Sabah Tours

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!

I'm very satisfied with the trip! I saw the Rafflesia as I wished, and the other activities were also good. Our guide, Calvin, was very kind and thoroughly explained the activities. He drove carefully, which made us feel very safe. I twisted my ankle and it swelled up, so I needed to see a doctor. He recommended a clinic and drove me there. I was able to see a doctor and get an X-ray quickly. The doctor confirmed I didn't have a fracture, which put my mind at ease, and the cost was reasonable. Thanks again to Calvin for his help. This one-day tour had many activities, and the lunch was also good. I think the tour price was reasonable.

My friends and I thoroughly enjoyed this day trip; we had a fantastic time! Our guide, Xiao Yang, was incredibly knowledgeable, not only about the plants and insects along the way but also sharing a lot of local culture and history. So, this trip allowed us to appreciate beautiful scenery, learn a great deal, and even discover some recommended local delicacies. We felt very satisfied 🥳 Xiao Yang also adjusted the itinerary based on weather changes, making each attraction more enjoyable. We are truly grateful 😊 Highly recommend!

Very nice tour, managed to see a lot of cows at Desa cattle farm and there’s a free small milk carton included. Had a heartwarming meal and were lucky enough to see the rafflesia and different rare species of orchid blooming. A lot of nice scenery from the top of the mountain. The tour guide Michael is also very knowledgeable and passionate about the different plant species on the mountain, especially the orchids. Good and relaxing day trip to have as the bus will pick up from the hotel and return back to the city.

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!

Very nice and cosy island hopping experience. The boat ride was smooth and windy, the weather was very good that day. Both Sapi and Manukan Island had very nice beach. The tour guide, Nanak, is very friendly and answered all our question, also helped everyone take care of their bags and things. The banana boat and snorkelling are must go. Managed to see quite a few species of fish, snorkelling is limited to the areas near the shore but can spot quite a lot of fish. The sun is very strong so must apply sunscreen to prevent sunburn. Time was also sufficient and ended quite early at 3pm.

Great experience going to mataking and pom pom island. Couldn't stop at timba timba Island due to government restrictions, however we stopped over in an area to snorkel. The guide was very helpful taking photos for us, we saw many sea turtles yesterday and tropical fishes with beautiful coral reefs. Got to see a lion fish as well. We had a great once in a lifetime experience. Would recommend this tour!

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.

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! 🌴🐠✨