Kota Kinabalu
is a melting pot of peoples and cultures
Welcome to Kota Kinabalu
Kota Kinabalu (KK) won’t immediately overwhelm you with its beauty, but you’ll soon notice its friendly locals, breathtaking fiery sunsets, blossoming arts and music scene, and rich culinary spectrum spanning Malay to Japanese, Western to Cantonese, street food to high end. Alongside swanky new malls springing up at every turn, and a wave of expensive condos accommodating a rush of expats, old KK, with its markets... Read More
Top experiences in Kota Kinabalu
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Why not to skip Kota Kinabalu: 7 reasons to stick around Sabah’s capital
Just a short hop from Kuala Lumpur, and a mere 40-minute flight from Brunei, Kota Kinabalu (KK) also makes a great case for tying in a stopover within a stopover if you've already visited Southeast Asia's major flight hubs and are keen to break up a long international flight in a new destination. Read on for seven great ways to make the most of it.
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Kota Kinabalu adventures
Borneo – Sabah Adventure
Revive your sense of adventure on this jam-packed tour. Hike rainforest trails and summit Mt Kinabalu to watch the sunrise. Our CEOs will provide nature lovers and photographers of all skill levels with an introduction to the highlights of remote Sabah, helping you frame great snapshots of tropical birds and giant flowers. Visit the Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre and meet these special creatures. And after all the excitement and exercise, there will still be the chance to see baby turtles in their natural habitat. Get off the beaten track and discover the best of Sabah.
Sandakan Sepilok Orang Utan Rehabilitation Center Full-Day Trip from Kota Kinabalu
A visit to the see the orphaned or abandoned Orangutans at the Sepilok Rehabilitation Center, in the Malaysian Sabah District of North Borneo, will melt the hearts of the hardiest traveler. Watch as these cute Orangutans are taught the survival skills, by the dedicated team at Sepilok, that they need in order to return to natural habitat - the jungles of Borneo.The Sepilok Orang Utan Rehabilitation Center, located near the town of Sandakan, is one of the best places on earth to see the famous wild man of Borneo in its natural habitat. After pickup from your hotel in Kota Kinabalu, be transferred to the airport for your flight to Sandakan (flight surcharge subject to change, please see Additional Info for more details). Upon arrival, be taken to the Sepilok Orang Utan Rehabilitation Center, the largest and oldest of its kind on earth where a dedicated team of professionals work tirelessly to assist orphaned, abandoned or abused Orangutans to learn the survival skills they need to return to their natural habitat - the teeming jungles of Borneo.Follow your guide on a walk along a raised wooden walkway to the observation deck where Orangutans slowly emerge from the rainforest to be fed by the rangers. The Sepilok centre supplements the rehabilitated Orangutan's diet with a feeding at 10am and 3pm. Please note that wildlife sightings are not guaranteed as the Orangutans roam freely in the jungle.Afterward, head to a local restaurant for a delectable lunch of Malaysian specialties. Then, enjoy an afternoon of touring around Sandakan beginning with a tour of a local market offering a variety of fruits, vegetables and unique local handicrafts. Learn about traditional Chinese architecture on a guided visit to a the Puh Jih Shih Buddhist Temple, situated on a hilltop. Admire the views of the city skyline from the observation point The temple is situated on a hill-top looking and provides great photo opportunities of the breathtaking views over Sandakan Bay. At the end of your tour, transfer to Sandakan airport to catch your flight back to Kota Kinabalu. Upon arrival, be transported back to your hotel in Kota Kinabalu
North Borneo Railway Train Ride from Kota Kinabalu to Papar
Board the North Borneo Railway to discover the lush landscape of the coastal and rural regions of Sabah. Experience the nostalgic romance of an old steam train and relive the memories of a bygone era. Pass through villages, coastal towns, paddy fields, rainforests, and rubber and coffee plantations on this North Borneo rail excursion. Ride the North Borneo Railway train from Kota Kinabalu to Papar to experience the days of the British Colonial Office, when people traveled by steam train into the heart of Sabah. The trains are refurbished to re-create the atmosphere of stepping onto a train in the 1900s. The North Borneo Railway runs for 36 miles (60 km) between Kota Kinabalu, the state capital of Sabah, and Papar, an agricultural town, known as the rice bowl of Sabah.Board the train at Tanjung Aru Station. As the train pulls out of the station, travel into the countryside and admire the pastoral landscape. Continuing to the coast of Lokawi Bay, take in the picturesque views of the South China Sea. Stop at Kinarut, a traditional trading village, then visit Tien Shi Temple, a Buddhist temple at the foot of the hill, and explore the local shops nearby. Reboard the train and pass through Kawang, home to the Kawang Forest Reserve. Cross the Papar River over a steel bridge to arrive in Papar, where you can visit the local wet market to get a taste of simple rural life in Sabah. Meander around the area and meet the friendly locals. Then, hop on board the train for a scenic ride back to Kota Kinabalu and enjoy a typical tiffin colonial lunch.
Best of Borneo
Still wild and mysterious even after all these years, Borneo is one of those places that’s become synonymous with adventure travel. Come see what all the fuss is about on this 14-day journey through the Malaysian states of Sarawak and Sabah. There, you’ll encounter wild orangutans, proboscis monkeys, and other creatures of the rainforest, visit hot springs and waterfalls, and get a better understanding of the local Dayak people by spending the night in a traditional village. Adventure never goes out of style; it just becomes more classic.
3-Day PADI Open Water Diver Course in Kota Kinabalu
The PADI Open Water Diver course in Kota Kinabalu (KK), Sabah at the Tunku Abdul Rahman Park (TARP) is fun, serious and taught in small groups (4:1). To gain certification you must successfully complete the entire three day course with one of our Professional PADI diving instructors which is overlooked by a PADI Course Director from England, the highest level of a diving instructor in the world who ensures the highest quality and safe PADI diving courses is taught daily in Kota Kinabalu.
Borneo – Sabah Adventure
Revive your sense of adventure on this jam-packed tour. Hike rainforest trails and summit Mt Kinabalu to watch the sunrise. Our CEOs will provide nature lovers and photographers of all skill levels with an introduction to the highlights of remote Sabah, helping you frame great snapshots of tropical birds and giant flowers. Visit the Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre and meet these special creatures. And after all the excitement and exercise, there will still be the chance to see baby turtles in their natural habitat. Get off the beaten track and discover the best of Sabah.