The state-of-the-art marine museum is yet another addition to the Universiti Malaysia Sabah campus.

Established in 1995, the Borneo Marine Research Institute (BMRI) is aimed to promote education, research and training in conservation and sustainable development of marine resources, and a rational deployment of biotechnology.

Situated within the Borneo Marine Research Institute (BMRI) Complex adjunction to the Sepanggar Bay area, this aquarium and marine museum boasts one of the best aquarium facilities on the Borneo Island.

Among its facilities are the free standing exhibition tanks, live open water reef exhibition centre, live shallow reef exhibition centre, mangrove walk, contemporary Marine and Maritime Museum, Multimedia Interactive Information Kiosk, and Sipadan deep dive diorama.

The UMS Aquarium and Marine Museum is open every day except on Wednesdays and public holidays. Visiting hours are from 9.30am – 12.30pm and 2.00pm – 4.30pm.

Tariffs

* All prices are estimated and subject to change

Getting there

UMS is located about 3 kilometers away from the heart of the city (approximately 10 – 15 minutes drive away).

Want to get up close and personal with nature? Pack your bags and make your way to Borneo Kellybays for some nature-all fun.

Nestled in Kampung Laya Laya in Tuaran, Borneo Kellybays is an ideal destination for family getaways and MICE group trips. It offers adventurous activities such as camping, volleyball, horse riding, jungle trekking, nature conservation programs, challenging games, survival games, and sepak takraw.  

After a full day of thrilling adventures, opt to wind down with a traditional massage. For a change of pace, chill out while learning the art of batik painting or see some cooking demonstration. At night, enjoy a campfire party or simply relish a quiet night amidst a mangrove forest. An amazing place to drink in the great outdoors!

Opening Hours

Boat departure : 9.30am,10.30am,11.30am & 12.30pm

Returning time : 2.30pm,3.30pm & 4.30pm

Packages Tariff

Package L-1:
Picnic Package

Originally named Bond Street, Gaya Street located in the Kota Kinabalu Central Business District has been the centre of business for over a hundred years. The wooden shops with nipah roofs are long gone but here is where generations-old family businesses are still thriving passed down from father to son.

Every Sunday morning, the length of Gaya Street is closed off to traffic to make way for the Fair. Shop for anything under shady trees and over-sized umbrellas, like batik sarongs, fruits and flowers, arts and craft, footwear, antiques and souvenirs, cakes, even pets and herbs!. This is the best place to experience the cross-section of the local population when entire families enjoy a Sunday outing.

The Gaya Street Fair is on every Sunday from 6.30 am to 1.00 pm

Getting There

A short stroll from anywhere around the city or take public transport into town.

Located along Jalan Tun Fuad Stephens, the Handicraft Market is a favoured shopping haunt for locals and tourists alike. Souvenirs galore await you and rest assured there is something for everyone.

Start with the cheap trinkets, which make excellent gifts for friends and family. These include keychains, beaded bracelets and necklaces and bookmarks. You will be spoilt for choice with miles and miles of beautiful sarongs and pareos, an ideal reminder of your tropical holiday in Sabah! Be sure to check out the glistening and gorgeous pearl jewellery and handicrafts. You can purchase loose pearls or stunning brooches, necklaces and earrings, available at almost every stall you visit in this vast market.

For those with an eye for ornate wooden carvings, you have come to the right place. The market has an endless variety of carved crafts, including exotic wooden masks, picture frames and even stunning wall panels. Not be missed are the assortment of rattan baskets in all shapes and sizes.

The best thing about the Handicraft Market is that you never know what piece of treasure you might unravel during your visit. Some have returned home with an authentic sompoton (a traditional wind instrument), a Murut headhunter's blowpipe, a coconut-shaped handbag and a wooden-frog that ‘sings' when you stroke its back with a wooden stick.

The most important tip when visiting the market is to bargain, bargain, bargain! Pick up some local lingo to improve your bargaining skills and you might even walk away a steal.

Getting there
The Handicraft Market is located along the same stretch as the Waterfront in Kota Kinabalu City. It is a 5 to 10 minute walk from the city centre.

Opening hours
07.30am to 07.30pm daily.

Formerly known as the Kota Kinabalu Ferry Terminal, Jesselton Point Waterfront has become one of the main city attractions in Kota Kinabalu ever since its privatization in February 2006.

