2025 Sabah Travel Guide: Must-see attractions, popular food, hotels, transportation routes (updated in October)

#asiabudgetchallenge Kundasang is Malaysia’s version of New Zealand — cool mountain air, rolling green hills, and cows grazing in wide open pastures. Located just below Mount Kinabalu, it’s a perfect base for scenic views and nature. I visited the Desa Dairy Farm, explored vegetable markets, and stayed in a cozy hillside cabin with mist drifting in each morning. Absolutely serene! 📍Destination: Kundasang, Sabah, Malaysia 💸Rough Budget: RM100–RM180/day (~$25) 💡Top Tip: Bring warm clothes! It gets surprisingly chilly, especially in the evening.

Off the coast of Sabah, Malaysia, Semporna is a symphony of sea and spirit—a diving haven where coral gardens bloom and time seems to exhale. 🌴💙 With islands like Sipadan, Mabul, and Kapalai surrounding it like jeweled guardians, this coastal town is the gateway to some of the world’s most vibrant marine life. 🐢🐟 Here, water isn’t just clear—it’s crystalline poetry. Glide through turquoise shallows, swim alongside sea turtles, or float under starlit skies on a Bajau boat. 🌌⛵ The local Bajau Laut people—"sea gypsies"—live in harmony with the tides, their floating villages adding soul to Semporna’s natural wonder. 🛶✨ Whether you’re chasing the perfect underwater photo 📸, feasting on grilled seafood beneath a sunset blaze 🌅🦐, or meditating to the rhythm of gentle waves, Semporna whispers tranquility in every breeze. It's not just untouched—it’s unforgettable. Will you dive into its heart? 💫🌿 #sempornaisland

If you’re heading to Sapa, I highly recommend Viettrekking Hotel! It’s hands down one of my favourite stays in Vietnam. The view from the hotel is just stunning ✨ imagine waking up to clouds drifting through the mountains right outside your window. The room was cozy and stylish, and the whole vibe was super relaxing. And breakfast? So good! They served it with a view, and it made slow mornings even better. Honestly, I could’ve just stayed there all day enjoying the scenery. #summervacay #travel #thingstodo #vietnam

