Kinabalu Park & Poring Hot Springs: Canopy walk and sulfur baths

Walk the rainforest canopy 200 feet above ground, then soak in volcanic hot springs

A full-day tour from your hotel to Kinabalu National Park and Poring Hot Springs combines a 20-minute hike to a canopy walkway suspended 200 feet above the rainforest, a soak in open-air sulfur baths, and views of Mount Kinabalu at 13,435 feet. The route includes stops at Desa Dairy Farm and the Nabalu Fruit Market, with lunch, an English-speaking guide, and hotel pickup included.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each

1. Tanjung Aru Beachpassing by
2. Poring Hot Springs30m · entry included
3. Kinabalu National Park45m
4. Mount Kinabalupassing by

Explore Kinabalu Park and Poring Hot Springs

• Depart city hotel at 0730hrs
• Drive 1.5 hours through countryside
• Stop at Nabalu Fruit Market
• Visit Desa Dairy Farm
• Lunch at local restaurant
• Drive 45 minutes to Poring Hot Springs
• Hike 20 minutes to Canopy Walkway
• Walk 200 feet above ground on canopy
• Dip in Japanese style hot spring bath
• Visit Kinabalu Park
• Enjoy view of Mount Kinabalu

The experience

The day starts at 7:30 a.m. from your hotel with a 90-minute drive through the Crocker Range foothills. You'll stop at the Nabalu Fruit Market, then continue to Desa Dairy Farm, which sits on pastures overlooking Mount Kinabalu and is nicknamed "The Little New Zealand" of Sabah for its rolling green hills and dairy operations. After lunch at a local restaurant, the drive to Poring Hot Springs takes another 45 minutes through Kundasang, a vegetable-growing town nestled in the highlands.

At Poring Hot Springs, you have two options. The first is a 20-minute hike to the Canopy Walkway, a 134-foot structure that puts you 200 feet above the rainforest floor: high enough to see the layered canopy and the biodiversity of the park's flora and fauna. The second is to skip the hike and go straight to the open-air Japanese-style bathtubs filled with naturally heated sulfuric water, which locals believe has curative properties. Most visitors do both: walk the canopy, then soak afterward. Kinabalu National Park itself, Malaysia's first World Heritage Site, covers 754 square kilometers and was established in 1964 to protect the rainforest ecosystem and the peak that dominates the landscape.

The tour runs 8 hours total and suits anyone comfortable with a morning departure and a 20-minute uphill walk. Proper hiking shoes, a hat, and a light jacket are essential. The highlands are cooler than the coast, and rain is common. A minimum of four travelers is required for the tour to operate.

What’s included

• Hotel or cruise terminal pickup and drop-off.
• lunch at a local restaurant.
• entrance fees to Kinabalu National Park and Poring Hot Springs.
• English-speaking guide.
• air-conditioned vehicle transport.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 07:15

Book up to2h before

AgesAdult (12 and older) · Child (2 to 11 years) · Infant (under 2): free

GroupUp to 15

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup is optional; you can also go straight to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

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

Prices and times updated 5 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortPublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Asni Tours & Travel (M) Sdn Bhd

Is this one for you?The 8-hour day starts early (7:30 a.m. departure) and includes a 20-minute uphill hike to the canopy walkway, so it suits travelers who are comfortable with an early start and moderate walking. If you prefer a later departure or want to avoid hiking, this tour is not the fit. If you're up for the pace and the height, the canopy walk and hot springs both fit inside one day.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (2 to 11 years); Infant (under 2): free.

How high is the canopy walkway at Poring Hot Springs?

The Canopy Walkway stands 134 feet tall and suspends you 200 feet above the rainforest floor. A 20-minute hike leads to it from the park entrance, and the height is real. You're looking down through layers of trees and vegetation.

What's the drive time from the hotel to Kinabalu Park?

The total drive is roughly 1.5 hours to Desa Dairy Farm, then another 45 minutes to Poring Hot Springs after lunch. You'll pass through countryside, mountain ranges, and the vegetable-growing town of Kundasang along the way.

Can I skip the canopy walk and just use the hot springs?

Yes. At Poring Hot Springs, you can choose to hike to the Canopy Walkway or go directly to the open-air sulfur baths. Many visitors do both, but the hot spring dip alone is a valid option if you prefer not to hike.

What does the sulfur water at Poring feel like?

The water is naturally heated by underground springs and has a sulfuric mineral content. It's warm to hot depending on which pool you enter, and locals believe it has therapeutic properties. The bathtubs are open-air and Japanese-style, so you're soaking with a view of the surrounding hills.

What is Desa Dairy Farm?

Desa Dairy Farm is a working dairy operation in the highlands that produces the local Desa milk brand. It's a stop on the drive north, popular with both locals and tourists because of its views of Mount Kinabalu and the green pastures that give it the nickname "The Little New Zealand" of Sabah.

Is Mount Kinabalu visible from the tour?

Yes. Mount Kinabalu, at 13,435 feet the highest peak in Malaysia, is visible from Desa Dairy Farm and from Kinabalu Park itself. Clear days offer the best views. Cloud cover is common in the afternoons.