Things to do & places to visit in Sabah, Malaysia

Sabah #4 destination in Malaysia 2023. The average rating score is 4.12 based on 36.4k traveler reviews, of 254 attractions. Timezone: Asia/Kuching, current date and time: Monday, April 29, 2024, 16:17.

Sabah Weather Statistics view more »

General weather summary in April

85°F - 79°F

Temperature Highs - Lows

Pleasantly warm, muggy

Feels like

40%

Chance of rain

154.0 millimeters

Amount

5.6 mph

Wind speed

82%

Humidity

12.2

Daylight length

6:00 AM

Sunrise

6:14 PM

Sunset

28%

Cloud cover

Sleeveless shirt

What to wear

Top things to do (25)

Top destinations in Sabah 40

See more 28 destinations »

Top places to visit (30 attractions) view more »

5.0 Sipadan National Park (387 reviews)
- Great diving!
National Parks

Diving in Sipadan is truly world class. The currents are gentle here allowing for relaxed dives. The marine life is diverse and bountiful. Healthy corals (for now) and beautiful vistas made for good diving. The visibility was not always crystal clear, but we 10-15m visibility on an average. Sharks and turtles are a given on almost every dive. Barracudas, schools of jack, humphead parrotfish, batfish etc are abundant and make this a wonderful place to dive at. See more..
5.0 Scubaholics (166 reviews)
- Fantastic company - highly recommended
Scuba & Snorkelling

As soon as we meet Richard we knew that we would have a great experience. The team from Scubaholic are professional and have so much knowledge of the islands. We did 2 seperate day trips around the islands of Semporna then Richard arranged for a 2-night, 3-day trip to Mabul. Everything was faultless and we had a great experience. You can find their office located 1/2 way down the Jeti Pelancongan bangau bangau (Semporna Jetty) - convenient parking out front. See more..
5.0 Tropical Research And Conservation Centre (143 reviews)
- Don’t think just book!!!
Monday: 12:00 AM - 11:59 PM Scuba & Snorkelling

Been twice and can’t say anything better about TRACC. Don’t think about going/booking just do it, 2weeks 2 months 2 years any time is well worth it and you won’t want to leave. Soo many turtle and baby turtle releases! You say turtles will never unexciting, after numerous 3 dive day seeing 25 daily u might think differently! Also loads off Nuddies and other Macro. The amount of Dives, the relaxed atmosphere, the marine and local education. Great food. Looking for a good flight deal for this year!! There Summer 2019 and summer 2022. See more..
5.0 Danum Valley Conservation Area (138 reviews)
- Orangutan in natural habitat
Spent More than 3 hours Nature & Wildlife Areas • Valleys

I was very fortunate to witness Orangutan fairly up close in the wild at Danum Valley, something I’ll never forget. Top 5 experiences of my life. From Borneo Rainforest Lodge there are many walks to take, either on boardwalks or trekking in the forest, either option is worthwhile. Pack leech socks or either pull long socks up your legs as there are leeches. I walked up to Coffin Cliff and View Point platform that was a hot and steep walk which takes approx 1.5 hour (moderate fitness) each way. Was also lucky to see red leaf monkey during this trek, which are very cute. And stopped by Jacuzzi pool for a cool off on the way back down. The long canopy walk (longest in Sabah) being three made of timber and three of steel, is great especially in the morning light and bird life. Highly recommend Danum Valley for nature and wildlife lovers. See more..
4.5 Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre (4.289 reviews)
- Great place to see the rare and critically endangered orangutans
Nature & Wildlife Areas

This is one of the must-see attractions in Sepilok. It is almost guaranteed to see an orangutan here, but it is still good to remember that this is not a zoo and orangutans are roaming freely. When we visited the place, we saw just one orangutan with a baby on the first feeding and three on the second one. The ticket is valid for the whole day so if you stay in the area, you can watch both feedings. The place itself is relatively simple. It is just a boardwalk with single feeding platform. Then again, that is all you need. Feeding platform can get relatively crowded during feeding times. If you stay in the area, it is best to arrive 30-45 minutes before the feeding time to enjoy some quiet time. When we were there, wearing a mask was mandatory to protect the orangutans. Also, no bags are allowed and they must be left in the guarded storage room. See more..
4.5 Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre (1.655 reviews)
- Worthwhile yet feels like a zoo
Monday: 9:00 AM - 3:30 PM Nature & Wildlife Areas

