Although diving is fantastic in Kota Kinabalu, it isn’t the only thing that draws people here. There are some amazing land tours in the area, over half of Sabah is covered in forest, making it a wildlife lover’s paradise, the highest mountain between the Himalayas and New Guinea is conveniently located just a couple of hours from the capital city, and there are caves, jungles, trekking, culture, family-friendly, and budget-friendly activities galore! River Junkie, our sister company, can book trips.
The Padas river (Grade III-IV)
Sabah’s premier rafting destination for those seeking an exciting, adrenaline-pumping day out! This trip, located in the interior southwest of Sabah and only accessible by train, will provide you with not only an unforgettable day of rafting but also the opportunity to enjoy the breathtaking views from the back of Borneo’s oldest train!
This exhilarating journey down Sabah’s only grade 3 to 4 rapids requires no prior rafting expertise, but please bring your sense of adventure!
The Kiulu River (Grade I-II)
A beautiful river for those of all ability levels to enjoy, as well as a scenic day trip for novices and ambitious people of all ages. Depending on water levels, this excursion can traverse up to 15 kilometers of river. Remember to keep a look out for wildlife along the river’s banks as you travel down the river! You can even try body rafting while assisting the rest of your boat crew through the grade 1 to 2 rapids. The exciting river voyage will last between 1.5 to 2 hours before arriving at the destination, where a sumptuous lunch will be served along the riverbank.
On this trip you will see a plethora of wildlife that is super easily accessible on just a day trip from Kota Kinabalu.This afternoon trip to the Klias wetlands is one of the best places on Sabah’s west coast to see proboscis monkeys in their natural habitat, so there’s a good chance you’ll see a lot of them! You may also encounter a variety of birds, long-tailed macaque monkeys, silver langurs, and possibly crocodiles in the wild, in addition to the proboscis monkey.
Despite the fact that all of these animals sound incredible, our favourite part of the trip is the cruise after supper, where you can watch hundreds of fireflies dancing through the trees; it is truly a magical and unforgettable experience.
This hiking day tour takes you through primary jungle, pineapple fields, rubber plantations, and rice paddy areas in the foothills surrounding Mt Kinabalu. This is a must-see for the more daring traveller. On a clear day, a lookout point near the end of your trek will provide you with a spectacular panoramic view of Mt Kinabalu. This day excursion allows you to fully immerse yourself in the ethnic Dusun culture of the area! Trying some delicious, freshly grown pineapples in the village, or perhaps seeing natives tapping their rubber trees in the traditional way.
Get away from the hustle and bustle of Kota Kinabalu on this day trip to Kinabalu National Park, which is about a 2-hour drive from the city. The park is located beneath the stunning 4,095m Mount Kinabalu and benefits from a cooler climate, making it a welcome respite from the tropical heat. The mountain park is a true botanical paradise, with an amazing variety of orchids, pitcher plants, and many more plants. Visitors will be able to explore the botanical gardens’ enchanting flora and fauna, as well as hike some of the park’s numerous trails.
Kinabalu Park is Sabah’s first and only Unesco World Heritage Site, is home to over 5,000 plant species as well as 400 different mammals and birds. Although large mammals are not commonly seen in the park, endemic birds and smaller mammals such as the Kinabalu shrew (endemic to Mt Kinabalu) are. The views of Mt Kinabalu and the surrounding area are also breathtaking on a clear day.
Feel like you want a little bit more of a challenge? If you have enough time you should definitely think about taking the 2D1N trip to climb Mount Kinabalu.
A mentioned Mount Kinabalu towers 4,095 metres above sea level and is the highest peak between the Himalayas and New Guinea, also the most prominent in Southeast Asia. Climbing Mount Kinabalu is not only a physically demanding experience, but also a one-of-a-kind journey through the tropical jungle at the base to the rocky sub-alpine summit plateau. Exotic plants galore in the various climates along the way, including bamboo, mosses, orchids, rotans, and Mount Kinabalu’s famous pitcher plants.
