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Top 25 Staycation and Activities Deals For Your Holiday In Kota Kinabalu

From the mesmerizing sunset and wonderful islands, to the majestic mountain view and lush nature, there is simply a lot to love about Kota Kinabalu! Not only that, the capital city Sabah is within a short drive away from fun attractions at Kundasang and Tuaran, making it the perfect starting point for your Bornean adventure!

Here at SabahTravel, we want you to enjoy the best that the Land Below the Wind can offer without breaking your bank. So, if you are in town, definitely check out these awesome deals we curated just for you!

1. Sunset & Night Stand Up Paddling 

Experience Stand Up Paddling (SUP) while you enjoy the beautiful sight of the sunset and the delightful night glow at Tanjung Aru Beach! The guide will brief you on the techniques on how to paddle and information about the SUP route, so it is perfect for first-timers as well! 

Price: MYR80 per person 

What you'll get: Paddling along sunset view and light up SUP with LED lighting night glow, Full sets of SUP gears, Complimentary photo taken by the guide 

Book Now!

2. Kundasang ATV Adventure 

See Kundasang like never before! Explore Sabah’s New Zealand and bask in its beauty as you visit the Desa Dairy Farm or Earthquake Historical Site on a quad bike! Feel the adrenaline rush as you go on a scenic tour around Kundasang, passing by the local villages and stopping for a nice photo session with the majestic Mount Kinabalu. 

Price: From MYR90 per person 

What you'll get: ATV ride, safety equipment & guide. 

Book Now!

3. Kiulu White Water Rafting 

Are you ready for the best white-water rafting experience in Sabah? Grab your family and friends, and paddle away for a scenic white-water rafting ride along the Kiulu River. The river features a comfortable and enjoyable Class 1-2 rapids, perfect for beginners and people of all ages. 

Price: From MYR135 per person 

What you'll get: Rafting equipment, River guide, Lunch. 

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4. Spring Garden Kundasang 

Indulge yourself in the beauty of nature as you relax at Spring Garden Kundasang in Mesilau. Feel the mountain air as you rest among the colorful flowers in the garden. Only a short walk away is a little river waterfall where you may enjoy the cool stream and Mount Kinabalu vista. Spring Garden Kundasang is a great destination for family and friends. 

Price: MYR10 per person 

What you'll get: Entrance ticket 

Book Now!

5. Kota Kinabalu Sunset Cruise  

Experience the twilight beauty of Kota Kinabalu at its finest on the Seatango sunset cruise. Sail the South China Sea in their spacious catamaran and see the beautiful Tunku Abdul Rahman Islands. Relax with light refreshments while viewing the mesmerizing Bornean sunset.  

Price: MYR85 per person  

What you'll get: Return boat transfer, English/Chinese-speaking guide, Light refreshments & snacks  

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6. 4D3N Kota Kinabalu Highlights And Sunset Cruise  

Experience the best of Sabah with this 4-day tour of Kota Kinabalu Highlights and Cruise. This package will bring you to visit the most sought attractions in Sabah, including North Borneo Sunset Cruise, Kinabalu Park, Poring Hot Spring, and Desa Cow Farm.  

Price: MYR998 per person 

What you'll get: 3 nights accommodation, Land transportation (shared), entrance fee, English/Chinese-speaking guide, Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner. 

Book Now!

7. Shuttle Transfers To Kinabalu Park (Mount Kinabalu) 

Enjoy a shared shuttle transfer between Kinabalu Park and Kota Kinabalu City. Save your time from taking public buses up to the mountain and book a reliable vehicle service directly to UNESCO World Heritage Site Kinabalu Park instead. Let the professional driver pick you up from any hotel in Kota Kinabalu city and navigate the safest and fastest route to the mountain. 

Price: MYR90 per person 

What you'll get: Land transfer to Kinabalu Park 

Book Now!

8. Sabandar Cowboy Town & Firefly Tour 

Located only 45 minutes from Kota Kinabalu City, Cowboy Town Sabandar allows you to experience the exciting wild west. Immerse yourself in nature by exploring the 6-acre Mangrove Park and ethnic houses. After that, head to Cowboy Restaurant for dinner and stroll along Sabandar Beach to see Sabah's spectacular sunset. Before you go home, head to the Firefly Cruise to see the magical view of the fireflies as they light up the evening sky. 

Price: MYR80 per person 

What you'll get: Entrance fee, River cruise, Dinner 

Book Now!