The Ultimate Kota Kinabalu "Mountain & Sea Wonderland" Guide (Includes: Firefly River Cruise + Mount Kinabalu Adventure + Island Snorkeling + Volcanic Mud SPA) **📍 [Landmark Fold: Natural Wonders + Cultural Icons + Urban Pulse]** **🆓 Free Experience Highlights** **🌳 Sabah Mangrove Forest "Firefly Zone"** 🌌 Cruise through mangroves with AR-activated "Proboscis Monkey Projections" (Kawa Mangrove section required). Locate the "Firefly River Eco-Base" quantum station. Bring mosquito repellent (rainforest insects) and water shoes (mudflats are slippery). Use code "Mangrove Key" for free glow bracelets. **🌅 Tanjung Aru Beach "Sunset Zone"** 🌇 Top 3 global sunset spot. Wear bohemian dresses for *Before Sunset*-style photos. AR activates "Sunset Fire Clouds" (arrive 1 hour early). Best view at Shangri-La Hotel. Pack wide-brim hats (strong UV) and waterproof picnic mats (wet sand). Code "Sunset Key" gets free tropical juice. **🎨 Gaya Street Murals "Art Zone"** 🖌 Century-old shophouses transformed into open-air gallery. Dress vintage for *Amélie*-inspired shots. Scan QR codes for AR "Dynamic Graffiti." Find The Jesselton Hotel landmark. Carry foldable umbrellas (frequent showers) and anti-loss straps (crowded). Code "Graffiti Key" rewards hand-painted postcards. **💸 Premium Experience Highlights** **🏔 Kinabalu Park "Cloud Zone"** 🚁 Southeast Asia's highest peak. Paraglide over primal forests with AR "Sea of Clouds." Book ATV adventures in advance. Wear goggles (high-altitude winds) and fleece (10°C temperature drop). Code "Mountain Key" gifts climbing carabiners. **🐠 Mantanani Island "Blue Tears Zone"** 💧 Daily limit: 85 visitors. Snorkel in 40m-visibility coral reefs with AR "Turtle Tracking" (GoPro required). Depart from resort's private pier. Use waterproof bags and reef-safe sunscreen. Code "Mermaid Key" offers underwater camera rental. **🌋 Pulau Tiga Volcanic Mud SPA "Healing Zone"** 🌋 Mineral-rich mud bath. Wear bikinis for *Volcano Goddess* photos. AR "Thermal Effects" require skin contact. Locate crater viewpoint station. Bring thermometers (40°C mud) and anti-slip socks. Code "Volcano Key" includes free mud mask. **🚗 [Transport Fold: Island Hopping + Jungle Crossing + City Transit]** **🚤 Speedboat Transfer: City → Mantanani Island** 🚤 1-hour direct ride (includes pier transfer). Wear life jackets for *Pirates of the Caribbean* vibes. Depart from Kota Kinabalu Yacht Club. Use Waze app navigation. Code "Boat Key" provides motion sickness bags. **🚙 Kinabalu Park → Desa Dairy Farm Off-Road Tour** 🚙 1.5-hour ATV jungle adventure. Dress in cargo pants for *Jurassic World* scenes. Apply face covers (dusty) and elbow pads (branches). Code "Offroad Key" grants fresh milk. **🍤 [Food Blackhole: Seafood Feast + Durian Overload + Nyonya Desserts]** **🔥 Must-Try Codes** **🦀 Welcome Seafood Restaurant's Butter Tiger Prawns** 📍 Asia City Food Street. ~¥150/pax. Wear fisherman outfits for *God of Cookery* moments. Verify live seafood tanks. Code "Prawn Key" adds black pepper crab. **🍚 Yu Kee Bak Kut Teh Herbal Pork Ribs** 📍 Gaya Street heritage shop. ~¥40/pax. Dress in Tang suits for *The Grandmaster* style. Check displayed herb packs. Code "BKT Key" includes fried dough sticks. **🍨 Fook Yuen Café's Laksa + Teh Tarik** 📍 Local favorite. ~¥25/pax. School uniform outfits for *A Little Thing Called Love* nostalgia. Handwritten menus only. Code "Laksa Key" comes with beef noodles. **🏨 [Accommodation Fold: Island Resorts + Mountain Lodges + City Hotels]** **🌴 Shangri-La Tanjung Aru Resort "Sunset Zone"** 🏨 Direct beach access. Robe-up for *007* luxury shots. AR "Private Beach Projection" needs balcony room booking. Find COCO-JOE's Bar station. Dehumidifiers recommended. Code "Tanjung Key" gives cocktails. **🏡 Kinabalu Treehouse "Rainforest Zone"** 🌿 Suspended wooden cabins. Adventure gear for *The Croods* theme. AR "Firefly Navigation" at night. Stargazing platform station. Mosquito repellent sachets provided. Code "Treehouse Key" includes flashlights. **🌃 The Magellan Sutera "Urban Zone"** 🏙 Airport/pier shuttle hub. Suit up for *Wolf of Wall Street* scenes. AR "Duty-Free Projection" via lobby QR. Silk Garden Restaurant station. Use luggage tags (group tours). Code "Magellan Key" offers transfer vouchers. **🚫 Pitfall Alerts** 🚫 Snorkel gear scams: Avoid 200% overcharge (standard ¥50/set). Demand "all-inclusive" trips. Check mask anti-fog coating. 🚫 Durian scams: Street vendors may charge 300% markup (standard ¥15/kg). Buy at Segama Bridge Fruit Market. Test flesh hardness. **🎯 Action Checklist** 📜 Essentials: Waterproof phone case + SPF100+ clothing + Collapsible kettle (post-mud rinse) ⚡ Eco-Rules: ✅ Don't touch mangrove saplings ✅ Never feed wildlife (proboscis monkeys can't eat human food) ✅ No coral souvenirs (customs will confiscate) 📌 Bookmark now—let Kota Kinabalu's mangroves, mountains, and volcanoes unfold your epic journey!

