Sabah: Kinabalu Park, Poring Hot Springs & Desa Farm Tour

Poring Hot Springs and Kinabalu Park make a fine pair for a long day outside Kota Kinabalu, but the canopy walkway is currently closed for local-authority maintenance. You can still visit the hot-spring grounds, then continue to Desa Dairy Farm and Mount Kinabalu viewpoints if the advertised route is operating.

I like the simple hotel transfer and the chance to combine rainforest, mountain views, and fresh dairy products in one trip. The weak point is the changing schedule: some recent departures lost the farm visit as well as the canopy walk, so confirm both stops before you pay.

Key points to know before booking

• The canopy walkway is closed: It is not included until further notice, despite appearing in the original tour description.
• Desa Dairy Farm may need confirmation: The farm is advertised as a one-hour stop, but a recent departure reportedly replaced or canceled it.
• It is a very long day: Pickup is around 7:00 AM, with an expected return near 6:00 PM and about six hours in the van.
• Lunch and city hotel transfers are included: This makes the $79 price easier to justify, especially for first-time visitors to Sabah.
• Poring is more than the hot pools: You can walk through the grounds and may have time for nearby sights such as a waterfall, depending on the day’s schedule.
• The guide can shape the experience: Past departures included guides named Wendy, Roy, and Roger, with Nizam handling driving on one well-rated trip.

What this Sabah day trip really offers

This is a sightseeing loop rather than a focused hot-springs visit. You leave Kota Kinabalu early, spend much of the morning heading inland toward Poring, stop for lunch, continue to Desa Dairy Farm, pause at Kinabalu Park, then return to the city.

At $79 per person, the price covers hotel pickup and return, a shared vehicle, a guide, entrance fees, and lunch. That is useful value if you want to see several places without arranging a private car, but it is less attractive if your main reason for booking is the canopy walk or a long soak in a private bath.

The tour is sold as an 11-hour experience. The schedule allows roughly three hours each way in the van, although the actual drive can depend on traffic, road conditions, and how long the group spends at each stop. I would book it for the range of places covered, not for long, relaxed time at any single one.

The early ride from Kota Kinabalu

Pickup begins around 7:00 AM from a long list of city hotels, including Hilton Kota Kinabalu, Le Méridien, the Kota Kinabalu Marriott, The Magellan Sutera Resort, Shangri-La Tanjung Aru, Hyatt Centric, and several smaller properties.

You need to wait in the lobby from 10 minutes before the scheduled pickup. Because this is a shared tour, the van may collect people from several hotels before leaving the city. That can make the start less exact than a private transfer, so keep breakfast simple and allow some patience.

The road journey is listed as about three hours to Poring Hot Springs. This is the main practical drawback. If you dislike long vehicle days, you may find the schedule tiring. If you want to reach Sabah’s mountain region without hiring a car, the long ride is the tradeoff for having transport, a guide, lunch, and entrance fees handled together.

Bring water, sunscreen, insect repellent, and an umbrella. Sabah weather can change quickly, and the outdoor parts of the day offer limited shelter.

Poring Hot Springs without the canopy walk

Poring Hot Springs is the first major stop, with about two hours set aside for a guided visit, walking, sightseeing, and free time. The hot springs are associated with the rainforest setting, so even without using a bath, you have a reason to stop and stretch your legs after the morning drive.

The canopy walkway is currently closed for maintenance. This is not a minor detail. It was one of the main reasons many people chose this experience, and the original description still presents it as a highlight. At the time of writing, you should assume that you will not walk above the forest unless the operator confirms that the local authority has reopened it.

The walkway closure also changes the value of the Poring stop. Instead of a treetop route with views over the forest, you will have ground-level time around the hot-spring site. A past departure included a waterfall visit, which provided shade and cool air, but that extra stop is not guaranteed in the published schedule.

A bath tub at Poring is not included. If you want to use one, you pay separately. The supplied information does not give the exact fee, so bring some local cash if bathing is important to you and ask the guide before entering.

