Top Sabah Cultural Tours

The rich indigenous cultures are one of the highlights of any visit to Borneo. Experience them without the hassles of self-drive on this convenient private tour of the Monsopiad Cultural Village. Learn how the Kadazan people live and about the feats of the mighty headhunter Monsopiad, and enjoy cultural experiences from rice wine to dances.

Kota Kinabalu, the gateway to the rest of Sabah, is also the state capital. It has a population of approximately 300,000 and is usually called 'KK' for short. On this tour you will view the Puh Toh Tze (Chinese Buddhist temple) with a huge status of Kuan Yin (her goddess of mercy), Atkinson Clock Tower (one of the most enduring landmarks stands prominently on a bluff along Signal Hill), photo stop at City Mosque, shopping at Cocoa Boutique where you can find our local chocolate and enjoy some leisure time mingling with the local people at the (Filipino Market) Handicraft market before proceed back to hotel.

Cruise through the mangrove forests near Kota Kinabalu on this evening excursion in search of local wildlife. Listen to educational commentary on local species, such as proboscis monkeys, silver leaf moneys, macaque long tail monkeys, monitor lizards, and native birds. Once the sun sets, enjoy the sights of fireflies blinking in the twilight.

Check off Kota Kinabalu’s key sights in just half a day on this comprehensive guided door-to-door tour. Soak up sweeping views of the city from Signal Hill, learn about Chinese Buddhism at Pu Toh Tze Temple, and explore Sabah’s rich heritage at the Sabah State Museum. Along the way, see the Sabah State Mosque, the Kota Kinabalu City Mosque, and the 30-story Menara Tun Mustapha.

Combine culture and sightseeing in Kota Kinabalu with this private night tour. After pickup from your hotel, head to Signal Hill Observatory Platform for views of the city at dusk, then head to the Night Market to browse for a variety of goods. Afterwards, enjoy a seafood dinner while being entertained by a Sabah Cultural Show with a mix of different traditional dances.

Discover Kota Kinabalu with this 3-hour tour with an English speaking guide. Travel around in comfort in an air-conditioned vehicle and visit the Sabah Foundation Building, City Mosque, University of Sabah, and Sabah Museum, and enjoy sweeping views of the city from the top of Signal Hill.

Visit the Mari Mari Cultural Village, an open-air museum that introduces you to Borneo’s ethnic cultures. Visit longhouses in the village and observe the daily routines of Sabah’s traditional groups including the Dusun, Rungus, Lundayeh, Bajau and Murut. Taste Sabahan specialties for lunch and observe cultural demonstrations such as blowpipe making, fire starting, and tattooing while you learn from your guide about the mystical symbolism behind these practices. Round-trip transport from Kota Kinabalu hotels included.

Delve into Sabah’s cultural melting pot on a day trip to Mar Mari Cultural Village, where you can meet the people of indigenous Borneo and witness fire-starting and blowpipe-making demonstrations. Perfect for families and first-time visitors, this small-group tour is limited to 15 people to ensure personalized attention from your guide.

Experience Borneo’s wild nature on this 2-day tour of Sandakan. In the company of a guide, travel from the airport to Sepilok, where you can admire orangutans in their natural habitat. After a hearty lunch, head to the countryside and take a cruise on Kinabatangan River. Spend a night at a rustic lodge. On your second day, visit Gomantong Cave and explore the town of Sandakan.

Located on the Klias Peninsula, the Klias Wetlands are home to proboscis monkeys, making it a popular ecotourism destination in Sabah, Malaysia. On this afternoon cruise, be on the lookout for the shy creatures perched between the branches. At sunset, enjoy the sights and sounds of nature as you dine on an Asian buffet dinner at the river lodge. Then, head back out through the mangrove swamp at dark to see the flickering lights of fireflies.

Visitors to Kota Kinabalu love venturing out of the city to get amongst nature and see the daily life of Malaysia’s indigenous communities. This 3-hour tour of the Mari Mari Cultural Village lets travelers explore tribal homes and watch a range of interactive demonstrations. With an expert guide to accompany you, this is the ideal activity for those who want to learn more about Malaysia’s rich history and culture.

Escape the city and delve deeper into Borneo’s indigenous culture on a day trip to Tuaran from Kota Kinabalu. A great introduction for first-time visitors, this package saves you the stress of advance planning by taking care of transport and activities, and offering the inside scoop on Sabah’s culture and history.

The city of Kota Kinabalu is the capital of Malaysia’s Sabah state, located on the island of Borneo. Discover the sights and history of the city as you embark on a sightseeing tour of its top landmarks. Take in the city views from Signal Hill, learn about the state’s history at the Sabah Museum, visit the state mosque, and much more.

