Heading to Sabah to hike Mount Kinabalu but want to explore the small, cosy town of Kundasang while you’re there? You’re in the right place.

Most climbers will fly into Kota Kinabalu just a day before climbing the mountain. However, I took a full five days to explore this little town of Kundasang. To be honest with you? It was incredibly worth it.

Kundasang is 1h30 to 2 hours away from Kota Kinabalu. Known for its highlands, it is considered to be the New Zealand of Borneo, with its sweeping landscapes and high elevations. This little city not only offers a serene and picturesque setting with numerous attractions to explore, but it is also home to the highest mountain in Malaysia and Borneo, Mount Kinabalu.

Having spent my previous Borneo trips diving in Semporna, shifting gears to the highlands of Kundasang was a refreshing change of pace! 😀

Here, I will share my Kundasang travel itinerary, including accommodations, interesting places to go, things to do, and weather tips to help you prep.

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Weather in Kundasang

The best time to visit Kundasang is during the dry season, from April to October, when the weather is more stable and pleasant. A tropical climate characterises the weather here, so it can be warm and hot during the day.

However, the temperature drops significantly during nighttime, making it very chilly. Brrr!

Wear warm clothes in the evening, as it can get freezing. It was pleasantly warm during our stay during the day, and it rained most nights.

Where to Stay in Kundasang

You will find numerous homestays, Airbnbs, and hotel lodges around Kundasang. Some offer a magnificent view of Mount Kinabalu, and some offer tranquillity amid nature.

Here are the two different Kundasang lodges I stayed at throughout my Kundasang trip itinerary.

• B Inspired Abode

B Inspired Abode is another lovely place to stay, and I would come back here again. I love the pressure of the hot water and the fantastic view of Mount Kinabalu!

You get to experience the sunrise and sunset of Mount Kinabalu from just one place! Trust me, you can just sit there and mountain watch.

The one thing I would prefer to avoid is the VERY steep slope from the lobby area to our tiny little lodge. It was slightly daunting as I have vertigo! O.O

All in all, I enjoyed my stay at these two places. Both lodges are situated on top of the hill with a view of Mount Kinabalu.

(Updated December ’25: The other accommodation we stayed in has either closed down or upgraded to D Shaun Villa)

• D’Shaunn Lodge & Cafe

D’Shaun is just right next to Desa Dairy Farm. It has a sky deck observation view and decent rooms for a short stay. 

The rooms are comfortable, and there is ample parking. Breakfast is alright. It’s local food like nasi goreng, mee goreng, and fried eggs—nothing too fancy, but enough to fill your tummy. 

The only downside of it is that this lodge is pretty far from the town and uphill. It is very dark at night, so before heading back to your accommodation, grab your dinner or your groceries and whatnot. 

Car Rental

Renting a car is the best way to move around Kundasang. It gives you the flexibility to move around Kundasang easily. 

One tip on renting a car is to ensure that you rent a car that is reliable and robust, as certain roads around Kundasang can be very steep, and you need sufficient horsepower. 

If not, you will strain your engine and find yourself stranded by the roadside. I actually saw a few cars stranded on our way to Kundasang! 

I rented a Proton Bezza from this list of car rentals in Kota Kinabalu at a reasonable price per day, and it was reliable enough to handle the steeper roads without straining (unlike a couple of poor cars I saw stranded on the way up 😅)

Kundasang Trip Itinerary For 5 Days

Day 1: Arrival in Kota Kinabalu

I took the earliest flight into Kota Kinabalu with my hiking buddies. We arrived at KKIA and started the day off with a good cuppa of coffee. We met our car rental guy and took off on our road trip.

📍 1st stop:  Kota Kinabalu Handicraft Market  (Pasar Kraftangan)

Pasar Kraftangan is also well known by the name of Filipino Market.

You will find yourself amongst endless stalls along winding alleyways, from pearl jewellery to rattan bags, baskets and handmade souvenirs. 

I’m a big fan of earrings. So I bought freshwater pearl earrings here at a good price 😉 

Next to the Handicraft Market is the Snacks Heaven. You can have various kinds of snacks and munchies, such as Kuih Kuis, Kuih Kapit, and all other types of snacks that make your taste buds dance. 

Plus, you will see a lot of dried sea produce, such as fish, cuttlefish, prawns, and sea cucumbers.

I bought the famous blue-eyed anchovies, which are widely known in Sabah! 

📍 2nd stop: The Warung Kepayan

Famous for its nasi kuning ayam, nasi lalap, Warung Kepayan is one of the local warung (roadside stalls) that the locals frequent every day. Their service is fast, the portion is quite big, and it’s yummy! 

Parking can be a bit difficult during lunch hour. So, come slightly earlier than lunchtime and park along the road.

📍 3rd Stop: Tamparuli Suspension Bridge

The next stop is the famous Tamparuli Bridge, with its legendary tale. It is the best place to visit in Kundasang.

Upon arriving at the entrance, all the visitors were greeted by volunteers with a traditional dance performance. At the end of the performance, the locals briefly explained the history of the bridge.

According to the folktale, a lady was sacrificed to ensure that the bridge stopped collapsing! Intrigued right?

So, a British engineer led the construction of Tamparuli Low Bridge during the post-war colonial period to provide easy and better access for the villagers. However, it kept on collapsing due to the river currents during rainy seasons.

It is believed that the river spirit, Ombuakar, was not happy with the bridge, and to appease the spirit, a human sacrifice was demanded. So, a fair maiden was chosen and buried alive under the first pole of the bridge! 

Now, Tamparuli Bridge is standing strong and has gained attraction from local tourists and foreigners. There is no entrance fee, but you are welcome to give a tip. 

📍 4th Stop: Pekanabalu

I love this cute little town. It has a fantastic view of Mount Kinabalu. 

It’s a must-stop area before you reach Kundasang town. You will not miss this town as it is usually crowded!

In this town, you can stop by for a toilet break, a coffee break, or even a shopping break at the souvenir market. 

There is also a big area where you can have a picnic with your family and friends, with Mount Kinabalu as your backdrop. It’s definitely one of the Instagrammable places you cannot miss!

📍 5th stop: Kundasang Point View

Upon reaching the town of Kundasang, we stopped by the Kundasang Point View roundabout to enjoy the view of Mount Kinabalu again. 

We can never get enough of it. It’s majestic and beautiful. I sat there for quite some time, trying to figure out why I said yes to climb this huge mountain 😉 

While our hiking group wandered around taking silly, memorable photos, we met a group of gentlemen from Malaysia and Singapore who were on a road trip exploring Sabah. 

Living life, exploring places, and going on adventures. Truly inspiring!

Day 2: Visiting Kundasang – Animals Day

📍1st Stop: Desa Dairy Farm

The following day, after breakfast, we headed over to the home of the local Desa Milk brand.

Desa Dairy Farm is one of Kundasang’s tourist spots renowned for its local dairy products. Located on the highlands of Kundansang, the farm is popular with both locals and tourists.

With its majestic view of Mount Kinabalu, it’s one of the places you must visit while in Kundasang!

The highlight of this visit was I had to feed the cows with milk and grass. Yes, you have the chance to feed the cow! 

You’ll need to pay a small fee to get the milk bottle and grass, but the experienc