Do not expect a spa treatment. This is a public attraction within a busy day of sightseeing, not a quiet wellness retreat. The value lies in reaching Poring as part of a larger route.

Lunch after the rainforest stop

Lunch is scheduled around noon at a local restaurant and is included in the price. The information does not specify the menu, so you should not book this tour based on a particular dish or dietary promise.

The timing makes practical sense. After two hours at Poring, a meal gives you a break before the next drive. It also means you do not need to search for food while moving between stops, which is one reason the package can be worthwhile for visitors who prefer a simple, organized day.

If you have strict dietary needs, ask the operator before departure. The tour description confirms lunch, but it does not list vegetarian, halal, allergy-friendly, or other meal arrangements.

Desa Dairy Farm and the Little New Zealand label

Desa Dairy Farm is scheduled for about one hour in the early afternoon. It is often called Little New Zealand because of its open farm setting and dairy focus. You can look around, take photographs, and buy fresh dairy treats such as ice cream, yogurt, and milk.

This stop adds a pleasant change of pace after the rainforest. You are no longer looking into dense trees or sitting in a van. Instead, the attraction is the farm setting and the chance to sample or purchase local dairy products.

Still, you need to confirm that this stop is operating on your date. One recent departure reportedly found the farm canceled, leaving the participant disappointed. Another departure included a different plan after changes to the original route. Since the canopy walkway is already closed, losing Desa Dairy Farm would remove two of the advertised highlights.

Ask these questions before booking or at pickup:

• Is Desa Dairy Farm open on the planned date?
• Is the visit included, or has it been replaced?
• How much time will the group have there?
• Are dairy purchases paid separately?

The farm visit is not included as a meal or tasting package. Ice cream, yogurt, and milk are available to buy, so keep personal spending money with you.

Kinabalu Park and Mount Kinabalu views

The final major sightseeing stop is Kinabalu Park, scheduled for a one-hour photo stop and free time. The supplied schedule places this around 2:30 PM, after the dairy farm.

This is a short visit, so think of it as a chance to take photographs and see the area around Mount Kinabalu rather than a park exploration. You will not have time for a serious trail walk or a detailed study of the park during this tour.

The mountain views are a strong reason to keep this trip on your shortlist. Weather matters, and cloud can affect what you see. The tour promises scenic views, but no operator can guarantee a clear summit. Bring your camera, but keep expectations sensible.

One disappointing departure reportedly spent only about 10 minutes walking in the park. That is a useful warning: the advertised one-hour stop may be shortened if the day runs late or if earlier stops take longer. If Kinabalu Park is your top priority, a dedicated park visit would give you more control.

The return to Kota Kinabalu

The return trip is scheduled to begin around 4:00 PM, with arrival in the city near 6:00 PM. Your drop-off can be arranged at the same broad group of city hotels used for pickup, including The Shore, Citadines Waterfront Kota Kinabalu, Promenade Hotel, Dreamtel, and Holiday Inn Express Kota Kinabalu City Centre.

After a full day outside the city, the shared return transfer is convenient. You do not need to negotiate a taxi from a remote attraction or arrange a second driver. On the other hand, the return is another long stretch in the van, and delays can push arrival later than planned.

Do not schedule a tight evening flight or an important dinner immediately after the stated return time. The schedule is an estimate, and the day includes several pickups, stops, and road journeys.

Guides, driving, and the shared-tour feel

The tour includes a live guide in English or Malay. The guide is not simply there to point out stops. On a changing route, you need someone who can explain what is open, manage timing, and tell you when to meet back at the vehicle.

Past departures included guides named Wendy, Roy, and Roger, with Nizam serving as driver on one trip. Wendy and Nizam were specifically praised for being friendly, while Roy received warm approval for a pleasant trip. Roger was able to help arrange a request to see rafflesia during one altered day, although that flower stop is not part of the stated program and should not be assumed.

