At first sight, it’s hard to imagine Kota Kinabalu (formerly Jesselton) as an eco-tourism destination because you’ll be welcomed by a sprawling, lively city. But once you get to know KK, as it is affectionately called by most people, you’ll be blown away by the richness of its heritage and the paradisaical islands offshore. I blogged a 4 day 3 night Kota Kinabalu itinerary here with budget. This sample itinerary is kinda jam-packed because I wanted to show you what Kota Kinabalu can offer as a tourist destination. And honestly, if ever I get a chance to return in the future, I will follow this itinerary and do all the activities I listed below.
Here’s a sample Kota Kinabalu Itinerary for 4 days 3 nights. Feel free to adjust this depending on your budget and schedule. I’ve also listed below the sample Kota Kinabalu trip budget.
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KOTA KINABALU ITINERARY FOR 4 D 3N WITH BUDGET/COST
| SCHEDULE | ACTIVITIES |
| DAY 1 | MT.KINABALU PARK + PORING HOT SPRING + DESA DAIRY FARM |
| 06:30 AM | Breakfast.
Food cost: (PHP 100/MYR 8.26/USD 2/EURO 2/SGD 3) |
| 07:15 AM | Pick up for tour to Mt. Kinabalu Park + Poring Hot Spring + Desa Dairy Park
Tour Package Cost: PHP 1,999/MYR 164 (USD 39/EURO 33/SGD 53 |
| 08:45 AM | Visit and explore Nabalu Park |
| 09:30 AM | ETD Desa Cattle and dairy farm |
| 10:30 AM | ETA Poring Hot Spring. Take a dip in hot spring and do the Canopy Walk. |
| 12:30 PM | Lunch (part of tour package) |
| 1:30 PM | ETD Kundasag area. |
| 02:00 PM | ETA Mt. Kinabalu Park. Join guided walking tour. Explore. |
| 03:30 PM | End of tour. ETD Kota Kinabalu |
| 05:00 PM | ETA Kota Kinabalu City |
| 06:00 PM | Catch sunset The Waterfront
|
| 07:00 PM | Dinner at the hawker stalls in the Filipino Market.
Food cost: MYR 12.39/PHP 150 (USD 3/EURO3/SGD 4) |
| 09:00 PM | ETA Hotel. Sleep.
AC double room : MYR 45/PHP 550 (USD 11/EURO 9/SGD 15) |
| DAY 2 | ISLAND HOPPING + KOTA KINABALU CITY TOUR |
| 07:00 AM | Breakfast
Food cost: (PHP 100/MYR 8.26/USD 2/EURO 2/SGD 3) |
| 07:30 AM | Head to Jesselton Port |
| 08:00 AM | ETD Tunku Abdul Rahman Park. Choose the Islands you want to visit. My personal pick: Pulau Mamutik, Pulau Sapi and Pulau Manukan/
1 island cost: MYR 23/PHP 278 (USD 5.44/EURO 5/SGD 7) 2 island hop cost: MYR 33/PHP 399 (USD 8/EURO 7/SGD 11) 3 island hop cost: MYR 43/PHP 520 (USD 10/EURO 9/SGD 14) 4 island hop cost: MYR 53/PHP 642 (USD 13/EURO 11/SGD 17)
|
| 08:30 AM | ETA Tunku Abdul Rahman Park. Swim, snorkel.
ENTRANCE FEE: Adult: MYR 10/PHP 121 (USD 2.36/EURO 2/SGD 3.23) Children: MYR 6/PHP 73 (USD 1.42/EURO 1.21/SGD 2) |
| 12:00 PM | ETD Kota Kinabalu |
| 12:30 PM | Lunch Food cost: MYR 12.39/PHP 150 (USD 3/EURO3/SGD 4) |
| 01:30 PM | Back to hotel. Freshen up. |
| 03:00 PM | Explore Kota Kinabalu City: Atkinson’s Clock Tower and Signal Hill Observatory, Sabah State Mosque.
Uber to Sabah State Mosque: MYR 10/PHP 121 (USD 2.36/EURO 4/SGD 3.22) Uber from Sabah State Mosque: MYR 10/PHP 121 (USD 2.36/EURO 4/SGD 3.22) |
| 06:00 PM | End of tour. Buy souvenirs. |
| 07:00 PM | Dinner.
