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Sabah is one of the most beautiful and fascinating parts of the world. Sabah is packed with wildlife, natural beauty and adventure. There are so many amazing things to do in Sabah in 2026 – it can be hard to narrow it down.
In this article we will recommend the best things to do in Sabah in to make sure you don’t miss anything. We have included prices and locations to help you plan your own independent budget adventures in Sabah.
Don’t miss our step by step 10 day itinerary for Sabah. Independent budget and totally epic self guided itinerary for Sabah. Alternatively, if you’re short of time you may be interested in our 5 day itinerary for Sabah
Map of the best things to do in Sabah
Join the Backpacking Family in Sabah
What is it like to visit Sabah? (best things to do in Sabah)
Sabah is a state in East Malaysia on the island of Borneo that shares a land border with Indonesia, Brunei and the Malaysian state of Sarawak. Located in Borneo, Sabah is a tropical climate with mountains, jungles and oceans with coral reef and crystal clear waters. Sabah is hot throughout the year and often experience tropical downpours. The mountains are a little cooler due to the altitude.
1 See Orangutans up close
Don’t miss the FULL GUIDE to seeing Orangutans up close in Sabah (we have some very handy secret tips in this article so it is well worth a read)
In Sabah you can see orangutans in their natural habitat. We have intentionally put this at the start of our list because it is the reason that many people visit Sabah. The Sepilok Orangutan Sanctuary is a wooden platform that leads through the jungle where you witness orangutans in their natural habitat. There are no cages, fences or bars separating you from the jungle where orangutans live. Sometimes it is possible to see these majestic animals very close up when they actually climb onto the walkway.
Seeing orangutans in their natural habitat is one of the most epic and memorable things that you can do in Sabah. There are different ways to see orangutans in their natural habitat. The easiest and most reliable way to get close to Orangutans is to visit them at the Sepilok orangutan sanctuary located near Sandakan. This sanctuary has two daily feeding times and the orangutans reliably gather at the feeding platform during these times. One thing that we love about the Sepilok Orangutan Sanctuary is that the orangutans are genuinely free and it is the humans that are restricted to remaining on the platforms in the viewing area.
The Sepilok Orangutan Sanctuary is open daily from 8.45am – 4pm (closed for lunch from 12pm – 2pm). There are TWO feeding times per day 10am and 3pm. We recommend arriving around 30 minutes early as the orangutans also like to arrive early for their food.
Prices are as follows: RM15 (2 – 17 year olds), RM30 (adults) and RM10 camera fee (phone cameras FREE of charge).
You are not allowed to bring any bags into the Sepilok Orangutan sanctuary. There is however a free locker area available to leave bags.
Top tip: If you would like to see these majestic creatures close up we recommend visiting during the afternoon feeding time. Aim to arrive around 2pm – and you may be able to see the orangutans climbing on the walkways.
If you would like to see orangutans in the wild you can also organize orangutan tours in Sabah. A tour to see orangutans in the wild is likely to take a couple of days and maybe quite expensive. However, if you are determined to see these beautiful creatures in the wild then Sabah offers lots of great opportunities.
KEEP IT SIMPLE – Get your Sepilok Trip Booked on KLOOK (from Sandakan including guide & transportation)
2 Take an island hopping trip in Kota Kinabalu
If you are planning to visit Kota Kinabalu you can arrange a cheap one day island hopping trip to some of the local islands close to the city. The Kota Kinabalu island hopping trip is very affordable and allows you to visit and experience some of the beautiful Sabah islands. The water is clear, however this is not the best option for snorkeling if you are hoping to see beautiful coral reef and sea life.
There are 4 islands that you can visit. Once you are on a tour they will give you timings and provide a boat between the islands.
- Gaya island – the biggest island
- Manukan island – busy and developed
- Mamutik island – nice small quiet island – nice snorkeling
- Sapi island – small and lovely island just next to Gaya – nice beach but minimal snorkeling
You can see a little bit of coral reef and there is some sea life in the area, however it does not compare to other locations around Sabah. Tickets can be arranged on the same day at the ferry jetty in Kota Kinabalu. We recommend arriving between 8am – 10am.
