Kinabalu National Park Day Tour: Poring Hot Springs

Walk the treetop canopy at Poring, soak in the hot springs, and search for Rafflesia in a single day

A guided day tour from Kota Kinabalu to Kinabalu National Park and Poring Hot Springs, with stops at Pekan Nabalu lookout, the UNESCO-listed park headquarters, and the geothermal site where you bathe in open-air sulphur pools and cross a 43-meter elevated walkway through the forest canopy. Hotel pickup, lunch and park entry are included. The guide speaks English and the round trip takes six hours of driving.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each

1. Poring Hot Springs2h · entry included
2. Kinabalu National Park30m · entry included

Explore Kinabalu Park and Poring Hot Springs

• Visit Pekan Nabalu rest station
• Explore Kinabalu National Park headquarters
• Experience Poring Hot Springs baths
• Walk the Poring canopy walkway
• See Kipungit Waterfall in Poring
• Look for Rafflesia flower (optional)

The experience

The tour starts with hotel pickup in Kota Kinabalu and heads toward the park along the main highway, stopping first at Pekan Nabalu, a rest station about 12 kilometers before the park entrance. The area sits at a lookout with views toward Mount Kinabalu and holds a 15-meter watchtower, a fruit market, and local shops: a practical break before the drive continues uphill to the park headquarters, which sits at 1,520 meters elevation where the air cools noticeably.

At Kinabalu National Park, the guide leads you through the main entry point and the Conservation Center, the administrative heart of Malaysia's first UNESCO world heritage site. The park draws over 250,000 visitors annually, though this tour focuses on the lower elevations and the geothermal attractions rather than the summit attempt. Lunch is provided during the day, and the air-conditioned vehicle keeps the group comfortable across the six-hour round-trip drive.

The second half of the tour moves to Poring, a site within the Kinabalu Geopark known for its hot sulphur springs: first developed by the Japanese during World War II and now piped into open-air baths and private indoor tubs. Here you walk the canopy walkway, a 43-meter-tall elevated path through the forest that gives a view of the treetops from inside them. Kipungit Waterfall lies deep in the Poring forest and is part of the route. Rafflesia, the world's largest flower, grows in this region and appears seasonally. Sightings depend on blooming time and are at your own expense if a guide helps locate one.

What’s included

• Return hotel transfer from Kota Kinabalu.
• entrance fee to Kinabalu National Park.
• lunch.
• air-conditioned vehicle.
• English-speaking guide throughout the day.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 07:00

AgesAdult (12 and older) · Child (3 to 11 years) · Infant (under 3): free

GroupUp to 40

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 2 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with heart problemsInfants must sit on laps

Operated by T.M.H

Is this one for you?The guide speaks English, so you follow the commentary without translation. The fixed itinerary and six-hour drive mean the day is structured for you, leaving no planning to do beyond showing up at your hotel at pickup time.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (3 to 11 years); Infant (under 3): free.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

How long is the drive from Kota Kinabalu to Kinabalu National Park?

The round-trip driving time is approximately six hours, with the park headquarters located about 92 kilometers from the city along the east coast highway.

What is Poring Hot Springs and what can I do there?

Poring is a geothermal site with natural sulphur springs piped into open-air baths and private indoor tubs, plus a 43-meter canopy walkway through the forest where you walk among the treetops.

Will I see Rafflesia on this tour?

Rafflesia, the world's largest flower, grows in the Poring area but blooms seasonally. Sightings are not guaranteed and viewing assistance is at your own expense.

What is included in the tour price?

Hotel pickup in Kota Kinabalu, park entrance fees, lunch, an air-conditioned vehicle and an English-speaking guide are all included.

Does the tour go to the summit of Mount Kinabalu?

No. The tour visits the park headquarters and the lower-elevation geothermal attractions at Poring, not the mountain peak.