Mytrip is a third-party travel agency. Any voluntary changes, refunds or post-booking assistance would normally need to be handled through Mytrip rather than directly through the operating airline.
Before paying, check the final ticketing airline, passenger names, payment currency, fare conditions, baggage allowance and total price.
After booking, confirm that you receive a valid airline reservation code and e-ticket number for the complete itinerary.
London Gatwick 17:00 → Shanghai Pudong 12:25 +1
Boeing 787 · Flight time 11h25
Connection in Shanghai: 7h40
China Eastern MU8621
Operated by Shanghai Airlines
Shanghai 20:05 → Kota Kinabalu 00:30 +1
Boeing 737-800 · Flight time 4h25
Operated by Shanghai Airlines
Kota Kinabalu 01:30 → Shanghai Pudong 06:00
Boeing 737-800 · Flight time 4h30
Connection in Shanghai: 3h15
China Eastern MU213
Shanghai 09:15 → London Gatwick 14:00
Boeing 787 · Flight time 12h45
⚠️ The outbound connection at Shanghai Pudong lasts 7h40.
⚠️ Arrival in Kota Kinabalu is at 00:30.
⚠️ The return flight leaves Kota Kinabalu at 01:30.
⚠️ The £429 fare is booked through Mytrip rather than directly with the operating airline.
⚠️ The precise checked-baggage weight is not visible in the supplied booking summary.
To access a hotel room immediately, book the room from 19 November and inform the hotel that check-in will take place after midnight. Otherwise, the reservation could be treated as a no-show.
The return leaves at 01:30 on 30 November, so travellers may also need to pay for the night of 29 November despite using the room for only part of the evening.
Open the preferred Skyscanner UK link and confirm that Mytrip still displays the £429 price.
Before paying, verify: one continuous ticket, the Shanghai connection times, the checked-bag allowance, the final payment currency and the complete fare rules .
Where to stay, how many nights to book and whether to add Brunei
The reference flights provide approximately ten complete days in Borneo, but the unusual arrival and departure times mean that travellers may need to book 11 hotel nights. Kota Kinabalu is the most practical first and final base, while Kundasang, Sandakan, Kinabatangan or Brunei can be added according to your interests.
Recommended hotel dates
The flight arrives at 00:30 on 20 November.
Booking from 19 November allows immediate access to the room after
landing.
Contact the hotel before departure and explain that check-in will
take place shortly after midnight. Ask the hotel to hold the room
and not mark the reservation as a no-show.
Final-night warning
The return flight leaves at 01:30 on 30 November.
Keeping the room until the evening of 29 November provides a place
to shower, rest and store luggage before travelling to the airport.
This means paying for the final hotel night even though the room
will be used only until late evening.
How many nights should you stay in Kota Kinabalu?
Kota Kinabalu works well as both the arrival point and the base for island trips, city sightseeing and onward travel. The ideal number of nights depends on whether you plan to visit other parts of Sabah.
Enough for the city and islands
Four nights allow time to recover after arrival, explore the city,
visit the waterfront and spend one full day around the nearby
islands.
This is suitable when the remainder of the trip includes
Kundasang, Sandakan, Kinabatangan or Brunei.
Split between the beginning and end
Spend four nights in central Kota Kinabalu after arrival and
another two or three nights near Tanjung Aru or at a resort before
the return flight.
This creates a relaxed beginning and a comfortable final base
without keeping every night in the same hotel.
One hotel and organised day trips
Staying in the Kota Kinabalu area for the complete trip is the
simplest option.
Travellers can take island, cultural, countryside and highland
excursions without repeatedly packing luggage, although this
misses Sabah’s strongest wildlife areas.
Best areas to stay in Kota Kinabalu
Choose the area according to whether you prioritise restaurants, island departures, beach access, resort facilities or airport convenience.
Gaya Street and city centre
A practical central base with cafés, restaurants, markets and convenient access to the waterfront.
- Easy for first-time visitors
- Good dining selection
- Convenient for city sightseeing
- Useful for the first four nights
Jesselton Point and waterfront
Stay near the waterfront when island excursions, sunset walks and easy access to restaurants are the main priorities.
