Ultimate Guide for Budget Traveler and Adventure Seeker

Kota Kinabalu is one of the amazing destinations in Asia that you need to visit. It features a wide array of spectacular attraction sites ...

DIY Travel Guide to Kota Kinabalu

Kota Kinabalu is one of the amazing destinations in Asia that you need to visit. It features a wide array of spectacular attraction sites over the city, beautiful white beaches, tropical rain forests; historic sites, beautiful landscapes and the mighty Mount Kinabalu. The city is also a famous getaway for tourists and the primary entrance to Borneo Island and Sabah.



Kota Kinabalu is situated on the tropical island of Borneo, and is the state capital of the Malaysian state Sabah. The location is pretty awesome where most of destinations are near to the airport and to any hotel. Speaking of hotel, KK offers lots of accommodations scattered in and around the city a large variation of options ranging from budget-friendly hotel to luxurious hotels to high end beach resorts.. If you are a backpacker and looking for a budget hotel or great deal, you can find it here on www.zenrooms.com. Don't forget to use the promo code "PINOYTRAVELER' to get 20% off on your booking.



During my visit in KK, I stayed in Grandis Hotel, one of  the best hotels in  Kota Kinabalu. The hotel sits in the heart of the city, a mere 15 minutes’ drive from Kota Kinabalu International Airport, and right next to the hippest lifestyle mall in town. My room was pretty awesome and the view from the rooftop was spectacular. I enjoyed the view of the glittering South China Sea, Kota Kinabalu’s breath-taking sunsets, and the picturesque Tunku Abdul Rahman Park islands.



Food is great in KK. There are lots of restaurant offers sumptuous food which seasoned with lots of herbs and spices. If you're a budget traveler looking for affordable meal, no worries, there are lots of hawker stalls around the area. Don't forget to try several seafood dishes at the Gaya Street Sunday Market. The main entertainment area can be found in KK Waterfront. You can enjoy your drinks here while listening to live bands.





Destinations that you need to visit include on your itinerary are Kota Kinabalu City Mosque, Atkinson Clock Tower, Tun Mustapha Tower,Tanjung Aru Perdana Park, Manukan Island, Sapi Island, and Mamutik Island ( Tunku Abdul Rahman Park), Poring Hot Springs, 'Signal Hill Observatory' , Desa Cow Farm, Moroli River Fish Spa, Desa Cow Farm, Kokol Hill and Mount Kinabalu. If you want a hassle-free tour, you can book it via KKDAy.



DIY is only recommended for tour to Tunku Abdul Rahman Park islands. You can go directly to Jesselton Point,providing ferry and motorboat services to nearby islands. There are also regular scheduled ferry services to Labuan if you are planning to go to Brunei via boat. One island tour is as low as RM20. I recommend to avail package tour for 3 islands which will cost RM50 plus tax and environmental fee.



There are many ways for getting around in the city for tourists in Kota Kinabalu which includes public as well as private transportation in KK. It's a advisable to take a grab car if you want to visit tourist destinations within the city. Grab car is is more secured and comfortable compare to a regular taxi. If you want to save money, you can walk or take a city bus.



If you are planning to go to Kota Kinabalu during summer, don't forget to bring apparel that will protect your skin from the direct heat of  the sun. Kota Kinabalu experiences a warm and tropical climate all through the year.It has has two kind of seasons, and they are dry season and wet season. The best time to travel to Kota Kinabalu is during January to March because the climate during this period is relatively cool, dry and less messy.

Activities to be indulge in KK include diving, leisure diving, technical diving, snorkelling, parasailing, fishing, kayaking, cruising, hikin etc. Several interesting dive sites and mountains can be enjoyed as day trips from Kota Kinabalu.

Kota Kinabalu is truly an amazing destination. There are lots of nice sights and attractions in and around the city.  Food is good specially at the Gala night market. A must- visit destination in Asia.


1 comment:

  1. hi! Your blog is really informative but I'd like to ask. Are there any public transportation to take going to Desa Farm or Kinabalu park for example? Or is it really advisable to book a tour? I'm not a fan of group tours as I really want to stay and explore in certain areas. ty!

    ReplyDelete