The small but lively city of Kota Kinabalu in Sabah on the Malaysian side of Borneo is a world away from KL! The distinct culture and history of Bornean Malaysia combined with the dense jungles, unique wildlife, stunning coastline and the towering 4000m Mt Kinabalu makes it an enchanting place to visit.
Having already fallen in love with Malaysia whilst
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Having already fallen in love with Malaysia whilst exploring the peninsula side of this multifaceted country, we had no idea when we set off from the capital on a short flight over to Borneo that the best was yet to come.
Visiting both Sarawak and Sabah, we were taken aback by just how accessible and affordable travel around Borneo is for the most part, and we recommend anyone backpacking around Southeast Asia to take the short detour to experience this unique place.
One of our bases during our time here was Kota Kinabalu, a laid-back, fun-filled city with so much to offer. Looking for the ultimate Kota Kinabalu itinerary? Here’s our guide to the best Things to do in Kota Kinabalu!
Things to do in Kota Kinabalu
SCUBA in the incredible Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park
“Doing your PADI” is one of the must-do things when backpacking around Southeast Asia, and it’s something that seems to be on just about everyone’s bucket list and for good reason. However, many choose to do it in Thailand, where friends have described feeling like they’re on a conveyor belt.
Learning to dive in Borneo, however, offers a much more memorable location, less crowded waters with more abundant marine life and a more personal experience; it’s definitely one of the most fun things to do in Kota Kinabalu too!
Learning to SCUBA dive is one of the best things we’ve ever done; it truly is an eye-opening experience where you have to learn to survive in a totally alien environment. It can be intense, overwhelming and downright terrifying at times.
However, it’s also an incredibly exhilarating experience that not only tests you mentally and physically but literally opens up a whole new world to explore! It’s definitely something you should consider adding to your Kota Kinabalu itinerary; I mean, how cool does it sound that you learnt to dive in Borneo!!
Learning to dive in the Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park in Borneo was such a wonderful experience. We were able to not only pick up a new skill that we’re able to use all over the world, but we were also able to see some of the most diverse, active and impressive coral, particularly on the last dive.
Of course, if you already know how to dive, then coming to Kota Kinabalu is the ultimate place to organise a dive or take a further course with the abundance of marine life and undamaged corals in calm waters, making it a top spot for diving in Southeast Asia with great accessibility and no crowds!
Information about PADI courses in Kota Kinabalu:
- PADI Open Water courses usually take around 4 days to complete, which includes 3 full days in the water and a day of theory work and assessments on the technical and practical side of diving.
- PADI Open Water courses are only for those aged 15 and above; junior courses are available for those younger. Most people can easily complete the course as it is taken in stages and at your own pace.
- The technical side of things is also not as difficult to get your head around as it might first seem. Being a strong swimmer, however, is a must when in open water!
- We recommend taking the course with a well-established company
- Expect to pay around RM1,300–RM1,600 (around £225–£280 / US$335–$415), which includes 3 full days in the water with morning and afternoon dives as well as lunch.
- Leave at least 18 hours between your final dive and flying
Go island hopping around Kota Kinabalu
Ok, so SCUBA diving isn’t for everyone, and that’s understandable, but that doesn’t mean you can’t explore the beauty of the Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park in other ways! Borneo might be well known for its unique wildlife living in the dense jungles and rainforests that cover this extraordinary island.
However many people don’t realise that Borneo is also home to some incredible beaches, stunning tropical blue waters and a remarkable ecosystem that extends from the land into the surrounding seas. Visiting the Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park is one of the most wonderful things to do in Kota Kinabalu, with many ways to explore.
Close to the coastline of Kota Kinabalu, there are 5 islands that sit in the protected Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park; many of these offer totally different experiences, from exclusive resorts to adventure activities and low-key beach shacks.
If staying in one of the island resorts is beyond your budget, then don’t worry, as there are many different ways to visit the white sandy beaches and warm, clear azure waters of the marine park.
From Kota Kinabalu, there are many options. It is possible to take a day tour visiting all 5 islands or take a ferry to just a few of the islands and even camp overnight. Whichever way you do it, it’s a must-do on your Kota Kinabalu itinerary!