Food cost: MYR 12.39/PHP 150 (USD 3/EURO3/SGD 4) |
| 10:00 PM | Sleep.
AC double room : MYR 45/PHP 550 (USD 11/EURO 9/SGD 15) |
| DAY 3 | FLOATING MOSQUE+ KLIAS RIVER CRUISE (PROBOSCIS MONKEY) |
| 08:00 AM | Breakfast Food cost: (PHP 100/MYR 8.26/USD 2/EURO 2/SGD 3) |
| 09:00 AM | ETD Floating Mosque.
Take Bus No.5A (direction to UMS) for about MYR 1.50/PHP 18 (USD0.35/EURO 0.30/SGD 0.48). Taxi/Uber should cost you around MYR 15 /PHP 181 (USD 4/EURO 3/SGD 5). |
| 09:30 AM | ETA Floating Mosque. Explore. Photo op. |
| 10:30 AM | ETD Kota Kinabalu City
Take Bus No.5A (direction to UMS) for about MYR 1.50/PHP 18 (USD0.35/EURO 0.30/SGD 0.48). Taxi/Uber should cost you around MYR 15 /PHP 181 (USD 4/EURO 3/SGD 5). |
| 11:30 AM | Lunch
Food cost: MYR 12.39/PHP 150 (USD 3/EURO3/SGD 4) |
| 12:00 PM | Back to hotel. Rest. |
| 02:00 PM | ETD Klias River + Fireflies Cruise + Proboscis Monkey. Hotel pick up. Depart for Klias River Jetty. (3 hour journey)
Tour cost: MYR 167/PHP 2,036 (USD 40/EURO 34/SGD 54) |
| 05:00 PM | ETA Kota Belud. Start of Klias River Cruise. Watch Proboscis Monkeys play in the trees as you cruise along the banks of the river. |
| 06:00 PM | Sunset on boat. |
| 06:30 PM | Dinner. (Part of cruise) |
| 07:30 PM | Fireflies Cruise. |
| 08:30 PM | ETD Kota Kinabalu |
| 10:30 PM | ETA Kota Kinabalu |
| 11:00 PM | ETA Hotel. Sleep.
AC double room : MYR 45/PHP 550 (USD 11/EURO 9/SGD 15) |
| DAY 4 | Mari Mari Cultural Village or Monsopiad Tour |
| 09:00 AM | Breakfast. Check out. Leave luggage at concierge or talk to the hotel staff if you can extend for an hour or two and just pay minimal fee.
Food cost: (PHP 100/MYR 8.26/USD 2/EURO 2/SGD 3) |
| 10:00 AM | Hotel pick up. Join group tour for Mari Mari Cultural Village.
Tour cost: MYR 160/PHP 1,950 (USD 38/EURO 33/SGD 52) |
| 11:00 AM | ETA Mari Mari Cultural Village. Visit 5 tribes’ house |
| 12:00 PM | Buffet lunch. Cultural performance |
| 01:00 PM | ETD Kota Kinabalu |
| 02:00 PM | ETA Kota Kinabalu. Get luggage at hotel. Proceed to airport. |
*If you want to see the Orangutan in Sandakan, you can join group tours and it’ll cost around MYR 160/PHP 1,950 (USD 38/EURO 33/SGD 52) from Sandakan. But you have to allot at least 2 days for this tour since you have to travel to Sandakan from Kota Kinabalu, travel time is about 6 hours one way.
KOTA KINABALU TRIP BUDGET
Here’s a sample Kota Kinabalu trip budget (breakdown of expenses) if you follow the Kota Kinabalu itinerary above. This sample trip budget is supposing you will do all the activities mentioned in the itinerary. However, if you have limited time and budget, you can just pick the activities that you want to try.
