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Sabah occupies a relatively small chunk of the world’s third-largest island, Borneo, yet what a punch it packs: the treasure of turquoise-fringed desert islands with coral reefs swarming with marine biodiversity; trekkers' paradise Mt Kinabalu reaching 13435ft (4095m) into the clouds; and jungles pulsing with a menagerie of bug-eyed tarsiers, gibbons, pythons, clouded leopards and huge crocs. Around 55% of Sabah is forest, and protected areas such as the Maliau Basin and the Danum Valley Conservation Area are more accessible than ever.

Attractions

Must-see attractions.

Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre

Around 25km north of Sandakan, and covering 40 sq km of the Kabili-Sepilok Forest Reserve, this inspiring, world-famous centre welcomes orphaned and…

Tawau Hills Park

This small reserve has forested hills rising dramatically from the surrounding plain. If getting into the Maliau Basin or Danum Valley feels like too much…

Agop Batu Tulug

This hill, 2km north of the Batuh Putih bridge, features three caves housing the ancestors of local Orang Sungai (People of the River). Because the…

Pantai Tempurung

Borneo's loveliest beach is a long, almost-pristine stretch of white sand, lapped at by clear waters. The waves are gentle and great for swimming. You…

Gomantong Caves

Imagine a cathedral-like inner chamber shot with splinters of sunlight and a cave floor swarming with cockroaches, and you have the Gomantong Caves. The…

Sandakan Memorial Park

A beautiful rainforest garden marks the site of a Japanese POW camp and the starting point for the infamous WWII 'death marches' to Ranau. Of the 1793…

Tunku Abdul Rahman National Park

The islands of Manukan, Gaya, Sapi, Mamutik and Sulug, and the reefs in between, make up the 49-sq-km Tunku Abdul Rahman National Park. Only a short boat…

Tun Sakaran Marine Park

Also known as the Semporna Islands Marine Park, this 350-sq-km protected area, a short boat ride from Semporna, comprises eight islands and two reefs…

Latest stories from Sabah

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Wildlife & Nature

May 22, 2019 • 6 min read

One of the world’s most prominent peaks, Mount Kinabalu soars up from sea level to 4095m, making Borneo the planet’s third highest island (after Hawaii…

Sep 22, 2015 • 4 min read

Apr 17, 2015 • 6 min read

Feb 19, 2014 • 6 min read

Mar 27, 2012 • 2 min read

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The parks of sabah.

Get the info from Sabah Parks for the latest updates

Museums & Historical Sites

List of museums & historical sites in Sabah

Tourism Advisory

Get the latest Sabah Advisory

e-Pekeliling

• Environment

Rungus community has unique cultural heritage to be explored

KOTA MARUDU: Matunggong should continue to promote the vibrant and unique cultural heritage of the Rungus...

Kudat holds great potential for rural tourism

KUDAT: Kudat is dubbed the “Bali of Borneo” due to the similarities of tourism product activities...

Royal Brunei Airlines bringing more tourists to Sabah

KOTA KINABALU: The return of Royal Brunei Airlines to the state has now made it accessible...

Singapore’s Scoot returns to Sabah

KOTA KINABALU: Singapore’s low-cost carrier Scoot has resumed service to Sabah, making it the first international...

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MySabah.com

Travel guides to Sabah, Malaysia Borneo

Honest Travel Guide to Sabah

Every year about 4 millions tourists visit Sabah because of her nature wonder, which is completed with islands & beaches, hills & mountains, pristine rainforest, abundant marine and Borneo wildlife, and colorful cultures, all suitable for a leisure vacation and softcore adventures. We have Sipadan Island , one of world’s top 5 dive sites, Danum Valley , a Borneo virgin rainforest older than Amazon and Mount Kinabalu , the highest mountain of Malaysia.

Where is Sabah?

Sabah is one of the 13 states of Malaysia, a country in the centre of South East Asia. Sabah is at the northern part of Borneo, the third largest island in the world, shared by three countries, namely, Malaysia (Sabah and Sarawak), Brunei, and Indonesia (Kalimantan). Sabah is the second largest state of Malaysia, and also a mountainous state with 59% of her land covered by forest.

The capital of Sabah State is Kota Kinabalu city (KK in short). With a population of over 244,000, KK is located in west coast and the 13th largest city in Malaysia. Most tourists who visit Sabah will land in KK by air. KK is voted as one of the best cities for retirement in the world .

Sabah is 8 hours ahead of GMT (GMT+8), same time zone as Kuala Lumpur and Shanghai.

Current local time in Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia

Malaysia is a tropical country with warm and humid climate (Humidity: 85-95%) throughout the year, so is Sabah, the temperatures are fairly constant, ranging from 32°C (90°F) in lowland to 21°C (70°F) in highland . Temperature can reach near freezing point in higher altitude of Mt. Kinabalu. The wettest months of Sabah are from December to January , with heavy rain from Northeast Monsoon. The dry months are from March to September. The most comfortable clothing are lightweight and quick-dry T-shirt, shorts and sandal. Only in highland such as Kundasang, Ranau, Tenom and Tambunan you would need more clothing like jacket to stay warm. To locals, our weather only has 3 modes: sunny, cloudy or rainy.

Natural Disasters

Sabah is also known as The Land below the Wind because we are just below Typhoon belt of Philippines and not hit by typhoon. However, the tail of typhoon would brings rainstorm (happens occasionally between Apr and Nov), strong wind and rough waves that affect outdoor activities. During heavy rain season, flood and landslide occurs in some areas. It’s advisable not to visit Kinabalu Park on the same day you leave Sabah, just in case the way home is blocked by landslide.

