Tagai Sungai Moroli Fish Spa Therapy

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Kampung Launti, Kota Kinabalu, Ranau, Malaysia

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Moroli River Ranau Photo - Tagai Sungai Moroli Fish Spa Therapy, Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia

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Kota Kinabalu: Fish Spa Therapy at Ranau

by Composthp

Singapore, Singapore

December 19, 2010

Best of IgoUgo We booked our transport at the resort for a day trip to the Ranau area that included fish spa therapy at Moroli river in Kampung Luanti, the Sabah tea plantation as well as Poring hotspring for RM$200. Having hiked the day before at the HQ park, we ...Read more We booked our transport at the resort for a day trip to the Ranau area that included fish spa therapy at Moroli river in Kampung Luanti, the Sabah tea plantation as well as Poring hotspring for RM$200. Having hiked the day before at the HQ park, we were looking forward to a good soak at the Poring hotspring. We departed early as the journey from Ceyln resort to the Moroli river at Ranau took about an hour and a half through winding scenic roads of mountain ranges and farms dotting the countryside.

At the fish spa therapy, one friend and my mum decided not to go for it after looking at the size of the fish. In Singapore, fish therapy or "Dr Fish" is usually performed by finger sized minnows (garra rufa species) that gently nibble away dead skin (much like getting a pedicure with a tickle). At the fish spa therapy in Kampung Luanti, the fish in Moroli river were a hundred times larger, some as long as 30cm! With trepidation, my friend and I decided to try it anyway, we paid for the entrance fee at the administration building located near the entrance before walking towards the actual "feeding" area located another 100m away. Entrance fee were according to whether you are local or a foreigner, duration of soak, body parts (full body immersion vs feet), and whether you are going to use their shower facilities. We chose to dip only our feet for the shortest duration (30mins) and paid RM$5 per person. The locals were kind to allow my other friend and mom access to the river after eliciting a promise that they would not enter the river.

At the river, we saw schools of fish along the rocky banks. Plastic chairs were available for visitors. These chairs can be placed in the river so that you can sit down and dip your feet in the river while the fish performed pedicure. We chose to stand; nothing happened initially, the fish swam past our feet, it felt ticklish. Then one by one, the fish began to nibble at our feet, the ticklish sensation soon gave way to pain when the larger ones started "chomping" on my feet. I did not last past 15mins. The local children and some adults were enjoying themselves though, some even immerse themselves full bodied and were immediately "attacked" by the fish.

The river was clean, I was told that this was a no fishing zone and that the fish were protected. In fact, the company that runs the fish spa had been awarded the River Care award for its efforts.

This was an unique experience for which I would not want to repeat. Still it was a "must-try" experience, especially great for those with psoriasis or eczema. Close

From journal A weekend in the mountains: Mount Kinabalu

Tagai Sungai Moroli Fish Spa Therapy

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Kota Kinabalu: Fish Spa Therapy at Ranau