Visa-Free 4-Day Trip to Kota Kinabalu, Sabah | Super Detailed PLOG
Is it too cold in winter in China☃ and rainy🌧️❓ Enjoy the endless tropical summer‼️
You can always trust the romance brought by the vast sea and nature of Southeast Asia🌠
Jelly sea, fireflies, sunset, 🩷pink mosque...
🏨Hotel
📍We booked the Hyatt on Gaya Street, which is within walking distance of the beach, pier, and night market.
- Compare prices on multiple platforms and try to choose a refundable option.
- If this is your first time, we recommend staying near Gaya Street, which is lively and convenient. A taxi from the airport costs about MYR 10.
✅Itinerary
▪️DAY 1: Island hopping|Free and fun!
👉Recommended: Manukan Island + Mamutik Island
💰MYR 45, you can add other activities, remember to bargain!
😋Visit the Gaya Street Night Market in the evening, and sit on the ground with the locals to eat and have fun.
▪️DAY 2: Mantanani Island Day Tour|So beautiful!
👉Book online in advance, depart at 7 am
💰¥400+, includes transfers, lunch, and 2 snorkeling sessions
😋Tanjung Aru Beach sunset + night market in the evening
▪️DAY 3: Mangrove Day Tour|Worth it!
👉Book online in advance, depart at 1 pm
💰¥200+, includes transfers, afternoon tea, and dinner
😭Saw monitor lizards, proboscis monkeys, fireflies, and sunset at the Sky Mirror
▪️DAY 4: Half-Day City Tour|Great for photos!
👉Book online in advance, or take a taxi
💰Charter a car for about ¥200, includes transfers, guide, and photos
🗺️Yayasan Sabah Tower - University of Malaysia Sabah - City Mosque
😋Return to Gaya Street for lunch, buy souvenirs, and head to the airport
🥘Food Guide
❶Gaya Street Night Market is my favorite, only open on weekend nights, highly recommend the avocado juice!
❷Filipino Night Market, Tanjung Aru Night Market, and Durian Street are also good.
❸We mostly ate on Gaya Street, the coconut pudding at Sin Kee is delicious, and the bak kut teh at Yu Kee is small and suitable for tourists to try.
🚗Transportation Guide
❶Download Grab in advance, you can pay with cash or the blue app.
❷Taxis are convenient in the city, and cost less than MYR 20.
❸Taxis are also quick at the airport at night, and you need to walk a bit further to get a taxi after watching the sunset at Tanjung Aru.
🚖Travel Tips:
✅Take China Southern Airlines from Guangzhou,
Fly directly to Kota Kinabalu, flight time is about 3.5 hours, price is about ¥2,400💰
✅Visa-free! You only need to fill out the MDAC entry card in advance! (Print it out) Bring your passport! Air ticket! Itinerary!
✅Be sure to protect yourself from the sun! Bring sunscreen! Umbrella! Sun protection clothing!
✅Bring a swimsuit, swim trunks, beach shoes, a change of clothes, disposable towels, and small bottles of shower gel and shampoo for island tours.
✅Although most places in Kota Kinabalu accept online payments, you need to pay cash on the islands. You can prepare a few hundred MYR, and exchange it at the airport.