The 15 Best Sabah Tours from Kota Kinabalu

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

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

Join Borneo Dream from Kota Kinabalu for three guided snorkeling sessions in Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park. A PADI professional leads a group of up to 12, with gear, boat transfers, purified water, and island lunch included. Guides such as Alex, Didi, Ian, and Azmi are praised for patient instruction and close attention to nervous swimmers.

“A great experience! Swam with turtles on my 60th birthday! I felt this was a well run trip. 3 Borneo Dreams staff and 8 guests. (1 driver, 1 guide with 7 snorkelers and 1 guide with one diver). Equipment was good and we felt safe at all times on the boat and in the water. We did 3 x 45 mins in three locations off Gaya Island with a basic but adequate lunch after the second one. Lots of lovely fish to see, sting Ray, jellyfish, and three turtles. Sadly, the coral is very bleached but there were some amazing structures and it is a wake up call, along with…”

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2.Full-Day Guided Snorkeling Tour from Kota Kinabalu

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 101 reviews · 7 hours · from $66

Meet your RAID-certified guide at Kota Kinabalu’s DBKK Jetty for a seven-hour catamaran trip into Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park. Guides such as Didi, Alex, and Asri adjust reef stops to sea conditions and your confidence, help identify fish, and support beginners. Expect two or three snorkeling sessions, island lunch, and possible turtles, reef sharks, rays, or clownfish.

“From start to finish, the Borneo Dreams crew (Alex, Ashre, and Ashme) were informative and professional. We were very fortunate the day of the snorkel trip as we saw a big Hawksbill sea turtle, squid, a small stingray, several reef sharks and of course many fish. They took us to three snorkel areas and provided a tasty lunch on one of the islands. I've been on many snorkel excursions around the world and I was very pleased with this tour.”

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3.Snorkeling & Island Hopping Sapi & Manukan

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

Spend a full day in Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park with hotel pickup, boat rides, snorkeling gear, a buffet lunch, and time on Sapi and Manukan islands. Sapi is smaller and busier, while Manukan offers more room and facilities. 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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4.Leisure Diving | Fun Dives | 3 Dives in TARP, Kota Kinabalu

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

Join Borneo Dream for three guided underwater sessions in Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park. PADI-certified guides, including Alex and Jack on some departures, lead small groups to colorful sites reaching 82 feet. Equipment, permits, water, lunch, and boat transfers are included, with a 9:00 am start from Jesselton Point.

“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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5.Kinabalu Park & Poring Hot Spring & Canopy Walk

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

Spend a full day in Sabah’s highlands with hotel pickup, lunch, and an English or Chinese-speaking guide. Visit Tamparuli, Nabalu Market, Kinabalu Park’s botanical garden, Poring Hot Springs, and a 105-meter canopy walkway. Guides such as Diana, Tan, Neil, and Tiana are praised for clear explanations and patient help on the bridges.

“We read about the trips from previous travellers and its exactly what you expected. Great views and we gets great company as well, the group have only 6 of us (3 couples) .”

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

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

Spend three days learning scuba skills with Borneo Dream in Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park. You’ll complete online study first, then train from a trimaran with instructors such as Basir, Amir, Alex, Didi, and Yadi. The course includes equipment, permits, park fees, lunch, water, and boat transfers, with groups capped at 12.

“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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7.Manukan & Sapi Islands Snorkeling with Lunch

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

Set out from Kota Kinabalu at 8:20 AM for Manukan and Sapi Islands in Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park. You get boat transfers, a guide, lunch, entrance fees, and several hours for swimming and snorkeling. Optional banana boats, jet skis, sea-walking, and parasailing cost extra. Guide Chris is noted for staying close and helping guests enjoy the day.

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

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8.Kinabalu Park and Poring Hot Spring

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

You’ll spend a full day in Sabah’s Ranau and Kundasang region, with a guide, lunch, hotel transfers, Kinabalu Park, local markets, jungle walks, and Poring Hot Springs. The group is limited to 12 people. Check the canopy walkway’s current status before booking, since it has been closed for maintenance.

“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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9.Kinabalu Park, Hot Springs, and Cow Farm Day Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 48 reviews · 1 day · from $89

Travel from Kota Kinabalu into Sabah’s mountain country for Kinabalu Park, Nabalu Market, Desa Cattle Dairy Farm, and Poring Hot Springs. English, Malay, and Chinese-speaking guides, including Jeff and Paul, lead the day. The canopy walkway is closed from July 30, 2025, with Tamparuli Suspension Bridge used as the substitute.

