Things to Do in Sabah

Sapi Island (Pulau Sapi is part of Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park, an underwater wonderland located just off the coast of Kota Kinabalu. Though the second-smallest island of the archipelago, Sapi Island is home to the Coral Flyer Zipline, one of the longest island-to-island ziplines in the world.

Located within easy reach of Kota Kinabalu city center, Sabah Museum (Sabah State Museum explores the heritage, art, culture, and daily life of Sabah and its people. As well as the main building, the museum comprises a Heritage Village, Ethnobotanical Garden, and a Science and Technology Center.

One of the most recognizable buildings in all of Sabah, Sabah State Mosque (Masjid Negeri Sabah) combines contemporary architecture with traditional Islamic design. A gold, honeycombed main dome is reigned over by a 215-foot (65-meter) minaret, which was inspired by those found in the Saudi Arabian cities of Mecca and Medina.

From picturesque beaches to illegal settlements, Gaya Island (Pulau Gaya) is home to diverse people, landscapes and history, which make a visit to its scenic shores perfect for any traveler. The well-known Police Beach boasts one of the most pristine stretches of white sand on the island, and travelers say it’s the perfect place to escape the chaos of city life and relax on sandy shores or take a dip in crystal blue waters.

A visit to nearby Kampung Lok Urai, a Filipino colony the state government refuses to recognize, offers travelers a different look at this storied island’s darker side. Located on the eastern shore of Gaya Island, Kampung Lok Urai is filled with stilt houses and walkways made of well-weathered planks. While it’s considered a high-risk travel area by police, it’s also home to a unique way of life found only on this popular island.

As the northernmost point of Borneo—the third-largest island in the world—the Tip of Borneo (Tanjung Simpang Mengayau) is the meeting point of the South China Sea and the Sulu Sea. The significant location of the dramatic headland is marked by a bronze globe and surrounded by rugged coastal scenery.

Located along the banks of the Penampang River, just 16 kilometers the bustling capital of Sabah, the Monsopiad Cultural Village is a living, breathing museum that aims to give visitors an insight into the history and culture of the Kadazandusun people.

The village is named after a notorious Kadazan warrior and headhunter who lived in the area hundreds of years ago. The village as it stands today was established by the descendants of Monsopiad in 1996 to serve as a heritage center.

There are a number of historical artifacts on display, as well as demonstrations of traditional customs and trades. One of the main attractions is the somewhat grizzly House of Skulls, where Monsopiad kept the skulls of his enemies as trophies.

Kota Belud is an unsuspecting town located in the north of Sabah, approximately 75 kilometers northeast of Kota Kinabalu. Relatively quiet throughout the week, the town comes alive each Sunday with its bustling market known as a tamu.

The market is part social occasion, partly commercial, and entirely enthralling for visitors. It's a colorful kaleidoscope of stalls selling local produce that overtakes the small town each and every week. With everything from leafy vegetables and farm produce to manufactured goods and home-baked treats, Kota Belud’s tamu is a hugely popular local event, with a smattering of tourists enticed in for good measure.

The market very much serves as a social occasion for locals, who swap stories and news as they gather for their weekly meet. Visitors to the tamu might also catch the Bajau horsemen displaying their horseriding skills, with both riders and animals decked out in spectacularly dazzling costumes.

Ride a steam train on a scenic journey on the North Borneo Railway in Malaysia. Formerly used to transport tobacco, the steam train today carries passengers along the only railway line in the state of Sabah, chugging from the coast through the lush interior of the island, between Tanjung Aru and Papar.

Established in 1964, the Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre rehabilitates baby orangutans that have been orphaned as a result of illegal logging and deforestation in Malaysia. Visit the center for an opportunity to see this endangered animal in its habitat at scheduled feeding times and in the rehabilitation nursery.

Located just outside of Kota Kinabalu city center, the Kota Kinabalu Wetland Centre is a naturally-occurring mangrove forest that provides some of the best bird watching opportunities in urban Sabah. The wetland is fed by both salt and fresh waters, which allows more than 80 species of resident and migratory birds to coexist within its diverse boundaries.