After an early morning start and hike, the highlight of the trip is the sunrise revealing the remarkable summit plateau of the mountain.
For the EVEN MORE adventurous why not try the Via Ferrata, this is the highest in the world and the only one in Asia! Your ascent will be the same as the normal climb but after sunrise you will detour via a series of rungs, cables, bridges and ladders drilled to the rock face, you will be able to access a whole different side of the mountain! It’s truly a unique and awe-inspiring experience but not one to be underestimated!
Are you interested to learn more about Sabah’s “old traditional way of life”? This half-day excursion will take you to Mari Mari Cultural Village, which is located just 25 minutes outside of Kota Kinabalu. When you arrive, you will be welcomed into the homes of Sabah’s five ethnic tribes. Each home was built by descendants of the tribes it represents and provides a truly authentic experience; seeing everything in and around the village is like stepping back in time. The village illustrates the fascinating differences in architecture, costumes, and traditions of the five different tribes, and you will be able to see demonstrations of ancient activities such as blowpipe making, starting a fire from bamboo, and tattoo-making come to life. As part of this unique journey into Sabah’s past, you will also be able to sample traditional food and drink and enjoy a buffet meal.
These are just a few of the land tour activities available near Kota Kinabalu, but there are many more exciting experiences to be had throughout Sabah, such as visiting Turtle Island, staying along the Kinabatangan River, exploring Danum Valley, and much more! Visit River Junkie Tours for more information.
Want to experience diving in different areas of Sabah? But not sure how to organise it or if you even have enough time? Don’t worry, we have you covered with our Sipadan – Kota Kinabalu Dive combo!
If you love the idea of extending city day trips diving with a resort stay, we have a fabulous new option for this now available in Sabah. We’ve teamed up with our Mabul Beach Resort to offer a full package with combined resort & day trips from the city, so you can get the most out of your diving adventure in this phenomenal destination.
You can choose from a number of combo packages or we can tailor one to your specific requirements.
A majority of visitors travel to KK to dive the renowned KK Marine Park (Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park), which includes the five incredible islands of Gaya, Sapi, Mamutik, Manukan, and Sulug. This well-known marine park has been around for almost 40 years, and Sabah Parks actively monitors and protects its marine biodiversity. As a result, this area is home to thousands of schooling fish, pristine coral reefs, unusual critters like sea horses, frogfish, and octopus, as well as Turtles, Black Tip Reef Sharks, Rays, and even Whale Sharks during the season. It is ideal for all levels of divers!
When passionate divers are asked to name their top dive destinations, Sipadan is typically at the top of the list. Sipadan is unquestionably one of the best dive destinations in the world, having been popularized by legendary sea explorer Jacques Cousteau. Today, the island drops over 2,000 meters to the seabed. Sipadan is located in the heart of the Indo-Pacific basin, which is home to some of the world’s most diverse marine ecosystems. The island is surrounded by strong currents, making it a meeting area for the entire marine food chain. This ecosystem is home to over 3,000 different fish species and hundreds of different coral species.
When you take a backward roll into the ocean, you’ll be amazed by the large number of green and hawksbill turtles. Sharks are also a virtual certainty, including whitetip reef sharks, grey reef sharks, and even hammerhead sharks if you’re lucky!
Schooling barracuda and big eye trevally often congregate in large numbers, creating a large tornado-like formation that is a once-in-a-lifetime experience, along with herds of bumphead parrot fish in the shallows. Let’s not forget about the macro-life; after spending some time looking at the wall, you’ll see nudibranchs, lobsters, octopus, and other interesting little creatures; there’s just so much to explore!
Scuba Junkie Mabul Beach Resort is an eco-friendly resort and strategically located on the beautiful Mabul island just a few steps away from some amazing shore dives on Mabul and a stone’s throw away from the incredible Sipadan island. With 30 en suite rooms situated on the beachfront, treat yourself to a little luxury at incredible rates. Our beautiful Mabul Beach Resort is the perfect base to explore Sipadan, Mabul and Kapalai.
