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.

Dine and dance under the stars on a Kota Kinabalu cruise that includes live music and a buffet of international cuisine. The boat’s open upper deck gives panoramic views of the Kota Kinabalu skyline as the city lights up after dark, and since this dinner cruise features door-to-door transfers from hotels in Kota Kinabalu, you can enjoy an evening out without the hassle of finding late-night transport.

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. 

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Even if left-side driving is not for you, enjoy an evening in the cool of Kokol Hill and admire the city lights by night on this elegant dinner tour. Soak up views of Kota Kinabalu and a typical Dusun village as you ascend to 2,625 feet (800 meters) above sea level, then feast on hot pot (steamboat) cuisine in a hilltop restaurant. Enjoy a spectacular sunset along the way.

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.

Beautiful Borneo Kellybays is an exotic water paradise like no other, located within a mangrove forest along the coast of South China Sea. Nestled among the shady mangrove trees on one side and opening up to a panoramic 8KM beach overlooking South China Sea on the other, Borneo Kellybays offers visitors the unique experience by combining river life and the islander’s life. Whether you enjoy the adrenaline rushing water sports of riding on a banana boat and kayaking in a mangrove river or prefer relaxing in a hammock and splashing in the sparkling blue waters of South China Sea, Borneo Kellybays can offer you this and more! Visitors can also indulge in delicious cool desserts in the shaded lounge area, try their hand in batik painting, or test their sharpshooter talent with the traditional blowpipe darts.

Conclude your Kota Kinabalu adventure with a dazzling evening out at sea. Hop onto a spacious custom-built catamaran and get in touch with Sabah’s coastal charisma. Sail pass surrounding islands and into the famous Kota Kinabalu sunset. Includes guided narrations of historical & architectural landmarks that dot the coastline. - Evening cruise from Kota Kinabalu in the South China Sea - Chance to see Sabah's sunset & landmarks from the water - Laid-back & relaxed tour aboard a luxurious custom sailboat - Sights of Gaya Island in Tunku Abdul Rahman National Park - Postcard-perfect views of Likas Bay in the soft moonlight

At night, Kota Kinabalu delivers a new view on its bustling city life. Whether you aim to find souvenirs, watching life go by from the best viewing point and end your evening with an authentic dinner, this is captured perfectly in this fun-filled evening. • Taste the fabulous delicacies of Malaysia during dinner • Go souvenir hunting at the city’s main evening market • Gain a bird’s eye perspective of the city from Signal Hill • Witness life in KK when the sun has set • Return transfers from and to your hotel are included.

Spare yourself the expense of a round-trip taxi and enjoy dinner with a view atop scenic Kokol Hill on this convenient small-group tour. Your guide will collect you from your hotel lobby and head up into the hills to a local “steamboat” (hot pot) restaurant with views over the lights of Kota Kinabalu. Feast on soup you prepare yourself at the table or opt for a set menu if preferred.

Discover the world of the Kadazan people on a 3-hour tour to the Monsopiad Cultural Village. After transfer from your hotel, your visit to the village begins with a glass of local rice wine. Follow your guide to the House of the Skull where you learn about the legendary warrior, which the park is named for. Later, watch or join in a traditional Kadazan dance.

Visit the Mari Mari Cultural Village, an open-air museum that introduces you to Borneo’s ethnic cultures. Visit longhouses in the village and observe the daily routines of Sabah’s traditional groups including the Dusun, Rungus, Lundayeh, Bajau and Murut. Taste Sabahan specialties for lunch and observe cultural demonstrations such as blowpipe making, fire starting, and tattooing while you learn from your guide about the mystical symbolism behind these practices. Round-trip transport from Kota Kinabalu hotels included.

The North Borneo Railway runs two weekly return departures (Wednesday & Saturday) from Kota Kinabalu to Papar, year round. Lasting approximately 4 hours, passengers experience the lush landscape of the coastal and rural regions of Sabah. A typical 'tiffin' colonial lunch will be served on the return trip.

Try out the “Zip Borneo”, one of the best adventure sites at Sabah! With only a one-hour car drive from the city center of Kota Kinabalu, gear for an adventure while accompanied by the soothing sound of nature and Kiulu River. One of the highlights is flying across the Kiulu River!

Sabah’s gateway to Borneo has long been on the radar for those eager seeing more of the natural splendour of Malaysia’s green heart. However, the city has blossomed over the years, where it once did not have a prominent position on the tourism map. Called KK by its residents, Kota Kinabalu has turned into a melting pot of culture, food and a strong affinity towards that what keeps the city such a pleasure to wander through. Its demands to follow in the footsteps of the 21st century are there, but holding tight to its historical values, sights and landmarks makes it an excellent example of old versus new. Turn your Malaysia Borneo exploration complete with our half-day touring the sights, sounds and cultural aspects of one of Malaysia’s thriving travel hubs.