No Tsunami (tidal wave) threat presents in Sabah. There was a magnitude 6.0 earthquake in 2015, but no life-threatening earthquake thereafter. Week-long haze may or may not occur between Jun and Sep, the time neighbouring Kalimantan clear the land by open burning.

What’s the Best Time to Visit Sabah?

Actually anytime is fine. Due to global warming, the weather is not so predictable.

• Dry Months : March to September (ideal for outdoor activities)
• Diving : April to June (best visibility and calmest waters), February to March (whale shark season)
• Turtle Nesting: July to August
• Stargazing: April to September

Worst Months to visit:

• Chinese New Year (between late Jan and mid-Feb) and Puasa (Muslim fasting month), the time when many shops / restaurants are closed.
• Wet Months : Nov-Jan (Northeast Monsoon)
• Peak Season (Travel): Nov-Jan and Jun-Aug. Book flight and hotel earlier if you will visit Sabah in these months.

Events & Festivals

You won’t regret to add the following grand cultural events into your itinerary.

• 30 & 31 May: Kaamatan Celebration (Harvest Festival)
• April: Lepa-Lepa Water Festival *
• October: Tamu Besar *

*date is subject to change

Electricity

Electricity is on the 240 Volts AC/ 50-Cycle system. Malaysia uses standard British three-pin rectangular blade plug (Type G) and sockets. You can buy the travel universal plug in our shopping malls.

Units of Measurement

British Imperial System. We use Kilometre (KM), Metre (M) and Centimetre (CM) to measure distance and length, Kilogram (Kg) and Gram (G) for weight measurement.

Money and Payment

The international currency code of Malaysian Ringgit is MYR. But you see Ringgit is more commonly labelled as RM on price tags here. Both MYR and RM are the same thing (e.g. RM20 = MYR20). Banknotes are divided into the following denominations: 1, 5, 10, 20, 50 and 100.

Cash is King , so always have at least one or two hundred Ringgit cash with you, though e-Wallet such as Boost is getting very popular. Small eatery, bus and national parks usually expect you to use cash. Credit Cards such as MasterCard and Visa are widely accepted by hotels, restaurants and larger shops. Some shops may require you to spend a minimum amount of money like MYR30 or MYR50 to allow payment by credit card.

Currency Exchange

Kota Kinabalu International Airport has a few money changers where you can exchange your currency to Ringgit. You may exchange a small amount of money, then convert the rest with Licensed Money Changers in the shopping malls, which offers better rate. Most major hotels charge a nominal fee for currency conversion. You can use the form below to check the latest exchange rate of your currency to Malaysian Ringgit (MYR).

There are a lot of licensed money changers in shopping malls of city. Make sure your notes are in near-perfect condition as notes with any torn or stains would not be accepted by money changers. Commonly accepted currencies are US Dollar, Australian Dollar, British Pound, China RMB, Indonesia Rupiah, Philippines PESO, Thailand Baht, etc. You may convert your money to one of these currencies above in your country first to bring to Sabah. Be vigilant of people around you when you leave the counter with your money.

Internet WiFi & Phone

Sabah has 4G coverage in populated area. You can get a local SIM card and register a prepaid phone line (with Internet data plan) at Kota Kinabalu International Airport, if you arrive in normal working hours. Our big 3 cellphone service providers are Celcom , Maxis (HotLink), and Digi .

Maxis has great Internet speed in city and suburban areas. Celcom has the widest coverage but fairly slow line. Digi is somewhere in between. You and your travel mates can use different providers to backup each other. You can browse the Traveller SIM Cards by Celcom , Maxis , and Digi .

There are many phone shops in city that can help you to register a line or reload credit. By law you need a passport to register. The country code of Malaysia is 60. If you get a mobile phone number like 012-3456789. Your overseas friends and relatives can call you at +60 123456789. Anyway, you can use Whatsapp and Facetime. Set your phone to airplane mode when you are in remote places that have no connection, or the busy network search would drain your battery.

WiFi service is available in most hotels (some may charge a fee). Many restaurants and cafes in town also have free WiFi access. Kota Kinabalu City centre has free WiFi but the connection is quite patchy (no every street is in the range).

Travellers can buy almost every necessities in Sabah, so you can cut the weight of you check-in luggage. Shopping malls generally open daily from 10am to 9:30pm. They are air-conditioned and good place for grocery shopping, phone service, local food, money changers, clothing, and movie time. Toilet inside shopping mall collects an entry fee of MYR0.20 to MYR0.50. Besides shopping malls, you can find drug store / pharmacy, supermarkets, and 24×7 convenience stores around town area.

Things to Buy

Sabah Tea, Tenom Coffee, White Coffee, Orangutan / Proboscis Monkey plush toy, handicraft (bead necklace / bracelet, baskets), hand woven tapestries, colourful serdang box, Sabah batik, durian chocolate, mango candy, dried seafood, frozen seafood, scarf with Sabah motif, and sting-less bee honey are popular buy, besides the ordinary keychain, fridge magnet and I♥Sabah T-shirt. You may check out my guide on 10 best souvenirs to buy in Sabah .

Good places to shop and bargain for these souvenirs are Gaya Street shoplot and its Sunday Market (7am-12pm) in KK City Centre. Filipino Market next to KK Central Market is also a good spot. KadaiKu has the best line of authentic Sabah products (higher prices).