I understand why the center was established and there which is good to see, however being there felt like being in a zoo unfortunately. The bears are in large fenced enclosures which you can view from platforms above. They walk around like a zoo on dirt grounds, yet I remind myself they are handled better there than their previous owners. I would visit if you’re in the area. See more..
4.5 Things to Do in Sabah (1.449 reviews)
- Via Ferrata, Walk the Torq
Monday: 9:00 AM - 10:00 PM Spent More than 3 hours Mountains

I went there solo on March 2022, aiming for the via ferrata for the first time, and I was so thankful for my solo experience. Luckily I got the discounted price, so I wont comment much on the price. Due to the risk it takes to complete the ferrata, for me, it was worth the experience satisfaction. The walk the torq's guides/trainers were also very helpful and friendly. They even ask for permission to help me to put on the safety wear when I cant put it on me by myself. Adrian, Henry and Aiezron, all trainers did gave us clear instructions on how to operate the carabiner and lanyard throughout the trail so that we can have safe experience. This for-beginner ferrata's experience was one of my best experience and surely I will come again for the longer trail at the Low's Peak Circuit! Thank you for the very good services. Keep it up! See more..
4.5 Labuk Bay Proboscis Monkey Sanctuary (1.206 reviews)
- Proboscis Monkeys and Sandakan Tour
Nature & Wildlife Areas

We organized a Grab Driver - Azrien to take us from Sepilok to Proboscis Monkeys. We also wanted to see the Sandakan Memorial Park so had negotiated via What’s App with Azrien. He turned up on time and was great. First stop was Proboscis Monkeys and Azrien spotted some buffalo on the way in. Loved seeing the proboscis monkeys feeding and watching the alpha male shows his dominance. We were going to stay for two feeding times and go to Sandakan afterwards but decided one feeding was enough so negotiated a city tour with Azrien. He was very accommodating and knew about the different places he took us. His English is pretty good - able to understand most things. He was very patient waiting for us to finish at each place. Great tour of Sandakan and Proboscis Monkeys. Would thoroughly recommend Azrien. Contact on What’s App. Ph. +60 13 797 9018. See more..
4.5 Sandakan Rainforest Discovery Centre (RDC) (1.010 reviews)
- Great 2 hours nighwalk and feed the stray please
Spent 1-2 hours Natural History Museums

RDC is first and foremost an environmental education centre managed by the Sabah Forestry Department. It has been operating since 1997 but mainly for school visits and organising events for school students and also teacher training courses on environmental education.It was later developed for visitors mainly to sustain the environmental education programme for the future. We formally opened to visitors in August 2007 and is open daily from 8 am to 5 pm. However, visitors are allowed to stay until 7 pm for viewing of the flying squirrels at the 347-m long Canopy Walkway, the only such structure in Southeast Asia.The newly revamped Birders Rest is now with a 90 m-long walkway, an open hall, a small centre and toilets. As of Nov 16th 2013, we have a new operator for the Keruing Cafe whom we hope will provide better services for our visitors. See more..
4.5 Sandakan Memorial Park (779 reviews)
- Really worthwhile visit
History Museums

There is an app you can download for free when you arrive that guides you around the park and tells you the story of the former POW camp. The park is well maintained and the guide leads you to the information centre with informative boards. I had never heard about the death marches or realised the WW2 history until arriving in Borneo more people need to learn about this tragic piece of history. A must visit if In Sandakan. See more..
4.5 Turtle Island Park (716 reviews)
- Amazing visit to Turtle Island, Borneo
National Parks • Nature & Wildlife Areas