- Convenient for boat departures
- Waterfront restaurants nearby
- Good city and harbour atmosphere
- Some streets can be busy
Tanjung Aru
Tanjung Aru offers a more relaxed environment and is particularly useful before the 01:30 return flight because it is closer to the airport than much of the city centre.
- Beach and sunset setting
- Convenient final base
- Shorter late-night airport transfer
- Quieter than the city centre
Sutera Harbour and resort zone
A strong option for travellers wanting pools, sea views, resort grounds and a less urban final section of the holiday.
- Full-service resort atmosphere
- Good for families and couples
- Suitable for the final two or three nights
- Usually more expensive than city hotels
Three practical ways to divide the 11 hotel nights
These options use the 19–30 November hotel window and account for the post-midnight arrival and departure.
Kota Kinabalu and Kundasang
City, islands, markets and recovery time.
Highlands, mountain scenery and Kinabalu Park area.
Relaxation and convenient final airport transfer.
Sabah plus two nights in Brunei
City, islands, food and recovery after the flight.
Mountain scenery and a cooler highland stay.
Mosques, Kampong Ayer, museums and river scenery.
Final beach days and easy airport access.
Kota Kinabalu, Kundasang and Sandakan
City and nearby islands.
Highlands and Kinabalu Park area.
Orangutans, rainforest and wildlife river experiences.
Final buffer before the international flight.
Is Brunei worth adding?
Yes—Brunei works well as a
two-night side trip
from Kota Kinabalu when suitable direct flights are available.
It provides a clear contrast to Sabah, with grand Islamic
architecture, the riverside capital, Kampong Ayer and a quieter,
more formal atmosphere.
We would not recommend attempting it as a rushed same-day excursion.
Two nights provide one complete sightseeing day and parts of the
arrival and departure days.
Where to stay
Stay in central Bandar Seri Begawan for the most convenient access to major mosques, the riverfront, museums and Kampong Ayer.
What to prioritise
Focus on Omar Ali Saifuddien Mosque, Kampong Ayer, the Royal Regalia collection, the city centre and an evening river or mangrove experience.
When to stay longer
Choose three nights instead of two when adding a dedicated rainforest or Ulu Temburong excursion.
Dino’s accommodation recommendation
For the best balance, begin with
four nights around Gaya Street or the Kota Kinabalu
waterfront.
This provides a practical base immediately after the long outbound
journey.
Continue with two nights in Kundasang, then choose either
two nights in Brunei for a second country or
three nights around Sepilok and Kinabatangan for
Sabah’s stronger wildlife experience.
Always return to Kota Kinabalu for at least the final two nights.
Tanjung Aru or a nearby resort is particularly useful before the
01:30 departure because it provides a more relaxing finish and easier
late-night airport access.
Search hotels in Kota Kinabalu and wider Borneo
Start by comparing accommodation in central Kota Kinabalu from 19–23 November 2026. After confirming the remaining itinerary, search separately for Kundasang, Sandakan, Sepilok, Kinabatangan, Tanjung Aru or Bandar Seri Begawan.
Hotel prices, transport schedules and room availability can change. The proposed itinerary is a planning recommendation based on the reference 18–30 November 2026 flights. Confirm domestic flights, road transfers, Brunei connections, passport requirements and every hotel’s late-arrival policy before making non-refundable reservations.
Complete Your Trip
Flights and accommodation are the big pieces — now make the journey smoother. Below are three useful extras for this trip: activities, mobile data and airport transfers.
Find tours, day trips, food experiences and activities to make this trip more memorable. A useful place to compare things to do before you travel.
Land with mobile data ready and avoid searching for SIM cards or relying on airport Wi-Fi. A simple option for staying connected while travelling.
A useful option for airport transfers, especially when arriving late, travelling with luggage or landing somewhere unfamiliar for the first time.
Need help finding the best flight for your trip?
For €15, Dino can personally research flight options for your trip — including alternative routes, nearby airports, baggage rules, layovers, airline quality and possible hidden costs.
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