Malaysia · KOTA KINABALU TOURS

The 15 Best Kota Kinabalu Tours & Day Trips

30 tours  ·  from $26

KK is a base, not a destination, and the good days start early. These 15 cover the reef islands off the jetty, the Kinabalu foothills, the hot springs and the cultural villages, with prices, pickup times and how far each one drives.

2D1N Mount Kinabalu Climbing - From Timpohon Gate to Laban Rata
2-Day Experiences, Kota Kinabalu Tours, Mount Kinabalu Tours, Tour Reviews

2D1N Mount Kinabalu Climbing

1.2D1N Mount Kinabalu Climbing

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 494 reviews · from $1,000Our pick

You’ll climb Mount Kinabalu with an English-speaking coordinator and mountain guide, sleeping in a shared dorm at Laban Rata. The private two-day trip includes five meals, transport, permits, insurance, and a summit attempt on Low’s Peak at 4,095.2 meters. Guides such as Shukki and Johnson have earned special praise.

“Thanks for everything! The guide Johnson is superb. Patience, attend to details and definitely a life saver. Everything was well organised on Belle’s side as well. We feel relieved and absolutely confidence with you guys! We were very late on our descend, Johnson ensure thaRead more”

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Guided Snorkeling Day Trip, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia - Why the small group matters
1-Day Tours, Guided, Kota Kinabalu Tours, Snorkeling, Tour Reviews

Guided Snorkeling Day Trip, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia

2.Guided Snorkeling Day Trip, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 282 reviews · from $65

Join Borneo Dream from Kota Kinabalu for three guided snorkel sessions in Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park. Guides such as Alex, Didi, Ian, and Azmi help first-timers feel safe while you look for turtles, reef sharks, rays, octopus, and tropical fish. Lunch, gear, water, and boat transfers are included.

“Fun short day out with 2 snorkelling trips and some chill time on the beach after lunch. Friendly guide and skipper”

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Cultural Village Tours, Cultural Village Tours in Kota Kinabalu, Kota Kinabalu Tours, Lunch Experiences, Tour Reviews, Tours

Kota Kinabalu: Mari Mari Cultural Village Tour with Lunch

3.Mari Mari Cultural Village Tour with Lunch

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 152 reviews · 5 hours · from $67

Spend five hours exploring Mari Mari Cultural Village near Kota Kinabalu with an English or Chinese-speaking guide such as Eddie or Timmy. Visit five traditional houses, try fire-making, blowpipe shooting, Congkak, and bamboo cooking, then enjoy dances and a traditional lunch.

“Timmy our guide was excellent and the show at the end was an added bonus as I did not expect that. All the young tribespeople were amazing, authentic and I would highly recommend this tour to anyone visiting Sabah”

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Borneo (Klias) River Cruise & Fireflies Tour - The 1 pm pickup and road to Klias
Cruises & Boat Tours, Kota Kinabalu Tours, Kuala Selangor Firefly Tours, River Cruises, Tour Reviews, Tours

Borneo (Klias) River Cruise & Fireflies Tour

4.Borneo (Klias) River Cruise & Fireflies Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 126 reviews · from $50Best value

Travel from Kota Kinabalu to Klias Wetlands for two river cruises, proboscis monkeys, mangrove wildlife, a Malaysian buffet, and fireflies after dark. Guides such as Khatty and Sulani have helped make the wildlife outings memorable, but expect a long, sometimes bumpy drive.

“The transfer is a little bit long but totally worth it. Our guide was amazing for the first time in Kota Kinabalu. Well organized and communicated trip to the Klias river. We have seen a raptile lots of monkeys and the fire flies. Thanks.”

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Sky-Mirror Photographing and Proboscis Monkey & Fireflies Watching River-Cruise - Searching the mangroves for proboscis monkeys
Cruises & Boat Tours, Kinabatangan Wildlife Safaris, Kota Kinabalu Tours, Kuala Selangor Firefly Tours, Tour Reviews

Sky-Mirror Photographing and Proboscis Monkey & Fireflies Watching River-Cruise

5.Sky-Mirror Photographing and Proboscis Monkey & Fireflies Watching River-Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 109 reviews · from $81

Leave Kota Kinabalu for Bongawan, where a guide such as James, Nick, or Bird may help you spot proboscis monkeys, photograph the sunset at Sky Mirror Beach, and watch fireflies from a boat. Snacks, drinks, dinner, hotel transfers, and beach photos are included. Expect a long afternoon and evening.