See Kota Kinabalu’s lively nightlife unfold before your eyes as the sun sets on the South China Sea. Stroll through the bustling night market, admire a beautiful sunset from splendid Signal Hill, and indulge in a fresh seafood dinner as locals perform traditional dances to authentic Malaysian songs. - Kota Kinabalu's thriving nightlife & city lights - Bargain-hunting & street eats at the bustling night market - Signal Hill—wondrous cityscape & ocean views - Spirited performance of traditional Sabah dance - Delicious & freshly prepared seafood dinner

Discover the beauty of the Kudat Peninsula on this Tip of Borneo day trip from Kota Kinabalu. Mingle with the locals in the town of Kota Belud, and learn of the indigenous Bajau and Rungus peoples. Gain insight into local bee-farming and honey-harvesting at Kampung Gombizau, and visit a traditional Rungus longhouse to learn of their cultural traditions. Enjoy breathtaking views over the South China Sea from your vantage point at the Tip of Borneo, the island’s northernmost edge. Capture the views on camera before returning to Kota Kinabalu.

Unless you speak Malay, navigating the Kota Belud Sunday market can be a difficult task. Discover the best of the weekly shopping bonanza, and return home with the most memorable souvenirs, after a stress-free day trip from Kota Kinabalu. Exploring the market with a guide means that you'll have chance to practice your bargaining skills as well as gaining insight into the culture and history of Kota Belud. 

Discover the capital of Borneo’s Sabah state, Kota Kinabalu, on this half-day sightseeing excursion. Enjoy visits to several cultural sights including the city mosque, the Buddhist Pu Toh Tze Temple, and the Sabah State Museum. You also have ample time to explore the Filipino Market on your own where you can purchase souvenirs and other knick knacks.

See Kota Kinabalu’s lively nightlife unfold before your eyes as the sun sets on the South China Sea. Stroll through the bustling night market, admire a beautiful sunset from splendid Signal Hill, and indulge in a fresh seafood dinner as locals perform traditional dances to authentic Malaysian songs. - Kota Kinabalu's thriving nightlife & city lights - Bargain-hunting & street eats at the bustling night market - Signal Hill—wondrous cityscape & ocean views - Spirited performance of traditional Sabah dance - Delicious & freshly prepared seafood dinner

Discover the world of the Kadazan people on a 3-hour tour to the Monsopiad Cultural Village. After transfer from your hotel, your visit to the village begins with a glass of local rice wine. Follow your guide to the House of the Skull where you learn about the legendary warrior, which the park is named for. Later, watch or join in a traditional Kadazan dance.

The Chanteek Borneo Gallery is home to an exhibition of about 300 dolls of 48 ethnic costumes and its collection is constantly growing. Anne Antah, the owner, began making these dolls in 2011 as a hobby before opening the gallery once the number of her dolls became large enough. The gallery explains the history and culture of all the indigenous tribes of Sabah, told in an interesting way through these traditional costumes.

Malaysia’s deeply-rooted cultural heritage has long been a key reason for travellers exploring the Sabah side of Borneo. Spread across the vastness of the region, the cultural differences between the indigenous tribes and minorities, the awareness of the interesting sights and sounds of ethnicity slowly moves towards preservation. With Mari Mari Cultural Village, guests are now able to get a taste of the diversity of the Borneo side of the variety of Borneo without having to travel into all corners and directions and seeking out these interests. The set-up of this village is centralized around the values of Borneo minorities, each with their specific traditions and beliefs. With three departures each day, planned in such a way that engaged visitors will not miss some of the demonstrations of what is acclaimed to be one of the best set-ups of multi-cultural experiences.

Make sure to check out the colorful sunset while you’re in Kota Kinabalu, and a fun, social way to do this is to hop on a sunset dinner cruise. Your guide will take care of all the logistics, like pickup and drop-off at your Kota Kinabalu hotel in Sabah, plus arrange your boat, captain, and buffet dinner. You can just relax, mingle, and enjoy the sunset.

Kota Kinabalu is equal parts exciting and exhausting, so heading into the Bornean countryside can offer a welcome relief after a few days of bustling markets and streets. Recharge during your time in Kota Kinabalu and Sabah on this full day rafting excursion, operating on rapids that are suitable for beginner rafters. Rafting is a popular day trip from Kota Kinabalu, although many rafters spend a lot of their day hiring a car and picking up gear. Avoid that, and spend more time enjoying the Kedamaian River on this tour.