> Quick view: Shangri-La Rasa Ria, the beach resort at Pantai Dalit in Tuaran, started selling a "Golden Hour at Rasa Ria" package on 10 October. It needs a three-night stay and starts at RM3,240 (RM3,499.20 with SST). On top of breakfast, it includes one buffet dinner and one Kawa Kawa sunset and firefly trip for two adults and two children. It suits families who want an organised evening out without planning it themselves. If you only want the room and breakfast, other rates at the same resort are cheaper.

*Image: Shangri-La Rasa Ria, Kota Kinabalu*

Rasa Ria sits on a long beach north-east of Kota Kinabalu city, backed by its own forest reserve and the Dalit Bay golf course. It is one of the few KK resorts where the beach faces west, so sunsets over the South China Sea are the main evening event. The Golden Hour package is built around that. We read the offer page and its terms on shangri-la.com on 16 October 2026, with the site set to ringgit.

What the package includes

Every inclusion below covers 2 adults and 2 children aged 11 and below:

  • Daily breakfast for the whole stay.
  • One buffet dinner. The offer page does not name the restaurant, so ask when you book.
  • One Kawa Kawa sunset and firefly watching trip. It is a one-time outing, so pick your clearest evening.
  • Unlimited access to the Discovery Centre, Forest Garden and waterfall. Nature Reserve activities are not included.
  • Daily access to the Cool Zone Kids Club (the resort's page says it takes children aged 4 and above), plus the free daily activity schedule for kids and adults.
  • A free daily shuttle to Kota Kinabalu city, free parking and Wi-Fi.

There is no late check-out in this package, and no third-person rate is published for it.

How to book it, step by step

  1. Go to the Golden Hour offer page on shangri-la.com and switch the currency at the top right from USD to MYR. The site defaults to US dollars.
  2. Enter dates between 10 October and 20 December 2026 for at least three nights. Membership of Shangri-La Circle is not required for this rate.
  3. Pay and keep your booking confirmation.
  4. At least three days before arrival, email reservations.rrr@shangri-la.com or call (60 88) 797 888 to book the buffet dinner and the Kawa Kawa trip for a specific evening. The terms say this is needed to secure the activities. If you leave it to check-in, your preferred night may be full.

Worked example: what the dinner and firefly trip cost you

Both prices below are the lowest "from" rates the resort showed on 16 October, for three nights, before 8% SST.

  • Golden Hour at Rasa Ria: RM3,240, or RM3,499.20 with SST. That is about RM1,166 a night all in.
  • Closer to Nature: RM2,400, or RM2,592 with SST. That is RM864 a night all in.

So the Golden Hour package costs RM840 more before tax (RM907.20 with SST) than Closer to Nature for the same three nights. Both include breakfast for two adults and two children under 12, the kids' club, the Discovery Centre and the city shuttle.

What the extra RM907 buys is one buffet dinner for four and the Kawa Kawa trip for four. What it gives up are Closer to Nature's sunrise hike, Winged Wonders buggy tour and night walk, an hour of bicycle use for two adults, and 4pm late check-out. Closer to Nature also runs to 15 December only, and its bookings close on 30 November. Golden Hour runs to 20 December and its terms do not set a booking deadline.

If your family would do a hotel buffet and a sunset boat trip anyway, Golden Hour bundles them and removes the planning. If your kids are happier on a jungle trail, Closer to Nature is the better value.

Who it is good for, and who should skip it

Good for: families with two children aged 11 or under who want three easy nights with one "big" evening planned for them. It also works for travellers flying into KK who do not want to arrange a separate firefly tour from the city.

Skip it if: - You only want two nights. Golden Hour needs three. The members-only 50% Off Your Second Night rate starts at RM1,200 for two nights before SST. - You bank with OCBC. Its Exclusive Getaway gives 15% off from RM1,350 for two nights, for stays to 30 September 2027, but includes breakfast only. - Your children are 12 or older. The inclusions are written for kids aged 11 and below, so older children may be charged separately for dinner and the trip.

Fine print that trips people up

  • Prices are "from" figures. RM3,240 is the lowest rate on the cheapest dates and room type. School holidays and weekends in late November and December may price higher.
  • 8% SST is extra. All rates quoted on the page exclude it.
  • Tourism tax for foreigners. Foreign passport holders pay RM10 nett per room, per night at check-out. Malaysians and permanent residents are exempt.
  • Activities need three days' notice. Without that, the resort does not promise you a slot.
  • Paid add-ons are separate. The offer page lists the 90-minute Urutan Malaysia massage at RM588 nett and an 18-hole round at Dalit Bay Golf & Country Club at RM336 nett. Neither is included in the package price.
  • End date wording. The terms say the offer is valid for stays "until 20 December 2026". If your checkout falls after that date, confirm the rate covers every night before you pay.

Book on Shangri-La Rasa Ria's Golden Hour offer page.

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