Popular Tours

Most tourists travel in Sabah for 5 days and majority of them visit or do the following:

• Climbing Mount Kinabalu *: the highest mountain of Malaysia
• Kinabalu Park : staycation in the cooling highland and tour around the UNESCO World Heritage Site and Geopark
• Kinabatangan River ( Corridor of Life ): river cruise to see Orangutan, Proboscis Monkey and Pygmy Elephant
• Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre Orphanage and “school” of baby orangutan
• Tunku Abdul Rahman Park : beautiful islands (e.g. Sapi , Manukan ) 15 minutes away from KK
• Mantanani : Mermaid Island
• Mari-Mari Cultural Village : experience lifestyle of 5 native tribes
• River Cruise at Klias , Weston , Kawa-Kawa : Wetland, Sunset and Proboscis Monkey
• Poring Hot Springs : natural hot springs, tree canopy walk, rafflesia flower
• Tip of Borneo : scenic beach and seascape
• Islands of Semporna (part of Coral Triangle): Sipadan *, Mataking Island , Mabul Island , Bohey Dulang Island
• Padas / Kiulu River Rafting
• Danum Valley : 130-million-year old primary rainforest
• Turtle Islands Park (Selingan) *: turtle nesting and hatchery

*Need to book 6 months in advance as they are always fully booked, even in non-peak seasons.

Sabah has many more wonderful attractions, please explore them in this travel blog MySabah.com (shameless self-promotion). Not all destination accepts walk-in tourist, some requires you to go by tour.

People and Culture

There are 42 ethnic groups living in harmony in Sabah. In Sabah population of over 3.5 millions, Kadazandusun people are the largest indigenous group and occupy 30% of population, followed by Bajau (21%), Malay (20%) and Murut (5%). 12% of Sabah population is Chinese and most of them live in cities. Interracial marriage is very common, so don’t be surprised if a native can speak Chinese.

Generally, Sabah people are gentle, friendly and more tolerant. Though we are Malaysians, we like to call ourselves as Sabahans . Sabahans are very laid back, we might look like slow loris to those from fast-paced modern cities LOL.

Interesting Facts

• The iconic dance of Sabah is Sumazau of Kadazandusun people, which mimic the movement of bird in flight.
• Murut was once the headhunter of Borneo. Their bamboo dance (named Magunatip ) is to welcome the return of headhunters.
• Bajau is the Cowboys of the East because of their excellent horse-riding skill.
• Sea Bajau in East Coast is also known as Sea Gypsies , sea nomads who spend their lives (cooking, giving birth, sleeping) on the boat.
• Most Sabah Chinese are the descendants of Chinese labours immigrated from China in 19th century. Hakka, Hokkien and Cantonese are the most common Chinese dialects.

Islam is the official religion of Malaysia and 65% of Sabah people are Muslim, followed by Catholics, Christians and Buddhists. Many destinations have Surau room for Muslim to pray. In hotel room, look for the Qibla compass on the ceiling that points to Makkah. Malaysia is rated as a top Muslim-friendly holiday destination , in terms of Islam-compliant on food, services, prayer facilities and accommodation.

About 80 languages are spoken in Sabah. Malay is the national language, English is our second language and widely spoken, especially in urban and business environment. English is used in shop signage and even food menu. Chinese is also common in cities. Tourists have very little language barrier in Sabah. Most Sabahans are multilingual and can converse in 2 or more languages such as Malay, English, Chinese (Mandarin), Hakka and Cantonese.

Yes we know English but… it’s not our mother tongue. If we have problem to understand you, you may need to speak slowly and clearly using simple words. Avoid using slang from your region.

Useful Phrases

Sabahans do understand basic English phrases such as “How are you?” and “Thank you.” You can travel comfortably in Sabah without learning any local words. The only reason you learn is for ice-breaking with your cute pronunciation. If you really want to impress the locals, say “ Boleh Bah Kalau Kau ” (meaning: Can / Sure if this is for you / Of Course!) or Bah (meaning OK or Yes).

Anyway, here are some useful words for you to read local signage: Tandas (Toilet), Lelaki (Male), Perempuan (Female), Tutup (Closed), Jalan / Jln. (Road / Street), Kampung / Kg. (Village), Taman (Park), Masuk (Entrance), Keluar (Exit), Kedai (Shop), Bas (Bus), Teksi (Taxi), Air (Water).

Local Etiquette

Sabahans are really diversified. Even if one group accepts certain interaction, the same thing can be awkward to others. Don’t worry. Sabahans are highly-tolerant. But good to be respectful and sensitive.

• Take off your shoes before entering house, mosque and (some) temple.
• Don’t handshake with left hand. A handshake should only be initiated by ladies.
• In places of worship, visitors are required to dress modestly. Lady is required to wear scarf and long skirt to cover their hair and exposed skin in mosque.
• Muslim takes no pork & liquor, do not offer them.
• Pointing at people with index finger is rude, you may use your thumb to point at something (still better not pointing at any person).
• No nude / topless sunbathing on beach (I have no complaint but many think boobs are evil).
• Holding hand and hugging with your spouse in public is romantic. Long wet kiss is probably too much here.
• Guys, don’t touch the shoulder of female.

Just to list a few examples of misbehaved tourists: going nude on Mount Kinabalu and Sibuan , walking in city with bikini , hot dance at mosque . Sabah is not Miami.

