Trail and visit Wind Cave and Clearwater Cave, which contains Asia's longest underground river.

Day 20 Headhunters' Trail/Limbang

Walk part of the ominously named Headhunter's Trail, historically used by warring parties that were travelling between the Limbang and Tutoh rivers.

Days 21-22 Kota Kinabalu

Jump in a traditional longtail boat and be whisked down the river to Limbang. From here make tracks to the capital of Sabah. Staying in a seaside guesthouse close to the city provides the perfect base from which to snorkel, swim or simply relax on the beach. A great way to end this Sarawak adventure.