Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
289
guarantee that the weather will cooperate with your itinerary. You might hit rain or find
the summit covered in clouds. There's pretty much nothing any tour operator can do to
guarantee you'll get a clear vie w. But I've heard when y ou hit it right, it 's really quite a
great adventure with a rewarding view.
TYK Adventure
can also book this tour for y ou;
a 2-day/1-night trip costs RM900 ($261/£162). Make sure you book early, because they
need to make sur e there's space av ailable at par k accommodations. The price includes
transfer, lodging, and your guide to the summit.
TYK also plans regular trips out to Sandakan, on the eastern coast of S abah, for trips
to see the
Sepilok Orang Utan Rehabilitation Center,
the largest orangutan sanctuar y
in the world, with facilities to house and train hundr eds of orphaned orangutans for
eventual release back into the wilds, with a boat trip to see the
Marine Turtle Conserva-
tion Park and Hatchery.
Monsopiad Cultural Village,
a Kadazandusun heritage center with its cr eepy House
of Skulls, is located in Penampang, not far from Kota Kinabalu. During the 3-hour visit
to the village, you'll tour the place and be treated to a cultural performance. It's about the
height of “touristy” Sabah but can be a fun half-day trip if y ou want to peep at a bit of
local cultur e. Call them at
&
088/774-337
to make a booking; RM100 ($29/£18)
includes transportation to and from your hotel, the tour and show, plus a welcome drink.
The tour leaves daily at 9:30am and again at 2:30pm.
In 2000, the
North Borneo Railway
(Tanjung Aru Railway;
&
088/263-933
) revived
the tradition of steam train travel with the launch of a 1954 fully r enovated British Vul-
can steam locomotiv e pulling six r estored carriages. Traversing a 58km (36-mile) r oute
from Tanjung Aru, near Kota Kinabalu, to the town of Papar, the train passes water and
mangrove views, past fishermen and local sea crafts, through a mountain tunnel, and out
the other side into a vast scenery of paddy fields. Carriages are open-air but comfortable,
with soft seats and wood and brass accents. A swanky bar car and obsevation deck round
out facilities that also include toilets. The train departs every Wednesday and Saturday at
10am, returning at 2pm; tickets are RM195 ($57/£35). At the time of writing, the rail-
way was under maintenance, but do check to see if they 're up and r unning during your
visit; it's well worth it.
For another unique vie w of the countr yside,
Touchdown H olidays M alaysia
(
&
088/249-276;
www .touchdowncollection.com) offers thrilling
helicopter
tours,
flying over Kota Kinabalu, tr opical wilds, and the je wel-colored sea. They also operate
luxury boats around the islands off Kota Kinabalu.
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