Situated north of downtown Kota Kinabalu, this quaintly scenic place has an unmistakable historical feel to it—complete with olden days snapshots of Kota Kinabalu city (Jesselton) and vintage red English phone booths. Jesselton Point Waterfront serves as the only ferry terminal for Labuan-bound passengers as well as the main (and cheapest) boat terminal for the Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park and Gayana Island.

Jesselton Point Waterfront also offers casual dining, leisure and retail experiences with its array of alfresco F&B outlets, handicraft stalls, and a four-court futsal centre. In addition, fishing aficionados are now welcome to spend the evening fishing at the jetty from 6pm to 6am for only RM10 per entry (payable at the Suria Futsal Centre). However, fishing gears are not provided so visitors need to bring their own.

In the near future, the Jesselton Point Waterfront is going to be expanded to cater more recreational, commercial, residential, and retail facilities. Having been the venue for the KK Jazz Festival 2007, the Jesselton Point Waterfront jetty is also bookable for social functions—be it dinner parties, fundraising concerts or even weddings.

After a long hard day at work, the Jesselton Point Waterfront is an excellent place to wind down and catch the breathtaking sunset! In the evening, bask in the cool Sabahan breeze while chilling out with family and friends. It makes a perfect spot for a romantic outing too.

The Jesselton Point Waterfront is open daily from 6am up until 2am; the ferry and boat terminal operates daily from 6am to 6pm.

Tariff

The terminal fee for passangers heading to the Labuan F.T. and Tunku Abdul Rahman Park is RM7.20 (adults) and RM3.60 (children under 12)

When in Jesselton Point Waterfront

Exotic tastebuds rejoice! Try out authentic Indonesian cuisine at the Nasi Padang Ibu restaurant. Thai food lovers can also savour delectable Thai dishes available at one of the food outlets in the evening. Fancy something Arabian? Check out Aladdin Arabian fast food outlet for some mouthwatering kebabs. Last but not least, treat yourself to some scoops of yummy gelatos at Dream Cones—the first of its franchise outlet in Malaysia.

Located 4Km out of town, this magnificent 30-storey circular glass sculpture stands tall overlooking the Likas Bay and Chief’s Minister office building. It houses the head offices of the Sabah Foundation.

This 30-storey formally known as Sabah Foundation building is unique because it is one of the few buildings in the world to utilize a single column structure. High-tensile steel rods support the building’s exterior glasses. There is now a revolving restaurant cum lounge and state reference library within the building.

Getting There

Take the UMS bus No.5A from the bus stations in front of the City Hall or Wawasan Plaza in KK and indicate your drop-off point to the driver. Fare is RM2.00 to RM2.50 one way. Any taxi will take you there for RM15.00 - RM20.00 one way.

• The 1880s, British North Borneo Company sold acres and acres of interior lands to planters for the cultivation of crops.
• In 1896, a railway from the interior reached Weston, the new port on Brunei Bay.
• The locomotives used were steam-powered.
• Today the train can take 180 passengers with highest international service standards operated by North Borneo Railway

Tariff

• All prices are estimated and subject to change
• Rates are inclusive of “Tiffin” style lunch (A blend of Asian and Continental cuisine with signature lemonade.
• Rates are not inclusive of ground transfers.

Opening hours

How to get there

• Duration: 10 min (from KK)
• Distance: 15 KM

* All prices are estimated and subject to change

Itinerary

Established in 1995 and located in Inanam about 20 kilometres or 30 minutes away from KK City, the centre covers an area of 12 acres and boasts of about 50 hybrid species showcased in their Hybrid Garden. There are also 300 species of Borneo wild orchids, including some rare ones. Its main attractions are commercial orchid planting and conservation of wild orchids.

The Orchid de Villa also incorporates a fishing pond within its vicinity, a cacti garden, cottages and other amenities. Guided as well as tailor-made tours can be arranged with prior notice.

Orchid de Villa also has recently started a Borneo Orchid Discovery Tour, which is a 2 to 3-hour long guided tour that include activities such as fish feeding and lessons on hybrid orchid re-potting. This Discovery Tour also comes with complimentary homemade snacks, mineral water drink, cold towel, as well as a free gift. Visitors will also be entitled to get 10% percent discount on hybrid orchid purchases.

Transportation can be arranged at a reasonable charge.

Opening Hours
Monday - Saturday from 8.00am till 5.00pm
(Special arrangement for Sunday visits)

Admission fees
Adults - RM80.00
Children (below 12) - RM40.00

A visit to Kinabalu Park will never be perfect without swinging by Poring Hot Springs. Situated 40 kilometers (25 miles) slightly northeast from the Parks HQ, Poring is located in the lowlands—a contrast to the Parks HQ. De-stress and soak away the sores and aches of your muscles in the spring’s hot sulphuric minerals, deemed to have healing properties and very popular among the locals.

