Kota Kinabalu and Kinabalu Park in Sabah, Malaysia

Sabah is a place that I've always wanted to go - the idea of the sea and mountains, a place to go diving and hiking. Then there's Sandakan and around the area with wildlife and orang utan sanctuary. 

We suddenly found a space in our schedule and managed to squeeze in a trip to Sabah, Malaysia in July 2019, with 2 children, Ed 2 years old and Em 4 years old. We could not include all the places in Sabah, but managed to include Kota Kinabalu and Kundasang where Mount Kinabalu is. 

  • 5 days 4 nights
  • 1 country - Malaysia
  • 2 cities - Kota Kinabalu, Kundasang 
  • 1 UNESCO World Heritage Site - Kinabalu Park
  • 1 timezone - GMT+8
  • 1 currency - Malaysian ringgit (RM)


Day 1 | Flight to Kota Kinabalu, Sabah

Flight to Kota Kinabalu in Sabah, Malaysia took about 2.5 hours from Singapore, and we went straight to the hotel in Kota Kinabalu. We stayed in a nondescript hotel in the city but there are many resorts to choose from if you would like a more luxurious hotel instead. 

We took a walk around the hotel and then just spend time in the hotel room. The girls enjoyed having a change of scenery.

Day 2 | Kundasang & Canopy Treetop Walk

We stopped in Tamparuli Town on our way to Kinabalu Park. The tour guide said that the name of the bridge was built temporarily, but they liked it so much that it is now permanent, and so, they called it Jambatan Tamparuli. Not sure if I really believed him! 

Climbed up the rainforest to reach the Canopy Treetop Walk and only while we were waiting for our turn, it crossed my mind that they may not walk across the bridge! Luckily Em managed to complete the walk which were hanging about 40 metres above ground. Ed, on the other hand, had to be carried across the wobbly bridge!

We rested and soaked our feet at the Poring Hot Spring after walking back down from the rainforest, only to be soaked wet from the sudden heavy rain!

We stayed at Kinabalu Pine Resort for the night - with the cool weather, playground for kids, view of Mount Kinabalu and included meals, we enjoyed our stay. 


Day 3 | Cow Farm & Kinabalu Park 

Desa Cow Farm was packed with people (not as many cows), but with the cool weather, calf feeding, yoghurt, ice cream and beautiful view of Mount Kinabalu, the combination couldn't go wrong with the children!

Kinabalu Park was Em's 36th UNESCO World Heritage Site at 4 years old, but she's unlikely to remember most of them. We were at 1,866m of Mount Kinabalu (it is 4,095m), the starting point of the climb but we loved being on the high elevation and amongst nature. 

Back in KK and the food hunt brought us to dinner at Fatt Kee Seafood Restaurant, recommended by a local friend. They served fresh grouper fish and tasty soup with choice of tomato soup or tomyam soup. 


Day 4 | Mari Mari Cultural Village 

Mari Mari Cultural Village was a touristy cultural centre, sharing information on the ethnic tribes in Sabah. While they were not "real", the settings, the houses built and the music and dance gave us a good chance to experience and understand the ethnic tribes in their natural surroundings. 

Back in Kota Kinabalu, we walked around the market and had dinner at Sin Kee Bak Kut Teh. 

Day 5 | Flight Home

We stopped by Kedai Kopi Yee Fung to have Sarawak Laksa, right after breakfast in the hotel. I had to say, that I was not a fan. We left to catch our flight home. 


Glad that we finally made it to Sabah, and though it was planned at the very last minute, we enjoyed the highlands and would definitely want to go back and stay there for a longer period!


Happy travels! 

~ nateniale

Location: Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia

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