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Jungle Trek & Guided Snorkeling | 1 Day | Kota Kinabalu, Sabah

(2 customer reviews)

From: RM245

The Jungle Trek & Guided Snorkeling Trip is a unique trip offered by Borneo Dream. Bringing together two lovely experiences into one trip – a walk through the rainforest on Pulau Gaya, and a guided snorkeling tour along a tropical reef in Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park. You can add more adventure to this trip by adding a Coral Flyer zip line ride during your lunch break. A popular trip with families, groups of friends and couples.

To Book – Simply select the number of persons in your group and the date you require. The price displayed is then the group price including any Sabah Parks Conservation Fees required. Unless you are joining an existing group the minimum booking is 2 persons.

U/Water Digiatal Camera Rental

Why not capture a few underwater memories with an underwater camera rental? We offer a Nikon W300 rated to 30m or GoPro Hero 11 with an underwater housing and float handle rated to 40m. Your images will be uploaded to a Google Drive, and a link will be shared with you. Photos will be available for download for approximately ten days. Please be aware that there will be a charge for loss or damage to the camera and housing RM 2500.00

Jungle Trek & Guided Snorkeling Day Tour, Kota Kinabalu

Fancy a snorkeling day tour with some added adventure during your holiday in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah? Then choose our Jungle Trek and Snorkeling Day Tour in Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park. You’ll start your tour by joining a 1.5-hour trek (~ 2km) in the morning through the rainforest and by mangroves on Pulau Gaya. There is the option to add a loop to the morning trek through the rainforest on Pulau Gaya extending your morning jungle trek to ~ 4.5km. The trekking route is categorised as ‘easy’ and suitable for most fitness levels as you follow well-marked, gently undulating trails. If you fancy adding the optional trekking loop to your morning jungle trek there is an uphill section at the start of the trek – this add on is recommended for those of average fitness and above. Enjoy some aerial images of the Jungle Trek and Guided Snorkeling location.

Upon arrival at Padang Point on Pulau Gaya (the endpoint for your trek) you’ll have time to chill out on the beach or go for a swim in the sea before lunch. After lunch, it’s time for a guided snorkel tour from our boat along a shallow coral reef fringing one of the islands in Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park. If you want to add even more adventure to your jungle trek & guided snorkeling tour why not add on a ride on the Coral Flyer – an island-to-land zip line ride. Cool!

Jungle Trek & Guided Snorkeling Adventure – why not add on a Zipline Ride?

Your Guided Snorkeling Tour will be by a PADI Instructor who will help you see lots of tropical reef marine life during your snorkel tour. The typical sightings during our guided snorkel tours in Kota Kinabalu include Clown Fish, Damsel Fish, Puffer Fish, Lion Fish, Blue Spotted Rays, Yellow Snapper, Cornet Fish, Trumpet Fish, Wrasse, Parrot Fish and lots more. Our guided snorkelers often see Turtles too if they are lucky!

If your guided snorkeling experience tempts you into exploring more of the tropical underwater world then why not join a PADI Discover Scuba Diving Experience and have a go at scuba diving for the first time? A fantastic experience to have in the toasty warm waters of Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park under the expert instruction of our Borneo Dream Dive Crew.

Trip Itinerary – Jungle Trek & Guided Snorkeling Day Tour, Kota Kinabalu

The outline itinerary for the Jungle Trek & Guided Snorkeling Day Tour is as follows:-

08:50: Collection from Jesselton Point Jetty by our Boat Crew and transfer out into the local marine park. You will be provided with a full boat safety briefing by our crew on a boat along with the day’s agenda.

Let the Jungle Trek & Guided Snorkeling begin…

09:20: Arrive at Base Camp Jetty on Pulau Gaya. Jungle Trek for about 50 to 90 minutes from Base Camp to Padang Point taking in the wildlife, sights and sounds.

11:00: After a break in the shade at Padang Point, and a well-earned drink, you can choose to go for a swim in the sea at Padang Point or chill out on the beach before lunch. Optional add on to your Jungle Trek & Guided Snorkeling Tour – you could go on a Zip Line Ride, the Coral Flyer, from Gaya to Sapi Island (an extra charge is applicable).

~12:45: Lunch on a tropical island choosing from a wide selection of local dishes – Time to restock your energy after your Jungle Trek and ready for your Guided Snorkeling Tour!

14:00 till 15:30: The group will be taken on a fully guided snorkelling session by a PADI Diving Instructor in a small group. Pointing out and explaining how the fish and coral fit into the underwater world plus the role they play – Education :-). Each person will be provided with a mask, snorkel, fins, wet suit and life jacket.

