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

Poring Hot Springs and Kinabalu Park make a fine pair for a long day outside Kota Kinabalu, but the tour’s headline attraction needs a clear warning: the Canopy Walkway is closed for maintenance until further notice. The route still gives you rainforest scenery, mountain views, lunch, and a visit to Desa Dairy Farm, but you should not book expecting to walk above the forest right now.

I like the practical hotel pickup and the way this trip packs three very different Sabah sights into one day. I also like the chance to buy fresh milk, yogurt, and ice cream at Desa Dairy Farm, often called Little New Zealand. The main drawback is the long drive, about six hours in total, plus recent changes to the advertised stops that left some participants disappointed.

Key points to know before you book

• The canopy walkway is currently closed: It is not included until local maintenance work is finished.
• Desa Dairy Farm needs confirmation: The planned visit has changed on some departures, so ask exactly what will operate on your date.
• Poring Hot Springs still offers more than bathing: You can walk around the grounds and may see nearby natural features such as a waterfall.
• The day begins early and runs long: Pickup is scheduled around 7:00 AM, with return to Kota Kinabalu around 6:00 PM.
• The price covers the basics: At $79, you get transport, lunch, guide service, and applicable entrance fees, but not a private vehicle or personal purchases.
• Guide service can shape the day: Past guides named Wendy, Nizam, Roy, and Roger were praised for being friendly and helpful.

A long Sabah day built around three different stops

This is a shared 11-hour excursion from Kota Kinabalu, designed for people who want to see inland Sabah without arranging a car, driver, and separate tickets. You travel by van with other participants, making the day simple but not especially flexible.

The route moves from rainforest to farm country and then to the Mount Kinabalu area. That variety is the real appeal. Poring feels tropical and warm, Desa Dairy Farm offers open views and dairy products, and Kinabalu Park gives you a chance to photograph one of Sabah’s best-known natural sights.

The distance is the tradeoff. The listed driving time is about three hours each way. That means much of your day is spent on the road, though the scenery and changing surroundings help break up the journey. I would see this as a sightseeing sampler, not a slow nature retreat.

The tour costs $79 per person. That is reasonable if you value convenience and the included lunch, transport, guide, and entry charges. It becomes less convincing if you are mainly booking for the canopy walk or expecting long, unhurried visits at every stop.

The 7:00 AM pickup from Kota Kinabalu

Pickup is available from a long list of Kota Kinabalu hotels, including Hilton Kota Kinabalu, Le Méridien, Kota Kinabalu Marriott, The Magellan Sutera Resort, Shangri-La Tanjung Aru, Hyatt Centric, Holiday Inn Express, and several others.

You should wait in your hotel lobby at least 10 minutes before the scheduled time. Because this is a shared tour, the van may need to collect people from several properties before heading inland. Bring water and keep your first meal light if you are prone to motion sickness, since the full drive is substantial.

Hotels outside the stated Kota Kinabalu coverage area cost extra. The listed examples include Shangri-La Rasa Ria, Nexus Karambunai, 1Borneo, Inanam, and Tuaran. The additional charge is RM 40 per person, paid in cash directly to the driver or guide at pickup.

That extra fee is easy to miss when comparing prices. Add it before deciding if the tour fits your budget.

Poring Hot Springs without the canopy walk

The schedule places you at Poring Hot Springs around 10:00 AM, with about two hours for a guided visit, walking, sightseeing, and free time. Poring is known for its hot spring facilities and rainforest setting, so the stop can still work well even with the main canopy attraction closed.

The important point is that the canopy walkway is not currently part of the tour. The closure is due to maintenance by the local authority. Do not assume the guide can arrange access or that the walk will reopen during your visit.

The tour information also says that using a private bath tub at the hot springs is not included. If bathing is important to you, ask the operator what access is available on your date and what you would pay separately. The supplied details do not promise a private tub or specify a bathing package.

