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

Poring Hot Springs is the main draw here, but the bigger appeal is the full-day route through Sabah’s mountain country. You’ll leave Kota Kinabalu early, visit a rainforest site, stop for lunch, see Desa Dairy Farm, and finish near Mount Kinabalu. The canopy walkway is currently closed, so the advertised rainforest walk is not part of the present tour.

I like the simple hotel pickup and return, and I like the mix of nature, food, and farm scenery. Guides named Wendy, Nizam, Roy, and Roger have led past departures, with especially warm praise for their friendliness and help. The main drawback is the changing program: some departures have replaced the canopy walk or farm visit, so you should confirm the exact plan before paying.

Key points to know before booking

• The canopy walkway is closed: Local authorities have shut it for maintenance, and it is excluded until further notice.
• Poring Hot Springs still anchors the day: You get about two hours for a guided visit, walking, and free time.
• Desa Dairy Farm is a cool-climate stop: Known as Little New Zealand, it sells ice cream, yogurt, and fresh milk.
• Mount Kinabalu is a photo stop, not a climb: Expect about an hour at Kinabalu Park.
• The day is long: Pickup is around 7:00 AM, with a return to Kota Kinabalu near 6:00 PM.
• The price covers the basics: At $79, you get shared transport, lunch, entrance fees, a guide, and hotel transfers.

A long day from Kota Kinabalu to the mountain country

This is not a quick side trip. It is an 11-hour outing, with about three hours in the van each way. That sounds like a lot, and it is, but Sabah’s main attractions are spread out. A private car would give you more control, while this shared tour handles the driving and combines several stops in one day.

The morning pickup begins around 7:00 AM. You wait in your hotel lobby from 10 minutes before the scheduled time, then join a shared van heading toward Poring Hot Springs. Pickup is offered at many Kota Kinabalu hotels, including the Hilton, Marriott, Le Méridien, Magellan Sutera Resort, Shangri-La Tanjung Aru, Hyatt Centric, and several city-center properties.

The ride takes about three hours. That is the price of seeing Poring, Desa Farm, and Kinabalu Park in one outing. Bring water, sunscreen, insect repellent, and an umbrella. Sabah weather can change quickly, and the stops include outdoor walking.

The van ride also affects how you should judge the value. If you want a relaxed day with long stops, this may feel rushed. If you want to cover several well-known Sabah sights without arranging transport yourself, the route is useful.

Poring Hot Springs without the canopy walkway

The tour is scheduled to reach Poring Hot Springs around 10:00 AM. The site offers a combination of hot spring facilities, forest paths, sightseeing, and free time. The name Poring refers to bamboo, a plant found in the area, and the setting is best known for its forested surroundings and bathing facilities.

The canopy walkway was meant to be the most exciting part of this stop. It normally gives you a view over the rainforest from above, but it is currently closed for maintenance by the local authority. Do not book this tour expecting to cross the suspended walkway. It has been removed from the current program until further notice.

What remains is still a useful stop, especially if you want to see the Poring area without arranging a separate transfer. You may have time to walk around, visit the grounds, and see nearby natural features. One past departure included a waterfall visit instead of the closed canopy experience, which gave the group a cooler break from the heat.

The hot spring bathing option is not included. If you want to use a private bath or tub, you pay separately. The tour includes applicable entrance fees, but personal expenses and the bath tub are excluded, so carry some cash.

The two-hour window sounds generous, but it includes walking, orientation, free time, and any replacement activity. Wear shoes with a good grip and clothing that handles heat well. The site is not suitable for wheelchair users, and the tour is not recommended for people with back or heart problems or for pregnant women.

Lunch gives the schedule a needed pause

Around noon, the group stops at a local restaurant for lunch. The meal is included, which makes the $79 price easier to assess. You do not need to search for food during the busiest part of the day, and the stop breaks up the long morning ride and outdoor walking.

The supplied details do not specify the menu, so do not book this tour for a particular dish. If you have dietary needs, ask before departure. The tour is shared, and the restaurant stop is arranged for the group rather than selected to suit individual preferences.

A local restaurant meal is practical rather than fancy. I see that as a good fit for this route. You are paying for a full day of sightseeing and transport, not a food-focused excursion.

Desa Dairy Farm, Sabah’s Little New Zealand

The next major stop is Desa Dairy Farm, reached around 1:00 PM, with roughly an hour for the visit. The farm is often called Little New Zealand because of its cool mountain setting and open pasture views. It gives you a sharp change from the tropical heat around Poring.

The farm’s most accessible pleasure is food. Fresh milk, creamy ice cream, and yogurt are available to buy. These treats are not listed as included, so bring money if you want to sample them. The cool setting and mountain views also make this a good photo stop.

You should confirm that the farm is operating as part of your departure. The route has changed on some occasions, and one past departure did not include the farm. That is the kind of change that matters because Desa Dairy Farm is one of the tour’s headline attractions.

This stop suits families and anyone who likes a gentle break from forest walking. It is also a useful choice if you want a different side of Sabah than beaches and city markets. The visit is short, however. You are getting a taste of the farm, not a full working-farm program.

Kinabalu Park and the Mount Kinabalu photo stop

The schedule places Kinabalu Park at about 2:30 PM. This is a photo stop with free time for about an hour, not a Mount Kinabalu hiking experience. You can expect mountain views and a chance to take pictures in the park area, but the tour does not include a climb or a long trail program.

