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

Poring Hot Springs and Desa Dairy Farm make an appealing pair: one gives you rainforest, waterfalls, and warm mineral pools, while the other offers cool mountain air, milk, yogurt, and ice cream. I especially like the Mount Kinabalu views and the chance to see two very different sides of Sabah in one long day.

I also like that lunch, entrance fees, a guide, and hotel transfers are included in the $79 price. The main drawback is important: the canopy walkway is currently closed for maintenance, and the tour plan has changed at times without clear advance notice. Confirm the exact stops before you pay.

Key points to know before booking

• The canopy walkway is closed: The rainforest walk is not currently part of the tour until local maintenance is finished.
• Desa Dairy Farm is the cool-climate stop: Buy fresh milk, yogurt, and ice cream while taking in views toward Mount Kinabalu.
• The day is long: Pickup is around 7:00 AM, with a return to Kota Kinabalu near 6:00 PM.
• Poring Hot Springs still offers more than hot pools: You have time for sightseeing, walking, and a possible visit to the nearby waterfall area.
• Guides can make a real difference: Wendy, Nizam, Roy, and Roger have each received praise for being friendly and helpful.
• The $79 price covers the basics: Transport, lunch, entrance fees, a guide, and return hotel transfer are included, but personal spending and private baths are extra.

A long Sabah day with three different settings

This is not a quick sightseeing outing. It is an 11-hour road trip from Kota Kinabalu into the interior of Sabah, with roughly three hours in the van each way. That sounds like a lot, and it is, but the route links three places that feel quite different from one another.

You start in the city, move into the rainforest around Poring, continue to a dairy farm in the cooler foothills, and finish with a photo stop at Kinabalu Park. For you, the value is in seeing this broad slice of Sabah without arranging separate transport.

The tradeoff is time. You will spend a good part of the day sitting in a shared van. This suits you if you want a guided overview and do not want to drive unfamiliar roads. It suits you less if you prefer slow visits, long walks, or time alone at each stop.

The tour includes hotel pickup from a long list of Kota Kinabalu hotels, including the Hilton, Le Méridien, Kota Kinabalu Marriott, Shangri-La Tanjung Aru, The Magellan Sutera Resort, and several city-center properties. You are asked to wait in the lobby from 10 minutes before pickup. The vehicle is shared with other people, so pickup and drop-off times can vary.

Poring Hot Springs without the canopy walkway

The planned morning highlight is Poring Hot Springs, reached after leaving Kota Kinabalu at about 7:00 AM and arriving around 10:00 AM. Poring is known for its hot spring setting, rainforest surroundings, walking paths, and nearby natural sights.

The original plan includes a canopy walk above the forest floor. That part matters because it would provide a different view of the rainforest, with the trees seen from above rather than from a ground-level path. At present, though, the local authority has closed the Canopy Walkway for maintenance. It is not included until further notice.

This is the single most important point to check before booking. The tour title and older descriptions may still make the canopy walk sound like a guaranteed feature, but the current instructions say it is closed. You should not pay expecting to cross the suspended bridges.

The replacement may be a longer visit within the Poring grounds, a waterfall stop, or another nearby attraction. A previous change included a visit to Nabalu Village Market and a chance to see a rafflesia, but those alternatives should not be treated as fixed inclusions. Ask the operator what is planned for your departure date.

Poring still has value without the canopy walk. You can walk, look around the hot spring grounds, and spend time in a forest setting. A nearby waterfall has also been used as an alternative stop, with shade and cooler air providing relief on a hot day.

The hot spring baths are not included as a private experience. A private bath or bathtub costs extra, and personal expenses are not covered. Bring a change of clothes only if you plan to use the pools and confirm the bathing arrangements with your guide.

Lunch keeps the schedule moving

Around noon, the group stops at a local restaurant for lunch. The meal is included, which makes the $79 price easier to assess, especially since you are away from the city for the entire day.

This is a practical meal stop rather than a long restaurant visit. You get a chance to eat, rest, and prepare for the afternoon drive to the farm. If you have dietary restrictions, ask about the available meal choices before departure, since the supplied tour information does not specify the menu.