We booked our trip directly with Crystal Quest. The boat leaves for turtle island in the morning and you get to spend your day at leisure on the island. We went snorkelling i the sea. In the evening the mother turtle came and we had a close up view of her laying her eggs (73 in total). We later saw the eggs being buried in the hatchery and then saw new borns being released to the sea. The whole experience as amazing. It was very well organised and the rangers are very respectful of the turtles. It is a conservation island. Accommodation was basic and the food was good. See more..
4.5 Tip of Borneo (436 reviews)
- Majestic!
Points of Interest & Landmarks

Truly a gem! The view is breathtaking, and it’s so underrated, I feel it should be publicized a lot more. It’s free - there’s no entrance fee and you can stay as long as you like taking countless photos and videos. Our drone shots probably didn’t do justice to the beauty of the place. We came back the next day to see it again. Must visit! See more..
4.5 Scuba Junkie (380 reviews)
- Awesome Adventure for first time divers.
Monday: 7:00 AM - 6:00 PM Scuba & Snorkelling

Super cool staff even from the office in Semporna all the way to the island. Took the Discover Scuba and Snorkeling packages, and the dive master Along, and snorkeling guide Affad (forgive me if I get your name spelling wrong) were very friendly and accomodating. Highly recommend those who want to try scuba diving for their first time. Just a heads up; once you go for the dives here in Mabul and Sipadan island, you will need to lower the bench mark for your next dives as this place is sooo beautiful. See more..
4.5 Rasa Ria Reserve by Shangri-La (369 reviews)
- Worth it for the view alone
Monday: 5:00 AM - 9:00 PM Spent 2-3 hours Nature & Wildlife Areas • Lookouts

The Rasa Ria Reserve is a 64-acre tropical jungle nestled between two rivers and the South China Sea. With unobstructed views of Sabah’s iconic Mount Kinabalu - a UNESCO World Heritage Site - this reserve acts as a gateway to the lush natural landscapes of Borneo for hotel guests and the public. A list of activities is available at the Rasa Ria Reserve including Borneo Sunrise, Canopy Walkway and Junior Ranger Experience. Our insightful & knowledgeable rangers are available to answer all your questions and show you the best of what the reserve has to offer. The new development phase of Rasa Ria Reserve will see a continued strengthening of its collaboration with the Sabah Wildlife Department through its animal rescue unit, tree planting initiatives with resort guests and school students, and educational visits and projects for students to enhance their awareness and responsibility towards nature conservation. See more..
4.5 Big John Scuba (329 reviews)
- I would go back in a heartbeat!
Monday: 7:45 AM - 6:00 PM Scuba & Snorkelling

Everything was perfect, best budget option to dive in Mabul/Kapalai/Sipadan ! If you need more details: The crew: Big John has a big heart and we felt welcome in his family from the very first minute until the last one. Everybody was friendly and took good care of us! Shout out to Kim, Mark, Ameng and Roy! The dives: Mabul and Kapalai were as worth it as Sipadan! Wonderful dive sites, you will end up staying there longer than you thought, that’s for sure! We did 6 dives with Ameng and he would surprise us every time, showing us the smallest and cutest nudi ever found, looking several minutes into corals to find a pigmy seahorse or an orangutan crab. My friends did 2 discovery dives with Roy and Jerry and loved it, those guys are so chill! The equipment was in good condition and we felt always safe. The place: The new dorm are perfectly clean, good AC & fan + 2 toilets and 2 showers, luxury! Food was good, especially the donuts... I think we all gained 2 or 3 pounds there. I’m a vegetarian and the staff would always make sure that I’d have eggs, veggies and a rice without meat in it. It was super appreciated! Lots of fruits for every meals too! The price: The four of us were traveling on a small budget and as much as I wanted to dive there, the Sipadan permits are so expensive that I wasn’t sure I would be able too. Big John is the most affordable option to stay on Mabul and get your Sipadan permit without compromising on your basic comfort and safety. We ended up staying 4 days instead of 2 and were really sad to leave... thanks again guys, we loved our stay there! *the picture is your view for the next few days... See more..
4.5 Kundasang War Memorial (200 reviews)
- Dignified and respectful
Monuments & Statues