The following is a brief description of each of the 5 islands:
Home to upmarket resorts and can only be visited on an organised day trip or if you’re staying here! There is, however, a zipline that takes you over to Sapi Island, which is pretty cool!
The most popular and touristy island where most of the organised tours seem to congregate. The beaches are smaller and busier than on many other islands.
Used by SCUBA diving boats as a base, it has a good combination of activity and peacefulness. It has one of the largest beaches of the islands, making finding a spot to yourself not too difficult, and has some great snorkelling spots and sea walking opportunities.
Great island with lots of facilities for snorkelling, kayaking and sea walking and with many places to eat available too. It’s one of the most fun islands without being overbearing with other visitors. Here you can also do parasailing, jet skiing, banana boat riding as well as many other activities.
The most isolated island it can be a little bit trickier to reach but once there is has the real deserted island feel to it being almost entirely undeveloped. If you’re looking for a secluded beach all for yourself, then this is the island to head to.
How to visit the islands
- Departure point: South Jetty, Kota Kinabalu Port (formerly Jesselton Point).
- Boat departures: Generally start around 8 am.
- Return times: Last return boats are usually around 4 pm.
- One island: RM48 (£8 / $12) per person, return.
- Two islands: RM58 (£10 / $15) per person, return.
- Three islands: RM68 (£12 / $17) per person, return.
- Four islands: RM78 (£14 / $20) per person, return.
- National Park conservation fee: RM25 (£4 / $6) per international adult.
- Snorkelling equipment: RM10 (£1.70 / $2.50) per item, per day.
- Lunch: Available at restaurants on some islands, with prices varying.
- Journey time: Approximately 15–30 minutes by boat, depending on the island.
- Top tip: Arrive early to maximise your time, especially if visiting multiple islands. Check the day’s boat timetable before setting off.
Taking an organised tour
Organised island hopping tours are also available and can be booked at the harbour or online. They vary in quality, price and experience but often include lunch and transfers.
Island-Hopping Tours from Kota Kinabalu Costs
- Half-day island-hopping tour: RM100–150 (£17–£26 / $25–$38) per person.
- Full-day island-hopping tour: RM150–250 (£26–£43 / $38–$64) per person.
- Premium small-group or private boat tour: RM300–500+ (£52–£87+ / $77–$128+) per person or per group, depending on the package.
- Typically included: Return boat transfers, visits to 2–3 islands, snorkelling equipment and sometimes hotel transfers.
- Often extra: Sabah Parks conservation fee, lunch, optional water sports and underwater photography.
Soak in the unique tribal culture of Borneo at the Mari Mari Village
One of the most special things about visiting Borneo is not only taking in the natural landscape and unique wildlife but the one-of-a-kind culture here. Tribes have inhabited this land for thousands of years and they’re one of the features of Bornean Malaysia that makes it so different to Peninsula Malaysia.
The rich tapestry of the many ethnic tribes of Sabah, their stories and legends are embodied in the people of this region and they are fiercely proud of that and their individual identities. Alongside the natural wonders here, the cultural side of Borneo is one of the most enchanting things to do in Kota Kinabalu.
Unfortunately, these days some of the traditions have died out or are very difficult to witness, having retreated further and further from the developing cities of Borneo. The one time headhunters have given up their practices of hanging human skulls outside their camps, and many of the descendants wear Western clothing day to day.
In a sense, there is nothing wrong with this; it’s a natural development, and no one wants to be beheaded or stuck with a poison arrow whilst exploring the jungles of Borneo. But much of this culture does also need protection from globalisation and nurturing to protect its legacy and create a place for it in the modern world. Experiencing even just a taste of this is something you really should include in your Kota Kinabalu itinerary.
One way in which this is being done is through the Mari Mari Cultural Village; this is essentially an open-air museum where descendants of several different tribes from the area display their culture and traditions through displays, clothing, teaching, food, housing and other exhibits.
This way, the remaining tribes’ people in the isolated regions of Borneo are left as just that, and those who wish to share their culture can do so here in a faithful and fascinating environment. We certainly had an unforgettable and immersive experience here, learning so much about the culture of this remarkable island.
