Things to do in Kota Kinabalu

Tour guide John spoke entirely in Chinese throughout the tour because the entire group spoke Chinese. We were lucky enough to see proboscis monkeys and fireflies like a Christmas tree waterfall (my phone couldn't capture it, but the tour guide provided photos as souvenirs). Having the fireflies gently land on my hand was a wonderful experience. The tour guide also introduced Durian Street (I walked past it the day before and thought they were just regular stalls, the tour guide didn't explain it. I also learned about Sabah fruit and durian which only come from Sabah and are cheaper. If you like durian, you can try it). He also introduced Gaya Street, and after the firefly tour on weekends, you can get off here to take a stroll. Experience: Excellent

Exploring the base of the tallest mountain in Southeast Asia, feeding fish in a stream, and getting super lucky spotting the Rafflesia, the world’s largest flower that blooms only once every 9 months 🌺😮 Threw in some ATV riding for the adrenaline, then slowed things down at a quaint dairy farm at the foot of the mountain, cows and goats everywhere, cool climate, and honestly felt like New Zealand 🇳🇿🐐

We had a wonderful experience on this private day tour to.The trip was well-organized and very comfortable, perfect for a relaxed yet memorable day. Thanks for Selina for providing the details. Desa Farm was absolutely beautiful — the cool weather, scenic views and farm atmosphere made it a great place to unwind and take photos. It really felt like a peaceful escape from the city. Pekan Nabalu was also a highlight trying the local fruits and taking photos of Mt Kinabalu. Tamparuli bridge, which added a fun and unique experience to the trip.Our driver Rex was friendly, punctual and knowledgeable, making the journey smooth and enjoyable. Since it was a private tour, we could move at our own pace without feeling rushed, which made the experience even better. Overall, this tour exceeded our expectations. Highly recommend this to anyone who visiting.

Handsome Jeff was a very friendly guide!!He was very knowledgeable about Malaysia and the countries of his guests and shared many stories with us.We had a great time with him and would recommend him to everyone( ◠‿◠ )

The journey today was very pleasant. The tour guide, Jordan, was conscientious and took good care of everyone. His explanations were very detailed and professional. There was no need to worry about language issues. The photography skills were superb and the photo quality was very high! We were very lucky to see the beautiful sunset, the "Christmas tree" of fireflies, and also witnessed the friendship between the lizard and the dog. This was an extremely unforgettable trip!

🌿 What It Is Mari Mari Cultural Village is a living cultural museum about 25–30 min from Kota Kinabalu that showcases the traditional lifestyles, homes, crafts, tools, dances and food of Sabah’s five indigenous tribes (Kadazan-Dusun, Murut, Rungus, Lundayeh, and Bajau). You walk through authentic traditional houses and learn through demonstrations rather than just static displays.  ⸻ 👍 Highlights — What Visitors Love ✔ Immersive & Educational Most travelers find the guided tour very informative — you’ll learn how  ✔ Cultural Performances & Snacks Expect lively dance performances, music, food tasting (including rice wine), and a local buffet lunch — which many say adds depth and flavour to the visit.  ✔ Great for Families & Groups It’s often described as family-friendly and suited for visitors of all ages thanks to the mix of learning + hands-on fun.  ⭐ Overall rating: ~4.7 out of 5 stars on Google reviews — most guests find it truly worthwhile as a cultural experience. 

It was a very fun trip to two different islands. the tour guide was very nice and have very clear responsible communication with everyone in my group.

Only issue was the food. A bit average. But the views were nice and the beaches were also very clean. lots of fishes to see. they also provided snorkeling gear.

Highly recommend. The snorkeling tour is very professional and nice.Firstly, we took a boat to Mengalum Island and enjoyed the beach there. About 11:00AM, we went to two beautiful snorkeling spots in total. There were all kinds of fish in both places, and we also saw starfish and octopuses🐙.After lunch, just enjoyed chill time on the beach🏖️. I had a very wonderful and memorable experience in Mengalum Island. Happy new year and all the best wishes to the one who is reading the review😬