Sabah has pleasant weather, making it ideal for water activities all year round. For convenience, I signed up for some day tours this time. As time does not allow this time, if there is a chance, I hope to climb Mount Kinabalu next time to enjoy the sunrise. D1 Island hopping, sunset at Tanjong Aru, Kota Kinabalu Shangri-La D2 Mangroves, Sky Mirror, Fireflies [Tips] Island hopping: There will be boats to take you to different islands. You can choose snorkeling, parasailing, banana boat, etc. according to your wishes... Shangri-La, Tanjong Aru, Kota Kinabalu: It is known as one of the "Top Ten Places to Watch the Sunset in the World", among which Sunset Bar is the most famous. You can get in by just buying a glass of wine, and many people will grab a seat in front of the restaurant early in the morning. But even if you don't go in, it's also a good choice to watch the sunset near the bar. Mangrove Cruise: Wild monkeys will board your boat. Sky Mirror: At sunset, your guide will take photos for you. Firefly: Light without imagination. PS: In terms of transportation, it is recommended to use Grab #GlobalTravel #SabahAttractions #IslandHopping #SkyMirror #XiaozhenTravel

𖤐ˊ˗Almost every tourist who comes to the local area will make a pilgrimage. Known as the best laksa in Kota Kinabalu, the interior decoration is simple and plain. Even at four in the afternoon, there were still customers coming in and out. ｡ﾟ･𖥸──────-ˋˏ 𝓜𝓮𝓷𝓾 ˎˊ-──────𖥸 ｡ﾟ･ ✎ ̼ Laksa MYR 11 The color is very bright, and the soup base is made with coconut milk. It doesn't feel too greasy when you drink it. The entrance is quite smooth and has a milky aroma. In principle, it is quite rich, but not too heavy. The ingredients are also very rich, including shrimp, coriander, Shredded chicken, fried tofu, etc., taste quite delicious. ✎ ̼Beef offal MYR 11 The soup base is concentrated with the essence of beef bones and spices. The taste has a light sweetness and rich meaty aroma. The ingredients include beef, beef tendon and beef balls. The beef is dry and purple in texture, and the tendon is not greasy. The beef balls are firm and juicy, the quality is pretty good! ✎ ̼Iced lemon tea MYR3.5 ‧̍̊˙· 𓆝.° ｡˚𓆛˚｡ °.𓆞 ·˙‧̍̊ ‧̍̊˙· 𓆝.° ｡˚𓆛˚｡ °.𓆞 ·˙‧̍̊ 𖤣𖤥𖠿 YEE FUNG LAKSA 𖤘 127, Jalan Gaya, Pusat Bandar Kota Kinabalu, 88000 Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia #JanuaryGoodPlaces2025 #MalaysiaTravel #Must-eatSabah #SabahTourism #SabahSpecialties #MalaysianFood

Located in a blue paradise far away from the land and the world, the resort is known as "Little Maldives." The blue sea and sky gradually merge into one, creating a stunning view that feels like a fairyland. Kapalai Water Village Resort is built on a reef, with no land to block the view, offering a breathtakingly wide view. There is also a small artificial beach here, which is submerged by the sea at high tide and exposed at low tide, adding a unique charm. This is a honeymoon paradise and a snorkeling destination. You can take stunning photos without filters, and swim with colorful fish and sea turtles in the clear water. Don't miss the stunning scenery of Kapalai, including the sunrise, sunset, and starry sky. You can look for the brightest star in the night sky here. As for the rooms, Kapalai offers three different styles of decoration: vintage, romantic honeymoon, and modern minimalist. You can choose according to your preference.

My bestie’s husband took care of all the details for this trip. The four of us traveled together. 👍 Highly recommended: Pink University of Sabah, Floating Mosque, Mantanani Island. Entry preparation: Passport, ID card 👉 Print out your round-trip flight itinerary ✈️ and hotel booking confirmation 🏨 You can prepare some local currency 💰, but Alipay is accepted in many places. 🚗 Transportation: Grab is very convenient! 💖 Recommended attractions: You must go to the mangrove forest to see the fireflies. The fireflies there are as bright as stars, and you will feel like you are in a fairy tale. Top recommendation: Pink University of Sabah. It is very photogenic, and you can take great photos 📷. There is also an aquarium and a beach, which are worth visiting. But remember to take a taxi, as the University of Sabah is really big! The Floating Mosque is also very beautiful. Snorkeling on Mantanani Island and Mabul Island is amazing. The water is clear, and you can see many marine creatures. The only downside is that the boat ride takes 1–1.5 hours, so prepare some motion sickness medicine. It is really hot there. Travel tips: Sun protection: Sunscreen, sunglasses, and sun hat. The UV rays are very strong there. Comfortable clothes: Shorts, short sleeves, and light dresses. Bring a jacket, as the temperature difference between day and night is large. Snorkeling equipment: Mask, snorkel, etc. You can also rent them locally. I am nearsighted, so I bring a prescription mask. Photography equipment: Camera or phone Others: British plug adapter, mosquito repellent, motion sickness medicine, cold medicine. Bring them if you have them.