You will have time to walk around the grounds. A past version of the route included a nearby waterfall visit, and that can be a pleasant way to make use of the stop, especially in the warm air. Still, the exact replacement program can change, so ask before departure instead of treating any extra stop as guaranteed.

This is also where footwear matters. The suggested items include sunscreen, insect repellent, water, an umbrella, and a camera. Wear shoes suitable for walking on wet or uneven paths. Smoking, alcohol, drugs, and littering are not allowed.

Lunch at a local restaurant

Around noon, the group stops for lunch at a local restaurant. Lunch is included, which helps keep the day straightforward and protects you from having to search for food during a tightly timed route.

The available information does not give a fixed menu. If you have dietary restrictions, ask in advance rather than assuming the restaurant can provide a suitable meal. One hour is allowed, so this is a practical meal break, not a food-focused stop.

I like having lunch built into the price, but remember that included meals on shared day trips are mainly about timing and convenience. You are not choosing from a long list of restaurants or setting the pace yourself.

Desa Dairy Farm and the Little New Zealand comparison

The planned afternoon visit to Desa Dairy Farm is one of the tour’s strongest ideas. The farm is often called Little New Zealand, and it offers a change of pace after the hot springs. You can look across the farm area, take photographs, and purchase dairy products such as ice cream, yogurt, and fresh milk.

For families, this may be the most immediately enjoyable stop. The dairy treats give you something concrete to look forward to, and the open farm setting contrasts with the thick rainforest at Poring.

But this stop needs a firm confirmation. On some departures, the farm visit was reportedly canceled or replaced, and the change was not always communicated clearly before pickup. That is a serious concern because Desa Dairy Farm is one of the main reasons people choose this particular tour.

Ask the operator these questions before paying:

• Is Desa Dairy Farm definitely operating on my date?
• How much time will we spend there?
• If it is closed or removed, what is the replacement?
• Are farm products purchased separately?

The last answer is clear: ice cream, yogurt, and milk are personal purchases, not part of the tour price.

Kinabalu Park and your Mount Kinabalu photo stop

The itinerary places Kinabalu Park around 2:30 PM for a photo stop and free time, with about one hour listed for the visit. This is not a full park exploration or a mountain trek. Think of it as a chance to see the area around Mount Kinabalu, take photographs, and stretch your legs before the return drive.

The mountain is the visual anchor of the day. Weather can affect what you see, so do not treat a clear Mount Kinabalu photograph as guaranteed. The tour offers a scenic stop, not a climb, guided botanical walk, or extended park program.

This distinction matters. If you want a serious visit to Kinabalu Park, you may prefer a dedicated park tour with more time. If you simply want to add the mountain to a wider day of sightseeing, the one-hour stop may be enough.

One past account described the park walk as lasting only about 10 minutes. That suggests the actual time outdoors can depend on the guide, group pace, and changes to the schedule. Ask how much time is planned if the park is a priority for you.

The return drive and the value of a shared van

The return trip starts around 4:00 PM, with arrival back in Kota Kinabalu expected around 6:00 PM. After hot springs, walking, and a full day of stops, the final three hours in the van may feel long.

Still, the shared vehicle is the reason this tour is fairly easy to arrange. You do not need to drive unfamiliar roads, negotiate separate admission, or organize lunch. Your guide handles the day’s movement, and the tour includes return transfer to one of the listed Kota Kinabalu hotels.

The downside is limited control. You cannot simply skip a stop, stay longer at the farm, or leave the group early. Pickup and drop-off are also tied to the listed hotel areas, and the exact order or duration of stops may shift.

For a private group, a private car would offer more freedom. For a solo visitor or couple who want a lower-effort day, the shared van can be good value.

Guide service and communication matter here

The guide speaks English or Malay. Friendly service has been one of the strongest parts of the experience. Past departures specifically praised Wendy and driver Nizam, Roy, and Roger. Roger was noted for helping arrange a request to see a rafflesia, and other accounts described guides as kind and willing to explain the sights.

