Things to do in Sabah

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 5/5 – Bongawan River Cruise, Sabah Amazing experience from start to finish. We were lucky enough to spot both long-nosed monkeys and long-tailed monkeys along the river, which made the cruise even more exciting 🐒🌿 The scenery was beautiful throughout the journey, especially the beach stop with its peaceful, open views. The sunset was absolutely stunning, with the sky turning golden over the river 🌅 The highlight for me was definitely the fireflies at night. The mangroves lit up like a dream, and one firefly even landed on my hand — such a magical moment ✨ Big shoutout to our guides Gary, Edward, and Kevin for being friendly, helpful, and making the whole trip smooth and enjoyable. If you’re in Sabah, this is definitely a must-do activity. Relaxing, beautiful, and unforgettable.

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!

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!

Got a super nice female coach Fifi who was super patient in teaching us how to paddle and she also took very nice pictures! Went on a quiet morning so the sunrise was really beautiful and it was not crowded. The session was well paced so we had sufficient time to learn how to paddle and went all the way out in the sea to see the sunrise. The water was also clear that day so we managed to see some corals. Highly recommend to go for the sunrise session!

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.

We boarded a popular influencer boat, and the young crew members were very dedicated, singing and dancing. I sat in the front row and was quite scared; the boat swayed a lot. On the return trip, sitting at the back of the boat was much better. We snorkeled in two beautiful spots with lots of fish.

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.

This was one of the most anticipated parts of our Sabah trip! First, our guide, Xiao Lai, was excellent. He introduced us to a lot of Sabah's culture and attractions along the way, and even helped us take beautiful photos. Throughout the entire trip, we had snacks, afternoon tea, and dinner, so we were constantly fed and never had to worry about being hungry. Next, during the river cruise, we saw wild animals like proboscis monkeys, long-tailed macaques, and lizards. Finally, the highlight was the fireflies. The night sky and the twinkling fireflies in the trees complemented each other beautifully. It was truly stunning! A very worthwhile experience.