November is the rainy season in Sabah (the rainy season is said to be from October to February) The rainy season can't stop us from having fun Rainy Sabah gave us a very different experience! 1. Mari Mari Cultural Village (recommended 👍) 2. Desa Dairy Farm - a must-see! 3. Sosodikon Hill - a windy place 🌬️🍃 4. Poring Hot Spring - go deeper, there are 6 canopy walks waiting for you to conquer (hiking 550m required) *forgot to take a picture of the hot spring 🤭 5. Kinabalu Park - for those who want to visit the Kinabalu Geopark Gallery, it opens at 9 am 6. Kundasang Market - selling all kinds of fresh fruits, vegetables, flowers, and plants 7. Filipino Market 8. The Art Attic & 9. Salt and Paper - niche literary products (I bought beautiful magnets and stickers)

#bestsunset #100waysoftravel #sabah #siemreap #baliisland Seen the best sunset in my life in several places around the world: 1) Sabah - The sun is huge over the horizon of the South China Sea and sometimes, the colour would not just be orange or blue. If you are in the city centre of Kota Kinabalu, purple sunset is the highlight of the town. 2) Siem reap - It really depends on the luck if you would like to see the sunset through the ancient Khmer empire - Angkor Wat. If you cant see the sunrise, most of the time, you will miss pit the sunset too!! 3) Bali - Sunset can be seen everywhere in Bali but I think Tanah Lot is one of the most beautiful spot to enjoy it and do expect huge crowds everyday in the evening hour😆

Make sure you have a good strategy for Semporna✔️ Semporna, your starting point for an underwater fantasy drift! Get ready, we're going to dive into the coral reefs and dance with the colorful fish! - 🌟Travel preparation: Get a diving certificate√, high SPF sunscreen is a must, waterproof camera to record the beauty; lightweight swimsuits for multiple changes, mosquito repellent for full protection. - 🌟Five-day itinerary: ✔️Day1 Arrive in Semporna, acclimate to the environment; ✔️Day2-3 Mabul Island diving, explore Turtle Bay; ✔️Day4 Kapalai snorkeling, chasing rainbow fish; ✔️Day5 Tawau fishing village experience, return in the evening. - 🌟Must-visit spots: Sipadan cliff diving, challenge the limit; Battleship Island snorkeling, swimming with whale sharks is not a dream!

#winhkflight AirAsia's Nasi Lemak is a delightful surprise at 30,000 feet! This traditional Malaysian dish, served on their flights, combines fragrant coconut rice, spicy sambal, crunchy peanuts, and tender chicken, creating a burst of flavors that transport you to the streets of Kuala Lumpur. Despite the challenges of in-flight dining, AirAsia manages to deliver a satisfying rendition of this beloved dish, making it a highlight of the journey for those craving a taste of Malaysia in the skies Hope to win flight to Hong Kong and tries the in flight meals of cathy pacific

#freehotelstay Sabah is the state of Malaysia that located in the region of East Malaysia, right next to Sarawak and Brunei. This is the favourite state of mine out of all other states as there are full of natures here such as the tropical rainforests, animal and plants species. If you are visiting to the Sabah, no not miss out the capital city - Kota Kinabalu as Tanjung Aru beach here is a world-famous spot with the panoramic orange sunset and purple sky after the sunset. Other than that, Kundasang is one of the best place to visit to which is 2-4 hours away from KK by driving!! Mountains and rivers are surrounded where you can enjoy the chill weather here. Remember to get a villa or homestay with the cloud view and you wont be disappointed with it. Rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

A place that feels like being in Switzerland - Spring Garden in Kundasang Mesilau, Sabah is a resort surrounded by flowers and green mountains. Because of the high altitude, the plants are lush and the flowers bloom beautifully. It is definitely an ideal tourist destination for you to relax your body and mind. Spring Garden Kundasang Jalan Golf Course Mesilou, 89308 Kundasang, Sabah #Resort