Visiting the Mari Mari village
- Adult entrance fee: RM130 (£23 / $29) for international visitors.
- Child entrance fee: RM110 (£19.50 / $25). Children aged four and under enter free.
- What’s included: Entrance, an English-speaking guide, visits to five traditional tribal houses, cultural demonstrations, traditional dance performances and a Sabahan buffet meal.
- Location: Around 30 minutes by car from Kota Kinabalu city centre, depending on traffic.
- Opening days: Daily, with two scheduled sessions at 10 am and 2 pm.
- Transport: Hotel pick-up and drop-off can be arranged for an additional charge, or use Grab to get here.
Tackle the two-day hike up the incredible 4095m Mt Kinabalu
This is the big one; it’s what most people come to Kota Kinabalu to do, and it is what drew us here too. The 4095m (13,435 ft) mountain is no walk in the park! This two-day trek is expensive, tiring and weather-dependent, as well as having a limit to how many people can ascend each day, making it mentally and physically exhausting!
But in truth, a Kota Kinabalu itinerary wouldn’t be complete without summiting the mountain that is pictured on the flag of Sabah and gave the city its name!
The mountain is one of the highest in the world in terms of prominence, being a huge chunk of grey granite standing alone at the end of Borneo with no other mountain range connecting to it, a quite astonishing sight to see it shimmering like a mirage above the lush green jungles surrounding it.
The 10-million-year-old igneous peak is actually one of the youngest in the world and was carved by glaciers during the last ice age and is in fact still growing! The surrounding National Park is home to some of the world’s most diverse flora and fauna and is a protected UNESCO site; even if you just visit the park, seeing this incredible place is one of the best things to do in Kota Kinabalu.
The two-day trek up the mountain is probably one of the hardest but most incredible and rewarding things we’ve ever done. Each and every KM, especially on the way back down, was slow and agonising. The second day in particular was a mammoth effort, waking up just after midnight to summit for sunrise, a line of head torches trudging through the darkness up the steep and slippery final push.
Using in-place ropes to pull ourselves up the climb at this altitude was a shock to the system after months in tropical Asia, but as the sun began to rise over this lunar landscape, all that effort paid off. The unique features of the mountain revealed themselves in the morning light, a sight we’ll never forget, above the clouds and on top of the world!
The walk down after breakfast back at the hut was probably the most challenging bit for us all; the steep descent was hell on the legs, with each footstep feeling like a colossal effort!
Information about climbing Mt Kinabalu:
- The only way to climb Mt Kinabalu is with a guide and on a tour after the 2015 earthquake, where many climbers were killed. This is frustrating in the fact that it means the price is pretty steep and really a guide is not needed for the level of hiking involved, but required by law.
- Accommodation is also limited after earthquake damage, and numbers are limited per day to keep track of all climbers; this also bumps up the price. But in our opinion, it’s something worth doing.
- Prices are pretty standard across all operators, and it’s best to reserve your place as far in advance as you can. We were lucky in the fact that our time there was open-ended, so we were able to wait around for a space to become available. It’s worth asking around, as each company gets allocated a certain number of spaces.
- It is possible to book directly on the official website or through tour operators. The official website does often release cheaper promotional tickets in limited numbers. Prices are expensive, but they include transport to and from the mountain, guides, accommodation and lots of food.
- A good level of fitness is required to climb the mountain; it’s two days of steep and sustained hiking with some small sections of easy scrambling near the summit.
- No technical skills are required to summit, and the mountain is easy in technical terms. Good shoes and warm clothing should be brought along, and you should prepare for all weather.
- Often, the summit on the second morning can be cancelled if it is raining, and there are no refunds in this case; however, the weather in the morning in Kota Kinabalu is usually fine, with afternoon showers common.
- Climbing costs: The official direct-booking Panalaban package for international adults is RM1,043.25 per person, including one night’s accommodation, three meals, climbing permit, insurance and service charge.
- Additional costs include the RM50 conservation fee, RM350 mountain guide fee (shared between up to five adult climbers) and return transport between the park headquarters and Timpohon Gate.
