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Kota Kinabalu Tours
Island Hopping
4.5
Recommended by 91% of travelers
91% of reviewers gave this product a bubble rating of 4 or higher.
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Ages 0-60, max of 12 per group
Duration: 7h
Start time: Check availability
Mobile ticket
Live guide: Chinese, English
More


  • Use of snorkel equipment (Except fin)
  • Lunch
  • Round-trip shared transfer
  • Local guide
  • Driver/guide
  • Air-conditioned vehicle
What's not included
  • Gratuities


Start:Multiple pickup locations offered.
    Pickup details
    • Additional charges of are chargeable for outskirt hotels pick-ups. Outskirt charges will be imposed on traveler that request to be picked up at hotels outside of Kota Kinabalu city area & 1 Borneo Shopping mall area. Pan Borneo Hotel/ 1 Borneo Shopping mall area = RM20.00 per person Nexus/Rasa Ria Resort = Rm40.00 per person
    Hotel pickup offered
    During checkout you will be able to select from the list of included hotels.
      End:This activity ends back at the meeting point.

        • Not wheelchair accessible
        • Infants must sit on laps
        If you have questions about accessibility, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 91095P2

        • Confirmation will be received at time of booking
        • Water sport activities are available at your own expenses upon request.
        • Outskirt Hotel Pick Up & Drop off Policy
        • Additional charges of MYR30 per pax are chargeable for outskirt hotels pick-ups.
        • Outskirt charges will be imposed on traveler that request to be picked up at hotels outside of Kota Kinabalu city area & 1 Borneo Shopping mall area.
        • Most travelers can participate
        • This tour/activity will have a maximum of 12 travelers

        • All sales are final and incur 100% cancellation penalties.

        If you have questions about this tour or need help making your booking, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 91095P2

