Things to Do in Kota Kinabalu in March
March weather, activities, events & insider tips
March Weather in Kota Kinabalu
Is March Right for You?
Advantages
- Shoulder season pricing with 20-30% lower accommodation rates compared to peak July-August - book 3-4 weeks ahead for best selection without the premium prices you'd pay during school holidays
- Manageable tourist crowds at major spots like Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park and Kinabalu Park - you'll actually get decent photos at Signal Hill Observatory without fighting through tour groups
- Excellent diving and snorkeling visibility around Gaya and Manukan Islands, typically 15-25 m (50-82 ft) - the water clarity in March is genuinely some of the best you'll see all year before the southwest monsoon kicks in
- Perfect hiking conditions for Mount Kinabalu with cooler summit temperatures around 5-10°C (41-50°F) and less afternoon cloud cover than April-May - you'll actually see the sunrise from Low's Peak without it being socked in
Considerations
- Afternoon thunderstorms hit around 60% of days, usually between 2-5pm - they're brief but intense, and you'll want to plan morning activities for anything outdoors
- March sits in the transition period between northeast and southwest monsoons, which means weather can be genuinely unpredictable - some years are bone dry, others get surprise downpours that last for days
- Heat and humidity combo peaks midday at around 70-75% humidity with 32°C (90°F) temps - it's the kind of sticky heat where you'll be changing shirts twice a day if you're doing any walking around
Best Activities in March
Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park Island Hopping
March hits that sweet spot for the marine park - calm seas before the southwest monsoon arrives in May, excellent underwater visibility for snorkeling, and fewer crowds than the June-August peak. The five islands (Gaya, Sapi, Manukan, Mamutik, Sulug) are about 15-20 minutes by boat from Jesselton Point Ferry Terminal. Water temps sit around 28-29°C (82-84°F), so you'll be comfortable in just a rashguard. The coral reefs around Sapi and Manukan are particularly vibrant right now, and you'll likely spot sea turtles, clownfish, and parrotfish without the swarms of tourists kicking up sediment.
Mount Kinabalu Day Hikes and Summit Attempts
March is actually one of the better months for tackling Southeast Asia's highest peak at 4,095 m (13,435 ft). The weather window between monsoons means you get clearer mornings and less afternoon cloud cover obscuring the summit views. If you're doing the full two-day summit climb, you'll appreciate the cooler temperatures - it drops to around 5-10°C (41-50°F) at Laban Rata rest house. Even if you're not summiting, the lower trails around Kinabalu Park headquarters offer excellent day hikes through montane forest with pitcher plants and endemic orchids. The Silau-Silau Trail (3 km/1.9 miles, about 2 hours) gives you a taste without the altitude commitment.
Klias or Kinabatangan River Proboscis Monkey Cruises
March evening river cruises are brilliant for spotting proboscis monkeys, which come down to the riverbanks to feed in the late afternoon around 4-6pm. The Klias wetlands are closer to KK (about 2 hours drive, 130 km/81 miles) while Kinabatangan offers more wildlife diversity but requires 2.5 hours driving (160 km/99 miles). You're looking at proboscis monkeys, silver langurs, macaques, crocodiles, and if you're lucky, pygmy elephants along Kinabatangan. The firefly displays after dark are genuinely magical - thousands of them synchronizing in the mangrove trees. March has less rain than April-May, so river levels are good without being too high for wildlife viewing.
Kota Kinabalu City Markets and Street Food Walks
March mornings are perfect for exploring the Filipino Market (Pasar Filipina) and Central Market before the midday heat gets oppressive. The Filipino Market, open from 6am-6pm near the waterfront, is where you'll find fresh seafood, tropical fruits, and local handicrafts without the tourist markup you'd see at Gaya Street Sunday Market. The Central Market (Pasar Besar) is the real deal - locals buying fish still flipping, exotic fruits like tarap and bambangan, and vegetables you won't recognize. Evening food stalls set up along the waterfront esplanade around 5pm, serving grilled seafood, satay, and local specialties like hinava (raw fish salad) and tuaran mee. The humidity actually makes the cold drinks more appealing - try fresh coconut water or sugar cane juice.
Mari Mari Cultural Village and Monsopiad Heritage Village Visits
March weather makes these indoor-outdoor cultural experiences more comfortable than the peak heat months. Mari Mari Cultural Village, about 25 km (15.5 miles) from city center, showcases five indigenous Sabah tribes with traditional houses, demonstrations of blowpipe hunting, fire-starting, and rice wine making. Monsopiad Heritage Village focuses specifically on the Kadazandusun warrior culture with a rather intense collection of skulls from headhunting days. Both offer traditional lunch and performances. The cultural context is genuinely interesting if you want to understand Sabah beyond beaches and mountains - the indigenous groups here have distinct languages and customs from peninsula Malaysia.
Tip of Borneo and Kudat Peninsula Day Trips
The northernmost tip of Borneo at Simpang Mengayau is about 190 km (118 miles) from KK - roughly a 3-hour drive through rural Sabah. March is actually ideal because the roads are drier than monsoon months and the seas are calmer for the dramatic coastal views where the South China Sea meets the Sulu Sea. The beaches around Kudat, particularly Kelambu Beach and Kalampunian Beach, are genuinely empty compared to the marine park islands. You'll see the iconic Rungus longhouses in this region, and the local honey (kelulut) is worth buying. It's a long day trip (leave by 7am, return around 7pm) but worth it if you want to see rural Sabah beyond the tourist circuit.
March Events & Festivals
Harvest Festival Preparations
While the main Pesta Kaamatan harvest festival happens in May, March is when you'll see preparations ramping up across Sabah - particularly in the Kadazandusun communities. Markets start stocking traditional items, cultural groups begin rehearsing dances, and you might catch early celebrations in some villages. It's not a tourist event per se, but it gives interesting cultural context if you're visiting during this period. Worth asking your hotel or guides about any early festivities happening during your stay.