Top Kota Kinabalu Half-day Tours

Experience the beauty of Kiulu’s countryside during a quad bike tour from Kota Kinabalu, an ideal choice for thrill seekers and nature lovers. Alongside a guide, you’ll get off the beaten path, conquer off-road terrains, and drive throughout traditional villages, where you’ll stop to learn about local culture and traditions. Hassle-free hotel pickup and drop-off, and refreshments are included.

Encounter Borneo’s traditional cultures at Mari Mari Cultural Village, where you get a glimpse into the daily routines and rituals of five major cultural groups. See each group’s distinctive houses, costumes, and practices, with a guide to help explain each thing you encounter, then see a performance that brings traditional Borneo to vivid life. After your time exploring Mari Mari Cultural Village, this tour includes a traditional meal in the village’s dining hall.

Ride a Vulcan Steam Engine dating from 1896 on the North Borneo Railway during a hassle-free tour. Retrace a colonial trade route through villages, countryside, and tunnels, and pass mangrove forests and rivers for spectacular views of scenery that's mostly inaccessible by traditional tour vehicle. Stop at a number of villages, where there's a chance to visit markets and chat with local people. Plus, lunch and round-trip hotel transfers are included. 

Experience the beauty of Kota Kinabalu without worrying about the hassle of transportation on this small-group tour of the city. Ride in the comfort of an air-conditioned vehicle as you stop at some of the city’s best-known sites. Visit the museum complex at the Sabah State Museum and Heritage Village, the Kota Kinabalu City Mosque, Signal Hill Observatory Platform, and the Sabah State Mosque.

Discover the rich history and heritage of Kota Kinabalu on this comprehensive 3-hour city tour, including hotel pick-up. Visit landmarks like Wisma Tun Mustapha (Sabah Foundation Building) and the City Mosque; pay a visit to the prestigious University of Sabah and tour the fascinating Sabah Museum. Finally, soak up views of Kota Kinabalu and the Likas Bay lagoon from the summit of Signal Hill.

Explore Borneo's indigenous cultures on a half-day trip from Kota Kinabalu to Mari Mari Cultural Village, which features traditional houses, crafts, and bushcraft recreated by members of each tribe in Sabah. You'll see local people making blowpipes and kindling bamboo fires, then learn the symbolism behind Sabah's long tradition of tattooing. With pickup and drop-off at hotels in Kota Kinabalu, this tour includes entrance fees and lunch.

Soak up the electric atmosphere of Kota Kinabula by night on this 3-hour evening tour, including hotel pick-up. Browse the bustling night market, then enjoy a magnificent view over the illuminated city from the observation deck of Signal Hill. Finally, tuck into a sumptuous dinner of typical Malaysian dishes, accompanied by traditional Malay music and dance.

Spend the day in paradise during this day trip to Manukan Island near Kota Kinabalu. Enjoy a range of activities during your beach sojourn, ranging from beach volleyball to sunbathing to snorkeling and more. Additional amenities like the island’s nearly 1-mile-long (1.5-km) walking trail, optional side visit to Sapi or Mamutik Island, and an included barbecue lunch help ensure a memorable day.

If you’re looking to satisfy an appetite for adventure then look no further than this white-water rafting and zipline tour from Kota Kinabalu, the ideal choice for thrill seekers. No previous white-water rafting experience is necessary to tackle Class III-IV rapids of the Kulu River as you’ll have a guide on hand at all times. Plus, included hotel pickup and drop-off, and lunch make for a hassle-free experience tat requires no advance planning.

Get up close to some of Malaysia’s diverse wildlife without looking through a cage on this river cruise package in the Klias Wetlands. Spend the afternoon drifting through this vibrant mangrove forest, looking out for proboscis monkeys, macaques, crocodiles, monitor lizards and much more. Once the sun goes down, head out again to see the fireflies light up the riverside on this unique combo of afternoon and after-dark cruises.

Escape the city and delve deeper into Borneo’s indigenous culture on a day trip to Tuaran from Kota Kinabalu. A great introduction for first-time visitors, this package saves you the stress of advance planning by taking care of transport and activities, and offering the inside scoop on Sabah’s culture and history.

Fish for crabs in a mangrove forest on a full-day tour from Kota Kinabalu to Borneo Kellybays that combines a morning mangrove cruise with a free afternoon in a scenic resort. With optional activities that include kayaking, paddle boats, and banana boats, the day can be as relaxed or adventurous as you want, and you’ll find plenty of space to lounge on Borneo Kellybays’ pristine beach.

Escape the city and journey to the paradise islands off the coast of Kota Kinabalu on a hassle-free day trip to Manukan Island. Let a guide take care of transfers, entrance fees, and activities as you sit back, relax, and enjoy the white sands and crystal-clear waters of the island. You'll have chance to snorkel and hike in the jungle, and benefit from the in-depth knowledge of a guide.

