After a few busy days in Kota Kinabalu, it was time to head deeper into Sabah. We traveled with River Junkie, a great local company that helped us arrange the overland trip from the city to Sandakan.

Our first destination along the way was Poring Hot Springs, a peaceful spot located in the foothills of Mount Kinabalu. After hours on the road, the natural hot pools were the perfect place to relax and soak our tired legs. The area is surrounded by lush tropical forest, and there are walking trails if you feel like stretching a bit more before continuing the journey. We tried it and its a total of 5 bridges high up in the sky. But wow what a view.

One unexpected highlight came during a short hike nearby: we managed to spot the famous Rafflesia, the world’s largest (and probably smelliest) flower! It’s incredibly rare to catch it in bloom, so we felt really lucky.

Even if the strong odor wasn’t exactly pleasant, it was absolutely worth it to see such a strange and beautiful part of nature up close.

After a restful night at Poring, we continued towards Sandakan the next morning. The landscape shifted along the way, from thick jungle to rolling hills and palm plantations, giving us a glimpse into the diverse scenery of Sabah.

Excited and ready for new adventures, we arrived in Sandakan – our base for exploring the wildlife and nature wonders of Borneo.

I can really recommend taking the bus but have a night on the road. The ticket we choose made it possible for us to do the hop on and off.