Semporna is located approximately 1 hour from Tawau Sabah. It is a entrance to enter beautiful island in Sabah such as Mabul, Sipadan, malataking, sibuan and also Bohey dulang. Semporna town alson known as Regatta Lepa. Tourist come to Semporna looking for go to island like Mabul, sibuan, matabuan, mataking and also do water sport activities and food hunting. Fresh seafood come from here also cheap and still fresh. You can get eat like Ikan Bakar, sayap bakar and also you must try we called Nasi Kuning. Every morning in semporna town in market they sell fresh seafood and also that price so cheap. Local people here we called Bajau and also Bajau lat ( sea gypsea) are stay in semporna. You can go to Semporna by bus from Tawau, also car drive 1 hour from Tawau airport. #backpacker #cuti²malaysia #sempornasabah

This is the perfect place for city dwellers especially newly weds or family with young kids to come over and wind down and de-stress and enjoy a dose of nature and sealife. Snorkelling highly recommended here. There were only 3-4 spots to snorkel but more than enough for us to see different species of fish. Highlight was the very friendly house turtle! He even came up and let us rub his back and play and swim with him! Sunset was truly beautiful. So many spots and places to take photos and relax. Also very friendly staff who were patient in answering all our questions. #mytripvlog #summervacation #foodie #beachlife #Malaysia

This resort is like a replica of the Maldives, but it’s in Malaysia! Perfect for honeymoons, immerse yourself in the romantic ambience with a private balcony offering direct ocean access. With privacy as the theme, this resort is located just a 10-minute drive from the center of Semporna, making it a charming haven. Dayang Resort, Semporna, Sabah #沙巴

Getting There - flight to Kota Kinabalu Attractions - world heritage site of mountain Kota Kinabalu Hotels -Laban Rata Resthouse wow most excited and hardcore trek up to mountains Kota Kinabalu with the highest mountain in Malaysia, 4095.2m. advice for whoever going soon . just slow pace , breath normally and don't rest too long you able to reach the summit on time and to catch the Sunrise . if you miss the sunrise be sure you can reach the Summit. auntie age 50 can made it, surely you can make it too. #nationalpark #summervacation

Clickbait alert 😝 Besides the romantic sunsets, Malaysia also has the beautiful pink of Sabah University 🌈 As the most beautiful university in the world, Sabah University covers an area of 999 acres, with mountains ⛰️, sea 🌊, port 🚢, mosque 🕌, and private beach 🏖️. It's so lucky to study here, as if living in a big park. The most worth mentioning is the mosque building on campus, with a girlish pink exterior 💗 and rows of coconut trees 🌴 and white latticed windows adding other colors to the large pink area. Remember to wear light-colored clothes, so that both the distant and close-up shots will be perfect 💯. 🗺️: University Malaysia Sabah

Sabah is one of the beautiful island which need to explore. One part that we visit is located at Kota Kinabalu which is Pulau Manutik, Pulau Manukan dan Pulau Sapi. Package that we choose include 3 activity which is seawalking, banana boat and island hopping. This package took around halfday to complete and no lunch included. For sure will repeat again 😍 #island #awesomepic #mytripvlog

⛳️ Outdoor Development Centre (ODEC), Beach, University Malaysia Sabah (UMS) An university? Yes, it is! UMS is one of the tourist attraction in Sabah, as it it open for local or foreigners to visit. ODEC Beach is one of the main attraction where visitor can have a good time to enjoy the Sunrise or Sunset. Besides, you can go picnic and spend time with your love’s one (friends or family). Sunrise estimated time: 06.00 Sunset estimated time: 18.25 (Depends on the weather) Additional info: UMS is one of strategic location for jogging as this place is very big and safe. Other than that, you also can rental a bicycle and have a tour around the campus. You will love the greenish environment for sure. Other’s attraction in UMS: 1. Pink Mosque 2. UMS Peak #ums #Odec #Tripsblazers #tripblazers