~16:00: Arrive back at Jesselton Point Jetty after your Jungle Trek & Guided Snorkeling Day Tour Adventure with Borneo Dream 🙂

Trip Pre-requisites – Jungle Trek & Guided Snorkeling Tour, Kota Kinabalu

You need to be in good health to join the trekking and snorkeling activities. For trekking, you need to be physically fit and comfortable at trekking for 1 – 2 hours in a tropical climate (with stops along the way). For the snorkeling activity, it is recommended you have basic swimming skills and are comfortable in the sea in water too deep to stand up in.

We have had many families, with children, join this trip and they have a great day out together. Whilst there is no minimum age for children joining this trip, it is recommended for children joining this trip that they have basic swimming skills and they would be comfortable trekking in a humid, hot climate.

Trip inclusions

  • Return boat transfers on one of our Borneo Dream boats from Jesselton Point Jetty.
  • Jesselton Point jetty fee and Sabah Parks island conservation fee.
  • Free use of our rental snorkel gear (mask, snorkel, full foot fins, shorty tropical 3mm wetsuit).
  • 1 x Jungle trek on Pulau Gaya – Starting at Base Camp and finishing at Padang Point.
  • 1 x Guided snorkeling tour.
  • Guiding by one of our friendly, experienced, qualified PADI Professionals with a maximum ratio of 1:6
  • Lunch at a cafe on an island in the Marine Park (choose from a range of meal options).
  • Drinking water.

Trip exclusions

Extra snacks, hotel transfers to Jesselton Jetty, items not mentioned above. We suggest you bring some small change to buy yourself a soft drink or fruit juice during your lunch break.

A camera with underwater housing is available for daily rental at MYR 150.00 per camera per day (advance booking required).

Recommended packing list for trip | Jungle Trek with Guided Snorkeling

For the Jungle Trek – Comfortable trekking shoes, water bottle (minimum 1.5 litres), insect/mosquito repellent, sun protection cream, camera, small dry bag (or plastic bag inside a small rucksack) and hat.

For Guided Snorkeling – swimwear, towel, dry clothes, suntan lotion, sun hat and sunglasses.

Notes

A PADI Liability Release Form must be signed and understood by the participant before the tour commences. Any participant under 18 years is supervised by a parent or guardian at all times.

2 reviews for Jungle Trek & Guided Snorkeling | 1 Day | Kota Kinabalu, Sabah

  1. Björn T (TripAdvisor)

    Jungle trek and snorkeling fun! 🙂 – Had an amazing day with my guide, Dev, trekking through the beautiful jungle landscape and snorkeling. Although we didn’t spot that many animals in the jungle, we did see wild sea turtles and sharks (don’t worry, they’re not scary!) among a host of other sea life.

  2. Hutch & Soula, AU

    Hello,
    And yes we enjoyed the Day. Awesome activity and would recommend it to any of our Family & Friends who decide to holiday in Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia 🙂

    Than you very much…

Add a review

Best Snorkeling in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah

  • Is it easy to get from the city centre to Jesselton Point Jetty?

    Most watersports trips depart from Jesselton Point Jetty (https://g.page/JesseltonPoint) in central Kota Kinabalu. If you are staying at a city centre hotel or guest house you will often find it far quicker to walk to Jesselton Point. If you are staying at hotels or resorts such as Shangri-La Rasa Ria or Shangri-La Tanjung Aru Resort & Spa then I would certainly grab a taxi.

  • Will we still go snorkeling if it is raining?

    The quick answer is “yes”. Sabah has a tropical climate and as part of this, we will typically have some tropical rain later in the day on most days. This rain is warm, often a welcome relief and for most activities does not stop play. Specifically for our snorkeling activities from Kota Kinabalu:-

    • It is still safe to snorkel when it’s raining.
    • You won’t get cold if it rains as the sea temperature, for most of the year, is a toasty 28C – 30C. We also provide all our snorkeling customers with 3mm tropical wet suits for thermal protection.
    • The tropical marine life will still be there to see as you enjoy your snorkeling activity.

    Whilst Sabah’s tropical climate means there’s a good chance it will rain at some point during your holiday, it’s this climate that also supports the rainforest, and it’s inhabitants, found here. Most days in Sabah, especially during the Dry Season, start off with blue sky, sunshine and a calm breeze with a chance of rain typically later in the day, evening or night time. As long as you come on holiday prepared for a hot, humid and sometimes wet tropical climate you will have a great time!

  • What is the best time to snorkel in Malaysia?

    Malaysia is split across two landmasses, Penisular Malaysia and Malaysian Borneo (Sabah and Sarawak), and the best season for snorkeling differs across these locations. 