The War Memorial was built out of respect for those that died in the Sandakan to Ranau “Death Marches”. It is an excellent place to visit and try to imagine the unspeakable horror and atrocities that were inflicted on our soldiers with only 6 survivors out of some 2350 that were forced to march. More so to pay your respects and thanks to them for giving their lives so we could live ours. I recommend you first visit the audio room for a 20 minute presentation on some of the history to get acquainted. The memorial is divided into 4 gardens. The Australian, British, Malaysian Borneo, and the garden of Contemplation where an honour role lists each soldier that died on the 3 marches. You will probably spend an hour here by the time you pay your own respects. It s a place that touches your soul and leaves a lasting effect. See more..
4.5 Bohey Dulang Island (148 reviews)
- Magnificent view
Spent 2-3 hours Islands • Nature & Wildlife Areas

Remember to wear a hiking shoes when u visit bohey dulang. However there are shoes for rent for rm5 per pair. Hike for 700m and u will get a really magnificent view that worth all the sweat. See more..
4.5 Labuan War Cemetery (142 reviews)
- A must visit place in Labuan.
Cemeteries

Commonwealth War Graves Commission cemetery which contains a total number of 3,900 burials. The cemetery lies on the Jalan Tanjong Batu road which leads from the airport to the town. It is less than a kilometre from the airport and about 3 kilometres from the Island's town; Victoria. Within the Cemetery will be found the Labuan Memorial and the Labuan Cremation Memorial. See more..
4.0 Manukan Island (2.112 reviews)
- Lovely!
Islands

Contrary to the other negative reviews we really enjoyed our day on this island. We found the area quite tidy and well presented. Be warned that you will need to pay an additional conservation fee once you arrive at the island. This was RM10 for adults and RM6 for children. This is not included in the fee you pay the boats to get there. There are free showers, changing facilities and toilets on the island. We ate at one of the cafes on the island and enjoyed Nasi Goreng. (We had no stomach issues after eating it) Drinks such as cokes were expensive, around RM10 per can. Snorkelling is good and we saw plenty of clown fish, angel fish, stingray and many others. The island was large enough that we could easily find a spot away from other people. All in all a lovely day out. See more..
4.0 Kota Kinabalu City Mosque (1.169 reviews)
- Definitely worth checking out
Religious Sites

We have to pay RM10 to rent special clothes that we are required to wear on the mosque’s premises. Only certain parts of the mosque are accessible to tourists. The mosque is pretty huge and quite a sight to see. A must-visit when you visit KK. There are food stalls and restaurants along the mosque. The mosque is situated outside the city center and it would be best to use Grab to get there rather than use a taxi or public transportation, which is nearly non-existent. See more..
4.0 Mamutik Island (902 reviews)
- Mamutik Island
Islands

Just back from Manutik Islands, snorkeling. The waters are clear, the beach is clean unlike many online feedbback. Try to visit this and other islands like the Sapi Islands before some big countries open their borders and swarm and dirty the beaches all over again. Should consider using the Sutera jetty to reach the islands (served by Derek who is very friendly and professional) as there is only one operator there (maybe one or two more ?) instead of the Jesselton Point which is like a fish market of multiple operators. The beach is teeming with fishes just near the shorer provided inconsiderate tourists do not pollute the place. See more..
4.0 Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park (813 reviews)
- Beautiful National Park
National Parks

Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park consists of a number of islands in the South China Sea off the coast of Kota Kinabalu, the capital of Sabah. It is a magnificient marine park where the diving is apparently world class. We do not dive but the people we spoke to the day we were there were from many different countries and were very impressed with what they saw and were all planning on a return visit. We stayed at the Sutera Resort from where you look out at the islands which are only a 20 minute boat ride away. We spent a day on Manukan Island and for a small cost we had a traditional bar-b-que lunch. It was a wonderful way to spend a day relaxing. It is an experience I would highly recommend to everyone. See more..
4.0 Sabah State Museum (643 reviews)
- Check out the traditional houses park
Spent 2-3 hours History Museums