Let me say it first🤪, it’s really cheap to go to Sabah, and five-star restaurants are really not expensive either. You won’t be afraid of not getting used to the local food, and you may even want to eat it again the next day👍. Basically, it’s no problem to be a master here🥳. Most of the itinerary in Sabah consists of island hopping and water play, in addition to visiting the primeval forest and proboscis monkeys and fireflies. This is what I encountered and maybe it has improved a lot 😌; that morning I was going to take a boat ride 🚢 to Sapi Island. During the boat ride, I discovered that there was garbage floating on the sea. I saw it more than once and there were three lines in an instant 😓. I went to the island to get ready to play in the water. When I was swimming out, some sea garbage suddenly floated in front of me, and I immediately ran ashore. Conclusion: I hope you all take good care of the earth🌍! Transportation guide: I flew directly to Sabah with Tigerair Taiwan✈️ Must-try food: Xinji Bak Kut Teh, Yee Fung Teahouse, Fuyuan Tea Restaurant, Da Qie Lai Seafood Restaurant🥳😍🥳😍🥳 #saba#malaysia #familytravel #overseas travel

If you are going to Kudat please make a stop to visit their village. Located at Kg minansad Walai Tobilung is one of the last place showcasing it's community effort to preserve the culture of Tobilung tribe.Walai Tobilung literally mean traditional Dusun Tobilung House. We enjoy trip here. We rented car to move around. The price is reasonable. Almost 2 hours driving from Kota Kinabalu Airport. #travel

Sabah has beautiful bays, fresh seafood, best rent your own car to stay in a hotel on the beach, a restaurant in a high-end hotel Whether buffet or Japanese Teppanyaki, extremely high CP value, staying in a two-story holiday home, even if the air conditioning is not turned on to feel cool. #ChristmasGoodPlaces2022

Address: 15, Jalan Pantai, Pusat Bandar Kota Kinabalu, 88000 Kota Kinabalu, Sabah Compared to souvenir shops and group recommended shops! This convenience store in Gaya Street offers many economical and affordable new options for souvenirs and local specialties! For example, Bak Kut Teh bags, baby spicy bean cakes (mini bags), kaya sauce, Musang King durian ice cream, laksa instant noodles, proboscis monkey dolls, etc........ The price may not be the cheapest, but the quality can be guaranteed to a certain extent due to the brightness of the store and the scale of the chain. Friends who want to visit the local specialty and souvenir shop after eating Xin Ji Bak Kut Teh can walk across the street and it is next to OCBC Bank. #Malaysia #Sabah #Convenience Store

Kapalai dive resort - the male dives of Malaysia! one of the most beautiful places to go. Spend 4D3N including all dives. there are many spots in the direct surroundings of the resort and it is possible to use the house reef for snorkeling.

✈️We took flight from KUL to BKI which took about 2 hours. Highlight of the trip ❤️ In Kota Kinabalu, island hopping is one of the best and most exciting things to do. There are four islands near Kota Kinabalu that are popular day-trip destinations. These islands lie in a National Marine Park which surely will left you with unforgettable memories. ❤️For food, we went to Handicraft Market which also known as Pasar Filipina. Very busy night market with plenty of food and beverage choices. Pick your own seafood & vegetable, the stall chef will cook to your preference.The fish is steam good, crispy calamari , butter prawns are perfectly done. Worth every penny! #grouptravel

Resort with private beach and full-service spa Spend your days at the Magellan Sutera Resort's private beach, practice your swing on the golf course, or enjoy a treatment at the full-service spa. This resort has 3 restaurants. The Magellan Sutera Resort offers 456 air-conditioned rooms with minibars and safes. The rooms are equipped with LCD TVs offering satellite TV channels. The bathroom has a separate bathtub and shower, slippers, free toiletries and a hairdryer. This resort offers recreational facilities such as a private beach, a golf course, 3 outdoor tennis courts and 2 indoor tennis courts. The accommodation features an outdoor pool, a children's pool and a spa tub. Other recreational facilities include water slides, sauna and fitness facilities. Guests can enjoy the following recreational activities on site or nearby, but additional fees may apply. Mandara Spa features 12 treatment rooms, including couples rooms. Services include hot stone massages, facials, body wraps and manicures/pedicures. The hotel offers a variety of treatments including aromatherapy and hydrotherapy. The spa features a sauna and spa tub. #Overseas Travel #Overseas Travel