Food and Dining

The staple food of Sabahans are rice, noodles and bread. As a multicultural and food loving society, we have many options to spoil you. The most common place locals going for a meal is Kopitiam or Kedai Kopi (Coffee Shop), an open air shop which sells common food items such as mixed rice ( nasi campur ), chicken rice and fried noodles. A proper meal costs about MYR6 to MYR8 (without drink) in city. Japanese food, Western food and fast food are common as well in city. Fun Fact: All small towns have KFC Fried Chicken.

Recommended Food

Tuaran Mee (Tuaran Fried Noodle), Ngiu Chap (Beef Noodle), Sang Yuk Mee (Pork Noodle), Tamparuli Mee , Fish Noodles , Seafood , Kon Lou Mee (Dry Noodle), Nasi Lemak, Bak Kut Teh , Satay, Laksa, Rojak, Soto (Malay Noodle Soup), and Hinava (Local Fish Salad).

Dining Guide

If this is your first time visit Sabah, below are some guidelines:

• No smoking in any eatery.
• Some restaurants say they “Serve No Pork” but that doesn’t mean they are certified halal. Look for halal logo when in doubt.
• Most Sabah hotels are compliant with Halal.
• Malay and Indian Kopitiams serve Halal (Muslim) food. Non-Muslims are also welcome to eat there.
• You may see a small pot on table of Malay Kopitiam, the water is for washing hands. Don’t drink it.
• Some kopitiam are self-service. You need to get your utensils and condiment at one corner.
• Food spoils fairly quick in warm temperature of Malaysia. Don’t eat wet food that is left overnight in room temperature. You would suffer food poisoning.
• Although Malaysia is an Islamic country, Beer & liquor are sold in many shops but at higher price (due to tax). Or you can try our Tapai or Lihing (local rice wine)
• KFC and McDonald in Malaysia serve halal food. Don’t ask for pork burger.
• Tipping is not obligatory but appreciated. If you see 10% service charges on your bill, you have contributed some.

Feel free to order drink like a local with the following names:

• Kopi-O (Hot Coffee)
• Kopi-C (Hot Milk Coffee)
• Teh-C (Hot Milk Tea)
• Teh-O Ping (Ice Milk Tea)
• Kit Chai Ping (Iced Kasturi Juice)
• Teh Tarik (Pulled Tea)

(Kopi = Coffee, Teh = Tea, O = No Milk, C = Milk, Ping = Cold) So Ice Milk Tea is “Teh-C Ping”.

Entering Sabah

Malaysian citizens from Peninsular Malaysia can enter Sabah with MyKad (passport not required). Foreigner need a passport or Visa to visit Sabah. Your Passport must have a validity of at least 6 months upon entry. Visa is not required for some countries such as Australia, USA, UK and Japan. You can check if your nationality is Visa-free online .

If your country is eligible (e.g. China, India) to apply Visa (eVISA) online, you may submit your application here . You can request your travel agent to do it for you.

Goods Exempted

Individual may bring these items into Malaysia without paying customs duty:

• Wine / spirit / malt / liquor not exceeding 1 Liter in all;
• Tobacco not exceeding 225 Grams (equal to 200 sticks of cigarettes).
• Wearing apparels not exceeding 3 pieces and footwear not exceeding one pair.
• Portable electrical or battery operated appliances for personal care and hygiene not exceeding 1 unit each.
• See the complete list in Royal Malaysian Customs Department website

WARNING: Smuggling illicit drugs such as Marijuana, Cocaine and Heroin is a VERY SERIOUS offense in Malaysia and can result in DEATH penalty. Pornography materials and firearm (even the fake one like BB Gun) are prohibited items to bring in.

Fly to Sabah

Sabah has many direct international flight connection to major cities of East Asia and Australia. You can use Google Flights to look for direct flight and bargain tickets to fly to Sabah. If no direct flight to KK, you can fly to other cities (e.g. Kuala Lumpur, Singapore, Brunei, Taipei, Seoul, Tokyo, Hong Kong, Manila) which have direct flight to Sabah . To move around major towns / cities of Sabah, book a domestic flight with Air Asia or MASwings

Kota Kinabalu International Airport (KKIA)

KKIA is the second busiest airport in Malaysia and 7.5 KM away from Kota Kinabalu city. Most international flights to Sabah will land there. Locals and tourists also mainly rely on domestic flight to travel between east and west coast of Sabah.

Once you arrive Sabah, there are a few things you can do in KKIA:

• Get a airport taxi / bus, or call a Grab driver to pick you up
• Exchange a small amount of Malaysian currency.
• Register a local mobile phone line, which includes Internet data plan.
• Visit Tourism Malaysia information booth to get more information about your trip.
• You can even book tour package and accommodation, or rent a car there.

Note: Most businesses there open during normal working hours and some open until 10pm. McDonald’s McCafe in KKIA opens 24×7.

Public Transport

Our public transportation system is a joke. It is inconvenient to move around Sabah without a car. You can get a taxi or (e-Hailing Services) Grab driver easily in city, hotels, shopping malls and popular tourist spots. Though the taxi has the label that says “Teksi Bermeter” (Meter Taxi), they seldom use the meter. Haggle for the price before getting into the taxi. Mobile apps such as Waze, Google Map and Grab will help you a lot.

Renting a Car

Car rental is available in cities of Sabah. You can even book a car online, then collect it at the airport upon your arrival. You need a Malaysia or International Driver License to rent a car. A good place to rent car in Kota Kinabalu is Wisma Sabah.

