Kota Kinabalu: Bongawan River Cruise, City Tour & Fireflies
Overview
Available languages
Mobile ticket
Embark on the Bongawan River Cruise for an unforgettable ecological adventure in Kota Kinabalu, observe wildlife intimately, admire stunning natural phenomena, and engage with local culture through shared, private tour, or just a simple entry tickets, tailored to your preferred language. Alternatively, choose to include a stop at a Filipino market in private tour, complete with dinner and refreshments at the conclusion of the experience.
The grand finale awaits as darkness falls: glide silently along the river and be mesmerized as fireflies illuminate the mangrove trees, transforming them into a dazzling, twinkling galaxy. This immersive experience combines incredible nature, photography, and a taste of local culture for a perfect day trip from Kota Kinabalu, includes local guide, ticket, entry fee, dinner, refreshment and optional transfer service, market visit or along the route.
Additional Info
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
The itinerary may be modified due to bad weather, governments rules, and current road conditions.
Just a friendly reminder that this is a wildlife area, so wildlife or fireflies sightings aren't guaranteed.
Please be aware that weather, river, traffic, and local regulations may cause delays in the tour's start and end times.
If you opt not to include transfer pick-up, please ensure arrive at the meeting on time.
Pls be advised that if the group is too large, a larger cruise or boat might be used.
A private tour can request quick stop along the way with experience to filipino market visit.
A shared cruise with pickup run with potential extra stop such as chocolate factory and floating mosque (except Friday)
For entry ticket without transfer, a valid ticket is required before arrival otherwise not possible on board tours.
Sky mirrors depending on weather, it is same for all.
This tour run in day and shine.
Cancellation Policy
All sales are final. No refund is available for cancellations.
What To Expect
Kota Kinabalu
Your journey begins with a pickup from your hotel in Kota Kinabalu, or you may choose a more affordable entry ticket option that allows you to meet directly at the cruise site. Visitors selecting the private tour will be treated to a free visit to the Filipino market, either before or after the cruise experience, whether for a guided journey or tailored brief visits along the way. They will then proceed through areas where the urban urban landscape gently gives way to lush rice paddies and charming villages (not applicable for those opting out of transfer). In the meantime, for the shared tour with transfer, take the opportunity to make an additional stop at the iconic floating mosque and the exquisite chocolate factory at no extra charge.
Upon arrival at the serene Bongawan jetty, guests are greeted with tea and light snacks before head toward the first river cruise navigates through lush mangrove forests when the animals are most active during the cooler parts of the day, sight potential long tail macaques and other wildlife. although wildlife sightings can be a bit unpredictable because of their natural behaviour, the guides' knowledge really boosts the likelihood of having some unforgettable moments.
What‘s Included
Hotel pickup and drop-off round trip (If selected)
2 boat cruise separated in two segments, wildlife and fireflies experience.
Life jacket
Filipino market & chocolate kingdom (for private pickup only)
English and Malay speaking instructor
Chocolate kingdom + floating mosque (for shared pickup only)
All necessary permits, fees and taxes
Hi-Tea refreshments upon arrival & Dinner
Sky mirror beach sunset viewpoint
Personal expense and itinerary
Options
Private Tour + Ticket
Local guide : 4 stops Duration: 4 hours: 2 boat cruise, buffet dinner, mirror sky beach without any pickup service (entry ticket only) Buffet dinner: dinner, high tea, local delicacies with drinks inclusive Private tour Boat: Boat on private only
Shared Tour + Ticket
Local guide: 4 stops Duration: 4 hours: 2 boat cruise, buffet dinner, mirror sky beach without any pickup service (entry ticket only) Buffet dinner: dinner, high tea, local delicacies with drinks inclusive Shared tour Boat: Boat on sharing only
Private Tour + Pickup + Ticket
Filipino market visit: An additional trip to a local Filipino market Local guide: 7 stops Duration: 8 hours: 2 boat cruise, buffet dinner, mirror sky beach, chocolate factory, floating mosque with pickup service round trip inclusive. Buffet dinner: dinner, high tea, local delicacies with drinks inclusive Private tour Van & Boat: Van & Boat on private only Pickup included
Shared Tour + Pickup + Ticket
Local guide: 6 stops Duration: 8 hours: 2 boat cruise, buffet dinner, mirror sky beach, chocolate factory, floating mosque with pickup service round trip inclusive. Buffet dinner: dinner, high tea, local delicacies with drinks inclusive. Shared tour Van & Boat: Van & Boat on sharing only Pickup included
Reviews
7 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Must do activity
743georgiea,May 16, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Our tour guide was called John and he was absolutely amazing! We started off with just over and hour mini bus journey where we then had a small snack and cold drink before heading out on the river cruise. John was trying his absolute best to find crocodiles and the Proboscis monkey. Of course this is real life and real nature, you’re not always guaranteed to see them ! But he found them, the boat then stopped for over 10 mins so everyone could look and take pictures. We then head back and was provided with a hot dinner before we then went back onto the river down to the beach for the most amazing sunset. John was offering out his photography skills and got that perfect instagram photo of me and my friend against the sunset. We then watched a fire show before heading back along the river to watch the fireflies. We was then taken straight to our hotel front door. The most amazing day with great tour guides. Would highly recommend this trip.
Hospitality content and staff
Ambassador737966,Mar 29, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00The content was very substantial, monkey, sunset, firefly, and it was great! If you were having trouble catching a Grab taxi on your way home, a friend of the staff called and dropped you off. They waited with us until our friends arrived, and the tour was filled with very kind and hospitable staff. Thank you very much.
Bongawan sunset and fireflies
Susan S,Mar 16, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Tour guide John is excellent, we saw everything on the itinerary and the fireworks at the beach after sunset was a nice big surprise. It was an absolutely lovely day 💖
Very disaapointing
mike j,Feb 26, 2026
- Review from Viator
1.00Very disappointing tour. The whole experience was rushed including having to leave mid way through dinner, and the river cruise was spoilt by the awful plastic and rubbish floating in the water everywhere. I would not recommend this trip to anyone.
Fabulous Bongawan River Cruise
michellewU131SZ,Nov 13, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00There was torrential rain, but we still saw the huge lizard, two types of monkey, numerous birds, baby Croc and some fire flies. The food was delicious, snack and dinner and the team was excellent thoroughly enjoyed
Fantastic Kota Kinabalu Day Trip
602jor,Nov 7, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00From pick up to drop off Timmy my driver/guide was excellent. He shared his knowledge of Borneo, cocoa, wildlife, climate, food and just about every subject… I learnt a lot. Each stop was planned well, there was no waiting around and the food was great. We got so see a troop of probiscus monkeys, a crocodile, numerous birds and lastly the fire flies… it was amazing. I’d recommend this trip to anyone visiting Kota Kinabalu. 10/10
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