| EXPENSES | ACTIVITIES |
| MYR 136/PHP 1,650 (USD 32/EURO 27/SGD 44) | Hotel ( double AC room, good for two) MYR 45/PHP 550 (USD 11/EURO 9/SGD 15) per night x 3 nights |
| MYR 99/PHP 1,200 (USD 23.44/EURO 20/SGD 32) | Food. Budget is (PHP 100/MYR 8.26/USD 2/EURO 2/SGD 3) to MYR 12.39/PHP 150 (USD 3/EURO3/SGD 4) for 3 days. |
| PHP 1,999/MYR 164 (USD 39/EURO 33/SGD 53 | Mt. Kinabalu Park + Poring Hot Spring + Desa Dairy Park Tour Package |
| MYR 43/PHP 520 (USD 10/EURO 9/SGD 14)
| 3 island hop at Tunku Abdul Rahman Park. |
| MYR 167/PHP 2,036 (USD 40/EURO 34/SGD 54) | Klias River + Fireflies Cruise + Proboscis Monkey Tour |
| MYR 160/PHP 1,950 (USD 38/EURO 33/SGD 52) | Mari Mari Cultural Village Tour |
| MYR 10/PHP 121 (USD 2.36/EURO 4/SGD 3.22)
| Uber to Sabah State Mosque |
| MYR 10/PHP 121 (USD 2.36/EURO 4/SGD 3.22) | Uber from Sabah State Mosque |
| MYR 15 /PHP 181 (USD 4/EURO 3/SGD 5). | Uber to Kota Kinabalu State Mosque |
| MYR 15 /PHP 181 (USD 4/EURO 3/SGD 5). | Uber from Kota Kinabalu State Mosque |
| MYR 819/ PHP 9,439/USD 195.16/EURO 170/SGD 265.44 |
The sample total Kota Kinabalu trip budget for MYR 819/ PHP 9,439/USD 195.16/EURO 170/SGD 265.44 for 4 days 3 nights itinerary may sound expensive, but like I said, you can bring this down if you will not do all the above mentioned tours or activities. Just pick the ones you like.
WHERE TO BOOK KOTA KINABALU TOURS
Kinabalu Park & Poring Hot Spring Tour
- Explore the UNESCO World Heritage Site Kinabalu Park and see the exotic flora and fauna
- Take a dip into a hot Sulphur bath in Poring Hot Spring and gaze up at giant bamboo trees
- You can also visit the Desa Cattle Dairy Farm, Kundasang Vegetable Market and more.
Tour is Inclusive of: Entrance fees (excluding Butterfly Farm), English speaking guide, canopy walkway
Pick-up and drop-off at hotel, conservation fees.
RESERVE KOTA KINABALU + PORING HOT SPRING TOUR HERE
Sapi and Manukan Islands Tour
- Explore 2 of Malaysia’s most beautiful islands Manukan and Sapi
- Take a dip in the transparent waters of Manukan Island with its sandy beaches and great recreational facilities
- Use your free time well: go kayaking, parasailing, jet skiing, try Sea Walking and more
- Enjoy a delicious barbecue lunch by the beach
RESERVE SAPI AND MANUKAN ISLAND HOPPING TOUR HERE
MARI MARI CULTURAL VILLAGE TOUR
Address: Kampung Kuai Kandazon, Peti Surat 740 Malaysia, Penampang, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah
Open Hours: 9:00 AM -5:00 PM
Enjoy a truly authentic experience by observing the lives of 5 indigenous Malaysian tribes by booking a hassle-free tour.
RESERVE MARI MARI CULTURAL VILLAGE TOUR HERE
Sepilok Orangutan Centre Half Day Tour
- Travel to Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre on a 3 hour tour
- See orangutans (only found in Malaysia) in their natural habitat
- See baby orangutans nurtured back to health, watch them play in dipterocarp forest and even participate in feedings
Tour is inclusive of: English speaking guide and driver, round trip transfer from city center hotels in Sandakan and entrance fees.
RESERVE ORANGUTAN CENTRE TOUR HERE
Klias River Fireflies Safari Cruise
- Explore stunning mangrove forests while on cruise and catch a glimpse of the Proboscis Monkeys (Nasalis larvatus)
- Sample local cuisine on board the river cruise while watching the sun sink into the river
- Watch fireflies dance in the night sky during the fireflies cruise
Tour is inclusive of: English speaking guide, entrance fees, Buffet dinner and return boat and hotel transfers.
RESERVE FIREFLIES + PROBOSCIS MONKEY TOUR HERE
KOTA KINABALU BUDGET HOTELS
Where to stay in Kota Kinabalu? Here’s a list of some budget hotels sprinkled around the city.
B&B@21
Lot No.21, Lorong Dewan, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah Malaysia, Central Business District, Kota Kinabalu
Asiana Hotel
No. 01, Grace Square, Lorong Grace Square, Jalan Pantai Sembulan, Central Business District
De Galleria Hotel
14, Jalan Sentosa, Kampung Air, Central Business District, Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia
