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Kota Kinabalu: Klias River Cruise & Fireflies with Dinner

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Free cancellationTravelers' pick

1/51

Duration9h

GroupUp to 30

LanguagesEN

PickupAt your hotel

River wildlife, local flavors and firefly lights in Klias

You’ll drift through Borneo’s Klias Peninsula by boat, spotting wild proboscis monkeys in the mangroves before sharing a local buffet dinner at sunset. As night falls, you’ll glide along the river again to watch fireflies spark up around you—a peaceful kind of magic you’ll want to remember long after you’re home.

Step-by-step itinerary

Pick up from Kota Kinabalu hotels at 1pm
Travel 2 hours to Klias by van
Relax and enjoy hi tea
Start first river cruise at 4:50pm
See Proboscis Monkeys and wildlife
Buffet dinner of local Malaysian cuisine
Second river cruise to watch fireflies
Return to Kota Kinabalu by 7:30pm
Hotel drop off and tour ends

The Experience

I didn’t expect to feel so calm just sitting by the water in the Klias Peninsula, but that’s what happened. The drive from Kota Kinabalu took a while—maybe two hours?—and I dozed off for part of it, waking up to see palm trees flickering past the window. Our guide, Hafiz, greeted us with a grin and poured me tea before I’d even figured out where to sit. The snacks were sweet and sticky (no idea what they’re called), but honestly, I liked them.

The first river cruise started late afternoon. It was humid but not uncomfortable—there’s always a breeze over the water. Hafiz pointed out proboscis monkeys lounging in the branches; their noses really are as odd as people say. One of them stared right back at us for ages. There were other boats nearby but it never felt crowded or rushed. At some point I caught a whiff of something floral—jasmine maybe? Or just the mangroves doing their thing.

Dinner was a buffet of Malaysian dishes (I piled my plate with rice and something spicy—I should’ve asked what it was). We ate outside while dusk settled in, which made everything feel slower somehow. Then came the second cruise: drifting along in near-darkness, watching fireflies blink on like tiny lanterns all around us. It’s hard to explain how quiet it got except for insects and someone’s laugh from another boat. I still think about that light show sometimes when I can’t sleep.

What’s included

Your day includes hotel pickup from Kota Kinabalu city hotels, comfortable transport out to Klias Peninsula, all entry fees and taxes covered, afternoon tea with local sweet snacks on arrival, a guided river cruise to spot wildlife like proboscis monkeys, a buffet dinner of Malaysian dishes by the riverside, followed by an evening boat ride to see fireflies before heading back into town at night.

Good to know

Easy physical levelWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportStroller friendlyInfant seats available

Operated by Only In Borneo Tours