Other than the natural hot spring main attraction at Poring Hot Springs, there are also other interesting areas in the park to be visited such as the butterfly farm, the Poring Orchid Conservation Centre, the tropical garden, the Poring canopy walkway, and the Rafflesia flower site.

Butterfly Farm

Poring Hot Spring’s butterfly farm is in fact the first butterfly farm in Borneo. It features a garden, nursery and hatchery for education, research and preservation purposes.

Poring Orchid Conservation Centre

This centre houses the largest collection of Sabah orchids as well as rare endemic orchids. Some 1, 200 species of orchids are available at this centre.

Tropical gardens

Get a glimpse of mousedeers and deers frolicking in the garden with the company of vividly coloured birds in the aviary.

Poring canopy walkway

This canopy walkway is a must visit for anyone who ever sets foot in Poring Hot Springs. Take a stroll amidst the lush canopy of the Menggaris tree—king of the forest—the walkway is 157.8 meters long and 41 meters high.

Poring Hot Springs is open daily from 7am to 6pm.

Located at the end of Jalan Tunku Abdul Rahman and about 6 kilometres from KK City, this place is closest to the hearts of the locals, and just one visit to the beach will tell you why. Taking its name from the casuarinas or aru trees that fringe the fine sands, this is where one might get a ringside seat to the greatest sunset on earth every evening when the crimson sun dips slowly into the horizon, leaving the vast skies a brilliant red..

Foodstalls serving local food and drinks are open till late at night. Enjoy coconut and sugarcane juice, chicken or beef satay and steamed peanuts and corn, or indulge in a full-course dinner at the seafood restaurant located there.

The Tanjung Aru beach is also home to Shangri-la's Tanjung Aru Resort, the Kinabalu Golf Club and the Kinabalu Yacht Club.

Getting There

From KK City Centre, take the No 16 bus towards Tanjung Aru from the bus stations in front of City Hall or Wawasan Plaza and let the driver know of your destination. Bus fare is RM1.50. You can also go by taxi, at RM15 per taxi (up to four persons).

Located at the end of Jalan Tunku Abdul Rahman and about 6 kilometres from KK City, this place is closest to the hearts of the locals, and just one visit to the beach will tell you why. Taking its name from the casuarinas or aru trees that fringe the fine sands, this is where one might get a ringside seat to the greatest sunset on earth every evening when the crimson sun dips slowly into the horizon, leaving the vast skies a brilliant red..

Foodstalls serving local food and drinks are open till late at night. Enjoy coconut and sugarcane juice, chicken or beef satay and steamed peanuts and corn, or indulge in a full-course dinner at the seafood restaurant located there.

The Tanjung Aru beach is also home to Shangri-la's Tanjung Aru Resort, the Kinabalu Golf Club and the Kinabalu Yacht Club.

Getting There

From KK City Centre, take the No 16 bus towards Tanjung Aru from the bus stations in front of City Hall or Wawasan Plaza and let the driver know of your destination. Bus fare is RM1.50. You can also go by taxi, at RM15 per taxi (up to four persons).

What better way to cool down under the brilliant Sabah sun than to enjoy a day at the Water World Theme Park! Situated at Taman Tun Fuad Stephens, Bukit Padang, the park is a great place to bring the family for a splashing good time. Thrill-seekers will love the Torpedo Speed Slide and Double Loop Slide. There are several swimming pools to cater to adults as well as children.

Enjoy a round of Water Basketball or have a go at the Water Cannons. Other facilities include a cafeteria, an air-conditioned lounge with equipped with Astro, lazy chairs and a souvenir shop. The Park can also help organize special events, such as children's birthday parties, making it a memorable event for your little one. Contact the Park for their Special Packages.

Getting There
Taman Tun Fuad Stephens is only 15 minutes from the city centre. Take a taxi from the Milimewa taxi station (along Beach Street) for approximately RM17.00 per ride. Arrange for your return with your taxi driver. You can also take Bus no.11 from Jalan Tugu (opposite the KK High Court) for RM1.00 per person.

Opening hours
Monday, Thursday and Friday: 12:00pm to 7:00pm
Saturday, Sunday and Public Holidays: 9:00am to 8:00pm

Admission fee
Children: RM5.00
Adults: RM10.00
Children below 3 feet & Senior Citizens: Free