Sabah: Kinabalu Park, Poring Hot Springs & Desa Farm Tour

The most unusual part of this day is the sharp change of scenery. You leave Kota Kinabalu early, pass into Sabah’s mountain country, and combine hot springs, rainforest, dairy products, and views of Mount Kinabalu in one long outing. The canopy walkway is currently closed, so the tour no longer delivers its advertised treetop highlight.

I like the convenient hotel pickup and the chance to see two very different sides of Sabah: tropical forest at Poring and cool-climate farm scenery at Desa Dairy Farm. I also like that lunch and entrance fees are included, which keeps the day simple. The drawback is the long road time, roughly six hours in the van, and the experience can feel thin if the farm or other stops change without clear notice.

Key points before you book

• The canopy walkway is closed: Local-authority maintenance means this rainforest highlight is excluded until further notice.
• Expect a full 11-hour day: Pickup is around 7:00 AM, with a return to Kota Kinabalu near 6:00 PM.
• Desa Dairy Farm brings a taste of Sabah’s highlands: Ice cream, yogurt, and fresh milk are available to buy.
• The van ride is a major part of the experience: You spend about three hours going out and three hours returning.
• Friendly guides can make a difference: Wendy, Nizam, Roy, and Roger received especially warm praise for their helpful service.
• Check extra charges carefully: Hotels outside the city pickup zone cost RM 40 per person, paid in cash to the driver or guide.

A long mountain day from Kota Kinabalu

At $79 per person, this is priced as a full-day sightseeing trip rather than a quick visit to one attraction. You get hotel transfers, a shared van, a guide, lunch, and applicable entrance fees. That package can be good value if you want to visit Poring, Desa Dairy Farm, and Kinabalu Park without arranging transport yourself.

The trade-off is time. The outward and return van rides each take about three hours. That is a lot of road for a day that gives you about two hours at Poring, one hour at the farm, and one hour at Kinabalu Park. I would book it for convenience and variety, not for a slow, detailed visit to every stop.

This is a shared tour, so the pace depends partly on the group. Hotel pickup is offered at many Kota Kinabalu properties, including Hilton Kota Kinabalu, Le Méridien, the Marriott, Magellan Sutera Resort, Shangri-La Tanjung Aru, Cititel Express, and several others. You should wait in the lobby from 10 minutes before pickup.

If you stay outside the normal Kota Kinabalu coverage area, expect an extra RM 40 per person. The stated examples include Shangri-La Rasa Ria, Nexus Karambunai, 1Borneo, Inanam, and Tuaran. This payment is made in cash at pickup, so do not assume the $79 covers every hotel location.

Poring Hot Springs without the canopy walkway

The planned morning stop at Poring Hot Springs begins around 10:00 AM. The area includes rainforest scenery, walking paths, hot spring facilities, and sightseeing time. The original appeal was the canopy walkway, which would have taken you above the forest floor for broad views through the trees.

That walkway is currently closed for maintenance by the local authority. This is not a small footnote. It removes the clearest headline attraction from the day, so you should book with the understanding that you will not take part in a treetop crossing unless the closure has ended.

You still have about two hours at Poring. The supplied details specifically allow for a guided visit, free time, sightseeing, and walking. A waterfall area is also part of the possible experience, and a shaded stop near the falls can offer some relief from the heat. Ask your guide what remains open on the day, since local conditions can affect the order and length of stops.

The hot spring baths are another possible draw, but using a private bath or tub is not included. Personal expenses and the bath tub charge are separate. Bring a swimsuit or suitable clothing only if you intend to use the bathing facilities, but remember that the tour information does not promise a specific bathing arrangement.

Poring is most rewarding if you enjoy a short walk in a tropical setting and do not need every minute packed with major sights. It is less satisfying if the canopy walk is the main reason you chose this tour. I would contact the operator before booking and ask exactly what Poring includes while the closure remains in place.

Lunch at a local restaurant

Around noon, the group stops for a one-hour lunch at a nearby local restaurant. Lunch is included, which is useful on a remote, full-day route. You do not need to spend time searching for food or worry about missing the next transfer.

The supplied information does not give a fixed menu, so I would not book this expecting a particular dish. Treat lunch as a practical midday meal rather than a separate food tour. Shared tours also mean that the group will likely need to keep to the scheduled hour.

This pause matters more than it may seem. By this point, you have already spent several hours on the road and walked around Poring. A fixed meal stop gives you time to sit down, drink water, and reset before the farm visit.

Desa Dairy Farm, Sabah’s highland change of pace

The afternoon stop at Desa Dairy Farm is scheduled for about 1:00 PM, with roughly one hour for the visit. The farm is often called Little New Zealand because of its open highland setting and dairy focus. It gives the day a very different feel from Poring’s tropical forest.

You can buy fresh dairy products such as creamy ice cream, yogurt, and farm-fresh milk. For many people, this is the most immediately enjoyable part of the trip. It is easy to understand, family-friendly, and gives you something local to taste rather than only photograph.

The farm is also one of the main reasons to check the current operating plan before departure. At least one reported booking experience found the farm visit had been cancelled, while another described a revised route after the canopy walkway closure. That means you should not assume the printed schedule will always be followed exactly.

If Desa Dairy Farm is important to you, ask the operator two direct questions before paying: Is the farm open on my travel date, and how much time will the group spend there? Clear answers matter because the farm is only scheduled for about an hour, and a replacement stop can change the value of the tour.

Kinabalu Park and the Mount Kinabalu photo stop

The route continues to Kinabalu Park, with a photo stop planned around 2:30 PM. The visit is scheduled for about an hour, although the practical experience can be shorter if the group is moving quickly or the guide has to make up time.

