post-conference tour | jthca-journal-uitm

Post Conference Tour

In order to truly maximize your visit to Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, we are sharing amazing tours specially designed for IHTC conference participants, friends and family. These tours enable you to experience some of the great aspects of the Sabah state with like-minded tourism researchers – people you know…

Each tour will offer special opportunities not available to the general public so that you will gain some additional, exceptional experiences.

Kiau Village Hiking

This hiking journey into the jungle on the flanks of Mount Kinabalu brings you to trek across multiple plantations, secondary & primary rainforest with some of the most stunning view of the Mount Kinabalu. On your arrival, you will be welcomed by villagers who will give you a snack before having a short briefing of the 7KM walk that you are going to undertake. After crossing the rubber and pineapple plantations, you will enter the secondary forest while crossing rivers on foot or on suspension bridges, then enter the primary mountain forest before returning to mountain rice fields where you will have the opportunity to meet natives of the Dusun ethnic group at work. Upon arrival at the village, enjoy a local lunch before returning to Kota Kinabalu City and to your property located in the heart of Kota Kinabalu City. After your check in, take advantage of your late afternoon to relax before setting off on foot for your dinner in a local restaurant.

Hill Country – Desa Castle, Hot Spring, Tea Plantation

Along the way you can observe the different rice fields and small villages of the Kadazandusun, an indigenous tribe of Sabah that lives under the slopes of Mount Kinabalu. Arrival in Poring Hot spring, a place that takes its name from the giant bamboos that grow to a height of 30 meters. At the Japanese-style thermal baths it is possible to merge into the outdoor pools where, by mixing the cold water of the mountain with the sulphureous water, you can have therapeutic effects and Healing. For those who want to cool off from the tropical heat can dive into the Rock Pool, Mountain freshwater pool surrounded by a lovely garden of flowers, trees and butterflies. Then you proceed to visit the Kipungit waterfall, or you can go trekking on a nature trail about 500m above sea level for an exciting walk among the Dipterocarps, trees that can reach a height of 40 meters. After lunch we continue to the Sabah Tea plantation in Kampung Nalapak, which is about 15 km from Poring. Here you can see the vast tea plantation and how this is harvested and processed in the factory. Afterwards short tea break at the Sabah Tea House. For the return trip we stop at Desa Dairy Farm surrounded green mountain scenery, foggy pastures. This hilltop dairy farm is reminiscent of the New Zealand countryside. A household name, the Desa brand produces nearly one million liters (250,000 gal) of fresh milk every year, so be sure to sample the creamy liquid while there. The earlier you visit the better, as the best views happen while the sun is just coming up and the fog is still low on Mt. Kinabalu in the background. Return to the hotel.

Mantanani Island - Non-Diving

After breakfast departure from the hotel to the north of Sabah, on the way you will pass through local villages and rice fields, the first source of food for Malaysians. After about an hour I arrive in Kota Belud, the main city in the region where the typical local Bajau group live. The Bajau in the past were known as the cowboys of Sabah due to their skills on horseback. Every Sunday morning the Bajau hold this large open-air market (tamu) that we will be lucky enough to admire. We will continue to the pier where we will find a boat that will take us directly to the island of Mantanani. On the way we will pass through an impressive mangrove forest located along the banks of the river, and then continue for about an hour in the open sea. Mantanani is a beautiful island still unspoiled, with white beaches and lush vegetation with a typical fishing village, the only inhabitants of the island. Once you arrive you will have free time until lunchtime. After lunch you will have free time for a wonderful day at the beach. In the afternoon return to Kota Kinabalu.

Tunku Abdul Rahman Park – Scuba Diving

Explore 3 of the top dive sites in Tunku Abdul Rahman Park, Kota Kinabalu!
Suitable for all level of scuba divers, you can watch schooling Barracuda, shoals of Fusiliers, Hawksbill or Green Turtle and seasonal Whale Shark! Our instructors will show you the best TARP has to offer as wide varities of macro life such as Nudibranchs, Frog Fish, Seahorses and many more. (Lunch on the Island). Return to your hotel in the afternoon.

Kiulu River - Rafting

Departure in the morning from Kota Kinabalu towards the Kiulu River in the Tamparuli area. After about an hour and 30 minutes you will arrive at the station. After taking the equipment for the descent of the river and listening to the instructions of the guide you will leave for the adventure. Upon arrival, after a refreshing shower, lunch at the BBQ. After lunch return to the city

Sunset Safari Cruise On Klias River

In the afternoon departure for the KLIAS river and the mangrove ecosystem that surrounds its banks. In about two hours of travel, through villages and oil palm plantations, you arrive on the KLIAS River; coffee/tea break and motorized boat excursion in search of Proboscis monkeys, endemic primates of Borneo. The excursion also offers the possibility of observing birds and water buffalo. At dusk you can watch the wonderful natural spectacle of thousands of fireflies that adorn the surrounding trees like "CHRISTMAS TREES". Simple local style dinner near the river. Return in the evening to Kota Kinabalu.

Sunset Cruise

Meeting at Sutera Marina Jetty. Boarding the ship that will take you between the islands of the South China Sea marine park accompanied by one of the most beautiful sunsets in the world. During the cruise enjoy the delicious international buffet and enjoy some great live music. Disembarkation.

Mari Mari Cultural Village

Mari Mari Cultural Village offers glimpses into the lives of Sabah’s rich culture with its distinctive houses, costumes and traditional skills of five major Sabah’s ethnic groups; the farmers and traders Dusun and Rungus, the hunters and fishermen Lundayeh, the cowboys and sea gypsies Bajau, and the famously feared warrior tribe Murut. Experience, see, hear, taste and feel the uniqueness of what Sabah truly is. An unforgettable encounter of our Sabahan homeland