Poring Hot Springs

Introducing Poring Hot Springs

These hot springs (admission RM15; visitors centre 9am-4.30pm) lie within Kinabalu National Park some 43km from the park headquarters and 19km north of Ranau. If you arrive here directly after climbing Mt Kinabalu, you can use your national-park entry ticket to gain admission to Poring (and vice versa).

Steaming, sulphurous water is channelled into pools and tubs in which visitors relax their tired muscles after summiting Mt Kinabalu. The outdoor tubs are free but are often either occupied or painfully slow to fill (test the taps before choosing one). Consider renting an indoor tub (per hour RM15); these fill quickly and give you private soaking time.

Note that the place is somewhat poorly maintained and there are no proper changing rooms, coin lockers or towel rental. Bring a bathing suit and towel and a bag to carry your wet things when you’re done.

The other features here include walking trails, a tropical garden (admission RM3; 9am-4pm), a butterfly farm (admission RM4; 9am-4pm) and a 41m-high canopy walkway (admission RM5; 9am-4pm). The canopy walk was partially closed at the time of writing and it seems likely to remain so.

Rafflesia flowers sometimes bloom in the vicinity of the hot springs. Ask at the shops opposite the hot-springs entrance. If any are in bloom, villagers will lead you to them for RM20.

Last updated: Feb 17, 2009