This stop is mainly about scenery and photographs. The park gives you a chance to frame Mount Kinabalu and enjoy the mountain setting after the warmer forest and farm stops. Do not think of it as a long park walk or a detailed nature visit. The stated plan offers free time and a photo stop, not a full hiking program.

One reported experience described only about 10 minutes in the park. That is a useful warning for anyone expecting a substantial visit. If Mount Kinabalu views are high on your list, tell the guide early and ask how much time is available when you arrive.

Weather can also affect what you see. Bring a camera, but keep expectations sensible. The photo stop is a chance to capture the mountain if conditions cooperate, not a guarantee of a clear view.

Guides who can improve a changing day

The guide is especially important on this tour because the route may need to change. The English and Malay-speaking guides named in the supplied information include Wendy, Nizam, Roy, and Roger. Wendy and driver Nizam were praised for being friendly, while Roy was singled out for making the trip enjoyable. Roger was described as helpful when a passenger asked about adding a rafflesia viewing stop.

That last detail shows both the value and the limit of a shared tour. A flexible guide may help with practical requests, but an extra stop is not part of the confirmed standard schedule. A rafflesia visit may involve a separate entrance cost, and one booking record described an additional RM 50 charge that felt poor value. Ask about the price before agreeing to any optional stop.

Another important point is communication. If the farm or canopy walkway has been removed from the route, confirm the change with the guide at pickup. A revised plan may not always be explained clearly in advance. The guide may simply be following the company’s latest instructions, so a calm, specific question is more useful than expecting the original schedule to remain unchanged.

What the $79 price really covers

The $79 price is reasonable if you value door-to-door transport and do not want to drive the mountain roads yourself. Lunch, a shared guide, hotel transfers, and applicable entrance fees are included. For a first visit to Sabah, the mix of forest, springs, farm scenery, and Mount Kinabalu views gives you a broad introduction in one day.

The value weakens if you mainly want the canopy walkway or a long visit at Kinabalu Park. Since the walkway is closed, the tour currently loses one of its strongest selling points. If Desa Dairy Farm is also cancelled on your date, you could spend most of the day traveling for a shorter set of stops.

Budget for personal purchases at the farm, drinks and snacks, any Poring bath tub charge, and optional attractions. Also confirm if any foreign visitor entrance charge applies. One reported booking described an extra RM 85 payment because the passengers were foreign, although this is not listed among the standard inclusions. I would ask the operator to confirm every entrance fee before departure.

Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start gives you some useful flexibility. You can also reserve now and pay later. Those terms help if you are waiting to confirm the canopy walkway or farm situation.

Comfort, weather, and who should skip it

Bring an umbrella, sunscreen, drinking water, insect repellent, and a camera. Sabah weather can change during a long day outdoors, and the supplied guidance specifically recommends an umbrella. Wear shoes suitable for walking and expect heat at the lower rainforest stop.

The van ride is long, so this is not the best choice if you dislike sitting in a shared vehicle for extended periods. It is also not suitable for pregnant women, people with back or heart problems, or wheelchair users.

You should also follow the basic rules: no smoking, alcohol, drugs, or littering. The tour moves through natural areas and public attractions, so careful behavior helps protect the places you came to see.

I think this tour suits first-time visitors who want a broad Sabah sampler and prefer a guide and transport to planning several separate trips. Families may like the dairy stop, and anyone curious about both rainforest and mountain country gets a useful range of scenery.

It suits independent hikers less well. You do not get a dedicated mountain walk, and the scheduled stops are short. The same is true for serious photographers who need long, quiet periods at Kinabalu Park.

Should you book this Sabah day trip?

Book it if you want a convenient shared tour from Kota Kinabalu and like the idea of combining Poring Hot Springs, Desa Dairy Farm, and a Mount Kinabalu photo stop. The included lunch, transfers, and guide make the $79 fare fairly practical, especially if you would otherwise need to hire a car and arrange several entrance tickets.

Wait or choose another plan if the canopy walkway is your main goal. It is closed now, and the route may change again. I would also confirm that Desa Dairy Farm is operating on your date, ask about all extra fees, and find out how long the Kinabalu Park stop will last.

The best reason to book is the variety and the chance of having a friendly guide such as Wendy, Roy, or Roger turn a changing schedule into a pleasant day. The best reason not to book is the amount of time spent in the van compared with the limited time at each attraction. Make that trade-off knowingly, and this can be a useful introduction to Sabah’s mountain side.

FAQ

How long does the tour last?

The tour lasts about 11 hours. Pickup is scheduled around 7:00 AM, and return to Kota Kinabalu is expected near 6:00 PM.

Is hotel pickup included?

Yes. Hotel pickup and return transfer are included for listed hotels within the Kota Kinabalu city coverage area. You should wait in the hotel lobby from 10 minutes before the scheduled pickup.

Is the canopy walkway open?

No. The canopy walkway is currently closed for maintenance by the local authority and is not included until further notice.

What languages does the guide speak?

The tour provides live guiding in English and Malay.

Is lunch included?

Yes. A one-hour lunch stop at a local restaurant is included.

Are entrance fees included?

Applicable entrance fees are included, but personal expenses, the Poring bath tub, and any items not listed are excluded. Confirm any optional attraction or special foreign visitor charge before paying.

Is this a private tour?

No. This is a shared tour with other people in a van.

What should I bring?

Bring an umbrella, camera, sunscreen, water, and insect repellent. You should also wear clothing and shoes suitable for outdoor walking.