Looking to travel overland from Kota Kinabalu to Sandakan and see a few sights along the way? Our River Junkie Shuttle departs daily from Kota Kinabalu to Sandakan with stop offs at Kinabalu Park, Poring hot springs and Sabah Tea Plantation. We will provide you with the transport, a friendly English speaking driver and complete information about the activities on offer along the way, the rest is up to you! Want to climb Mount Kinabalu along the way or spend longer exploring Poring hot springs? No problem, you can opt to hop-off and hop-on again within 3 days at no additional charge.
What a seat costs
| Ticket | Price |
|---|---|
| Shuttle ticket, per person | RM320 |
| Buy 4 tickets | 10% discount |
| Buy 5 tickets | 15% discount |
| Buy 6 or more tickets | 20% discount |
| River Junkie mountain climbers | 20% discount |
Rates valid until 31 December 2026. The climber discount applies to guests who have booked a Mount Kinabalu summit climb through River Junkie and are continuing directly to Sandakan after their climb. The shuttle runs with a minimum of two people per trip, and solo travellers are welcome to join an existing departure.
The daily schedule
- 6.15 – 6.45am Pick up from your hotel in Kota Kinabalu for a 2 hour drive to Kinabalu Park.
- 8.30am Brief stop at Kinabalu Park. Stretch your legs, enjoy the cool mountain air, take a short walk along the boardwalk to see the forest and climb up to the observation deck for a photo of Mount Kinabalu (weather dependent).
- 9am Depart Kinabalu Park for Poring hot springs, an hour away.
- 10am Arrive at Poring hot springs and explore at your own leisure. See our guide to Poring below.
- 12.30pm Depart Poring for Sabah Tea Plantation, 30 minutes away.
- 1pm Arrive at Sabah Tea Plantation, our recommended lunch stop. Take a walk amongst the tea bushes, enjoy the mountain view and visit the cafe for tea or lunch.
- 2pm Depart Sabah Tea Plantation and continue on to Sepilok and Sandakan, a drive of 4 to 5 hours.
- 6 – 7pm Drop off at your accommodation in Sepilok or Sandakan.
Joining the shuttle partway
You do not have to start in Kota Kinabalu. Seats are limited and pre-booking is essential, but you are welcome to meet us along the route:
- Kinabalu Park to Sandakan (via Poring and Sabah Tea Plantation): meet at 9am at Sutera Sanctuary Lodges reception in Kinabalu Park.
- Poring to Sandakan (via Sabah Tea Plantation): meet at 12.30pm at Sutera Sanctuary Lodges reception in Poring hot springs.
- Sabah Tea Plantation to Sandakan: meet at 1.45pm outside the Sabah Tea Plantation gift shop.
How hop-on, hop-off works
You can choose to stay overnight in Kinabalu Park, Poring, Sabah Tea Plantation or the surrounding area and continue your journey free of charge within the next three days. Just ask if you would like help with hotel recommendations or bookings.
Two things to keep in mind. Shuttles run on a minimum of two people, so you must tell us the next leg of your journey when you book the first one; we cannot otherwise guarantee there will be availability for you to hop back on. And failure to rejoin the shuttle at the correct time and location on your pre-booked date will result in forfeiting the rest of your journey.
What is included
- Air-conditioned shuttle service
- English-speaking driver
What you pay for separately
- National Park entrance fee. One ticket is valid for one day, or three days for those staying overnight in any National Park accommodation, and covers entry into both Kinabalu Park and Poring hot springs. International adult / child: RM50 / RM25. Malaysian adult / child: RM10 / RM5. You may pay this together with your shuttle booking, or in cash on arrival at Kinabalu Park.
- Poring activity fees. Optional, paid in cash at the activity counters in Poring. Fees range from RM1 to RM10 per person depending on nationality, age and activity. Swimming in the rock pool, Kipungit waterfall and the Etnobotanical gardens are free.
- Food and drink. Your driver stops at Sabah Tea Plantation around 1pm, where the cafe offers a good-value a la carte menu overlooking the tea plantation. There is also the Rainforest Cafe at Poring hot springs, and you are welcome to bring takeaway food to eat along the way.
A guide to Poring hot springs
The real attractions of Poring lie beyond the hot springs themselves. Here is what is on offer and roughly how long you will need for each, within your 10am to 12.30pm window.
Please note: the canopy walkway at Poring is currently closed for renovation and the park authorities have not given a re-opening date (last updated 29 July 2025). Please check with us before booking if the canopy walk is the reason you want to stop at Poring.