“Our guide Mr handsome Jeff was fantastic. We were lucky enough to end up with a private tour with no-one else joining us on the day. A great experience. However they neglected to mention the 200+ steps to the canopy walk. Definitely worth the effort though.”

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10.RAID Try-Dive Experience in Kota Kinabalu

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 43 reviews · from $110

Meet your instructor at Jesselton Point at 08:45 for a six-hour RAID try-scuba experience in Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park. You’ll learn basic skills, complete a short practice session, enjoy lunch on a tropical island, then explore a reef with an instructor. Staff include English, Malay, and Chinese speakers.

“This was an amazing tour. Our group had 7 tourists on the boat. Five went on a snorkel tour. I and my companion went on the "beginner's scuba adventure." Our guide, Aamir (I probably have the spelling wrong), was fantastic. He was easy to unRead more”

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11.Kota Kinabalu Leisure Scuba Diving Trip (3 Dives)

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 41 reviews · from $130

Join a PADI instructor for three boat-based scuba sessions at separate sites in Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park, only 15 minutes from Kota Kinabalu. The day includes equipment, 200-bar tanks, lunch, water, permits, conservation fees, and boat transport. You must be a certified scuba diver.

“A great day of diving! Our guide was great and gave us a lot of help. She pointed out a lot of different things in the water, turtles, squid, etc. Is a must do for divers who want to go off a boat on a tour. The diving is better off the boat than off the beach, you can get deeper into the reefs.”

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12.Kundasang : Poring Hot Spring + Desa & Meal Shared Tour

★★★★★★★★★★3.6 · 35 reviews · 1 day · from $98

Spend a long day from Kota Kinabalu exploring Nabalu Market, Desa Dairy Farm, and Poring Hot Springs, with lunch and a possible Kinabalu Park photo stop. English and Chinese guide service, hotel pickup, entry fees, and round-trip transport are included. The day is scenic but road-heavy, so expect a full schedule and limited time at some stops.

“The organisation and timing and food was efficient and well managed. our guide was wonderfully informative, maybe too much so! The meal was very generous and very tasty. As a mixed group from Ireland/US where agriculture is our main economy we could have done without going to the farm! - I didn’t read the detail properly. The photo stop and market was just long enough and a nice taste of malaysian Borneo Economy. The jungle tree top wall was great, again it was just perfect amount of time and the distance also just right, we all really enjoyed it. The springs were a welcome relief afterwards, and the butterfly sanctuary…”

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13.2d1n Kinabalu Park & Poring Canopy Walk & Desa Cow Farm Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 35 reviews · from $139

Spend two days in Sabah’s highlands with an English or Chinese-speaking guide, visiting Tamparuli, Nabalu Market, Poring Hot Springs, the 175-meter canopy walkway, Desa Dairy Farm, and Kinabalu Park. Accommodation, meals, transport, and hotel pickup are included. Guide assignments vary, with past trips led by Neil, Gavin, William, Joel, and others.

“The tour went smoothly without any issues. I was picked up by a driver from KK to Kinabalu Park Headquarter. After one night stay, I met my guide and porter, Carl. He is an experienced veteran climbing Mt Kinabalu. He helped me carry the clothes to the lodge. I lost my heaRead more”

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14.Fun Boat Snorkeling and Island Visit from Kota Kinabalu

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 35 reviews · from $130

Spend about eight hours from Kota Kinabalu exploring two snorkeling sites in Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park. PADI-certified instructors can assist in the water, while lunch, boat transfers, park fees, and city hotel pickup are included. You’ll also have time to relax on Pulau Gaya before returning to the mainland.

“Recomendado. Muy bonita experiencia de snorkeling, muy atentos y amables. Lo más bonito de Kk fue hacer este tour.”

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15.Mari Mari Village & Bongawan Cruise Package

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 32 reviews · 12 hours · from $121

Travel from Kota Kinabalu to Mari Mari Cultural Village and Bongawan in one long, well-filled day. Meet the Dusun, Rungus, Lundayeh, Bajau, and Murut cultures, taste local food, cruise for proboscis monkeys, watch the sunset, and see fireflies. Guides such as Eddie and Timmy add useful history and personal care.

“Very comprehensive tour. The Mari-Mari village is quite interesting although is not original. You get a good image of life of the indigenous people. Lunch was very good..The second part was very interesting too. Our boat driver and our guide made great effort to spot some provosque monkeys and succeeded to s ee a few. .Sunset was nice but the there were clouds so it was not spectacular. The highlight of the tour was the fire flies. The number was amazing. A very spectacular show!!!. I need to say that our guide Eddie was marvelous. Very knowledgeable and made every effort to make our tour very enjoyable. A very professional…”

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