Tour & Activity Scams in Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia
Unlicensed guides, fake tickets, bait-and-switch excursions, and ticket scalping. Below are the tour & activities scams reported in Kota Kinabalu — how they work and how to avoid them.
For broader context, compare this scam type with nearby destinations like Lombok, Palawan, and Mandalay.
Last updated: April 4, 2026
3
Tour & Activities Scams
8
Total in Kota Kinabalu
How it works
Third-party agents operating near the waterfront and in budget guesthouses sell Mount Kinabalu climbing packages with permits that are either counterfeit, already used, or purchased under falsified names. The official permit system requires advance booking through Sutera Sanctuary Lodges, and unauthorized agents cannot legitimately sell these permits. Climbers who arrive at the Timpohon Gate with fraudulent permits are turned away with no refund.
How it works
Sipadan Island has a strictly controlled permit system limiting diver numbers, and permits must be obtained through licensed dive operators. Unauthorized operators in Kota Kinabalu and along the Tunku Abdul Rahman waterfront sell dive packages to Sipadan claiming to include permits, but either the permits are not confirmed, the dive safety standards are substandard, or the trip goes to a different site altogether. Some operators use unqualified divemasters for open water conditions.
How it works
The adventure tourism market around Kota Kinabalu includes white-water rafting on the Kiulu and Padas rivers, zip-lining, and jungle trekking, with a significant number of unlicensed operators undercutting legitimate companies. These operators use worn or expired safety equipment, skip safety briefings, use unqualified guides, and carry no liability insurance. Incidents on unregulated rafting trips have resulted in serious injury.
See all scams in Kota Kinabalu
8 total warnings across all categories