Things to Do in Sabah
11 experiences in Sabah
Get notified about new experiences in Sabah
Be the first to know when we add tours and tickets in Sabah.
About Sabah
Sabah occupies the northern crown of Borneo, and it wears two identities at once: a jumping-off point for genuine wilderness and a surprisingly cosmopolitan state capital in Kota Kinabalu. This is where you climb Mount Kinabalu before breakfast light hits the summit, then eat grilled stingray at a night market that smells of charcoal and lime. Orangutans swing through Sepilok's rehabilitation centre, pygmy elephants wade the Kinabatangan River, and proboscis monkeys crash through mangroves at dusk — Sabah's wildlife credentials are not marketing hype, they're daily occurrences.
What separates Sabah from the rest of Malaysia is the sheer range packed into one state. Divers fly in specifically for Sipadan, ranked among the best dive sites on earth by people who've dived everywhere. Hikers come for Kinabalu's granite summit, a two-day slog rewarded by sunrise above the clouds. Families gravitate to Kota Kinabalu's islands for an easy day of snorkelling and beach time without the Bali crowds. Culturally, Sabah is its own patchwork — over 30 indigenous groups including the Kadazan-Dusun, Bajau, and Murut, each with distinct festivals, food, and languages, layered under Malay, Chinese, and colonial British influence.
This destination rewards travelers who want nature with infrastructure attached rather than pure backcountry roughing it. You can dive world-class reefs in the morning and sleep in an air-conditioned hotel with decent WiFi that night. It's a strong fit for divers, hikers, wildlife photographers, and families wanting a beach-and-jungle combo; it's less suited to people chasing nightlife or dense historical architecture, since KK itself is a modest, functional city rather than a grand one. Budget-wise, Sabah spans backpacker guesthouses to high-end eco-resorts, so it flexes to most trip budgets, though diving trips and Kinabalu climbs need to be booked weeks or months ahead in peak season.
Good to Know
SIM cards: Buy a Digi or Celcom prepaid SIM at the airport arrivals hall — coverage is solid in KK and Sandakan but drops off on remote islands and deep in the Kinabatangan.
Money: Ringgit (MYR) is cash-preferred outside malls and hotels; carry small notes for markets and boat jetties, and withdraw from bank ATMs rather than standalone machines to avoid high fees.
Tipping: Not customary or expected — a 10% service charge is often already added to restaurant bills, so tipping guides and drivers RM10-20/day for good service is appreciated but optional.
Booking ahead: Mount Kinabalu climbing permits are limited and must be booked weeks (ideally months) in advance through a registered operator; Sipadan diving also requires a permit with daily quotas, so book your dive trip early.
Dress code: Sabah is largely Muslim and conservative outside resort areas — cover shoulders and knees when visiting villages, longhouses, or mosques, though beachwear is fine on the islands.
Health: Bring mosquito repellent and consider antimalarials for river/jungle trips; tap water isn't safe to drink, so stick to bottled or filtered water throughout.
Safety: The east coast around Semporna and the Sulu Sea islands has had past kidnapping incidents linked to militants — stick to well-established dive operators and resorts, which maintain their own security protocols.
Cash for remote areas: ATMs are scarce once you leave KK, Sandakan, and Semporna, so withdraw enough cash before heading to river lodges or smaller islands.
