The Kinabalu National Park and Poring Hot Springs Tour from Kota Kinabalu is available in two options – coach and private. The private option offers you greater flexibility and you can spend as much or as little time at any of the places that you visit. Unlike coach tours, which have tight schedules, the private option lets you to do the tour at your own pace.
Whichever option you choose, you will be picked up from your hotel in Kota Kinabalu and taken on a full day’s sightseeing trip. An expert English-speaking guide will go with you.
After a 3-hour drive from Kota Kinabalu, you will reach Poring Hot Springs. The springs are known for their therapeutic properties and the sulfuric waters are said to ease aching muscles.
You will be taken on a guided canopy walk (100-200 feet above the forest floor) led by a Park Ranger. The graded trail is quite steep and the walk is 40-50 minutes altogether.
After the walk, enjoy an invigorating mineral bath in the sulfuric waters, which are piped into outdoor Japanese style tubs, before having lunch in a local restaurant.
Then head on to Kinabalu Park, located at the base of Mount Kinabalu. Standing at 4095.2 meters (13,435.7 ft) above sea level, Mount Kinabalu is the highest mountain in South East Asia. Its foothills have an incredible diversity of flora and fauna and make up one of the most important biological sites in the world.
Botanical stars of the park include Rafflesia, the world's biggest flower – its huge red blossoms can reach more than 170 cm in diameter but it blooms only rarely. Another Kinabalu specialty is the giant pitcher plant Nepenthes raja, which can hold up to 3.5 liters of water and has even been known to catch frogs and small mammals. The forest trees are festooned with colorful orchids which make it a delight to walk the trails.
More than 300 bird species have been recorded in Kinabalu including the mountain bush warbler, Kinabalu friendly warbler, pale-faced bulbul and mountain black eye. Small mammals found in the jungle include mountain squirrels, tree shrews and bats.
At the Park, you will visit the Mountain Garden, where you will see a stunning collection of orchids, pitcher plants and other fascinating flora, some of which are found only at Kinabalu Park.
At the end of the tour, you will be dropped off at your hotel in Kota Kinabalu.