Sabah

We had such a great time on this tour, and a big part of it was thanks to our tour guide, Kelvin! Kelvin was our driver, tour guide and also our photographer for the day. He was very knowledgeable and made the mangrove and fireflies tour really enjoyable. He introduced us to the different animals we saw, including the proboscis monkeys, and shared interesting facts about what they eat, their digestion and their behaviour. It was really interesting to learn about them along the way. He was also very entertaining and took great care of us throughout the whole trip. He definitely went above and beyond, especially when he took the time to help us take photos at the sunset spot. We really appreciated how attentive and thoughtful he was. Also, a big shoutout to his co-tour guide, Gary, who was equally helpful and made the experience even better. Thank you, Kelvin and Gary, for such a memorable day!

Our family and a friend's family, 4 adults and 4 children, signed up for this tour. We were picked up at our hotel at 7:30 AM, followed by a 2.5-hour drive to the Mount Kinabalu viewpoint. The city roads from Kota Kinabalu to Mount Kinabalu were congested, but our guide was flexible and accommodated the children's restroom breaks along the way. After taking many photos at the viewpoint, we headed to Desa Farm. On the way, we made a detour to a local fruit shop. Our tour guide, Jeff, introduced us to fruits we had never seen before, and we bought and ate one or two of each. We were excited by fruits we had never heard of or seen, like apple jelly, avocado cheese, and snake fruit! The avocado cheese tasted like sweet steamed pumpkin, with a texture and flavor unlike any fruit! It was delicious. From there, we went to Desa Farm. Located at an altitude of about 1,500m, it wasn't too hot and was very comfortable! The weather was clear with few clouds, and we took many great photos with the sharp ridges of Mount Kinabalu in the background. Was that a sun halo? Jeff smoothly guided us through recommended activities like soft-serve ice cream and feeding calves and goats. Jeff, who is also a father of four, is knowledgeable about funny TikTok videos, and our children had a blast taking funny videos with him, making it a very satisfying experience. Afterward, we had lunch at a nearby restaurant and then went rafflesia watching. We were worried if we would see any, as they only bloom for 5-7 days a year, but we saw two blooming rafflesias! We also saw buds and withered ones, which was a unique experience only available locally. Nearby, there were also cacao and durian trees! I was surprised to see durians growing on such tall trees. By this point, it was past 3 PM. The children were getting tired, so we decided to change the itinerary and head back. The morning traffic jam was long. On the way back, there was a strange cloud hanging over the summit of Mount Kinabalu. Jeff told us it was a rare sight. The return journey was also a bit congested, but we managed to get back to the hotel around 7 PM. We had originally planned to be back by 5:30 PM, but the road congestion and it being summer vacation season caused delays. I recommend bringing a bit more cash, as there are places at the rafflesia site that don't accept credit cards for insect repellent, and some restaurants for lunch. Thank you, Jeff, for a fun tour! The magnificent scenery and your enjoyable assistance made it a wonderful experience. Highly recommended!

The itinerary was very well organized, allowing us to visit several spots in one trip. The duration at each stop was just right, so it never felt rushed. Our first stop was the observation deck, where there were many fruit vendors nearby selling fresh and delicious fruits! The best part was realizing later in the city that the fruit here was actually the cheapest! The farm was also a lot of fun; for 20 Malaysian Ringgit, you could feed milk and forage to the animals, and the yogurt and milk ice cream were amazing! The fish spa was very entertaining, and the tour guide taught us feeding techniques. It was a bit scary at first. Lunch was better than expected, featuring vegetables, meat, and fruit. The tour included a complimentary ATV experience, allowing us to ride through the wilderness. We were very lucky to see a Rafflesia flower this time; although it had been blooming for five days and was starting to turn dark, there was still an unopened bud right next to it. On the way back, we had roasted wild boar and pulled tea. The roasted wild boar is highly recommended! The two of us shared a portion and were left wanting more. Overall, the value for money is extremely high, and I highly recommend it!

খুব সুন্দর এবং আরামদায়ক দ্বীপ ভ্রমণের অভিজ্ঞতা। নৌকায় যাত্রা মসৃণ এবং মনোরম ছিল, সেদিন আবহাওয়াও খুব ভালো ছিল। সাপি এবং মানুকান উভয় দ্বীপেই খুব সুন্দর সৈকত ছিল। ট্যুর গাইড নানক খুব বন্ধুত্বপূর্ণ ছিলেন এবং আমাদের সমস্ত প্রশ্নের উত্তর দিয়েছিলেন, এছাড়াও তিনি সবার ব্যাগ এবং জিনিসপত্র দেখাশোনা করতে সাহায্য করেছিলেন। বানানা বোট এবং স্নরকেলিং অবশ্যই উপভোগ করার মতো। বেশ কয়েকটি প্রজাতির মাছ দেখতে পেয়েছিলাম, স্নরকেলিং উপকূলের কাছাকাছি এলাকায় সীমাবদ্ধ থাকলেও অনেক মাছ দেখা যায়। সূর্য খুব তীব্র ছিল তাই রোদে পোড়া এড়াতে সানস্ক্রিন ব্যবহার করা আবশ্যক। সময়ও পর্যাপ্ত ছিল এবং বিকেল ৩টায় বেশ তাড়াতাড়ি শেষ হয়েছিল।