Learn about the seafaring skills of the Bajau Laut people, a tribal group of Malaysia commonly referred to as ‘sea gypsies.’ This day trip to Gayang village includes a cruise past their houses built on stilts. Go crab catching and observe main livelihoods, such as fishing and pearl farming, then try your hand at batik painting and keep your creation to take home as a souvenir. Light refreshments are included along with round-trip transport from Kota Kinabalu hotels.

Check off Kota Kinabalu’s key sights in just half a day on this comprehensive guided door-to-door tour. Soak up sweeping views of the city from Signal Hill, learn about Chinese Buddhism at Pu Toh Tze Temple, and explore Sabah’s rich heritage at the Sabah State Museum. Along the way, see the Sabah State Mosque, the Kota Kinabalu City Mosque, and the 30-story Menara Tun Mustapha.

Explore both the popular highlights and some lesser-known spots of Kota Kinabalu city on this small-group day tour. A highlight is the unusual Kota Kinabalu City Mosque, a floating temple surrounded by a lagoon. Visit a produce market selling everything from seafood to flowers, and ask your guide for local food recommendations for lunch. Plus, you'll get the best views of  Kota Kinabalu Crocker Range National Park from a viewpoint.

Explore the Mari-Mari Cultural Village in Sabah with a dedicated guide on this private tour. You'll enjoy personalized attention and the ability to travel at your own pace as you learn about Borneo's ancient and modern culture. Activities include a traditional house tour, a cultural show, and a traditional local lunch.

The rich indigenous cultures are one of the highlights of any visit to Borneo. Experience them without the hassles of self-drive on this convenient private tour of the Monsopiad Cultural Village. Learn how the Kadazan people live and about the feats of the mighty headhunter Monsopiad, and enjoy cultural experiences from rice wine to dances.

Experience an incredible cultural tour of Mengkabong Water Village with this hands-on experience that goes the extra mile. Visit a renowned indigenous tribe and discover Bajau Fisherman community culture. Get involved and try your hand at crab catching and fishing with locals. Enjoy a sunset river cruise among mangrove trees and spot mesmerizing fireflies at the end of an incredible day.

Moyog River along the village is managed by the park community and fishing activity is extremely prohibited. The secret word for this success is "Tagal" which means "prohibition" in the Kadazandusun language. You will be fined if you are caught fishing in a “Tagal” area. Tagal Tinopikon Park bring you to experience nature authentic village life with friendly Kadazandusun host, sound of Moyoq river brings peace in mind and soul, friendly Pelian fishes also known as the Gem of the river are so welcoming (fishes may not be seen when river is too muddy) Moyoq River is one of the most beautiful rivers in Sabah. Despite the warm weather, it felt rather relaxing and soothing taking a break as the trees shade you from the sun and rhythm of the nature further compliments the experience.

Kota Kinabalu City is the gateway to the Land Below the Wind. It is the state capital of Sabah. At 0930 hrs or 1400, pick up at the City hotel and proceed with a guided tour around the city tour. Take a bird's eye view of the city from Signal Hill. Visit Tun Mustapha Building with its 32 Storey Building with its column of free floors. Visit Poh Toh Tse Buddhist Temple and drive through residential estates. Unravel Sabah's heritage at the State Mosque. Learn more about the rich heritage of Sabah at the State Museum.

Kelly Bay is located in mangrove forest that leads to the beach. With this tour, you can get a glimpse of lives of the locals who live in the river, ride kayaks, relax in hammock, and enjoy a variety of water sports. Here you can try the Batik experience with traditional dyeing cloth craft program, or the Blow Pipe experience with native hunting tools, and don't miss the banana boat and the crab catch! ------------------ ITINERARY ------------------ •09:00 - 10:30 Departure from the hotel → 10:30 Mangrove cruise and relaxation → 12:00 - 13:00 Lunch → 13:00 Various activities including water sports •The schedule above is the estimated time and may vary depending on the circumstances.

Delve into Sabah’s cultural melting pot on a day trip to Mar Mari Cultural Village, where you can meet the people of indigenous Borneo and witness fire-starting and blowpipe-making demonstrations. Perfect for families and first-time visitors, this small-group tour is limited to 15 people to ensure personalized attention from your guide.

A short drive out of Kota Kinabalu, the Mari Mari Cultural Village provides a convenient opportunity to experience many of Borneo’s unique cultures in a purpose-built cultural village. Learn about the tribes’ traditional dances, cuisines and ways of thriving in Borneo’s challenging jungle. For visitors who can only stay in Borneo briefly, this experience offers a chance to see how Borneo’s cultural diversity matches its biodiversity.