- Allow approximately RM1,180–1,480 per person for these basic costs, depending on group size.
- If you’d prefer an all-inclusive tour package with transport from Kota Kinabalu, prices range from around RM1,590 to RM2,990 per international adult.
Unwind on the Kota Kinabalu waterfront
Kota Kinabalu is a lively little city and might surprise many visiting Borneo for the first time; it’s well developed with many of the same facilities as places like KL but, of course, on a much smaller scale.
The waterfront area in particular is a great place to hang out, with many bars, restaurants and a mall to explore for those wanting something a little different. We met some great people on our PADI course and ended up getting a meal here together before having a night out in the pubs and clubs afterwards to celebrate passing our course!
With so many activities to do here is nice to schedule in some downtime in your Kota Kinabalu itinerary and the waterfront is the perfect location to relax.
But it’s not just during the nighttime that this area of the city comes alive; during the day, the harbour is busy with boats leaving for the islands, SCUBA trips, as well as local fishing boats and ferries to other parts of the island.
We actually took a ferry from here over to Brunei for a short visit, so the port is quite a busy and bustling place to sit back and watch the world go by! It makes a nice change of pace from some of the more thrilling adventures around Kota Kinabalu and is a perfect place to watch sunset! It might be one of the most pedestrian things to do in Kota Kinabalu, but it’s nice to have some downtime!
Marvel at the majestic city mosque
A newer addition to the landscape of Kota Kinabalu, having been opened in 2000, the floating Masjid is a stunning sight to behold. Reflecting in the surrounding lake, it can hold up to 12,000 worshipers at any one time and is one of the largest in the area!
It offers a change of pace and culture from the ancient traditions of Borneo to the relatively modern religion of Borneo. From the sweltering jungles and the depths of the surrounding oceans, here is a different kind of peace and tranquillity and something a little different to add to your Kota Kinabalu itinerary.
It really does make a great change from some of the expensive and overwhelming activities many come here to do and combined with exploring the waterfront is a great way to spend a “rest day” in Kota Kinabalu!
Information for visiting
- Entrance fee: RM5 per person
- Opening hours: Saturday–Thursday, 8 am–12 pm, 2 pm–3:30 pm, and 4 pm–5 pm.
Closed to tourists on Fridays. - Dress code: Modest clothing covering your arms and legs is required.
- Clothing rental: Approximately RM5–10 if needed.
- Registration: All visitors must register on arrival.
Getting there
- By bus: Take bus 5A towards UMS from the city centre. Ask the driver to drop you off near the mosque, just after the Tanjung Lipat roundabout.
- By Grab: The easiest option is to book a Grab from the city centre. The journey usually takes around 10–20 minutes, depending on traffic.
Take a Klias river cruise through dense jungles
Venturing into the surrounding lush landscape of Borneo is a great way to experience all it has to offer, and on a Klias river cruise you get right into the heart of the jungle.
The unique ecosystem of the wetlands is a protected area and is home to some of Borneo’s most unique creatures, such as the Proboscis monkey, Silver Langur and crocodiles in the murky waters you sail through! Seeing the animals Borneo is famous for is a must on any Kota Kinabalu itinerary, and this is a great way to do that without too much effort. It was one of our favourite experiences in Borneo, alongside seeing the orangutans in Kuching.
Unlike some of the more involved expeditions in Borneo, this one is very much a relaxed experience, floating through the mangroves, keeping an eye out for all the wildlife that call this area home.
Along the way, you will also get to see some great views of Mt. Kinabalu, as well as venture far enough downriver to see where it eventually meets the sea. Being around 2 hours outside of the city, it’s a full-day trip that usually starts in the afternoon to catch the stunning firefly display that lights up the riverbanks after dark.
Information about the Klias River Cruise
- Booking: It’s best to book an organised tour, as the Klias Wetlands are around a two-hour drive from Kota Kinabalu.
- Tour price: Expect to pay approximately RM190–260 (£33–£45 / $48–$66) per person.
- What’s included: Most tours include return hotel transfers, boat cruises, an English-speaking guide, afternoon refreshments and dinner.
- Wildlife: Look out for proboscis monkeys, macaques, silver langurs, monitor lizards and birds along the riverbanks.
