Kota Kinabalu, the capital of Sabah in Malaysia, has a lot of surprises in store for all its visitors. A trip to Kota Kinabalu will not be complete without taking time to visit one of its tourist destinations, the Poring Hot Springs.

You will find the Poring Hot Springs at the southern end of the Kinabalu Park. “Poring” is a Kadazandusun word for the bamboo species that is abundant within the area. This exotic place is located about 40 kilometers (25 miles) away of the Park’s Head Quarters which is around 2 hours driving distance from most Kota Kinabalu hotels. 

The Poring Hot Springs is famous not only among tourists but also among the locals who make the trip out of town to soak away all sores and muscle aches in the hot sulfuric minerals of this wondrous spring. As explained by locals, the place became even more popular when locals started believing that the water at the Poring Hot Springs has curative powers.

You will be greeted by open air sulfur baths upon your arrival. I would have to warn you, though, that water that comes out of the faucets is extremely hot. Remember that you have to test the temperature of the water and add cold water depending on your preference. There are people who have suffered from severe burn for not being careful.

If you’re going to ask me when is the best time to take a dip in the Hot Springs then I will highly recommended that you try this right after you’ve descended either from Mt. Kinabalu or even after your short trek to the Canopy Walk.

Now this is another highlight of your trip to the Poring Hot Springs as you are in for a different kind of experience. The beginning of the trail to the Canopy Walk is around 10 minutes from the entrance of the Poring Hot Spring. You will be charged entrance fees, that is, if you are not part of a group tour.

The trek can be difficult depending on your level of fitness. You would have to walk uphill through the lush Borneo tropical rainforest while listening to the chirping birds and the buzzing insects which allows you to commune with nature. As for me, I had difficulty with the uphill trail as I was out of shape when I went there. I had to stop every few minutes to catch my breath and gulp down water. I highly suggest that you eat light snacks before the trek so that you’ll have enough energy.

It’s a different story once you reach the Canopy Walk itself! You’ll be thrilled that you mustered the strength to go through the trek when you see the maze of walkways. The Walkway, which is pretty safe even if a bit shaky, is around 157.8m long and it is 41m high. You will see amazing flora and fauna as you walk along the wooden planks which are all tied to Menggaris trees – also called the King of the Forest in Kota Kinabalu.

After you’re done with the Canopy Walk and the Poring Hot Springs, then you can also explore the Butterfly Farm. Our tour guide claimed that this is very first of its kind in Borneo. Aside from a lovely garden, you’ll also get to see a Butterfly nursery and hatchery that is being maintained for the purpose of research that lead to the preservation of endangered species. There’s even a caterpillar house here that is a favorite among children. It goes without saying that you’ll see so many fragile Butterfly species here of various colors and sizes.

Another interesting place that you can visit is the Poring Orchid Conservation Center. This center houses over a thousand of orchids including the rarest and the wildest species. If you’re a photography enthusiast, then you’ll surely be trigger happy with all the lovely orchids that you’ll be seeing here.

To make your trip more enjoyable, I’d like to share with you a packing list that you can use:

- Make sure to bring your water bottle to quench your thirst during the trek.

- Wear comfortable walking shoes (make sure that you’re not bringing a new pair).

- As you’ll be trekking to the rainforest, it is safe to always assume that it will rain. Bring your rain gear like raincoats, or even an umbrella.

- If you plan to take a dip in the hot springs, then you have to bring an extra change of clothing and towel.

- Bring some cash with you to pay for entrance fees and conservation fees.

- You might also want to bring your camera with you to document your wonderful adventure.

In total, this is going to be one great experience for any traveler who is thirsty for adventure. You can trek uphill, walk along suspended wooden planks, see colorful butterflies, marvel at interesting orchid species, and enjoy a dip in tub filled with hot spring water in the middle of the lush rainforest of Kota Kinabalu.

What more can you ask for?

Posted in Attractions, Malaysia, Things to do

This entry was posted on Friday, July 11th, 2008 at 5:51 pm and is filed under Attractions, Malaysia, Things to do. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.