🌴 Day 1 Special Forces Rush Day
06:00 Arrive in Kota Kinabalu, take a Grab to Gaya Street
07:00 Breakfast at Yee Fung Tea Room
✅ Summary: Overall, not my taste, but since I’m here…
09:00 Luggage storage at the hotel (The Shore by Homesuite)
✅ Strong recommendation: 180° floor-to-ceiling windows for lying and watching the sunset
⚠ Need to communicate in English for check-in (prepare translation software in advance)
11:00 Water Mosque
📍 Location: Masjid Bandaraya Kota Kinabalu
✅ 5 Ringgit for panoramic photos on the surrounding lawn (taking photos from the road will get you caught)
⚠ The tickets for the surroundings and inside are different, make sure to ask clearly before purchasing
14:00 Lunch at Shi Quan Shi Mei
📍 Location: Hilltop restaurant
✅ Must-try: Salted egg yolk fried crab + pepper salt squid
⚠ Beware: There is a minimum spend (the second time I went, the waiter who served seafood had a bad attitude, holding a grudge)
16:00 Return to the hotel to rest and wait for the sunset
▫ Seaview room allows you to watch the sunset from the hotel (a different experience)
▫ 5-minute walk to the free pier viewing platform
19:30 Yuan Tea Room
✅ Banana chocolate toast & Indian fried noodles are delicious
⚠ Many stores in Kota Kinabalu are closed during the Chinese New Year (pay attention to business hours)
🏝 Day 2 Manukan Island Impact Day
06:50 Gather at the pier –> 11:00 First snorkeling experience –> 12:30 Camp lunch –> 13:00 Free time –> 13:40 Prepare to return to the pier –> 17:00 Tanjung Aru Sunset –> 19:30 Xin Ji Bak Kut Teh
Experience Summary:
✅ Take seasickness medicine half an hour before boarding!
⚠ Caution: Must apply sunscreen when snorkeling! (Wear a jellyfish suit for physical sun protection)
✅ Free route to watch the sunset at Tanjung Aru Beach: Locate Zing Sunset Bar, get off the car, go through a small corridor, then through the restaurant directly to the beach
🌌 Day 3 Firefly Healing Day
We didn’t see the proboscis monkeys, went straight to see fireflies by private car
12:00 Grill Fish for lunch
✅ Must-try: Creamy tiger prawns (Udang Butter) + fried squid rings
⚠ Summary: Super large portions, too much fried food can be greasy (suggest eating according to your capacity)
14:00 Check-in at Pacific Sutera Hotel
✅ Surprise: Private pier for watching the sunset!
The outdoor environment is breathtakingly beautiful
▫ Free perks: Can check in early, or watch the sunset from the lounge chairs at the hotel pier
14:40 Depart for the mangrove forest
16:30 Watch the sunset at the mangrove beach
▫ Extremely beautiful sunset + digging for crabs on the beach (super fun)
▫ Enjoy dinner while watching the sunset (very relaxing)
18:30 Firefly forest
✅ Summary: The atmosphere cannot be captured by a phone, you’ll regret coming, but also regret not coming
🛍 Day 4: A Leisurely Wrap-up
12:00 Souvenirs at a Creative Haven
📍 Location: Ulu-ulu Boutique & Studio
✅ Must-buy: Unique refrigerator magnets and charming proboscis monkey pendants
13:00 The Pink Mosque at Universiti Malaysia Sabah
📍 Location: Masjid UMS Kota Kinabalu
✅ After purchasing your ticket at the entrance, a driver will whisk you directly inside.
✅ Must-try: Indulge in Mr. Mang’s refreshing shaved ice, a local favorite!
⚠ Keep an eye out for geckos; they can be quite a surprise if you’re not expecting them.
14:00 A Second Visit to Shi Quan Shi Mei
▫ Savor one last salted egg yolk fried crab before you bid farewell to this culinary gem.
17:30 Return to the Airport
▫ Arrive two hours early to catch the stunning “salted egg yolk” sunset at the airport—a perfect, picturesque ending to your trip!
This itinerary looks doable even for someone like me who hates rushing around. I especially like the tip about the Water Mosque; it’s always good to know where to get those Insta-worthy shots without too much hassle. Have you tried any local food spots off the beaten path?
This itinerary looks doable even for someone like me who hates rushing around. I especially like the tip about the Water Mosque—it sounds stunning, though I’d be careful not to accidentally disrespect any rules since I always seem to mess those things up.