Days 4 Nights Kota Kinabalu Itinerary: Explore Jelly Sea, Best Food & Drink Spots

📝Essentials
APP: grab (for ride-hailing and food delivery)
SIM Card: Celcom has the best signal
UnionPay Card: You can withdraw cash from the ATM next to KFC at the airport.
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📝Day 1 Mantanani Island
Booked a day trip to Mantanani Island with Adventure on Fliggy
Package includes 1 snorkeling + 1 scuba diving
Scuba diving photography costs 50 MYR, paid on-site
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5h drive + 1.5h boat ride
Mantanani Island is more pristine, having been commercially developed not long ago
The moment you arrive, you’ll be amazed by the jelly-like sea and white sandy beach
Scuba diving allows you to see various corals and little Nemos, more worthwhile than snorkeling
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📝Day 2 Sapi Island + Mangrove
Still booked the itinerary with Adventure
▫️Morning
2h drive + 1h boat ride
Sapi Island is well-developed, with entertainment facilities and photo spots at the base
Swings, kayaks, hammocks, bubble machines.

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The weather was excellent that day, the sea surface gleamed like glass
During snorkeling, the crew will use bread to attract small fish
▫️Afternoon
Head to the mangroves by car, then board a boat for a tour~
We saw the national treasure, the proboscis monkey, and even the Komodo dragon!
Enjoy afternoon tea and watch the sunset by the sea, then return to the boat to see fireflies
The guide will use lights to attract fireflies, the scene of them coming towards you is breathtaking!

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📝Day 3 Tanjung Aru Beach
Ranked third in the world for sunset beaches
You need to leave early during sunset time due to traffic
After enjoying the sunset and twilight, you can have some snacks at the night market there
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🍴Food Recommendations
▫️Keng Wen Tea Restaurant: Affordable and delicious seafood, salted egg yolk crab, wet butter prawns, signature tofu, pepper and salt squid.

▫️Yuan Cha Shi: Excellent for brunch, salted egg yolk pasta, Indian fried noodles, cream mushroom croissant.
▫️You Kee Bak Kut Teh: Rich herbal flavor, great for warming up after a day at sea.
▫️Borenos: Kota Kinabalu fried chicken, available for 24h delivery, perfect for late-night indulgence.
▫️Zing Sunset Bar: Must book in advance for a spot near the beach, great atmosphere, truffle pizza and seafood paella are good.

▫️Times Three: Custom birthday cake, order 3 days in advance, pandan kaya flavor is very local.
▫️Good Food Coffee Shop: Buns and rice noodle rolls are tasty. Be cautious with other noodle dishes, as they can be quite bland.
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📝SPA Recommendations
▫️KAMA’A
Chose the ladies’ package with rose scrub + yogurt body mask + geranium essential oil massage
The scrub can be changed to cocoa flavor, which smells sweet
Before the SPA, fill out a form indicating any restrictions, areas to focus on, and areas to avoid
This saves communication with the masseuse
The auntie’s attitude is super nice, and the service is very attentive~ The whole experience is enjoyable.