- 1 island: Adult RM35 Child RM30
- 2 island: Adult RM45 Child RM40
- 3 island: Adult RM55 Child RM50
- 4 island: Adult RM65 Child RM60
Rental of snorkel and fins should cost around RM10 and can also be arranged at the jetty. You also need to pay an island conservation fee (ONE fee per adult of RM20). Keep the ticket as this can be presented at each island.
NEED A LOW STRESS OPTION – Kota Kinabalu Island hopping – Book it on KLOOK
TOP TIP: We found the snorkeling quite controlled and restricted. There are netted areas to stay in. Some areas also have lots of sea urchins. There is also a risk of toxic stone fish on the seabed. Avoid touching sea life and do not walk on the coral. If you are looking for amazing snorkeling consider Semporna or Marbul.
3 Go for a sea kayaking adventure
Another fun way to explore the beautiful Sabah sea is to take a sea kayak. Many costal resorts and hotels in Sabah offer sea Kayak Rental. Prices vary but it normally costs around RM30 – RM50 per hour (roughly £6 – £10 or $8 – $13). If you stay on Mabul island you can rent a transparent kayak at the Seahorse Resort (near Mabul backpackers).
This is a fun and novel way to explore the crystal clear coast of Mabul. Be aware that transparent Kayaks are not as buoyant or stable as standard Kayaks. We also recommend that you wear a life jacket and only attempt Kayaking in good weather.
4 Stay at a mountain homestay – best things to do in Sabah
If you have a little bit of free time in Sabah we recommend spending some time in a mountain home stay in the Kinabalu valley. This beautiful area has loads of great things to do and also affords breathtaking views of Mount Kinabalu. The climate in this region is also cooler due to the high altitude.
Kundasang is the most popular and iconic place to take a mountain home stay. Just be aware that most properties are listed as “home stays”. Some are apartments, some are guest houses and some are more developed hotels. There are other GREAT options further down the valley towards Ranau.
We absolutely LOVED our stay at the Pogimpaan Homestay. This small property really is a hidden gem in the Sabah Mountains. Pogimpaan Homestay is beautiful, well kept and affords a breathtaking view of Mount Kinabalu and the surrounding hills. It is also a great location to explore Kundasang, Ranau, and Poring. We do recommend having access to your own vehicle if you plan to stay here because this location is quite remote.
5 Climb mount Kinabalu
If you’re up for a real challenge and you are willing to pay the high financial price – it is possible to climb up Mount kinabalu. Kinabalu is a very high and challenging Mountain. The summit is called Low’s Peak and 4095m altitude. To climb Kinabalu you will need to get a permit and tour package. The most common type of permit is a 2day, 1night permit. Stay at the Laban Rata Rest house (part way up the mountain). This is very basic dorm style accommodation. You then wake up very early and climb to the summit for sunrise. The weather at the summit is variable. Many mornings the summit is cold, windy and
- Limited climb permits per day (several hundred)
- Range of packages available ranging in price between RM1,200 and RM2,500.
- Different lengths and include different things.
- A good package should include a guide, food, accommodation and permits.
You can now book a 2 day 1 night Kinabalu Climb on KLOOK for as little as £200 (around $240) – This may sound like a lot – but for a Kinabalu Trek this is actually good value for money 🙂
6 See the world’s largest and rarest flower
Find out more about seeing the rafflesia flower in Malaysia
In Sabah it is also possible to see the world’s largest flower. The Rafflesia is genuinely a remarkable and unique flower and if you get the chance to see it we highly recommend it. The best place to see Rafflesia flowers in Sabah is in Poring close to the hot springs.
The Rafflesia flower is truly unique amongst flowers. For a start Rafflesia is extremely rare and almost impossible to cultivate outside its natural ecosystem. Rafflesia flowers have no leaves, stems or roots. Furthermore this bizarre flower is also parasitic and exudes a strong odor of rotten meat. This attracts carion flies which the Rafflesia flower uses for cross-pollination. Rafflesia flowers are best known for being the largest flower in the world, a mature Rafflesia can be between 60cm and 80cm in diameter.
There are a couple of Rafflesia Gardens in Poring which may have Rafflesia flowers in bloom. Each Rafflesia Bud takes around 9 months to mature and then flowers tend to bloom for around 5 days only. The Rafflesia Gardens in Poring tend to have several Rafflesia premature buds at any given time.