        From
        $95.00
        per adult
        Select date and travelers

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        About the operator
        Don’t take it from us – here’s what people have to say about this operator:
        • TYH Borneo Tours & Travel Sdn Bhd
          267
          Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia
          Joined in March 2017
        • A3036LWjoannas
          0 contributions
          5.0 of 5 bubbles
          An unforgettable Borneo adventure.
          Roger, our driver and guide, drove us safely to more remote parts of Borneo, and provided great explanations re native flora and fauna. The view of Mount Kinabalu is out of this world! A must-see! Canopy walk is worth every drop of sweat 😅 An amazing day altogether!
          Written November 18, 2024
        • sharonsX2706JU
          0 contributions
          5.0 of 5 bubbles
          Memorable Kota Kinabalu Adventure!
          “I recently visited Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, and had an unforgettable experience, thanks to Mr. John. His local insights, hospitality, and dedication made the trip smooth and memorable. He went above and beyond to ensure every detail was taken care of, and his recommendations truly enhanced our experience. I highly recommend connecting with him if you want to make the most of your visit to KK. Thank you, Mr. John, for your outstanding support and for making our family trip so enjoyable!”
          Written November 5, 2024
        • fanniexu
          0 contributions
          5.0 of 5 bubbles
          Highly recommand esp. for solo traveler
          I enjoyed the day tour a lot, even planning for a 2 to 3 days hike. Many thanks to our tour guide Mr. Mo. The uniqueness of the tour is, it's very rare in the market that an agency accepts solo travelers, and I highly appreciate that.
          Written October 12, 2024
        • sonalig496
          0 contributions
          5.0 of 5 bubbles
          Highly recommended.👍🏻
          It was a last minute booking & TYH Borneo Tours accommodated us. Mr. Tang our tour guide was helpful & took great pleasure explaining flora & faunas of Kinabalu park, canopy walk, hot springs & tasting of local fruits en route. He even took us to view the rare Rafflesia flower & detour for amazingly clear Kinabalu mountain view for perfect photo opportunity. Highly recommended for very friendly & warm service.
          Written October 5, 2024
        • O8983YOandrewb
          0 contributions
          5.0 of 5 bubbles
          Mount Kinabalu
          A great opportunity to see the mountain close up, to walk in the forest and the canopy walk was fantastic. You want to be reasonably fit for this tour. Really nice lunch. Some excellent views of Mount Kinabalu, the clouds come and go. We had the opportunity to see a rare Rafflesia flower, see photo below. Recommended.
          Written October 1, 2024
        • Happiness29698181920
          0 contributions
          5.0 of 5 bubbles
          Amazing rafting adventure
          This was the best tour we had. Andy took us out on the river, he was amazing, knew the river, made sure we were wet, gave us plenty of opportunities to swim and jump of rocks. The tour was well organised including pick up and drop off and lunch.
          Written September 27, 2024
        • LaMarani
          0 contributions
          5.0 of 5 bubbles
          Helpful to have a good guide!
          Our guide Pratiip was really nice and helpful. We did the two island snorkeling trip. He guided us through busy Jetterson point and onto the boats, answered our questions and had some good chats. Packed lunch was good as well as pick up and drop off. Very happy to have had nice a guide.
          Written August 23, 2024
        • Navigate13924023054
          0 contributions
          5.0 of 5 bubbles
          A memorable experience
          Great experience with the this company. Smooth booking and great guiding. Tour guide, Pratiip was very helpful during the tour day, and explained lots of things around KK to visit and to go. The tour ran smoothly, with timely pickups, comfortable transportation, and well-planned activities. We never felt rushed, allowing us to fully enjoy each island’s beauty. Definitely would recommend to my from and whoever plans to visit KK, Semporna
          Written August 13, 2024
        • 993yens
          0 contributions
          5.0 of 5 bubbles
          Amazing and challenging
          Our agent was very responsive all the way from asking about the package, to asking questions during the trip regarding to our situation etc. We had a few requests which they fulfilled etc giving us the guide we want or arranging transport differently then the default package. I highly recommend this agency to anyone interested in visiting Sabah!
          Written July 16, 2024
        • palomafagil
          0 contributions
          5.0 of 5 bubbles
          Spanish lady in Mari Mari Village
          This was such a beautiful and enriching experience. It let me get to know more about the local culture and some of its different communities. Both Kelly and Zack the tour guides did a great job.
          Written July 5, 2024
        • palomafagil
          0 contributions
          5.0 of 5 bubbles
          Spanish lady in Kinabalu area
          What a nice tour! The park is impressive and Mr Tang is one of the best tour guides I have ever met. He's not only professional but also very wise, knowledgeable, and caring. Join this tour if you have the chance!
          Written July 5, 2024
        • twilightlily
          0 contributions
          4.0 of 5 bubbles
          Nice day tour with family
          Nice experience seeing the proboscis monkeys and fireflies. Sufficient time for observing the monkeys with binoculars and fireflies. It would be great to have more and cleaner toilets in the vicinity. Dinner was substantial
          Written June 21, 2024
        • I943XCteresac
          0 contributions
          5.0 of 5 bubbles
          AMAZING snorkeling experience!
          We have no words to describe it! it was an AMAZING day! the whole crew were super duper attentive and with great energy. Rafie and Sabri ( awesome DJ) were new level, specially with our 4 year old twins ! they played in the water, they took them back to the boat so we could snorkel a little by ourselves! We could not be more thankful. Time in the water was not as much as we wished, due to the location of the island, but that was very clear from the moment we were inquiring. Everything they told us would happen it happened. If we go back, there is no doubt we will be exploring the waters with them again. Recommend 100%
          Written June 17, 2024
        • Adventure61206447734
          0 contributions
          5.0 of 5 bubbles
          Cultural village experience
          Thank you for the excellent arrangement from timely hotel pick up to the cultural village. It was a great experience at the village and your guide had been most helpful and professional throughout the village tour. Appreciate the nice touch of dropping us in town instead of hotel after the tour. I would recommend TYH Borneo for future tour arrangement.
          Written June 16, 2024
        • 589ramaa
          0 contributions
          5.0 of 5 bubbles
          Fun and great experience
          I went to the marine park with my family, we had so much fun and enjoyed by the beach as well. We also got to meet Zack who was a very fun tour guide, making our trip even more fun!
          Written June 14, 2024
        See all 267 reviews
        These reviews are the subjective opinions of Tripadvisor members and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

        Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

        Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

        Popular mentions

        4.5
        4.5 of 5 bubbles69 reviews
        Excellent
        53
        Very good
        10
        Average
        2
        Poor
        0
        Terrible
        4

        Ying Sin
        Singapore, Singapore2 contributions
        1.0 of 5 bubbles
        Jun 2022
        Overall, the experience was rather disappointing. For one of the more expensive tour we signed on, both the planning and execution of the programme was not well done. We were not brief on the itinerary clearly and was just following our guide around aimlessly. To further mention, our guide (shall not name names) was rather inexperienced and unaware of flow of events. Whenever we have a question for her, she would end up going to other guides to ask them instead. Furthermore, the guide just casually inform us that snorkelling equipments are not available (which we paid to include in the tour package). It was not till we demanded a refund then did they bother to transport it to the island…While we have to admit that we did paid to sign on for extra water activities, it was pretty regretful to inform you guys that no advice was given to us that by doing so, we will have no time to snorkel (like we reached the second island at 1.51pm after parasailing and have to leave at 2pm). What was worse is that we have no time to consume our lunches and have no choice but to consume it on the boat back on our way to the main jetty as hunger kicks in. In conclusion, we would like to say it is wiser to visit jesselton point/ jetty to purchase your own tickets and then rent your own equipments on the island as it is definitely more affordable and anyway our guide may have bought the tickets on the day itself LOL (you can also buy on your first day of visit if you are afraid that it runs out). Have fun in Kota Kinabalu!
        Written June 30, 2022
        This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
        Hi there , I understand your frustration. Our guide already brief all the itinerary , before depart to another island we already provide the lunch at first island. Due to peak session, the guide actually ask the boat man when will get the snorkelling set for you and departure time to the next island as the boat schedule may vary from time to time. Futhermore, I am very sorry to learn that your tour to Island Hopping didn't met your expectation. Regarding your constructive feedback, we shall definitely look into them, we appreciate the review as these helps us to improve better in our services in meeting to exceed our guests' experiences when touring with us. Thank you.
        Written July 4, 2022
        This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