Carry water and a small snack if you need food at particular times. The day has an early start, and the next main stop does not begin until after the midday meal.

Desa Dairy Farm and the Little New Zealand comparison

Desa Dairy Farm is the afternoon stop, scheduled for about 1:00 PM to 2:00 PM, with arrival around 1:00 PM and sightseeing time listed at roughly one hour. It is often called Little New Zealand because of its open farm setting and cool highland feel.

The appeal here is simple. You get a break from the rainforest and city, with a chance to look across the farm toward Mount Kinabalu. Fresh dairy products are available for purchase, including creamy ice cream, yogurt, and farm-fresh milk.

For me, this is one of the most family-friendly parts of the tour, though you do not need children to enjoy it. The cold dairy treats are a pleasant reward after a warm morning outdoors, and the farm gives you a different view of Sabah’s rural economy.

One hour is enough for a look around and a purchase, but it is not a full farm study. Do not expect a long agricultural program unless your guide says otherwise. The farm has also been affected by changes to tour operations, so confirm that it will be open and included on your date.

If the farm is canceled or replaced, the value of the tour changes. You would still have Poring and Kinabalu Park, but the three-part contrast that makes the route appealing would be reduced. Get the current plan in writing if Desa Dairy Farm is your main reason for booking.

Kinabalu Park is a photo stop, not a full park visit

The itinerary places Kinabalu Park after Desa Dairy Farm, at about 2:30 PM. The scheduled visit is listed as a one-hour photo stop with free time.

That wording is important. You will get a chance to take photos and enjoy views of Mount Kinabalu, but this is not a full exploration of the park. A short stop can be enough for a memorable mountain photograph, especially if the weather is clear. On a cloudy day, the mountain may be partly hidden.

You should not expect a serious hiking program here. The tour does not provide a long trail visit or a detailed botanical walk. If Kinabalu Park is your main interest, a dedicated park excursion would give you more time and a better sense of the area.

Still, the stop works well as a final scenic pause. After the heat and activity at Poring, the mountain setting provides a calmer contrast. Keep your camera ready, but do not plan your entire day around a guaranteed clear view.

What the $79 price really covers

At $79 per person, this is a reasonable package if you want transport and a guide more than complete freedom. Included items are hotel pickup and return, shared transport, lunch, applicable entrance fees, and an English or Malay-speaking guide.

The long distance is the key cost factor. Hiring private transport to reach Poring, the dairy farm, and Kinabalu Park would require planning and would likely cost more for a solo visitor, though a private car can make sense for a larger group. This tour spreads the transport cost among several people.

The price is less attractive if the canopy walkway and dairy farm are both unavailable. Those are two of the clearest reasons to choose this particular route. If either stop is removed, ask if there is a substitute and if any extra admission fee applies.

Be careful with extra charges. Pickup from outside the Kota Kinabalu city coverage area, including places such as Shangri-La Rasa Ria, Nexus Karambunai, 1Borneo, Inanam, and Tuaran, costs an additional RM 40 per person. That amount is paid in cash to the driver or guide at pickup.

A separate issue has also appeared during changed tour arrangements: some people have been asked for additional foreign visitor fees at certain attractions. One report referred to an extra RM 85, while another raised concern about a RM 50 rafflesia admission charge. These are not listed as standard inclusions in the supplied details, so ask exactly what entrance fees are covered before you leave.

Friendly guides can rescue a changed itinerary

The human side of this tour matters because the schedule can shift. Guides named Wendy, Nizam, Roy, and Roger have been praised for being friendly, helpful, and willing to explain the route.

Roger, in particular, helped arrange a rafflesia viewing request when asked at pickup. That stop was not part of the fixed schedule, so you should not assume it will be available, but it shows why speaking directly with your guide early in the day can help.

A good guide also matters during the long drives. The route gives you several hours in the van, and clear explanations can turn that time into useful background about the places ahead. The strongest experiences on this tour depend partly on the guide’s communication and the company’s ability to pass along itinerary changes.