The rental fee starts from MYR40/day for Motorbike, MYR150/day for Sedan, MYR500/day for 4-wheel Drive and MYR400/day for a Van. In Malaysia we drive at left side of the road (driver seat is at the right). The car should remain on left lane if not overtaking. Driver and passengers must fasten their seat belt or get fined heavily.

Boat Transfer

If you want to visit the islands ( Sapi , Manukan , Mamutik , Sepanggar , Mengalum ) off Kota Kinabalu city, you can depart from Jesselton Point, Sutera Harbour or Star Marina, which operates between 7am to 4:30pm. Please read my guide about these 3 boat terminals .

To visit islands of Semporna, you can book with travel agent. Most of them sells island-hopping day trip. Island resorts will provide boat transfer if you will stay on their islands. It’s NOT safe to use the unlicensed boat service, they usually wander nearby the terminal (e.g. KK fish market, Wisma Merdeka) and offer you cheaper deals.

Long Distance Bus

There are two long-distance bus terminals in Kota Kinabalu that connects to major cities / towns (e.g. Sandakan, Tawau, Lahad Datu, Semporna, Kudat) of Sabah regularly. The long distance bus is known as Bas Ekpress (Express Bus). Route to one location is usually operated by a few companies and depart in different time from 6:30am to 8:30pm.

• Inanam Bus Terminal (North) ( see Location Map ): (from KK) to Kundasang / Kinabalu Park (92 KM), Sandakan (332 KM), Semporna (530 KM), Lahad Datu (403 KM), Kunak, Tenom, etc. ( Online Ticketing available)
• Padang Merdeka Field ( see Location Map ): KK to Kota Belud (68 KM), Kudat (179 KM), Kundasang, Ranau, Tambunan, Keningau, Tenom
• KK Sentral (South) ( see Location Map ): KK to Beaufort, Kuala Penyu, Brunei, Sipitang, Bongawan, Membakut

To save time, you should consider domestic flight over buses. For example, travel from KK to Tawau by bus takes 10 hours but only 45 minutes by flight.

Accommodation

Sabah has over 500 hotels, and with range of choices from 5-star hotels to budget hostels. Nowadays you can book accommodation at attractive rate with feature-rich online booking site like Booking.com and Agoda . You can check the location with interactive map, photo gallery and reviews. AirBnB also offers you some decent choices. Most of them offers pick-up at airport.

However, if you ask for my advice, the following hotels and resorts are my personal recommendation based on reviews by tourists. Please note the prices can vary considerably depend on the (sea) view, room size, package, length of stay, etc. The fee would be higher during peak season such as Chinese New Year. Foreign tourist (non-Malaysian) needs to pay Tourism Tax (or TTx) of MYR10 per room per night for staying in hotels or registered private accommodations.

Recommended Accommodations

5-star hotels.

Price Range: MYR500-MYR1,870

• Kota Kinabalu: Shangri-La’s Tanjung Aru Resort & Spa (STAR) , The Magellan Sutera Resort , Hyatt Regency Kinabalu *, Hotel Le Meridien *, Hilton Kota Kinabalu *, Hyatt Centric Kota Kinabalu *
• Tuaran: Shangri-La’s Rasa Ria Resort & Spa

4-Star Hotels

Price Range: MYR250-MYR560

• Kota Kinabalu: Hotel Grandis *, Mercure Kota Kinabalu City Centre *, Horizon Hotel *, Promenade Hotel *

3-Star Hotels

Price Range: MYR125-MYR350

• Kota Kinabalu: Hotel Sixty3 *, Gaya Centre Hotel *, The Jesselton Hotel* , Dreamtel *

*located in City Centre of Kota Kinabalu

Island Resorts

Price Range: MYR950-MYR3,700

• Kota Kinabalu: Gaya Island Resort , Gayana Marine Resort , Bunga Raya Island Resort , Manukan Island
• Semporna: Sipadan Water Village Resort , Sipadan Mabul Resort (SMART) , Kapalai Dive Resort , Mataking Island Resort
• Sandakan: Lankayan Resort

If you want something different, go for our homestay or camping . Here are some special accommodation:

• Rungus Longhouse
• Misompuru Homestay
• Glamping on Libaran Island
• Seaventures (Dive Resort)
• Camping at Tegudon Tourism Village
• Farmstay: Kiulu Farmstay , Sabah Tea Garden

Health and Hygiene

• Government hospitals, clinics and pharmacies are available in most towns / cities.
• Treated pipe water is available in most urban and sub-urban areas. Tap water must be boiled before drinking.
• Due to hot weather, you need to prevent dehydration, sunburn, and heat stroke , by applying sunscreen and drink a lot of water.
• You will sweat a lot. Bath every day or you will stink.
• Mosquito is most active during dusk and dawn. Have an insect repellent next to you.
• Sandfly is present near mangrove swamp in evening. Its bite is itchy. Don’t scratch or it will get worse.
• Beware of jellyfish. The sting of box jellyfish can be fatal to child.
• Bacteria that cause food poisoning multiply fast in our warm weather. Eat the food while it is still hot / fresh.
• You always can find Pharmacy / Drug Store such as Watson and Guardian nearby.
• Most public toilet are wet and smelly but bearable. Bring toilet seat wipes if you want extra clean.
• Toilet paper is not provided in most toilet (except your hotels). Bring your own or you can experiment the water “bum gun”.

