Kota Kinabalu · Travel Guide

Malaysia is divided into East Malaysia and West Malaysia, and Kota Kinabalu is located in East Malaysia. It has the most beautiful sunset beaches and is suitable for "slow-paced" travel. [City Attractions] 1. Tanjung Aru Beach: One of the three most beautiful sunsets in the world, where you can enjoy stunning sunsets. 2. Floating Mosque: A white mosque reflected in the water, perfect for taking photos. 3. University of Sabah: Known as "the most beautiful university in Southeast Asia," the pink mosque on campus is a must-see attraction. 4. Sabah Foundation Building: A landmark building in Kota Kinabalu. 5. Sabah Museum: If time permits, you can learn about the history here. 6. Mount Kinabalu: Located further from the city center, in addition to experiencing ATVs and paragliding, there are also pastures with cattle and sheep. [Island Tours] 1. Mengalum Island: Crystal-clear waters and fine sandy beaches, perfect for snorkeling. The journey is relatively long, taking about an hour or more from the city pier. The waves can be high and the boat travels fast, so if you are prone to seasickness, it is recommended to take motion sickness medication in advance. 2. Mantanani Island: Very clear waters, suitable for vacation and snorkeling. The journey is relatively long, taking about 1.5 hours and 45 minutes by boat from the city. You can combine this with a visit to the Kawa Mangrove in one day. I tried my first-ever scuba dive on this island.👍 3. Sapi Island, Gaya Island, Mamutik Island, Manukan Island These four islands are close to the city center, about 15 to 20 minutes by boat from the city pier. You can visit them in one day (choose 2). There are various water sports such as jet skis, parasailing, banana boats, and speedboats. You can also snorkel. I personally think the water quality is average (but I heard it's considered pretty good for islands close to the city).😄 [Mangrove Forests] Kawa Mangrove, Weston, Turtle Sanctuary, etc., where you can see proboscis monkeys and fireflies (I chose Kawa Mangrove and combined it with Mantanani Island in one day). [🚏Itinerary] D1: Airport—Hotel—Sabah Museum—Tanjung Aru Beach—Kota Kinabalu Night Market D2: Choose a day trip (KAWA—Mantanani Island Scuba Diving) D3: Hotel—Jesselton Point Ferry Terminal—Sapi Island (choose 2 out of 4 islands) D4: Hotel—Jesselton Point Ferry Terminal—Mengalum Island D5: Hotel—Sabah Foundation Building—Floating Mosque—University of Sabah (Pink Mosque)—IMAGO Shopping Mall [🏨Accommodation] 1. City Center: Convenient for transportation, shopping, and dining, with reasonable prices and many choices. 2. Beach Area: Beautiful scenery and environment, where you can enjoy the beach, sunrise, and sunset. Prices are slightly higher than in the city center. 3. Islands: Overwater bungalow hotels on the islands are more expensive and require advance booking (e.g., Mantanani Island Sutera Resort, Gaya Island Resort). [Before Departure] 1. E-Visa: Issued within 48 hours, with simple application requirements. You can apply on the official website or through online agents. 2. It is recommended to exchange Malaysian Ringgit (MYR) in advance, but many banks do not offer this service. I was told that I could withdraw MYR directly from ATMs at the airport, but I tried and it didn't work. So it's best to also have some Chinese Yuan (CNY) on hand (some large restaurants accept Alipay, but WeChat Pay is not yet available). 3. The best travel season is said to be the dry season (March-October), avoiding the rainy season and typhoons. 4. Essential Apps: Grab for ride-hailing, Baidu Maps (download in advance), Google. 5. You can bring a traditional Malay outfit for photos. 6. Pay attention to safety and be wary of cheap "black boats" at the pier. Purchase boat tickets from authorized piers.