That last point deserves attention. The operational information has not always been consistent. A guide may be following company instructions while you are expecting an older version of the route. Confirm the canopy walkway status, Desa Dairy Farm availability, substitute stops, and extra charges before departure.

How to prepare for the 11-hour outing

You should pack lightly, but bring the right things. An umbrella helps with both tropical rain and strong sun. Sunscreen, drinking water, insect repellent, and a camera are specifically recommended.

Wear shoes suitable for walking on wet or uneven paths. The tour includes walking at Poring, the farm, and Kinabalu Park, though it is not described as a strenuous hike. Weather can change, so a light rain layer is sensible.

Smoking, alcohol, drugs, and littering are not allowed. Pregnant women, people with back or heart problems, and wheelchair users are advised not to join. Those restrictions matter because of the long vehicle ride, walking, and outdoor conditions.

Keep your schedule clear until around 6:00 PM. The return trip begins near 4:00 PM, but road conditions, pickup arrangements, and the shared format can affect the exact arrival time. Do not book a tight evening flight or nonrefundable dinner reservation immediately after the tour.

Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before departure, and you can reserve now and pay later. Those terms help if your mountain-view plans depend on weather or if you are waiting for confirmation about the changed stops.

Who should book this Sabah day trip?

I would recommend this tour to you if you want to see several inland highlights without renting a car. It is especially useful for first-time visitors staying in Kota Kinabalu who want a guided route, included lunch, and simple hotel transfers.

Families may like the mix of hot springs, dairy products, mountain views, and short walks. The tour also works for people who prefer sightseeing to hiking. You get a broad look at the area without committing to a full mountain trek.

I would be more cautious if the canopy walkway is your main goal. It is currently closed, so this tour cannot deliver that experience now. I would also hesitate if you want a quiet, flexible day, since the shared van and fixed schedule leave limited room for lingering.

Before booking, ask four direct questions:

• Is Desa Dairy Farm operating on my date?
• What replaces the closed canopy walkway?
• Are any rafflesia, market, or other entrance fees extra?
• What time will pickup and return take for my hotel?

Final verdict: book it for variety, not for the canopy walk

This tour gives you a useful slice of Sabah for $79: rainforest surroundings, Poring Hot Springs, a dairy farm, Mount Kinabalu views, lunch, transport, and a guide. Its strongest qualities are the variety of stops and the chance to leave the city without arranging your own vehicle.

The weak point is the changing schedule. With the canopy walkway closed and the farm or replacement stops subject to operational changes, you need current confirmation rather than relying on the original promotional plan.

Book it if you value convenience, broad sightseeing, and a friendly guide more than long visits at any single stop. Skip it for now if the canopy walk is essential, or if you want a carefully fixed itinerary with no surprise fees. The tour can be worthwhile, but only after you confirm exactly what will happen on your departure date.

FAQ

Is the canopy walkway included in this tour?

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

How long does the tour last?

The tour lasts about 11 hours. Pickup is scheduled around 7:00 AM, and arrival back in Kota Kinabalu is planned for about 6:00 PM.

What is included in the $79 price?

The price includes hotel pickup and return transfer, shared transport, applicable entrance fees, lunch, and an English or Malay-speaking tour guide.

Is lunch included?

Yes. Lunch at a local restaurant is included.

Can I use a private bath at Poring Hot Springs?

A bathtub or private bath is not included. Any such use is listed as an extra personal expense.

Is hotel pickup available from every Kota Kinabalu hotel?

Pickup is included from the listed Kota Kinabalu hotels. Hotels outside the city coverage area may incur an additional RM 40 per person, paid in cash to the driver or guide.

What should I bring?

Bring an umbrella, camera, sunscreen, water, and insect repellent. Comfortable walking shoes and suitable clothing for changing weather are also practical choices.

Is the tour suitable for wheelchair users?

No. The tour is not suitable for wheelchair users. It is also not recommended for pregnant women or people with back or heart problems.