Things to Bring

• Clothing (for tropical climate): shirts, shorts, jean, pants, skirt, underwear, socks, pajamas, etc.
• Comfortable walking shoes and sandal
• Visa (if required)
• Credit card
• Sunscreen lotion / spray
• Sunglasses, Contact Lenses
• Phone, cable, charger & power bank
• Camera, battery and charger
• Travel plug adapter
• Toiletries: toilet paper, tooth brush & paste, soap / body wash, shampoo & conditioner, face wash, hairbrush / comb, razor & shaving cream, dental floss, mouthwash, cotton buds
• Backpack (best if come with rain cover)
• Reusable water bottle
• Personal Medicine & Supplement
• Raincoat / Poncho
• For lady: makeup, lip balm with SPF, moisturiser, facial mask, body lotion, perfume, hair ties and clips, makeup remover, cotton pads, sanitary items
• Optional items for outdoor activities: hiking shoes, insect repellent, swimwear, bikini, rash guard, hat, dry bag, beach towel, walking stick, flashlight, anti-leech socks
• International / Malaysia Driver License (if you rent a car)
• Books? Really?

You don’t need to bring any snorkeling and diving gears, which are available for rent here.

Safety & Advice

• Always book your tour with a licensed travel agent / operator. To check if a tour company is legitimate, you can refer to the member list by MATTA (Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents) .
• Be vigilant for flash floods when playing near rivers or waterfalls. Flash floods can occur even on sunny days. Leave the water immediately if you notice it rising rapidly and changing to a darker color.
• Practice COMMON SENSE to avoid becoming an easy target of petty crime such as pickpocket and snatch thief.
• NEVER, EVER leave your bag unattended on car seat.
• Don’t flash your money in public.
• While dining in public places, don’t leave valuable belonging such as phone and handbag on the desk.
• Though some countries issue advisory against travelling in east coast of Sabah, security is good after more garrison are deployed to islands.
• While crossing road, watch out for motorbikes speeding between cars.
• Never trust pedestrian / zebra crossing. Keep an eye on approaching car.
• Only book your tour with licensed travel agents. Illegal tour agents don’t care about your safety and you are not insured.
• Any headhunter? No. Borneo is used to be the land of headhunters, but it’s history.
• Photocopy your National Identity Card, Passport (Photo ID page) and Credit Card, and store them separately
• Look up the contact of your embassy in KK and save it on your phone.
• Drone is forbidden in some islands and restricted zones. Ask before you fly one, and study our regulations .

(Boring) History in Brief

Sabah was part of Brunei in the 16th century. In year 1658, Brunei Sultan (King) ceded the northern and eastern part of Borneo to the Sultan of Sulu (Philippines). By 1881, Sabah was granted to British government and administered by British North Borneo Chartered Company . Sabah became a protectorate of the United Kingdom in 1888 and named as North Borneo (Kota Kinabalu was called Jesselton during that period). Except 1942-1945 under the hand of Japanese during World War II, Sabah was controlled by British until Sabah (North Borneo) gains total independence and form Malaysia with Sarawak, Malaya and Singapore on 16 September 1963.

Useful Apps

• Grab : e-hailing service, similar to Uber
• WhatsApp : almost every person and company in Sabah use this messaging apps
• Google Maps : to get around and look for restaurants and accommodation
• Waze : very useful navigation apps if you drive on your own. Also work offline.
• Foodpanda : food delivery to deliver local food to you without walking out of your room
• Boost and Alipay: e-Wallet

Useful Numbers & Contact

• Kota Kinabalu International Airport (KKIA): +6088325555
• Tourist Information Center (Sabah Tourism Board) : +60 88-212121 (E-mail: [email protected] )
• Police / Ambulance: 999
• Custom Department (Sabah): +60 88-348100
• Immigration Department (Sabah): +60 88-413657
• Queen Elizabeth Hospital I: +60 88-517555
• Queen Elizabeth Hospital II: +60 88-324600
• List of Consulates / Embassy in Kota Kinabalu City

Thanks for reading this far. Please e-mail me if you find anything incorrect (even a typo) or incomplete. Please note this is not a sponsored page . No company pays me to get recommended here.

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Sabah is a picturesque state of Malaysia

Sabah is a picturesque state of Malaysia; one of the thirteen that make up the whole country. This eastern most state is best known for its natural tropical beauty, a far reaching history and its art culture. Surprisingly, it is also known as the land below the wind, because of its closeness to the typhoon region of Philippines. Over the years, the popularity of this beautiful place has risen drastically, especially since people are looking for newer places to enjoy their vacations. From all around the world, people are also flocking to make this state their home due to the tranquility and the ever increasing number of reputed universities and colleges. Hence, for peace and nature lovers, this place is a must visit, and for those looking for a permanent solution to their unsettling life, this is their new home.

The flora and fauna of this beautiful state is no different to that of a tropical paradise. The western part of it mainly consists of mountains with forest vegetation but the elevation is not too high. The mountains are also home to kinabalu National park that is host to an array of wild animals in rainforests. The park has a unique geographical advantage such that a huge mix of plants exists in the region and is therefore also a world heritage site. The mountains also give way to a number of small and medium sized rivers and streams that snake their way towards the sea. This abundance of fresh water makes the region extremely fertile and keeps things is flow. The greenery and the wilderness attract thousands of tourists around the world.