Do not assume a rafflesia visit is included in the current program. That was an extra request on one departure, and any such stop depends on timing, local conditions, and the guide’s ability to arrange it. The same caution applies to replacement stops such as Nabalu Village Market.

The bigger issue is communication when the plan changes. A guide may be carrying out updated instructions while the booking information still shows older stops. That is not necessarily the guide’s fault, but it can leave you expecting a farm visit or canopy walk that no longer happens.

I would contact the operator shortly before the trip and save the answer in writing. Confirm the canopy closure, Desa Dairy Farm status, replacement stops, and any extra fees. This simple check can prevent the main frustration reported with the experience.

Who will get the most from this tour

This trip suits you if you have limited time in Sabah and want a broad introduction to the countryside around Kota Kinabalu. It is especially useful if you prefer having transport, lunch, admissions, and a guide arranged in one booking.

You are likely to enjoy it most if you are comfortable with a long van ride and a changing schedule. Families may like the farm treats, photographers will appreciate the mountain stop, and first-time visitors can see several well-known places without renting a car.

It is a weaker fit if you want a relaxed pace, a proper hot spring bathing session, or a full nature walk. It is also not suitable for pregnant women, people with back or heart problems, or wheelchair users, according to the stated restrictions.

The tour is not designed for smoking, alcohol, drugs, or littering. Bring an umbrella because rain is possible, and carry insect repellent for the rainforest stop.

Is $79 a fair price?

The $79 price includes hotel pickup and return, shared transport, a guide, lunch, and applicable entrance fees. That bundle has real value, especially when you factor in the distance between Kota Kinabalu, Poring, the farm, and Kinabalu Park.

The value weakens if the canopy walkway and Desa Dairy Farm are both absent. The canopy closure is clearly stated now, but the farm situation has been less consistent. If one of the main stops changes, you should judge the tour by the replacement plan, not by the original title.

The price also excludes personal spending, dairy products, a hot spring bath tub, and the RM 40 outside-area pickup fee. One past account raised an additional foreign visitor charge of RM 85, but that fee is not part of the stated current inclusions. If anyone asks you for such a charge, request a clear explanation before departure.

You can cancel up to 24 hours ahead for a full refund, and the reserve-now, pay-later option gives you some flexibility. Use that flexibility to confirm the current itinerary before the cancellation window closes.

Should you book the Kinabalu Park and Poring tour?

Book it if you want a convenient, full-day sampler and can accept that the canopy walk is unavailable. The combination of rainforest, hot springs, dairy farm products, and Mount Kinabalu scenery gives you a varied day for a reasonable bundled price.

I would book only after confirming Desa Dairy Farm and the replacement plan for Poring. If the farm is guaranteed and you are happy with a photo stop at Kinabalu Park, the tour should serve you well. If the farm is canceled too, or if you want a slower and more detailed visit, choose a more focused private excursion instead.

The strongest part of this experience is the people and the range of places covered. The weakest part is the changing information. Go in with realistic expectations, pack for heat and rain, and confirm the details before you leave your hotel.

FAQ

Is the canopy walkway included in this tour?

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

What is included in the $79 price?

The price includes hotel pickup and return transfer, shared transport, applicable entrance fees, lunch, and a tour guide. Personal expenses, a hot spring bath tub, and items not listed are excluded.

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 Desa Dairy Farm guaranteed?

The planned itinerary includes Desa Dairy Farm, but the stop has changed on some departures. Confirm its status and any replacement plan before booking.

Which languages does the guide speak?

The live guide service is available in English and Malay.

Is hotel pickup available outside central Kota Kinabalu?

Pickup is available from listed Kota Kinabalu hotels. For locations outside the city coverage area, including Shangri-La Rasa Ria, Nexus Karambunai, 1Borneo, Inanam, and Tuaran, an additional RM 40 per person applies, payable in cash to the driver or guide.