Hotel: Holiday Inn Express Kota Kinabalu City Centre
Holiday Inn Express, part of the InterContinental Hotels Group, costs around 300-400 RMB per night during the off-season. The low-rise floor-to-ceiling windows on the north side offer a view of the tropical rainforest that feels like a fairyland.
Rough Travel Itinerary
【DAY1.3.5 Laid-back Leisure】
【DAY2.4 Slightly More Adventurous】
DAY1: Morning at Kota Kinabalu Wetland Park + Afternoon at Lok Kawi Wildlife Park
DAY2: Morning at Mantanani Island + Afternoon and Evening at Kawa Mangrove
DAY3: Morning for Eating and Sleeping + Afternoon Stroll at Likas Bay
DAY4: Morning at Kinabalu Park + Afternoon at Poring Hot Springs and Rafflesia
DAY5: Morning for Eating and Sleeping + Afternoon at Sabah University
Detailed Travel Itinerary
DAY1 (Landing and Strolling)
6:00 Land in Kota Kinabalu
7:30 Store luggage at the hotel and have breakfast
9:00 Stroll and bird watching at Kota Kinabalu Wetland Park
12:00 Have lunch
13:00 Visit Lok Kawi Wildlife Park
15:30 Return to the hotel for check-in and rest
Have dinner, watch the sunset 
, enjoy the blue hour sky, and stroll around the city
DAY2 (Mantanani Island + Kawa Mangrove)
6:50 Depart from the hotel
9:30 Arrive at the pier by car
10:30 Reach Mantanani Island by speedboat
11:00~12:30 Snorkeling at two spots
12:30~14:00 Lunch, play in the water, and take photos
15:30 Arrive at Kawa for afternoon tea
16:00 Depart to see proboscis monkeys and macaques
18:00 Dinner
19:30 Expected departure to see fireflies (canceled if heavy rain)
20:00 Start the journey back to the hotel, arriving around 22:00
DAY3 (Bay Stroll)
13:00 Take a Grab to Likas Bay
Stroll until sunset and return to the city
DAY4 (Mount Kinabalu Hike + Poring Hot Springs)
8:00 Depart from the hotel
9:30~12:00 Hike at Kinabalu Park
12:00~14:00 Lunch at Hakka Cuisine Center + travel time
14:00~15:00 Walk the suspension bridge at Poring Hot Springs
15:00~16:00 Soak in private hot springs at Poring
16:30 See the Rafflesia
Return to the city
DAY5
12:00 Take a Grab to Sabah University for a campus walk
16:30 Leave the campus
Food
KK Garden Seafood
Everything except the drinks is incredibly delicious 
Highly recommended with five stars
Welcome Seafood
The crabs are delicious Large crabs and soft-shell crabs are my favorites
The three-color milk tea and coconut ice (pudding) are not bad but not outstanding
Yuan Tea House
The baked pastries are quite different from those in Kuala Lumpur
But the noodles and rice dishes are very tasty, and the drinks are good too
Gaya Street Night Market
The large squid tastes average
The Chinese shops have generous portions of fresh juice, and the people are very friendly, and it’s freshly squeezed, super delicious!
Supermarkets
For a fantastic shopping experience, head over to Suria Sabah, Imago, and Sutera Harbour. These places are not only great for picking up essentials but also offer a variety of unique items. Don’t forget to grab some mosquito repellent—it’s an absolute must-have! And while you’re there, treat yourself to a refreshing glass of guava juice; it’s simply delicious!
If you’re health-conscious, you’ll be pleased to find a range of sugar-free yogurts that are both tasty and good for you.
Detailed guides for all attractions and activities can be found on my homepage. Feel free to search and view them whenever you need more information.
When planning your itinerary, start with snorkeling at the far islands, and then make your way to Magellan Dock for the nearby islands when the weather is clear. This way, you can make the most of your trip and enjoy the best conditions for each activity.
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