On average, they are likely to have Rafflesia blooming at least one time every 4 to 8 weeks. So you do still need to be lucky to catch a bud blooming. You can also try calling in advance to see if they have a Rafflesia flower blooming. They generally charge RM20 to see these beautiful flowers.
Vienna Rafflesia Garden: +6019 744 3097 or +6013 560 7619
Top tip: The Rafflesia Gardens are also located close to the Poring Hotspring and canopy walkway.
7 Visit a dairy farm in the hills
Visiting a dairy farm may not be the first thing that you associate with the wild mountains of Sabah. However, this is genuinely one of the awesome things to do if you are staying in the Kinabalu valley. The Desa dairy farm is located high up in the hills close to Mount Kinabalu. This is a TOP PICK for families.
This dairy farm supplies dairy products such as fresh milk, cheese, yoghurt and ice cream to many locations around Sabah. At the Desa dairy farm it is possible to see the cattle, learn about dairy production and sample fresh milk products. The soft serve ice cream and frozen yoghurt is especially popular and we highly recommend trying this. The panoramic location of this dairy farm also affords stunning views of the Kinabalu Valley and surrounding mountains.
We highly recommend a visit to the Desa dairy farm if you are planning to visit Kundasang or the Kinabalu valley. The Desa dairy farm is also great value for money. Entrance tickets only cost RM5 for adults, RM4 for children 7-12 years old, and FREE four children 6 years old and below. The Desa dairy farm is open daily from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Tickets are only available in advance and must be booked through their official ticket website: Desa Dairy farm ticket website
8 Try incredible seafood
Sabah has a reputation for great seafood. Sabah has an impressive variety of delicious Seafood. In Sabah you can try an array of fresh fish, shellfish, squid and lobster. You can even find speciality seafood like succulent mantis shrimp in Sabah. This is the chance to try something unique and new. We particularly enjoyed the butter shrimp and the crab in Sandakan.
We also LOVED trying mantis shrimp. This strange creature looks like an alien life form but the flesh is tender, succulent and slightly sweet. If you stay on the islands in Sabah, fresh fish is likely to be your staple food. You can get very meaty and delicious fish very cheaply.
Seafood in Sabah is very tasty but not very cheap. The cheapest way to enjoy seafood is to find a very local street food BBQ where you may pay around RM10-15 to try fish, crabs or shrimp. If you go to a seafood restaurant, expect to pay RM50 – RM250 per dish (depending on the type or seafood and the size). Even on the islands a fresh lobster is likely to start at around RM150.
There are cheaper places in the world to enjoy fresh seafood. However the variety of seafood in Sabah and the unique methods of preparing Seafood are genuinely impressive and well worth the experience.If you are hoping to try amazing Seafood in Sabah we recommend heading east. Sandakan, Semporna and the islands are the best location for seafood. Don’t miss Sim Sim 88 in Sandakan for a super tasty seafood meal.
9 Take a dip at a hot spring
Hot Springs may not be the first thing that comes to mind when you are thinking of Sabah. However, there is an awesome hot spring located in Poring not too far from Mount Kinabalu. The Poring hot springs are lots of fun and cheap to visit. There are several different hot spring pools that you can try.
At the top there are some hot spring baths which are almost too hot to touch. As you walk down the hill you can see small hot spring baths that can be filled up using a tap, and some larger hot spring pools. There is one hot spring pool that is big enough to swim in. At the hot springs there are also changing rooms, toilets and showers.
The prices for the hot springs are as follows: RM15 for adults (£3 or $4), RM10 for children 7 – 17 years old (£2 or $2.50), children 6 years and below are FREE. The Poring hot springs are open daily from 8am – 3pm.
TOP TIP: if you plan to visit the hot springs, consider making time to try the canopy walkway and also to visit one of the Rafflesia Gardens nearby.
Don’t miss this Poring Hot Sping Day Trip from Kota Kinabalu on KLOOK – it also includes the canopy walkway and some other great attractions in the area.
10 Try a canopy walkway
Right next to the Poring hot spring is an impressive canopy walkway. This canopy walkway is a series of suspended rope Bridges which provide an impressive view of the jungle canopy and surrounding mountains. This canopy walkway is impressively high, we do not recommend this for anyone who has a fear of heights.