The best route to get from Kota Kinabalu to Mabul for your combo is to take a domestic flight with Air Asia or Malaysian Airlines from Kota Kinabalu to Tawau; there are a few options throughout the day, but you must arrive before 12pm to catch the 14:30 boat to Mabul. Alternatively you can do it the other way round, in this case you can catch the 10:30am boat back from Mabul and choose a flight anytime from 3pm onwards to Kota Kinabalu.
The package options are flexible, but to get the most out of your visit you can check out our examples that work best with transferring between both locations quickly and efficiently so you don’t waste extra time travelling, when you could be diving. We can’t wait to welcome you at both locations!
Diving uses up a lot of energy & always makes us feel hungry at the end of the day after some amazing dives. What better way to sort out those hunger pains with a delicious meal & drink at one of these restaurants that we have rated our top 7 in Kota Kinabalu!
El Centro Cafe is an excellent meeting place for travelers and locals that offers delicious international food and drinks at really reasonable prices. The atmosphere is fun, relaxed and has a great vibe for hanging out with friends and enjoying good food and music! El Centro has a variety of daily happy hour drink specials & tapas and hosts regular events like pub quiz, live music and local art exhibitions. This is the perfect place to unwind after a day of diving in KK!
As you can tell from the name, Shamrock is an Irish Bar that serves not just beer, but also some great food too. Shamrock is located at Waterfront Kota Kinabalu, one of the best places you can enjoy the amazing sunset of Sabah with a beer in your hand. The restaurant can be quite crowded in the evening as early as before sunset time as everyone is eager to get the best spot to view the sunset so be sure to come here early! It’s a great place to go for those who are looking for fun & chilled night as it has live music at night.
Shoney’s is a western restaurant located in the heart of Kota Kinabalu, it is famous among locals & tourists. From lamb chop, steaks, spaghetti to desserts, you can find any western cuisine that you like here. Like the two restaurants above, Shoney’s serves alcoholic drinks as well. The atmosphere in the restaurant is very cozy & it feels good to hang out here with your friends.
Sri Latha is an Indian restaurant located at Bandaran Berjaya area. They serve your foods here on a banana leaf. You can eat with either your bare hands or with cutlery. If you are looking for a unique dining experience, then be sure to visit this place! The foods here are tasty & you get several side dishes & curries together with your rice. Sri Latha also offer vegetarian & vegan options. Besides main dish, you can order a variety of rotis that they have here for a light snack.
Ang’s Hotel Restaurant is located just beside Ang’s Hotel, it is an open restaurant just beside the street. Ang’s Restaurant is a famous local dining restaurant that serves Chinese cuisine. Their chicken wings with oyster sauce is must-try dish here! The place is pretty packed in the evening so you might have to wait for a while to get a table here but they serve foods quite fast once you sit down.
Bak Kut Teh is one of dishes that you got to try when in Malaysia. It is literally translated as pork bone tea soup. It is a dish where meat & pork ribs are cooked in a herbal soup. There are several bak kut the restaurants you can find at the city centre, one of them is Yu Kee Bak Kut Teh. the food here are served in individual portions so you will be able to order & taste different dishes even if you come here by yourself.
Living Seed restaurant has been open for quite some time in Sabah. Their 1st restaurant is located outside of Kota Kinabalu, but they have recently opened another branch at the city centre so you won’t need to go far to get some vegetarian food! This new Living Seed Restaurant is located inside Suria Sabah, one of the most frequently visited shopping malls in Sabah. They have this economy rice set where many pre-cooked dishes laid out in one corner & you can just choose whichever dish that you like to go with your rice. Otherwise they also have ala-carte option where there are a variety of vegetarian foods that you can choose from the menu.
Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park (TARP) also nick named the KK Marine Park features 5 beautiful islands Gaya, Sapi, Manukan, Mamutik and Sulug. This famous marine park has been a marine park for more then 40 years and its marine life is carefully monitored and protected by Sabah Parks. As a result this area is home to thousands of schooling fish, pristine coral reefs, cool creepy critters such as Frogfish, Octopus, Sea horses, Orangutan crabs and much more! We also have some of the larger marine life such as Turtles, Black Tip Reef Sharks, Eagle rays, Cowtail Rays and even during Spring season the Whale Sharks sometimes come and visit.
All types of divers are welcome here, it is a great place for beginners and also fantastic for experienced divers who want to do a bit of photography. We often have snorkelers too who enjoy the sites of the outer reef rather then the beach seeing much more and get a bit of island time between intervals.There is something here to meet every divers and snorkelers tastes
The largest island within the marine park and the closest to Kota Kinabalu. The name Gaya came from a Bajau word “Gayo”which means big. The island is 3,700 acres in size and has an elevation of up to 300 meters. The island is covered in dense tropical forest which is a forest reserve. On the island, there is a 20km long hiking path . There is great wildlife to be seen such as monitor lizards, bearded pigs and the beautiful hornbill birds. One of the popular sites of Gaya island is the legendary beach at Police Bay. There is a long stretch of white sand which slopes out gradually to the sea and make its a perfect spot for swimming and snorkelling in the crystal blue waters. The reefs around Gaya are still in great condition, making it a fantastic spot for diving.
A mixture of shallow macro diving and shallow sloping walls full of coral reefs! Dive sites around this Island range from 5m-30m and offers some amazing macro life such as Frog Fish, Scorpion Fish, Lion Fish, Seahorses, Nudibranchʼs as well as larger marine life such as Turtles, Barracuda, Tuna and even Reef Sharks can be seen.
Sapi means ‘cow’ and the island is said to be shaped like a cow’s head.
Known to be the most beautiful island within the KK marine park. Connected to Gaya via Zip line (a.k.a Flying Fox) which is 235 Meter-long 771 (feet), this is open to thrill seekers who want to fly across the ocean at a vast speed between the two islands, known as the Coral Flyer. This is the world’s longest island to island zip line.
Sapi island is only 25 acres and the second smallest island of TARP. There is not only a wide variety of marine life, but on the island there are also Bearded pigs and monitor lizards.
Sapi offers some amazing white pristine beaches with fantastic reefs for diving. Diving ranges from 8-25m and divers can expect to see Stingrays, Fusiliers, Crocodile Fish, Cuttlefish, Octopus, Moray Eels, lots of nudibranchs, Stone Fish and Anemone Fish plus much more
This is the second largest island in TARP quite a popular island for our residents as it has long stretched of beautiful beach for relaxing on and snorkelling around. It is also covered with dense vegetation and has great hiking trails. This Island has very healthy coral reefs teaming with many reef fish and you can even see the very rare and valuable Black Coral diving at this Island. Dive sites vary from 7-25m which makes this island ideal for all levels of divers.
This is the smallest island in the clusters of TARP at about 15 acres in size. However this island goes to show that size is not always everything! A peaceful and mesmerising island with a quiet beach to laze around on. The rich coral reefs are diverse in marine life. Mamutik Island offers divers and snorkelers very healthy coral reefs teaming with a large variety of large and small reef fish. There are also lots of rare macro life such as Frog fish, Lion Fish, Leaf Fish, plus many more. This island is also home to a giant underwater statue of a Seahorse! The Island itself is like an Island post card with pristine white sandy beaches-most of our divers never want to leave
Located on the most southern tip of KK marine park Sulug is the most remote and least visited by tourists. It is around 20 acres. The island has no amenities, thus this island offers nature at its best! A long sand spit extending outwards into the ocean. The diving here is ranked among the best in the marine park with common sightings of sea snakes, turtles, rays, frog fish, morays, lots of nudibranchs, and the coral is pristine with an abundance of marine life-truly a divers haven. We highly recommend you dive here for your 2nd or 3rd day diving within the park.
