The huge Kinabalu National Park surrounds Borneo's highest mountain and is definitely worth a visit even if you don't plan to climb to the top. The national park includes a number of trails through the misty mountain forest, canopy walk, hot springs and many other attractions.
Kinabalu National Park can be entered from several sides, with each part of the park offering different points of interest.
Kinabalu Conservation Center
This area is used by tourists heading to the top of the mountain, but at the same time there are plenty of attractions to enjoy in just a day visit. When you enter the national park, you must sign the visitor's book and then you can explore on your own.
There is a small museum near the entrance and also a nice botanical garden with plants typical of the area. You will pay to enter the botanical garden. 5 myr, from 9:00, 12:00 and 15:30 there are guided tours in the garden.
There are also a large number of nature trails to discover around the entrance. A guided walk along one of the trails takes place every day from 11:00am, starting at Kinabalu Multipurpose Hall. However, you can also choose to go on your own, from short hikes for an hour to full-day jungle treks.
Around Poring
The other touristy entrance to Kinabalu National Park can be found further east, near the town of Poring. This area offers a large number of tourist attractions, but wildlife to a rather lesser extent.
In Poring you can visit the following interesting places:
- Poring Hot Springs - A pleasant experience in mountain conditions is offered by these sulphurous hot springs, in which you can bathe, prices from 5 myr depending on your choice of pool
- Rafflesia Centre - Rafflesias are the flowers with the largest bloom in the world. Seeing this unique plant is a great experience, pay to enter 30 myr.
- Poring Canopy Walkway - Walk in the treetops along the canopy walkway and see the mountain rainforest from a different perspective, pay to enter 10 myr.
- Langanan Waterfall - Over 100 metres high, the waterfall is hidden in the mountain jungle, the walk to it will take you approximately two hours from Poring.
- Bat Cave - The Bat Cave is free to enter and can be found about 30 minutes walk from Poring on the way to Langanan Falls.
Entrance fees and opening hours
Kinabalu National Park is open daily from 08:00 to 17:00 (last entry to the Botanical Gardens and other attractions at 15:00).
For entrance to the national park you pay 50 myr (10 myr Malaysians), you can use the ticket to visit several parts of the park in one day.
Accommodation in Kinabalu National Park
There are several accommodations right in Kinabalu National Park and its immediate surroundings, you can also use the town of Ranau as a base.
You can get cheaper accommodation with local families or in small hotels for up to 100 myr per night:
The following hotels offer luxury accommodation in the countryside:
Transportation to Kinabalu National Park
Transport to Kinabalu National Park on your own is not that easy, but it can be done.
By bus
You can use any bus on the Kota Kinabalu - Sandakan route in either direction to get to the main gate of Kinabalu National Park. When you board, ask the driver to stop at the turn-off to the national park, you can walk to the main gate very quickly.
The downside is that you always have to buy a ticket all the way to the final bus station, even if you only go part of the way.
By shared jeep
Shared jeeps leave from the Padang Merdeka bus terminal in Kota Kinabalu and go directly to the national park. The jeeps always leave as soon as they fill up, which unfortunately, in our own experience, can take several hours.
This alternative is suitable if you have plenty of time and want to keep the price to a minimum.
By rental car
Renting a car for one or more days directly in Kota Kinabalu can also be a great option. The drive to the national park is not difficult, and you will also have the opportunity to visit more attractions in the area, such as the area around Poring.
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