9. Maragang Hill Trek At Kundasang 

Maragang Hill is located in Kampong Mesilau, surrounded by natural beauty and blessed with cool mountain air. Hike up its rugged trails and brave through its muddy slopes before reaching the peak. At 2232 meters above sea level with an incredible front-seat view of Mount Kinabalu, Maragang Hill is a trekking experience you will never forget! 

Price: MYR380 

What you'll get: Land transportation (shared), Lunch, English-Speaking Guide, Certificate, Insurance, Permits & Conservation fees 

Book Now!

10. Desa Cattle Dairy Farm 

Visit Desa Cow Farm and immerse yourself in the beautiful vistas of Mount Kinabalu and the surrounding green meadows. Dubbed as Sabah's very own 'Little New Zealand', the main attraction here is the cow farm, where people can feed calves and goats and learn about the milking process. 

Price: MYR8 per person 

What you'll get: Entrance fee 

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11. St Veronica's Hill Sunrise Leisure Hike 

St. Veronica’s Hill, also known as “Bukit Perahu” (Hill Boat) by the locals, is a 278m hill located near Tamparuli Town. The leisure trek offers a rocky uphill terrain through trees and bushes, before finally arriving at a flat plateau-like peak. An excellent view of the surrounding villages, snaking river below, and Mount Kinabalu in a distance rounds up this “Top of the World” experience! 

Price: MYR250 per person 

What you'll get: Land transportation (Shared), Breakfast, English/Chinese-speaking guide 

Book Now!

12. Klias Wildlife Safari River Cruise 

Klias Wetland awaits you with a relaxing river tour! Board the boat and be mesmerized by the beauty of Sabah's wetland and its fascinating wildlife, such the proboscis monkey, long-tail macaques, and the rare silver langur. After dinner, take a trip around the mangrove swamp to see the spectacular display of fireflies fluttering along the riverbanks. 

Price: MYR85 per person 

What you'll get: River guide, Dinner, Jetty Fee 

Book Now!

13. Leisure Sea Kayaking at Tuaran 

Enjoy a breathtaking Sabah sunrise or sunset while kayaking in the open sea! Leisure sea kayaking is one of the best things to do in Kota Kinabalu since it allows you to experience the beauty of nature at your own speed. Paddle through lush mangrove woods while seeing the spectacular Mount Kinabalu! 

Price: MYR99 per person 

What you'll get: Kayaking equipment, Safety boat, Light refreshment 

Book Now!

14. 3D2N Kota Kinabalu Faloe Hostel Stay 

Faloe Hostel is located just next to Imago Shopping Mall, and it is the perfect stay for budget travelers as it is only minutes away from KKIA, Sunday Market (Gaya Street), Jesselton Point (jetty to Tunku Abdul Rahman Park), Signal Hill Observatory Tower, Waterfront Seafood Night Market, Central Local Market, Filipino Night Market, Waterfront Bars and Bistros, local cafes, and more. 

Price: MYR70 per person 

What you'll get: 2-night accommodation 

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15. Indoor Golf Simulation Centre 

Enjoy the first-ever indoor golf simulation center in Sabah, where you may play a round of golf on any golf course around the globe, rain or shine, day or night. Through the cutting-edge technology of Virtual Gold Driving Range, you are able to play indoor golf with launch monitors that imitate virtual golf and keep track of your stats as you play. Practice your golf swing to improve, and begin learning how to play at your leisure. Non-golfers can also participate in the fun by playing mini-games with their friends. 

Price: From MYR60 per person 

What you'll get: Virtual golf equipment 

Book Now!

16. Le' One - Kokol Elf 

A newly opened attraction at Kokol Hill, Kokol Elf is about 45 minutes away from Kota Kinabalu, offering magnificent city views and relaxing spots to enjoy them. Because of its close distance, Kokol Elf is an ideal place to unwind from the hustle and bustle of city life and take Instagram-worthy photos of a brilliant sunset, Mount Kinabalu, and the bustling metropolis of Kota Kinabalu! 

Price: MYR15 per person 

What you'll get: Entrance ticket, drinking water 

Book Now!

17. PADI Open Water Diving Course 

Getting your diving certification cannot get any cheaper than this! Join PADI Open Water or Advanced Open Water Dive Course, and get certified while training at the beautiful Tunku Abdul Rahman Park. 

Price: From MYR930 per person 

What you'll get: Lunch, Dive instructor/master, Entrance fee to TARP Islands, Jetty fee, Diving permit fee, Return boat transfer, Diving equipment rental, Certificate, Life jacket 

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18. Kota Kinabalu Island Hopping 

Get away from the hustle and bustle of city life and unwind on the beautiful islands close to KK City with their white sandy beaches and turquoise blue waters. At Manukan Island and Mamutik Island, try out some of the exciting activities, such as parasailing, banana boating, sea walking, and snorkelling. You will never forget the time you spent there! 

