Things to do in Kota Kinabalu

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!

Five-star experience! Five-star trip! A perfect journey! Our tour guide, Sue, contacted us via WhatsApp the night before and was incredibly patient in answering all our questions. She also helped us take photos throughout the trip without any hesitation. Some of our group members had very high expectations for photography, and Sue was surprisingly patient in helping them get their shots. It's worth noting that our group was a combination of several smaller groups, but all the guides knew each other, so they were great at creating a lively atmosphere. One guide constantly played music through a loudspeaker, which really boosted the mood, and they even matched the theme – for example, playing Jay Chou's "Rice Field" when we were watching fireflies! Truly professional! Be aware that the local mosquitoes are very aggressive and aren't deterred by mosquito repellent, so that's something to keep in mind. The sunset there is stunning! We had plenty of time for free activities and taking photos. My first snorkeling experience was also amazing. The only downside was that some people in our group might have been afraid of water, so we had to accommodate them and couldn't visit more spots. We ended up staying at one spot for about an hour. You can rent a locker on the island for HKD $60, but you honestly don't need to; no one is going to steal your belongings on a deserted island... Watching the fireflies is an absolutely unforgettable experience! Photos can't capture the awe-inspiring sight; you'll understand once you go! P.S. The meeting time that day was 7 AM! So it was a very early start, but totally worth it.

me and my husband booked onto this trip a bit last minute, just the day before. we had confirmation texts straight away, pick up times and reg details of the car that would be picking us up in the morning. it arrived a few mins early and we were driven to the nearby jetty where two guides were waiting for just two of us. we were issued life jackets and snorkels and after a 20 minute wait, we boarded our speed boat over to the first island, Manukan. it is absolutely stunning, white sand fringed by huge forest trees giving lots of shade, clear blue sea with an abundance of fish swimming around our feet. unfortunately there was also a lot of rubbish in the sea, plastic bottles and packaging everywhere, such a shame that people treat our beautiful planet like this, it’s a national park and we could see people collecting rubbish off the sand but not possible in the sea. we stayed for 3 hours and were bought lunch before going on to Sapi. Both beautiful islands and we had a lovely day.

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.

We had a wonderful time on the mangrove cruise! We were amazed to see animals we had never seen before. The fireflies were also incredibly beautiful. The way they gathered in the trees made them look just like Christmas trees. When the captain called to them, the fireflies gently fluttered over to him. It was like watching magic happen right before our eyes. Our guide, Jason, was also very kind and taught us so many interesting things. We learned for the first time that male and female proboscis monkeys have different nose shapes. We were truly grateful that Jason always treated us with a smile, even though our English wasn't very good. It was a wonderful experience and a memory we will treasure for a long time. Thank you so much!

We had a fantastic experience at Mari Mari Cultural Village! The entire visit was incredibly well organized, interactive, and enjoyable from beginning to end. We loved the way each tribe and its unique culture were presented in such an engaging and authentic way. One of the best parts was tasting the traditional food from each tribe while learning about their customs and history—it made the experience even more memorable. Our guide was exceptional. His English was excellent, and he explained everything with enthusiasm, knowledge, and a great sense of humor. We were equally impressed by the performers, who brought the traditions to life with passion, warmth, and genuine smiles. Their hospitality and dedication made us feel truly welcome. You can clearly see how much effort the whole team puts into creating an unforgettable experience. It is absolutely worth every ringgit, and we highly recommend Mari Mari Cultural Village to anyone visiting Sabah.

Saw proboscis monkeys and so many fireflies. We had bad luck and missed the sunset, but there were countless stars at night. The drive was a bit long, but totally worth it. The tour guide, John, also speaks Chinese!