• The highest mountain between the Himalayas and the snow-capped peaks of New Guinea will be the view that unfolds from the morning mist as we look out from the private balconies of our rooms today.

• After enjoying a wonderful breakfast buffet we pack up and set off for the base of the mountain.

•  The summit of Mt. Kinabalu stands at 4,095 m (13,435 ft), but there is no need to climb all the way to the top to experience the wonderful natural features the mountain has to offer. We will instead explore the lower base of the mountain where the greatest concentration of life is found.

• Kinabalu National Park is Borneo’s botanical gem. It s home to 1,200 species of orchids, 26 species of rhododendrons, 80 species of figs and over 60 species of oaks and chestnut trees.

• Of the 30 species of pitcher plants recorded from Borneo, 10 grow on the mountain and 3 species are found nowhere else in the world. These include the spectacular Nepenthes rajah, the largest pitcher plant on earth.

• Our focus for study and adventure today will be in the Mesalu region of the mountain, far removed from the throngs of trekkers that clog the main trail to the summit.

• We will first climb the Nepenthes Trail for spectacular vistas of Kinabalu’s granite-spire summit and to view plants found nowhere else on earth. The spectacular Nepenthes raja is found here in abundance – a pitcher plant so massive it has been know to trap and digest frogs, jungle rats and pygmy squirrels!

•  Students more keen on animals than plants can discover along the Mesalu Trail some of the park’s 100 species of mammals and 326 species of birds that display little fear of humans.

• The Mesilau Trail is a longer route to the summit of Kinabalu, so we will only trek the first 3-4 km of the trail in order to take in the rich biodiversity of the forest. Crossing several suspension bridges along the way, we can reach a viewpoint for a stunning panorama.

• After returning from the hike for a wonderful lunch at the charming Mesalu Restaurant, we will board our bus for the final two-hour drive through the Crocker Range to the bustling capital city of Sabah - Kota Kinabalu.

• KK, as it is locally known, stands in sharp contrast to the Borneo we have seen so far. Our hotel is a 12-storey, 4-star complex with an outdoor pool where students can enjoy their own private pool party before dinner.

• A special feast and awards celebration in the hotel grounds will mark completion of an extraordinary adventure together.

Overnight: Beverly Hotel, Kota Kinabalu