“Fabulous trip and despite being the only westerner in a bunch of Koreans it wasn't lonely. The guide Nick Teo made me feel included and the beach pics were great despite the bad weather. The gangster monkeys in the boat were fun and we got to see the fireflies, tge trees looking like Xmas. Food was fine too”

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Island Hopping - The speedboat to Manukan Island
Island Hopping Tours, Kota Kinabalu Tours, Tour Reviews

Island Hopping

6.Island Hopping

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 99 reviews · from $125

Leave Kota Kinabalu at 8:30 a.m. for Sapi Island, where you can swim, snorkel, and eat lunch on the beach, then continue by speedboat to Manukan. Shared hotel transfers, a guide, air-conditioned transport, and snorkel gear are included, but fins and water sports cost extra.

“Nice islands, and very insightful guide, had lunch and much time at disposal on islands, thank you much”

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Kota Kinabalu: Snorkeling & Island Hopping Sapi & Manukan - 8:30 AM Pickup and the Short Ride to the Park
Island Hopping Tours, Kota Kinabalu Tours, Snorkeling, Tour Reviews

Kota Kinabalu: Snorkeling & Island Hopping Sapi & Manukan

7.Snorkeling & Island Hopping Sapi & Manukan

★★★★★★★★★★3.9 · 97 reviews · 1 day · from $67

Spend a full day in Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park, traveling by speedboat from Kota Kinabalu to Sapi and Manukan. You get hotel transfers, a guide, snorkeling gear, lunch, beaches, and time for swimming. Optional parasailing, sea walking, jet skiing, and banana boat rides cost extra.

“Tour guide was friendly and positive, spent over three hours on the first island (sapi) and an hour on the second (Manukan) which was nicer of the two. Felt like the long stay on sapi was mainly to pressure you into paying for the additional activities. Lunch wasn’t bad but quite greasy and not worth the price”

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Leisure Diving | Fun Dives | 3 Dives in TARP, Kota Kinabalu - Meeting at Jesselton Point at 9:00 am
Kota Kinabalu Tours, Scuba Diving, Tour Reviews

Leisure Diving | Fun Dives | 3 Dives in TARP, Kota Kinabalu

8.Leisure Diving | Fun Dives | 3 Dives in TARP, Kota Kinabalu

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 94 reviews · from $105

Join PADI-certified guides, possibly Alex and Jack, for three underwater sessions in Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park. You get full equipment, park permits, boat transfers, drinking water, and a free island lunch. Groups are capped at 12, with a guide ratio of up to 1:5.

“Alex and Jack were excellent guides! The water was warm, the weather was good, and we saw so many fish and corals!”

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2d1n Mount Kinabalu Via Ferrata - Walk The Torq - The 6:30 am transfer to Kinabalu Park
2-Day Experiences, Kota Kinabalu Tours, Mount Kinabalu Tours, Tour Reviews, Walking Tours

2d1n Mount Kinabalu Via Ferrata – Walk The Torq

9.2d1n Mount Kinabalu Via Ferrata – Walk The Torq

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 90 reviews · from $1,200

You’ll climb Mount Kinabalu from Kota Kinabalu with private guiding, shared-dorm accommodation, meals, permits and transport included. Reach Low’s Peak for sunrise, then complete Mountain Torq’s Walk the Torq via ferrata, with a mandatory briefing and a strict 7:15 am cutoff.

“Great organization from Borneo Calling Sky. Fast response, quick booking. Throughout the trip from start to finish was smooth with no hiccups. Thank you.”

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Kinabalu Park & Poring Hot Spring & Canopy Walk - Tamparuli Bridge gives the morning a local start
Kota Kinabalu Tours, Mount Kinabalu Tours, Poring Hot Springs Tours, Spa & Hot Springs, Tour Reviews, Walking Tours

Kinabalu Park & Poring Hot Spring & Canopy Walk

10.Kinabalu Park & Poring Hot Spring & Canopy Walk

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 80 reviews · from $125

Travel from Kota Kinabalu to Tamparuli, Nabalu Market, Kinabalu Park, and Poring Hot Springs with an English or Chinese-speaking guide. Expect a long day, a botanical walk, sulfur baths, and a 105-meter canopy walkway 30 meters above the forest floor.

“This was an amazing tour. Our guide was very friendly and knowledgeable. We enjoyed the mini hike to canopy walk and waterfall. Highly recommend!”

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Learn to Dive | RAID Open Water 20 Diver Course | Kota Kinabalu - What the marine park adds to the course
Kota Kinabalu Tours, Tour Reviews

Learn to Dive | RAID Open Water 20 Diver Course | Kota Kinabalu

11.Learn to Dive | RAID Open Water 20 Diver Course | Kota Kinabalu

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 79 reviews · from $375

Spend three days learning scuba with Borneo Dream in Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park. You complete online study first, then train from a trimaran with instructors including Basir, Yadi, Amir, Alex, and Didi. Equipment, park fees, lunches, water, and RAID materials are included.