Tropical Garden and Orchid Garden
Walk up the hill past the accommodations, outside the main entry gate into Poring; our driver can show you the path. The Tropical Garden is a 1km jungle trail with boardwalks, a small cave and tortoises along the way, and you may be able to spot a Rafflesia in the small Rafflesia garden at the entrance. Allow around 10 minutes to walk up and another 30 minutes to explore. If you are into orchids, stop at the Orchid Garden on your way back. Total time around 1 hour. Entry: Tropical Garden RM3, Orchid Garden RM10.
Kipungit Waterfall, Etnobotanical Garden, Rafflesia Centre and the bat cave
These are all in the same direction. Follow the signs towards Kipungit waterfall until you reach a small crossroads with a manned counter. To the left is the Etnobotanical Garden, complete with hobbit houses, free of charge. To the right is the Rafflesia Centre; ask at the counter whether any Rafflesia are in bloom before deciding whether to buy a ticket. The trail to Kipungit waterfall, a 10 minute walk, and the bat cave, 20 minutes, is straight ahead and free. Allow around 30 minutes per place. Entry: Rafflesia Centre RM10 when blooming.
Butterfly garden
Close to the pools and on the way back from Kipungit waterfall. A small entrance fee gets you into the butterfly enclosure, and on the short trail beyond you can see stick insects and various impressive beetles as well as butterflies. Allow 30 to 45 minutes. Entry: RM10.
Rock pool and slide pool
While we would not send you to Poring for the hot springs themselves, the rock pool and slide pool are worth visiting if you want to cool off after a couple of hours sightseeing. Be warned, the water is colder than you would expect in Borneo. There are changing rooms and showers on site so you can change before heading back to the shuttle; please do not wear wet clothes in the van. Allow 30 minutes to an hour. Entry: slide pool RM5, rock pool free.
Want to break the journey?
You can stay overnight in Kinabalu Park, Poring or Sabah Tea Plantation before continuing to Sandakan. Hop off the shuttle and hop back on the next day. Remember that shuttles run on a minimum of two people and you must tell us at the time of booking if you would like to split your journey. If you would like help with accommodation, please say so in the contact form.
Frequently asked questions
What is the route and timetable?
The shuttle runs daily, picking up from your hotel in Kota Kinabalu between 6.15 and 6.45am. There is a brief stop at Kinabalu Park at 8.30am, arrival at Poring hot springs at 10am, a stop at Sabah Tea Plantation from 1pm, then the drive on to Sepilok and Sandakan, with drop-off between 6 and 7pm.
Where will I be dropped off?
You are dropped off at your accommodation in Sepilok or Sandakan, normally between 6 and 7pm.
Can I join the shuttle partway along the route?
Yes. For Kinabalu Park to Sandakan, meet at 9am at Sutera Sanctuary Lodges reception in Kinabalu Park. For Poring to Sandakan, meet at 12.30pm at Sutera Sanctuary Lodges reception in Poring hot springs. For Sabah Tea Plantation, meet at 1.45pm outside the gift shop. Seats are limited and pre-booking is essential.
How does the hop-on hop-off part work?
You can choose to stay overnight in Kinabalu Park, Poring, Sabah Tea Plantation or the surrounding area and continue your journey for free within the next three days. You must tell us the next leg of your journey when you book the first one, as we cannot otherwise guarantee availability to hop back on. Failure to rejoin the shuttle at the correct time and location on your pre-booked date will result in forfeiting the rest of your journey.
How much is a ticket and are there discounts?
A shuttle ticket is RM320 per person, valid until 31st Dec 2026. Buy 4 tickets for a 10% discount, 5 tickets for 15%, or 6 or more for 20%. Climbers who have booked a Mount Kinabalu summit climb through River Junkie and are continuing directly to Sandakan after their climb also receive 20% off. The shuttle runs with a minimum of two people per trip, and solo travellers may join existing departures.
What is included in the fare?
The fare covers the air-conditioned shuttle service and an English-speaking driver.
What do I need to pay for separately?
The National Park entrance fee is not included: one ticket is valid for one day, or three days if you are staying overnight in any National Park accommodation, and covers entry into both Kinabalu Park and Poring hot springs. It is RM50 for international adults and RM25 for international children, or RM10 and RM5 for Malaysians, and you can pay it with your shuttle booking or in cash on arrival at Kinabalu Park. Poring activity fees of RM1 to RM10 per person and all food and drink are also excluded.
What can I do during the stop at Poring?
You have from 10am until 12.30pm to explore at your own leisure. Options include the Tropical and Orchid gardens, Kipungit waterfall, the bat cave, the butterfly garden and the rock and slide pools. Swimming in the rock pool, Kipungit waterfall and the Etnobotanical gardens are free of charge. Please note the canopy walkway in Poring is currently closed for renovation and no re-opening date has been provided by the park authorities.