The indoor exhibits were rather pedestrian, some nice displays but overall marred by poor lighting, excessive text & outdated displays. We did have fun checking the vintage car displays and rail heritage display outside the main building. The biggest will be the adjacent park with close to a dozen authentic traditional houses of different types. See more..
4.0 Kinabalu Park (621 reviews)
- What an experience ...
Monday: 12:00 AM - 11:59 PM Spent 2-3 hours Mountains • National Parks

Dominated by Mount Kinabalu, the park preserves tropical lowland forest and wildlife. See more..
4.0 Gaya Street Sunday Market (598 reviews)
- Huge Selection Of Items
Flea & Street Markets

This market opens for visitors starting from 6 AM until 12 PM every Sunday. You can find local foods, souvenirs, pets, plants, flowers, shirts, coffee, shoes. I visited Gaya Street Sunday Market in Kota Kinabalu city center in the middle of January 2022. Overall the place is clean and not too crowded due to Covid-19 restriction. You can walk for about 700 meters along the market. To enter you must scan body temperature and most already complete 2 dose of vaccine. Will come back for sure. See more..
4.0 Night Market, Kota Kinabalu (536 reviews)
- A must see and eat experience
Flea & Street Markets

Wonderful, colourful, wet and tasty. I loved it, also the kids, mostly we met locals enjoying their meal. The price of seafood is still quite high, regarding this is a local market - 18 rm per 100 g for tiger prawns, they are obviously pricey. See more..
4.0 Desa Dairy Farm (470 reviews)
- A must visit place if you coming to Kundasang
Monday: 12:00 AM - 11:59 PM Farms

This agricultural destination in Kundasang is set against a splendid backdrop with stunning views of Mount Kinabalu. Walk by the cows grazing freely in the pastures and enjoy the crisp fresh air. Make your way to the barn, where you can observe the milking process and feed young calves. There’s also a petting area with cows and goats and an assortment of dairy products like gelato and cheeses, baked goods, and the freshest milk straight from the source. Bring appropriate clothing for the chilly conditions, and book tickets ahead online, as walk-ins are no longer entertained. – Tripadvisor See more..
4.0 Tanjung Aru Beach (470 reviews)
- Best seat in town for sunset
Spent 2-3 hours Beaches

This is probably one of the best spot for sunset. Would recommend going to beach 3 tho..beach 1 & 2 can be crowded. If you're looking for food should go to beach 1. Sunset is at 6.10 onwards but highly recommended to come around 5 beacuse traffic can be a pain. See more..
4.0 Suria Sabah (454 reviews)
- Lunch at Suria Shopping Mall
Monday: 10:00 AM - 10:00 PM Shopping Malls

I went to Suria Sabah shopping mall for my lunch. This shopping mall have many ATMs that you can withdraw money from which is a convenience to shoppers. Plus there are a variety of restaurants like Penang Teochew Cendol restaurant, the Chicken Rice Shop, plus KFC, McDonalds, Burger King, Pizza Hut etc to choose from to have your lunch or dinner here. There is also the Multi Bake shop and I bought a butter fruit cakes and 2 jars of chicken floss from this shop. I recommend this Suria Sabah shopping mall for your meals and convenience shopping. See more..
4.0 Imago Shopping Mall (409 reviews)
- Imago shopping
Monday: 10:00 AM - 10:00 PM Spent 2-3 hours Shopping Malls

Luxuriate in the fresh essence of whole new shopping experience. Imago Shopping Mall is certainly the place to actualize your most intrinsic desires. Whether it's indulging in your tastes, lavishing yourself with pleasures or accentuating your individuality, Imago Shopping Mall delivers it all with an eloquence only few can match. With a range of international brand names offering an assortment of merchandise from the most unique and opulent; to the most frequently sought after, it certainly is a comforting enclave with something that entices the regular, and even the most discerning of tastes. And that signature of distinction is also apparent in the selection of delectable and exquisite dining, fun-filled activities for the children, and pampering indulgences. At Imago Shopping Mall, it’s about coming to a place that understands your most individual desires, whatever they are, whenever. See more..