- Fireflies: Most tours include a second boat trip after dark to see fireflies lighting up the mangroves.
- Duration: Allow around 7–8 hours, including the return journey from Kota Kinabalu.
- Departure: Tours typically leave Kota Kinabalu around 1–2 pm and return around 9:30–10 pm.
How To Get To Kota Kinabalu
Kota Kinabalu is accessible pretty much entirely by air travel; it is possible to get here via a ferry if you are visiting Brunei, as we did on the trip there and back.
However, for most, you will have to arrive by plane. Flights are cheap, frequent and short from Kuala Lumpur and Kuching (Another city on the other side of Malaysian Borneo)
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When is the best time to visit Kota Kinabalu?
Sabah is generally a year-round destination, with temperatures only slightly changing throughout the year and the rainy season affecting different parts of the region at different times.
October to January is generally considered to be the rainy season with slightly lower temperatures, but this can vary across the region.
February, March and April are considered the drier months in Kota Kinabalu and are good for climbing Mount Kinabalu, but in other areas of the state, February and March are still considered within the rainy season!
This region, however, is hard to predict, and even during the rainy season it’s highly possible to get great sunny days with a short afternoon downpour! You should consider what’s important on your Kota Kinabalu itinerary and when is the best time of year to make sure that happens.
Where to stay in Kota Kinabalu
When we travel, we usually stay in hostels as we are backpackers. We know they’re not everyone’s cup of tea, but the one we stayed in during our time in Kota Kinabalu is a prime example of the potential of hostels and how far off the mark many people’s estimations are!
Signal Hostel is a small family-run hostel with two main rooms and a cosy dining and living area, well designed and maintained. The atmosphere here is truly wonderful, with it feeling more like an apartment. The owners too are so open and friendly helping us organise all aspects of our adventures as well as storing our bags when we climbed the mountain and took a trip to Brunei. We also met some great people here too, with whom we ended up doing some of the trips!
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Yo, I’m Nic (they/them), one-half of The Roaming Renegades.
I’m an adventure (and halloumi) obsessed traveller with a passion for hiking mountains, exploring cities, watching Arsenal win, moshing out to Rammstein in random European fields and getting hopelessly lost on a motorbike somewhere in Asia! I am also a proud member of the LGBT+ community.
I’ve explored 80 countries, lived in Australia and New Zealand, and spent months wandering Southeast Asia, South America and Eastern Europe, all while trying to avoid growing up!
Did it work? I dunno, but my back hurts, and I still collect Pokémon cards! Who wants in?!
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I hadn’t ever considered traveling to Malaysia before. From your point of view, it’s absolutely stunning! I’ve also never scuba dived. I’m getting older and Lawd I don’t know if I have the nerve for it these days lol! Is Padi the like original lesson? Like getting licensed or something? Anyway, thank you for posting, I’m definitely going to look into visiting Malaysia and we’ll have to see about that scuba diving haha.
This is only one city in one half of Malaysia too, the peninsula side is quite different but equally as beautiful and diverse! It’s probably one of our favourite countries because of just how much it has to offer and in general just how cheap and accessible they are too. You should also check out the Cameron Highlands and Penang in Malaysia too as well as Kuching in Malaysian Borneo! Scuba Diving is quite intimidating at first, but its a great learning process. One things to do which we did years ago in Turkey, and is something you can do pretty much anywhere you can dive, is to do a beginner day trip where they teach you the basics in the morning in really shallow water and then in the afternoon do a dive to maybe 8m or so, then if you like it you can do the course. PADI is like an organisation for diving schools and the Open Water course is what most people refer to as a PADI course, there are actually lots of courses offered by PADI that are much more advanced than this or easier too, this is usually the first that people do and it means you are qualified to go on most commercial dives around the world. You would still have a guide for these but it means more freedom to dive and its also cheaper as you don’t need to be taught like in the day trips for beginners!
This is such an amazing destination! You’ve been able to do so many interesting things. I’m not a strong swimmer but my son is just finishing his lifeguarding courses and he would love to do his PADI. What an amazing place to do it! I’m more fan of the river cruise myself. These animals are so unique!