“We just completed the Open Water 20 course with Yadi as our instructor, and the experience was fantastic. Yadi was very patient with us and explained everything perfectly. We learned a lot and had a great time—we can't wait to go divinRead more”

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Kota Kinabalu: Manukan & Sapi Islands Snorkeling with Lunch - Three hours on Manukan Island
Kota Kinabalu Tours, Lunch Experiences, Snorkeling, Tour Reviews

Kota Kinabalu: Manukan & Sapi Islands Snorkeling with Lunch

12.Manukan & Sapi Islands Snorkeling with Lunch

★★★★★★★★★★3.7 · 61 reviews · 7 hours · from $74

Join an English-speaking guide, including guide Cris when assigned, for a seven-hour trip from Kota Kinabalu to Manukan and Sapi Islands. You’ll get boat transfers, park entry, lunch, snorkeling time, and beach breaks. Watersports cost extra, and outskirt hotel pickups add RM40 per person.

“Bardzo profesjonalna obsługa. Przewodnik był cały czas z nami i troszczył się abyśmy byli zadowoleni. Polecam tego organizatora.”

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Bongawan River Cruise Proboscis Monkey, SkyMirror, Fireflies - Cocoa Kingdom and Sabah chocolate
Cruises & Boat Tours, Kinabatangan Wildlife Safaris, Kota Kinabalu Tours, Kuala Selangor Firefly Tours, River Cruises, Tour Reviews

Bongawan River Cruise Proboscis Monkey, SkyMirror, Fireflies

13.Bongawan River Cruise Proboscis Monkey, SkyMirror, Fireflies

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 58 reviews · from $52

Travel from Kota Kinabalu to Bongawan for a river cruise among proboscis monkeys and macaques, sunset at SkyMirror beach, and fireflies after dark. Guides such as Timmy, Eddie, Simon, and Zai add local stories, photo help, and easygoing humor. Dinner, transport, and entry fees are included.

“It's a nice arranged trip. We experienced the nature, learned about a bit history about Sabah, and saw the most fabulous sunset on the beach! Big thanks to our guide Timmy, he is professional, friendly and funny. He made conversation with each of the guest, and made sure everyone had a good time. I highly recommend this trip to everyone, if you like nature, and sunset!”

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Kinabalu Park and Poring Hot Spring - Kinabalu Park and the UNESCO setting
Kota Kinabalu Tours, Mount Kinabalu Tours, Poring Hot Springs Tours, Spa & Hot Springs, Tour Reviews

Kinabalu Park and Poring Hot Spring

14.Kinabalu Park and Poring Hot Spring

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 53 reviews · from $120

Travel from Kota Kinabalu into Sabah’s mountain country on a guided day trip to Kinabalu Park and Poring Hot Spring. Expect hotel pickup, a shared air-conditioned vehicle, lunch, local markets, jungle walks, and natural springs. Check canopy walkway access before booking.

“The beauty of Kinabalu National Park is unsurpassed. Lush, tropical vegetation, the abundance of flora, the sounds of cicadas - all this makes the adventure worthwhile and memorable.”

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Proboscis Monkey and Fireflies River Cruise - The late afternoon boat cruise
Cruises & Boat Tours, Kinabatangan Wildlife Safaris, Kota Kinabalu Tours, Kuala Selangor Firefly Tours, River Cruises, Tour Reviews

Proboscis Monkey and Fireflies River Cruise

15.Proboscis Monkey and Fireflies River Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 51 reviews · from $81

Leave Kota Kinabalu at 1:30 pm for Weston and the Kawa Kawa river wetlands. A guide such as Terence leads the wildlife search, sunset cruise, snacks, dinner, and firefly viewing before your shared ride returns you to the city.

“I found the tour to be average. Did not see proposcis monkeys. You would think the tour operators of the river cruise would know where the proposcis monkeys usually stay. It was a waste just driving up and down the river. The sunset was beautiful. The fireflies were amazing.”

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New in Kota Kinabalu Tours

★ 3.7Enjoy 3 Fun Dives in Kota Kinabalu | Certified DiversFrom $1127 reviews
★ 4.5Kiulu River Water Rafting Day Tour from Kota KinabaluFrom $12017 reviews
★ 5.0Kiulu White Water Rafting Tour + mealFrom $719 reviews
★ 4.7Kiulu River: River Rafting + ATV Shared Group Day TripFrom $2129 reviews
★ 5.0(3 Days) PADI Open Water Diver Course Kota KinabaluFrom $43723 reviews
★ 4.9Sabah Traditional Authentic Cuisine Cooking Class 3 HoursFrom $5022 reviews
★ 4.5Mari-Mari Cultural Village Visit + Lunch + transferFrom $8516 reviews
★ 5.0Private Tour Kampung Gipsi Sabah Cultural Village Kota KinabaluFrom $2532 reviews
★ 4.5Fun Boat Snorkeling and Island Visit from Kota KinabaluFrom $13035 reviews

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