That last point is important. A flexible guide can improve a day affected by closures, but extra stops depend on time, conditions, and the operator. Do not treat an informal adjustment as a guaranteed feature.

This is a shared tour, so you will travel with people from different countries and may need to follow group meeting times. One positive part of the format is the social side. A past group included people from China, Germany, and Spain, and the mixed company helped make the long day more enjoyable.

Is $79 good value?

The $79 price is reasonable if all the main stops operate. You receive:

• Hotel pickup and return within the Kota Kinabalu coverage area
• A shared vehicle
• An English or Malay-speaking guide
• Applicable entrance fees
• Lunch
• A full day covering Poring, Desa Dairy Farm, and Kinabalu Park

The value drops if the canopy walk remains closed and Desa Dairy Farm is also removed. In that case, you are paying mainly for transport, Poring Hot Springs, lunch, and a short Kinabalu Park stop. That may still suit you if you do not want to drive, but it is not the same product as the original highlight list suggests.

There is also an extra RM 40 per person for pickup areas outside the central Kota Kinabalu coverage zone. Examples include Shangri-La Rasa Ria, Nexus Karambunai, 1Borneo, Inanam, and Tuaran. This fee is paid in cash to the driver or guide at pickup.

Ask for written confirmation of the route before the cancellation deadline. The booking terms allow free cancellation up to 24 hours in advance, and you can reserve now and pay later, which helps if the status of the farm or walkway is still uncertain.

Who should book this day out?

I would recommend this tour to you if you want a single organized day from Kota Kinabalu and are happy to see several attractions at a brisk pace. It suits first-time visitors who do not want to arrange transport to the mountain region themselves.

It is also a good fit if you enjoy variety. You get rainforest surroundings, hot springs, farm products, mountain views, lunch, and a guided route in one package.

I would hesitate if the canopy walkway is your main goal. It is currently closed, and there is no stated reopening date. I would also hesitate if you want a slow soak, extended time in Kinabalu Park, or a quiet private outing.

The physical demands are modest compared with a mountain climb, but the provider does not recommend the tour for pregnant women, people with back or heart problems, or wheelchair users. You will walk at several stops and spend about six hours in a vehicle.

What to bring and what to skip

Pack light, but include the items that matter:

• Water
• Sunscreen
• Insect repellent
• An umbrella
• A camera
• Cash for personal purchases and any hot-spring bath
• Comfortable walking shoes

Smoking, alcohol, drugs, and littering are not allowed. You should also keep valuables close during hotel transfers and stop with the group when the guide gives a meeting time.

My booking advice

Book this experience if you value convenience and want a broad taste of Sabah beyond Kota Kinabalu. At $79, the transport, lunch, guide, and entry costs make sense when the full route runs as planned.

Before committing, confirm two facts: the current status of Desa Dairy Farm and the replacement plan for the closed canopy walkway. If both are clear and you are comfortable with a long shared van ride, this can be a useful, well-packed day. If either answer is vague, choose a more focused Poring or Kinabalu Park visit instead.

FAQ

Is the canopy walkway open?

No. The canopy walkway is currently closed for maintenance by the local authority and is not included until further notice.

Is Desa Dairy Farm included?

Desa Dairy Farm is listed as a planned one-hour stop, but its operating status should be confirmed before booking. A recent departure reportedly had the farm canceled.

How long is the tour?

The experience lasts about 11 hours, with pickup around 7:00 AM and an expected return to Kota Kinabalu near 6:00 PM.

Is lunch included?

Yes. Lunch at a local restaurant is included in the tour price.

Are hot-spring baths included?

No. The entrance package does not include a bath tub at Poring Hot Springs. Any bath-tub use is a personal expense.

Which languages are available?

The live guide service is available in English and Malay.

Is hotel pickup included?

Yes. Pickup and return transfer are included for listed hotels in Kota Kinabalu city coverage areas. Pickup from areas outside that zone costs an additional RM 40 per person, payable in cash.

Can I cancel the booking?

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund. The reserve-now, pay-later option is also available.