        Thea
        2 contributions
        1.0 of 5 bubbles
        I had a Disappointing experience. It was just me on the tour, no one else despite waiting for others to join.
        Guide started off friendly then wasn't and was actually quite rude and didn't seem to have any idea about the itinerary and was relying on another person to tell him.
        There was no tour - he bought my ticket, and that was about it. Then sent me off in a grab without even a goodbye at the end!Needs to work on his customer service and social skills. Lunch was cold and below average, would have preferred to have hot lunch and bought it on the day. The day itself was impacted by the guide and his attitude, and I left feeling like I paid a lot of money for a poor experience.
        Written March 24, 2023
        This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
        Dear Sir/Madam Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback with us. We are sorry to hear that your experience with our tour did not meet your expectations. We take all feedback seriously and will use your comments to improve our service going forward. We would like to apologize for any inconvenience or disappointment caused during your tour. We strive to provide the best possible experience for all our customers and it seems we fell short in your case even we have provide our service at our best effort to you. Once again, we apologize for any inconvenience and we hope to have the opportunity to regain your trust and provide you with a positive experience in the future. Best regards, John Tan
        Written May 8, 2023
        This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

        Mei Ling
        Shah Alam, Selangor, Malaysia5 contributions
        5.0 of 5 bubbles
        Jul 2022 • Friends
        I loved the personal guide that was with us from the start to the end! I decided to do island hopping with my friend and both girls doing island hopping won't be as safe. We had 2 islands included, with packed lunch.

        Everything was smooth from the jetty, to the island hops, and the surprise was the lunch!

        I assumed it was going to be a local takeaway pack but when we opened, it had a full set that came with side dishes, meat, fruits and desserts.

        We only needed to walk and share where we wanted to go or do. There were water sport activities available. We loved Sapi the most as it had more swimming area.

        The timing was also quite right, as 3pm came, the clouds began to gather.

        From the man handling the boat, to the guide, it was a pleasant experience. I would explore their other offerings when I'm back to Kota Kinabalu.
        Written July 6, 2022
        This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
        Hi there, Thank you so much for leaving us this detailed review, we are thrilled that you are happy with our services. Keep supporting our business as we pride ourselves in providing a good service to all our guests with the personal, prompt and professional service as they deserve. We wish you a pleasant day ahead.
        Written July 14, 2022
        This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

        Aussie51K
        Mornington, Australia24 contributions
        1.0 of 5 bubbles
        As a solo traveller I like to book group tours to meet people, however it was just me.
        It wasn't even a speed boat, it was a passenger ferry. It transports island guests to different destinations so you are on the ferry for longer than necessary which cuts into your time on the islands.

        There was no buffet lunch what so ever, I got cold beans, egg and rice!! It was carried around by the lady for who knows how long. It was inedible. Absolutely tasteless and I was concerned about the length of time between cooking and receiving it. It was given to me in the last hour and a half. I was really looking forward to the buffet lunch, so I only had a piece of fruit for breakfast. I was absolutely starving. I expressed my frustrations and disappointment and was told that they did not book me in for the island buffet lunch. This is one main inclusion of this expensive tour.

        It wasn't a tour as such. She literally bought my ticket then I met her 3.5hrs later when we transferred to Sapi island. I could have done this myself, and actually eaten delicious, fresh food at one of the restaurants.
        Extremely expensive for what you actually get. It only costs one quarter of this tour price for the tickets. Other parts of Malaysia - Perhentian, Langkawi, Redang Islands only charge 55RM for the same day out, but so much more fun and enjoyable.

        The beaches were lovely, nice snorkeling.