Price: From MYR98 per person 

What you'll get: Return boat transfer, Snorkeling equipment rental, Life jacket, jetty fee 

Book Now!

19. Fun Boat Snorkeling & Island Visit 

Explore the mesmerizing islands of Tunku Abdul Rahman Park (TARP Islands) like never before! Witness the stunning seascape of the South China Sea as you snorkel around with the local dive guide. Once you are done, visit the nearby island for some well-deserved rest on the beautiful beach. 

Price: From MYR175 per person 

What you'll get: Return boat transfer, Lunch, Drinking water, Snacks, Light refreshments, Entrance fee (TARP islands), Snorkelling equipment rental 

Book Now!

20. Kota Kinabalu Islands Scuba Diving 

Dive into the beautiful waters of Tunku Abdul Rahman Park (TARP), where you can find colorful marine life swimming along Gaya Island, Sapi Island, Manukan Island, Mamutik Island, and Sulug Island. The local dive guide will take you on a leisurely exploration of the underwater wonders, and once you are done, relax and sunbathe on the white sandy beach! 

Price: From MYR225 per person 

What you'll get: Return boat transfer, Lunch, Drinking water, Snacks, Light refreshments, Entrance fee (TARP islands), diving equipment rental, English-speaking guide 

Book Now!

21. Discover Scuba Diving (For Non-Cert Divers) 

Begin your first scuba diving experience with PADI-certified dive instructors today and enjoy yourself diving in a carefully supervised and comfortable environment. Tunku Abdul Rahman Park (TARP) islands are ideal for beginning divers, thanks to their shallow, sandy-bottomed water and a graded slope leading into the spectacular coral reefs further offshore. 

Price: From MYR229 

What you'll get: Return boat transfer, Lunch, Drinking water, Snacks, Light refreshments, Entrance fee (TARP islands), diving equipment rental, English-speaking guide 

Book Now!

22. Kota Belud Village Homestay 

Taun Gusi Village Homestay, located about 6 kilometers from Kota Belud, is one of the greatest homestays in the area, offering lodging surrounded by green paddy fields. For the convenience of visitors, there is free Wi-Fi and on-site car parking. Guests can participate in activities including horseback riding, cultural excursions, river cruises, and beach picnics. 

Price: MYR250 per night 

What you'll get: 1-night accommodation, Wi-Fi, Private parking 

Book Now!

23. Mari-Mari Cultural Village 

Head over to Mari-Mari Cultural Village where you will learn about the lifestyles of the Dusun, Murut, Rungus, Lundayeh, and Bajau tribes. Learn more on rice-wine making, blow-pipe shooting, and traditional fire-starting, and be immersed in cultures of the people of Sabah.’ 

Price: From MYR99 per person 

What you'll get: Admission ticket, In-house guide, Visit to 5 ethnic traditional houses, Traditional demo & activities, Cultural performances 

Book Now!

24. Dinawan Island Escapade & Snorkeling 

Step onto Dinawan Island and immerse yourself in the splendor of Sabah's tropical island. Wind down and relax on the serene private island while enjoying the beautiful white beach and turquoise blue water. Snorkel and kayak about the island throughout the day, then take a walk to the secret beach in the evening for a sunset vista you'll never forget. Dinawan Island is the tropical haven you've been looking for to get away from the hustle and bustle of city life! 

Price: From MYR144 per person 

What you'll get: Equipment rentals, Snorkelling, Kayaking, Meals, Return boat transfer 

Book 2D1N Dinawan Island Escape Here

Book Ara Dinawan Island Escapade & Snorkeling Here

25. Manukan Island Snorkelling 

This tour brings you to the picturesque Manukan Island, an island within the Tunku Abdul Rahman Park, just a 15-minute boat ride from Kota Kinabalu City. Explore the wonders of Sabah's marine life as you snorkel around the turquoise water, spend the day with fun and exhilarating watersport activities for a memorable island getaway, or relax on the beach as you soak up the tropical sun—there are so many things to do here! At lunch, enjoy sumptuous meals while you enjoy the incredible island vistas before heading back to the mainland. 

Price: MYR99 per person 

What you'll get: Guide, Snorkeling equipment rental, Hotel pick-up & drop-off, Return boat transfer, Entrance fees, Lunch 

Book Now!