Kota Kinabalu · Month comparison
November vs March
March ranks #1 overall vs November at #9. Best month overall: 32°C, 95mm rain, and the clearest views of Mount Kinabalu.
November
#9 of 12 months
Worth considering
Second-wettest month of the year — city stays and cultural visits are your best options.
- ↑Quietest month for foreign visitors: city centre hotels at rock-bottom rates
- ↑Sabah Museum and Mari Mari Cultural Village (living museum of tribal houses) entirely uncrowded
March
#1 of 12 months
Best match
Best month overall: 32°C, 95mm rain, and the clearest views of Mount Kinabalu.
- ↑Driest skies of the year — Mt Kinabalu summit at 4,095m rewards climbers with panoramas across Borneo
- ↑Marine park islands at their best: clear coral visibility, calm seas, and white sand beaches uncrowded
| Factor | November | March |
|---|---|---|
| Weather score | 3 | 9 |
| Value score | 7 | 6 |
| Crowd score | 8 | 6 |
| Events score | 5 | 6 |
| Atmosphere | 5 | 8 |
| Avg high temp | 30°C | 32°C |
| Monthly rain | 270mm | 95mm |
| Daily sunshine | 5hrs | 7.5hrs |
November trade-offs
- ↓270mm is close to the annual peak — island boats cancel often and Mt Kinabalu permits feel futile
- ↓Outdoor activities severely limited; jungle treks and reef snorkelling unreliable for weeks at a time
- ↓Sustained heavy rain makes exploring the Crocker Range villages muddy and logistically difficult
March trade-offs
- ↓Mt Kinabalu summit permits book out fast — plan and pay at least 2 months in advance
- ↓Prices rising from February lows as word spreads about the dry season
- ↓Humidity still 76% — midday in the city centre is hot even on sunny days
Scores compare months within Kota Kinabalu. Climate data: Open Meteo ERA5 30-year normals (1991–2020). Methodology →