Sabah is also known to have a rich history although not too old, because this place was primarily a forest area. The state has been under numerous occupations until the mid 20th century. These takeovers were done primarily by the United Kingdom, Japan, Brunei and finally Malaysia. These countries have has a lasting effect on this small state’s culture and food. Everything is a mix of these countries and what they brought with them. Now however, due to globalization and the works, everything and every food is very widely available. Tourist organizations make good use of the little old architecture that holds historical or cultural importance hence making it a complete package for the foreign visitors.

Away from the forests and historical places are the main metropolitan areas that are filled with shopping plazas and retail stores. Foreign brands and businesses have their shops here too, so any visitors or the residents do not have any inconvenience. Wide highways and clean roads make everything very appealing to the eyes. For those people, who especially want to make this place their home, beautiful neighborhoods are constructed near blue coastal areas making it a dream life for anyone. The beautiful Kota Kinabalu City is one such example that is filled with constructions that people can ready by to settle in. Not only are complete villas and homes available, but also apartments and condos located near the coast line.

Besides residential beaches, special tourist beaches are also developed with a wide number of restaurants there to cater to different people. A lot of these are also located quite away from the city traffic to give it a more natural look. The beaches are perfect to relax after a long day touring. Whether its city life, natural life or water life, Sabah is the one place that is completely loaded with surprises. It offers the best weather, beauty and places to see. So for those who are tired of their busy lives, it is time for a long, long vacation.

About This Website

Our website is to promotes the Tourism in Sabah. Malaysia is the perfect mix of cultures, entertainment, all kinds of foods, various events celebrated there as well as the historical significance of places here. Our vision is to recommends you to visit the best place in Sabah and experience immense beauty on Earth.

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We will publish your articles in our website under news column. Thank you and have a nice holiday !

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4 lucky winners will win a Sabah Tourism Travel voucher worth RM5,000.00

Every first 20 participants to submit entries before the 28 Feb, 14 March, 28 March and 14 April 2022 will be given complimentary Sabah Tourism merchandise.

How To Enter

• 1. Participants must follow either these accounts: @sabahtourism Instagram or @SabahMalaysianBorneo Facebook account.
• 2. Participants need to post their ‘virtual letter’ to Sabah Tourism on their Instagram account feed or as Facebook posting and tag IG @sabahtourism/ FB @sabahmalaysianborneo, and use the hashtags  #sabahtourism #flymetosabah .
• 3. Participants can post their ‘virtual letter’ in the form of a photo, video or creative caption format in Bahasa Melayu, English or Chinese.
• 4. Participants must maintain a public profile to enable Sabah Tourism to view entries.
• 5. Sabah Tourism Board will announce one (1) winner each fortnight on: 28 February, 14 March, 28 March and 14 April 2022.
• 6. No limit of entries but a participant can only win 1x time.
• 7. Open to Non-Sabah residents, West Malaysian, Sarawakian and expatriates residing in Malaysia only.

Terms and Conditions

• 1. Participants must maintain a public profile to enable Sabah Tourism to view their entry.
• 2. For Facebook entry, participants must retain a public friends and following profile list to enable Sabah Tourism to view your following status.
• 3. Sabah Tourism Board will announce one (1) winner each on the 28 Feb, 14 March, 28 March and 14 April 2022.
• 4. The winner will be announced on https://flymetosabah.sabahtourism.com and Sabah Tourism Board’s IG @sabahtourism and FB @SabahMalaysianBorneo.
• 5. Open to Non-Sabah residents, West Malaysians, Sarawakians and expatriates residing in Malaysia only.
• 6. Each winner will be contacted via their social media account.
• 7. In the event that the winner fails to contact Sabah Tourism Board within 3 days upon notification through their social media account, Sabah Tourism Board reserves the rights to change the winner without further notice.
• 8. Sabah Tourism also reserves the right to determine an alternate winner should he/she be disqualified for failing to meet the requirements and other undisclosed reasons.
• 9. Prizes are non-transferable and non-exchangeable for cash or in-kind.
• 10. The organizer reserves the right to change or replace the contest prizes and/or modify the rules and regulations of the contest as and when necessary, without prior notice.
• 11. Winners are required to post their holiday in Sabah in their Social Media account with a specific hashtag - #flymetosabah, #sabahtourism and to tag @sabahtourism/ @sabahmalaysianborneo.
• 12. The winner will receive a travel voucher subsidy amounting to RM5,000.00 only, to be used to purchase their bucket list holiday in Sabah
• 13. Validity of prize until 31 Dec 2022.
• 14. Vouchers can only be used to purchase tour packages (inclusive of flight) of their choice or based on their answers (bucket list) with any Sabah based registered tour operators of their choice from this MOTAC list . Once the winner has confirmed the selected tour operator, kindly notify Sabah Tourism Board.
• 15. If the cost of the packages is more than RM5,000, the winner will need to undertake the additional expenses.
• 16. The selected tour operators will claim the cost of the tour package with the Sabah Tourism Board.
• 17. By submitting an entry, the participant will be regarded as having accepted and agreed to be bound by the rules and regulations of the contest.

The Lucky Winners

First Winner for 28 February 2022

Marcel George Mura Levi (IG: @marcel_fellows)

Second Winner for 14 March 2022

Andrea Filmer (FB: Andrea Filmer)

Third Winner for 28 March 2022

Zaki Yusof (FB: Zaki Yusof)

Fourth Winner for 14 April 2022

Siti Rohayu Aziz (FB: Siti Rohayu Aziz)

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Sabah on track to reach 2.8 million tourist arrivals target, says Liew

• Sabah & Sarawak

Saturday, 27 Apr 2024

Related News

Wild boar population in Sabah still low, hunting ban remains

Intrepid and respect working to protect sabah’s pygmy elephants, over 4.75 million trees planted in sabah in reforestation work.