To get to the start of a canopy walkway you need to take a steep 10 minute walk up the jungle Hill and then climb to the start of the walkway course. The height and the rope bridge style of this canopy walkway creates a very exhilarating experience. This is also an excellent way to spot jungle wildlife in Sabah.
- Opening hours: 9am – 4pm (closed on mondays)
- Adults RM5 (around £1 or $1.20)
- Children RM2.50 (under 18 years old)
11 See the big nose monkeys (Proboscis monkeys)
One of the more unique things to do in Sabah is see the bizarre proboscis monkeys. These strange specimens are probably the most unique and unusual looking monkeys in the world, with their long protruding noses. In Saba the proboscis monkeys are not particularly rare, so there is a good chance of seeing them if you get yourself to the right places.
The best way to see proboscis monkeys in the wild is to take a river cruise along the Kinabatangan river. As you journey down this river you are very likely to see proboscis monkeys sitting in the trees and playing in the canopy.
12 Experience some of THE BEST diving in the world
Find out about the best Mabul island resorts
No article on things to do in Sabah would be complete without a mention of the amazing diving. In Sabah you can visit some of the best diving locations in the world. Sipadan has a reputation for being one of the best diving spots in the world. The range of depths, water currents and temperature leads to a unique and impressive biodiversity.
In this area you can see a wide range of marine animals including reef sharks, turtles, tropical fish and you can even see the stunning barracuda tornados. It is quite expensive to get a permit to dive at Sipadan and many diving schools require a minimum number of dives or an advanced diving certificate.
You can also try diving in cheaper locations nearby. Marbul is also a great location for diving and you can stay on this island relatively cheaply.
- Dive in Mabul RM100 per dive (roughly £20 or $25)
- Dive in Sipadan RM1,200 – RM1,500 (roughly £240 or $300)
The cheapest and BEST way to dive in Mabul and Sipadan is to arrange your accommodation and trip through the Mabul Backpackers Hostel located on Mabul island.
Mabul Backpackers offer the CHEAPEST accomodation in the Mabul Sipidan area and arrange diving trips (RM100) and snorkelling trips (RM50) in the area.
13 Go snorkeling in Semporna
Another great way to experience the amazing oceans in Sabah is to take a snorkeling trip. If you don’t have enough time to visit the small islands consider taking a snorkeling trip from Semporna. In Semporna you can arrange snorkeling day trips which visit several islands and top snorkeling spots.
The water is beautifully clear and there is some very impressive coral reef and ocean life to experience. HERE are some of the islands that you can visit for snorkeling near Semporna:
Bohey Dulang island – no swimming, trek up a steep jungle trail to an impressive viewpoint
Mantabuan island, Sibuan island, Kapalai island, Mataking island and Timba Timba island
Snorkeling island hopping trips in Semporna normally cost in the range of RM120 – RM200 per person (for a shared boat trip) and normally include equipment rental (snorkel, mask, fins and a life jacket) and lunch.
TOP TIP: Bohey Dulang island has an amazing viewpoint but they don’t let kids under 12 years old hike (honestly this rule seems ridiculous – our 5 year old is seriously better at jungle trekking than many adults!). AND they don’t even let people swim near the island. SO, if you have young kids, organize a trip that does not include Bohey Dulang island.
14 Try local chocolate
If you don’t believe Sabah has it all – you can even try LOCAL chocolate here. If you are interested in trying Sabah chocolate and learning about the chocolate making process you need to get yourself over to Tawau – a small city located in the south east of Sabah not far from the Indonesian border. This town has a lovely national park and a chocolate museum – The Teck Guan Cocoa Museum. Book in advance for demonstrations and a tour.
There is also a chocolate village in the hills outside Tawau. This is a beautiful and peaceful destination to relax and sample some local chocolate products. Unless you are very keen we wouldn’t recommend travelling to Tawau just to visit the museum. BUT this is a great activity if you plan to travel through Tawau or intend to visit any other attractions in the area.
The chocolate museum in Tawau city is small, cute and fun. RM35 for adults, RM25 for children (6 – 12 years old) and RM10 for infants (3 – 5 years old). 0-2 years old FREE. Please pre-book at least 1-2 days in advance (at least two adults required). You can book by phone: +6016 8269579 or +6089 772277