The park is valuable because it gives the day a clear visual finish. After the hot springs and dairy farm, the mountain setting feels cooler and more open. Visibility can vary, so do not assume the mountain will always appear perfectly clear in photographs.

Keep your expectations in check. One past departure included only about 10 minutes of walking in the park, which is far shorter than the scheduled hour. If you want a serious visit to Kinabalu Park, with time for trails, exhibits, or a more detailed nature program, you need a dedicated park tour instead.

As a final stop, though, it works well. You get a chance to stretch your legs, take photographs, and see the mountain area before starting the return journey.

What $79 really buys you

At $79 per person, the strongest part of the deal is convenience. The price includes hotel pickup and return, a shared van, a guide, lunch, and applicable entrance fees. You also avoid arranging separate transport to three distant places.

The value drops if key stops disappear. The canopy walkway is already closed, and the farm has not appeared on every departure. A replacement visit may be offered, but you should ask what happens if the planned attraction is unavailable. Some departures have included a local market or a chance to see a rafflesia, while an entrance fee for a rafflesia site was described as RM50 on one occasion. That fee was not part of the stated inclusions.

You may also be asked for an extra RM40 per person if your hotel lies outside the Kota Kinabalu city coverage area. Examples include Shangri-La Rasa Ria, Nexus Karambunai, 1Borneo, Inanam, and Tuaran. This surcharge is paid in cash to the driver or guide at pickup.

That makes the hotel location important. A city-center hotel is more straightforward. If you are staying farther out, calculate the extra charge before comparing this tour with a private car or another group outing.

The guide can shape the day

A shared tour depends heavily on the guide and driver. The guide speaks English or Malay, explains the stops, manages timing, and helps when the plan changes. Past departures have named Wendy, Nizam, Roy, and Roger, with particular praise for friendly service and clear help during the day.

That human element matters here because the itinerary has been changing. A good guide can explain a substitute stop, point out the best available view, and keep the group moving. Still, the guide may be working from company instructions and may not control late changes.

I recommend asking at pickup three direct questions:

• Is Desa Dairy Farm included today?
• What replaces the closed canopy walkway?
• Is there any extra entrance fee for the replacement stop?

This takes less than a minute and can prevent confusion. It is especially useful because one past departure involved poor communication about changes between the booking team and the guide.

Practical preparation for an 11-hour outing

Wear light clothing, comfortable walking shoes, and something to protect you from rain. Pack sunscreen, insect repellent, water, an umbrella, and a camera. The route moves between hot, humid forest areas and a cooler farm setting, so a light layer can be useful.

Smoking, alcohol, drugs, and littering are not allowed. The tour is not suitable for pregnant women, people with back or heart problems, or wheelchair users. Those limits matter because the day involves a long vehicle ride, walking at outdoor sites, and uneven conditions.

The tour offers free cancellation up to 24 hours in advance and a reserve-now, pay-later option. Those policies help if your schedule is uncertain, but they do not solve the main issue here: the experience can change after booking. Confirm the active route shortly before departure.

Who should book this tour?

I would choose this tour if you have one free day in Kota Kinabalu and want an easy way to see several inland sights. It suits first-time visitors, families who like varied stops, and anyone who prefers a guide and included transport over planning a long road trip.

It is also a sensible choice if you want to taste Desa Dairy Farm products, see the mountain region, and visit Poring without committing to a serious hike. The included lunch and hotel transfers keep the day simple.

I would hesitate if the canopy walkway is the main reason you are booking. It is closed now, and the replacement is not fixed in the information provided. I would also hesitate if you want a long visit at Kinabalu Park or a guaranteed farm visit.

Should you book it?

Book this tour for convenience and variety, not for one guaranteed signature attraction. At $79, the combination of transport, guide, lunch, entry fees, Poring Hot Springs, Desa Dairy Farm, and Kinabalu Park can be fair value.

Before confirming, ask for the current day’s route in writing. If the farm is included and the replacement for the closed canopy walkway sounds worthwhile, the tour offers a practical full day in Sabah’s mountain country. If the answer is vague, choose a tour built around the specific attraction you most want to see.

FAQ

How long does the tour last?

The tour lasts about 11 hours. Pickup is scheduled around 7:00 AM, and return to Kota Kinabalu is expected around 6:00 PM.

Is the canopy walkway open?

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

What happens instead of the canopy walkway?

The replacement activity is not fixed in the supplied details. Some departures have included alternatives such as a local market, a rafflesia viewing stop, or a waterfall visit, so confirm the plan before departure.

Is Desa Dairy Farm included?

The planned route includes Desa Dairy Farm, but the program has changed on some departures. Ask the operator to confirm that the farm visit is running on your date.

Is lunch included?

Yes. Lunch at a local restaurant is included in the tour price.

Are hot spring baths included?

The tour includes applicable entrance fees, but use of a private bath tub at Poring Hot Springs is not included. You pay separately for that option.

What languages does the guide speak?

The live guide service is available in English and Malay.

Is hotel pickup included?

Yes. Pickup and return transfer are included for listed Kota Kinabalu hotels. Hotels outside the city coverage area may require an additional RM40 per person, paid in cash to the driver or guide.

Can I cancel the booking?

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund. A reserve-now, pay-later option is also available.