Liew (third left) accompanied by Wahida (third right) and other officials launching the Matta Fair Sabah 2024.

KOTA KINABALU: Sabah is well on its way to reaching its goal of receiving 2.8 million tourists in 2024 after attaining roughly a fifth of that target in the first two months of this year, said Datuk Christina Liew.

The state Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister said Sabah had received approximately 532,227 international and domestic visitors in January and February.

This has subsequently generated tourism receipts amounting to RM1.2bil, she said.

“Sabah has set a target of welcoming 2.8 million visitors for 2024 that I believe we can achieve,” she said at the launching of the Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents (MATTA) Fair Sabah 2024 here on Saturday (April 27).

“Our ultimate goal is three million arrivals by December this year,” Liew added.

The Minister also said that Sabah will focus more on the immense potential of community-based tourism (COBT).

“In light of this, I urge all stakeholders to collaborate with my ministry for the advancement of our industry.

“We eagerly anticipate partnering with airlines, hotels, tour operators, and all related industry players to develop value-added packages that will further enrich the visitor experience,” Liew said.

On the fair, MATTA Sabah chapter chairman Christina Wahida Kong said they had 90 booths offering various tour and travel packages to visitors.

“We are seeing the largest participation (from tour and travel operators) this year. We believe the sales target will exceed expectations,” she said.

Liew commended the continuous efforts through MATTA Fair Sabah not only to stimulate and grow the travel industry but also to help recover the state economy.

She said she was excited to see the tremendous response from the people who would visit the three-day fair starting Friday (April 26) at the Sabah International Convention Centre (SICC) here.

“This is a good sign because it shows the travel and tour sector is growing. It means it is active and moving,” she said.

On another note, Liew said work is in the pipeline to establish an elephant corridor in the state’s east coast Kinabatangan district with help from a Japanese wildlife enthusiast.

She, however, did not specify who this person was but only referred to the person as a “lover of wildlife”.

“Nothing is finalised, but we are connecting with him. He believes in the preservation of wildlife and nature, so we are very happy to work with him.

“He is not an investor but a lover of wildlife. We welcome people, whether locally or internationally, who are interested in participating with us in the preservation of wildlife,” she said.

Liew said she would instruct the Sabah Tourism Board to further engage with the individual on the possibility of the elephant corridor.

“Now wild elephants are everywhere. Sometimes, they go into people’s plantations in search of food.

“But if we have an area where we plant their food, they will frequent that area more as there is food there. And we will also be able to protect them,” she said.

Tags / Keywords: Tourism , Matta Fair , Tourist Arrival , Elephant Corridor , Christina Liew

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Minimal impact on travel to Sabah from latest Sulawesi eruption, say industry players

P ETALING JAYA: The latest volcano eruption at Mount Ruang in Indonesia has not affected travel to Sabah, says Malaysian Tourism Federation (MTF) president Datuk Tan Kok Liang ( pic ).

Calling it a "brief travel disruption", he said the regional impact was small, with some flights affected for about six to seven hours before things returned to normal.

"Naturally, some will be disappointed by the disruptions, but it was an issue that could be quickly resolved," said Tan, who added that this week's disruption was much shorter than the one that happened in mid-April, where many flights were affected across two days.

Malaysian Chinese Tourism Association (MCTA) Paul Paw concurred, saying there was minimal impact in travel to Sabah after calling up tour agents there on Thursday (May 2).

"They told me flights have resumed and the weather there is good,” he said, adding that it was business as usual, with little to no threat to safety.

"Those who are more fearful can choose not to travel, but many are willing to continue with their travel plans,” said Paw.

He also noted that many Chinese tourists are travelling during the period from April 28 until May 10, known as the Labour Day Golden Week.

"There is a noticeable increase, especially in Kuala Lumpur, and many restaurants also have more Chinese tourists eating there,” he said.

He added that areas like Sipadan and Semporna are popular spots in Sabah, while Tawau is an increasingly popular destination.

A Chinese tourist from Beijing who wishes to be known as Chun said passengers on her flight on May 1 were initially asked to stay put in the aircraft after it landed in Kota Kinabalu, and were told to remain on board for the plane to return to Kuala Lumpur.

"However, after discussions with the crew, we finally managed to get off the flight in Kota Kinabalu.

"Because of the uncertainties with our (connecting) flight to Tawau, we took a 10-hour bus to Semporna instead, which was quite tiring,” she said.

Two days of her travel plans were affected, and she is worried if her flight home will be delayed as well.

"Fortunately, we have all arrived safely, and the weather here is good,” said Chun.

Another Chinese tourist, known as Xiao, managed to catch her flight to Tawau on May 2, after her flight from Beijing to Kota Kinabalu was delayed for 20 hours the day before.

"My flight journey (to Tawau) was smooth, and there were no disruptions,” she said, adding that she hasn’t received any notification about delays for her return flight.

A tourist known as Jocelyn said she got a replacement flight on Thursday from Hong Kong to Kota Kinabalu, and arrived safely on Thursday (May 2).

"I didn’t have too many concerns about safety, but hopefully the airport staff could be more efficient.

"Our plans were only disrupted for half a day, and we are quite flexible with the timing.

"I am just slightly worried about my flight back as I have to return to work,” she said.