We spent the whole day touring Kinabalu Park, Nabalu Town, and other sights with our guide, Mr. M. First and foremost, the scenery of Mount Kinabalu and its surrounding area was majestic and breathtakingly beautiful. At Kinabalu Park, we were thrilled to see a wide variety of wildlife we never get to see in Japan, including numerous plants, birds, squirrels, and even a Rafflesia. Our guide's knowledge and attentiveness were wonderful, and the restaurants he recommended for both lunch and dinner after the tour offered amazing food and fantastic value for the price.

মাতা কিং এবং পম পম দ্বীপে যাওয়ার অভিজ্ঞতা দারুণ ছিল। সরকারি নিষেধাজ্ঞার কারণে টিম্বা টিম্বা দ্বীপে থামতে পারিনি, তবে আমরা স্নরকেলিং করার জন্য একটি এলাকায় থেমেছিলাম। গাইড আমাদের ছবি তুলে দিতে খুব সহায়ক ছিলেন, আমরা গতকাল অনেক সামুদ্রিক কচ্ছপ এবং সুন্দর প্রবাল প্রাচীর সহ গ্রীষ্মমন্ডলীয় মাছ দেখেছি। একটি লায়ন ফিশও দেখতে পেয়েছি। আমাদের জীবনে একবারের জন্য একটি দুর্দান্ত অভিজ্ঞতা হয়েছিল। এই ট্যুরটি সুপারিশ করব!

খুব সুন্দর একটি ভ্রমণ ছিল, দেসা ক্যাটল ফার্মে অনেক গরু দেখতে পেয়েছি এবং একটি ছোট দুধের কার্টন বিনামূল্যে দেওয়া হয়েছিল। একটি হৃদয়গ্রাহী খাবার খেয়েছি এবং সৌভাগ্যবশত রাফলেসিয়া ও বিভিন্ন বিরল প্রজাতির অর্কিড ফুল ফোটা দেখতে পেয়েছি। পাহাড়ের চূড়া থেকে অনেক সুন্দর দৃশ্য দেখা গেছে। ট্যুর গাইড মাইকেলও পাহাড়ের বিভিন্ন উদ্ভিদ প্রজাতি, বিশেষ করে অর্কিড সম্পর্কে খুব জ্ঞানী এবং উৎসাহী। হোটেল থেকে বাস পিকআপ করে শহরে ফিরিয়ে নিয়ে যাওয়ায় এটি একটি ভালো এবং আরামদায়ক দিনের ভ্রমণ ছিল।

In a group of about 20-30 people, only two of us were Japanese. Most of the participants were Chinese, and the tour was primarily conducted in Chinese. However, our guide made sure to explain things to us in English whenever necessary and constantly looked out for us. The high-speed cruise ship took a little over an hour to reach the island. It was incredibly fast and quite bumpy! 😂 But because the ship was so fast, we didn't even have time to get seasick, which was a plus, haha. The guides played music on board, making the travel time enjoyable. The island facilities were new and clean. Toilets, shower rooms, and even hair dryers were available, ensuring a comfortable stay. Before snorkeling, there was a safety briefing. For the two of us, a staff member provided a one-on-one explanation, showing us translated safety precautions in Japanese. They also checked repeatedly to ensure we understood everything, and we felt that safety was very well-considered. For snorkeling, the boat took us to two different spots. The ocean was truly beautiful and amazing! 🐠 The guides constantly checked on us, ensuring our safety while also making sure we had a great time. After returning to the island, a luxurious meal of crab, shrimp, and other dishes was prepared, and drinks were available freely 🦀🦐. Afterward, we had free time. We relaxed under a parasol on the beach. When it was time, we boarded the super-fast cruise ship again for the return journey. Since it was an early morning tour, we were quite tired by the time we headed back, but it was a fulfilling day nonetheless. My only regret is that I forgot to give a tip to our kind guide when we left. They were so helpful until the very end. Since about 90% of the participants are Chinese, Japanese participants might feel a little uneasy at first if they join alone. However, there were many guides and staff members who paid very close attention to us Japanese participants, so in the end, we had a wonderful time without any worries. The ocean was beautiful, snorkeling was fun, and the food was luxurious. Above all, the warm support from all the staff left a lasting impression. I highly recommend this tour to anyone who might be hesitant because of the small number of Japanese participants! 🌴🐠✨

We participated in the company trip with 8 people. We were the only Japanese, and most of the other tourists on Mantanani Island were Chinese. Our guide, Xiao Zhong, was particularly excellent. We were initially concerned because the tour was primarily in Chinese and English, but he used a translation device to explain everything to us. The snorkeling, proboscis monkeys, and fireflies were wonderful. Although we had to wait for over 30 minutes due to a sudden downpour, it was an amazing experience overall.