It really is an incredible place. It sounds like he would have a great time doing a PADI, it really does open up a whole new world and its a great place to learn. The river cruise is a lot more chilled!!
Thank you for this post! I have been to Borneo twice and love it but there are always so many more things to do in a place! Good for you for hiking Mt Kinabalu. I didn’t hike it but did marvel at it from the base! Next time, I need to challenge myself. The floating temple is so beautiful and those proboscis monkeys 🙂
Thanks for reading!! We’re looking forward to going back again when we’re back in Asia, it’s such a magical place. Yeah, it was bloody hard work but we’re glad we did it! I am sure you would get up there!
I have always been intrigued by Borneo, mainly for the wildlife. That river cruise would be right up my alley. As you say, I thought of Borneo as a wildlife destination, but you’ve opened my eyes to the other attractions. I may not be climbing Mt. Kinabalu anytime soon, but the beaches, island-hopping and scuba lessons all sound good to me.
Yeah, I think that’s why we ended up loving it so much, there is just an endless amount of things to do and they are so diverse too!
This was my first time reading about Kota Kinabalu and loved how informative and descriptive the article is. The photos are absolutely riveting and brings the reader right in the middle of the action. The 5 island tour looks like something I would enjoy very much. Thank you for sharing 🙂
Thanks very much! It’s an amazing place to visit for sure and the marine park is one of the most beautiful for sure!
What a grand adventure you had. Borneo is yet another part of Asia we are seeking to get to in the future … hopefully not too distant. I had read about Kota Kinabalu in 2015 — that was quite the natural disaster and the landslide was epic. Too bad they now limit access to the mountain to guided tours only, but it wasn’t exactly uncontrolled before with only 196 hiking permits issued daily.
Yeah it really was a true adventure over there including some other areas of Borneo we explored too. It’s probably one of the top places we visited across Asia. It’s been gradually changing with the mountain over the years anyway, I first read about it when a friend did it back in maybe 2010 and for him it cost hardly anything and now its pretty expensive!! Though I do understand why I also think they’ve used the earthquake as an excuse to drive prices up really high!
Looks like an amazing time in Kota Kinabalu!! I get motion sickness easily so I would have to opt out of those activities, but luckily there is still so much to see and do. I’d love to learn more about the unique tribal culture of Borneo at the Mari Mari Village.
That’s a shame, but yeah there are plenty of other things to do and something for everyone at least!
What an amazing experience! There is clearly so much to do and explore. You make great points about getting your Scuba qualification in a less busy environment. I love what you say about how alien and intimidating that underwater world can be. That really resonated with me and made me think about the benefits the less crowded training experience must bring. For me, I think I’d be wanting to explore the islands, particularly the last where you can be in solitude. And seeing the proboscis monkeys would be high on my list.
Yeah, we had always wanted to do it but to be honest we were still a touch nervous so having a group of only 4 made it so much more relaxing and less pressure. Lots of other things to do there to so it was so much fun!
That grey granite rock surrounded green jungles makes an remarkable sight. 10 million year old peak is one of the youngest in the world, you say? Wow. And we dread getting ‘old’…
Ha ha, makes me feel younger now!! It’s such a unique landscape for sure!
Wow – so many interesting things to do in Kota Kinabalu! I’m not much for SCUBA diving but I’d try everything else. The architecture and the wildlife look so interesting, I’d probably just wander around with my camera and capture everything! The Klias river cruise seems like it would be really cool to do as well!
Yeah there is something for everyone I think, even if you’re not into SCUBA you can visit the island near there and swim or glass bottom kayak too!
Kota Kinabalu sounds like an adventure packed place! I’d love to try Scuba Diving as I’ve never experienced that before but I don’t know if I could spare 4 days just for that. May I will just hop islands. Hopefully I will be there next month 🙂
The 4 days is only if you want to do the PADI course and become open water certified which is what a lot of people tend to do as part of their backpacking trip through Asia but most do it in Thailand. If you wanted to just do a day SCUBA diving even as a novice there are lots of trips that would take you out, show you some basic training in the morning and then take you for a shallower dive in the afternoon.