    Peninsular Malaysia has an annual monsoon season (from April to October in the southwest, and October to February in the northeast) so you’d avoid these times if snorkeling is on your ‘to-do list’ for your holiday. 

    Sabah, Northern Borneo is known as the ‘Land Below the Wind’ a phrase used by seafarers in the past to describe all the lands located below the typhoon belt, so free from climatic disturbances and typhoons. This makes Sabah a 365 days a year location for holidays with snorkeling offered all year round, albeit the months at the start of the Dry Season (April – June) usually offer the calmest, driest weather perfect for snorkeling.

  • Which is the best island for snorkeling in Sabah?

    In terms of ease of access and affordability, the best islands for snorkelling at in Sabah are located within Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park. The Marine Park which is located in front of Kota Kinabalu is home to five islands – Sapi, Gaya, Mamutik, Manukan and Sulug – and each of them is fringed by coral reefs. The three islands with beaches open to the public offer snorkeling from the beach in a cordoned-off area, although the best snorkeling in the Marine Park is to be had from a boat along with coral reef sites away from the busy beaches.

    For that perfect island getaway experience, you should check out Lankayan Island located in the Sulu Sea accessible via Sandakan on the east coast of Sabah. Lankayan offers world-class snorkeling right from the shore and with just one Resort located on the island, you will feel like you have the white sandy beach and fringing coral reefs almost to yourself. The shallow waters are typically beautifully clear offering easy sightings of turtles, rays, and a range of tropical fish life from the beach.

    The dream for non-divers visiting Sabah is to go snorkeling at world-famous Sipadan. However this it not that easy to do as only a selection of Resorts / Operators will allocate Sipadan permits to snorkelers (most allocate them to diving guests only). One Resort who takes snorkelers to Sipadan is Mataking Reef Island Resort (subject to permit allocation).

  • Kota Kinabalu tours

  • Is it easy to get from the city centre to Jesselton Point Jetty?

    Most watersports trips depart from Jesselton Point Jetty (https://g.page/JesseltonPoint) in central Kota Kinabalu. If you are staying at a city centre hotel or guest house you will often find it far quicker to walk to Jesselton Point. If you are staying at hotels or resorts such as Shangri-La Rasa Ria or Shangri-La Tanjung Aru Resort & Spa then I would certainly grab a taxi.

  • How far is Kota Kinabalu from the Airport?

    The Kota Kinabalu International Airport KKIA (airport code BKI) is located to the south of the city and is 8.5 kilometres from the city centre. This journey can be easily done by private car, taxi or shuttle bus. A taxi will charge around RM 30 each way for a pre-booked taxi. Arrivals are on the lower level with departures on the upper level. At busy times allow 30 minutes from the city centre to the airport.

  • What is there to do in Kota Kinabalu in 2 days?

    Kota Kinabalu, the capital of Sabah, is the starting point for most holidays to Sabah. From Kota Kinabalu, most visitors go to explore other parts of Sabah whether it be on a tour from Kota Kinabalu (to go rafting, biking, climbing Mount Kinabalu etc.), or via a short internal flight to visit other parts of Sabah like the Kinabatangan River or Danum Valley. If you have a couple of days free in Kota Kinabalu during your holiday then there is surprisingly quite a bit you can do and see on your doorstep.

    On the first day, you can explore the city with its many attractions. At the start of the day visit the Kota Kinabalu Wetland Ramsar Site, a bird sanctuary close to the city centre. You could then choose to walk up Signal Hill to enjoy views out over the City from Signal Hill observatory platform, visit the Sabah State Museum for a walk through Sabah’s history or explore the handicraft market located on the waterfront. Visit the Atkinson Clock Tower, the oldest building in Kota Kinabalu, or one of the famous Mosques in Kota Kinabalu – Kota Kinabalu City Mosque (‘Floating Mosque’) or the State Mosque. Later in the day watch the sunset from Tanjung Aru Beach before heading back into the city centre for a spot of early evening shopping. Finally, choose from one of the many local cafes and restaurants for a tasty meal to end the day. 

    For your second day visit the local islands in Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park. The Marine Park is located in front of Kota Kinabalu and easily accessible via a boat transfer from Jesselton Point Jetty. You can choose to join an organised day tour to help you get the most from your visit to the Marine Park whether it be a Snorkeling Trip or going scuba diving to explore the tropical waters. You could also choose to visit the islands independently via an island transfer service and chill out on one of the public beaches on the islands in the Marine Park. Sun, tropical sea, sand – a perfect way to spend a second day in Kota Kinabalu.

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