        Save your cash, don't book this tour. You can do it so easily independently. It was the worst tour I have done in the last six weeks of exploring Malaysia.
        I have requested a 75% refund as I was so let down.
        Written August 31, 2022
        This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
        Hi there , I understand your frustration. I am very sorry to learn that your tour to Island hopping didn't met your expectation. Further to your constructive feedback, we shall definitely look into them, we appreciate the review as these helps us to improve better in our services in meeting to exceed our guests' experiences when touring with us.
        Written September 6, 2022
        This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

        Juan P
        1 contribution
        5.0 of 5 bubbles
        Jul 2022 • Friends
        We went on an island-hopping day trip a couple of weeks ago and Ethan was our guide. From the pick up in the morning till the drop-off time, Ethan made us feel very comfortable. He went out of his way to make sure we had a good experience and his communication and knowledge about the islands and the marine animals surrounding the islands were very insightful. It was an absolute pleasure having him as our guide.
        Written August 14, 2022
        This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
        Hi, Thank you so much for leaving us this kind review and mentioning our staff Ethan, she would be glad to hear that. We are very happy as well that you enjoyed your tour and hope to see you again soon!!
        Written August 17, 2022
        This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

        Jenny M
        3 contributions
        4.0 of 5 bubbles
        As we have only a few hours time before we want to drive to Kundasang, the company was able to specially arranged the tour for just the 2 of us to one island which is the Manukan as we wanted.
        Our young tour guide, Zack showed us around the beautiful island and brought us to an area that’s away from the crowd which is very nice and helped to take very nice photos for us as he knows where and what to capture. He also shared some information on Kundasang with us because we were going there in the afternoon. We are happy with his service and really enjoyed the trip.
        Written October 1, 2024
        This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
        Hi Jenny, Thank you so much for leaving us this kind review and mentioning our guide Mr Zack, he would be glad to hear that. We are very happy as well that you enjoyed your tour here ! Your kind words mean a lot to us and we are grateful for your support. We look forward to welcoming you back to Sabah, Borneo in the future!
        Written November 20, 2024
        This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

        Benny R
        Budapest, Hungary3 contributions
        5.0 of 5 bubbles
        May 2024 • Solo
        The views on the island and on the boat between the islands were amazing! This is a must do activity for anybody in Sabah. My guide E-man was very personable and friendly, telling me about life on Borneo and showing me where to find the best wildlife. My highlight was seeing four Komodo Dragons on one of the islands!
        Written May 14, 2024
        This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
        Dear Benny, Thank you so much for leaving us this kind review and mentioning our staff Mr Eman , he would be glad to hear that. We are very happy as well that you enjoyed your tour here ! Your kind words mean a lot to us and we are grateful for your support. We look forward to welcoming you back to Sabah, Borneo in the future!
        Written June 7, 2024
        This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

        Cruiser40926922878
        8 contributions
        5.0 of 5 bubbles
        Sep 2024 • Couples
        The trip was awesome and our driver Jon was very safe and our guide Zack was awesome. Zack really looked after us and gave us great directions he was very informative and fun. The lunch provided was great 👍Really enjoyed the walk out to sunset point and the water was surprisingly clear. Great day out and very well organised. Also very easy to book through WhatsApp chat 👏
        Written September 8, 2024
        This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

        Sungmo Park
        1 contribution
        5.0 of 5 bubbles
        Jan 2020 • Family
        Ian had been guided us for today doing island hoping, he didn't bother us unnecessarily and kept us private and ourselves. But he managed all the details and took care of us by letting us know in advance when to do this and that which were exactly what we needed while we were mostly sleeping and busy swimming.

        He speaks very good English and cool to talk with, i highly recommend you should do tour with Ian if you are to visit KK.
        Written January 27, 2020
        This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
        Hi, Thank you for leaving us such a wonderful review. We are thrilled that you loved your experience; Evan will definitely be happy to read what you wrote. We put customer experience and satisfaction as our priority, and your review reaffirms the hard work we put in every day. So thanks for your kind words and we look forward to seeing you again.
        Written February 21, 2020
        This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

        Nicholas W
        Canterbury, UK5 contributions
        5.0 of 5 bubbles
        Mar 2023
        Enjoyed it all. I expected to be in a party but actually I had an individual guide.

        Make sure you take a few ringgit with you since there are extras you can pay for such as parascending, jet skiing, sea walking and banana boating. It's unlikely you can do them all in one trip. I just did the parascending.

        After you've done it once I think you can just buy boat tickets to the various islands.

        Also very easy to get sunburn when snorkelling so sensible to take a skinsuit, or at least a tee shirt you can wear in the water and some good sunblock.
        Written March 27, 2023
        This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
        Dear Nichola, Glad that you enjoyed your Island Hopping daytrip in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah and we were able to provide you with a memorable experience. Your kind words mean a lot to us and we are grateful for your support. We look forward to welcoming you back to Sabah, Borneo in the future! Best regards, John Tan
        Written May 8, 2023
        This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

        Showing results 1-10 of 63
        *Likely to sell out: Based on Viator’s booking data and information from the provider from the past 30 days, it seems likely this experience will sell out through Viator, a Tripadvisor company.

        Island Hopping provided by TYH Borneo Tours & Travel Sdn Bhd

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