Kundasang Best Travel Guide: 13 things you need to know about Kundasang

Table of Content

• Overview of Kundasang
• How to get to Kundasang
• What to prepare before going Kundasang
• When is the best time to visit Kundasang
• Best Places to stay in Kundasang
• Best Places to visit Kundasang
• Places of attraction to visit Kundasang
• Kundasang Food Guide
• Shopping in Kundasang
• Average Cost to travel in Kundasang
• How to travel around Kundasang
• Kundasang Travel Tips
• Closing Thought

Overview of Kundasang

Kundasang is located in the Ranau district. It is famous with Desa Dairy Farm which is also known as the little New Zealand with its lush greenery and lots of cattle. Many people come to Kundasang because of its cool temperature and it is near Kinabalu National park.

How to get to Kundasang?

By flight

Unfortunately, there is no direct flight to Kundasang. You can take a flight from Kuala Lumpur International Airport to Kota Kinabalu. The flight is about 2 hours and 30 minutes, then take a taxi to Kundasang. The ride takes around 1 hours 20 minutes and costs about RM160 to RM200.

By road

If you drive from Sandakan to Kundasang, it will take around 4 hours. If you drive from Kota Kinabalu, it will take around 2 hours 8 min.

What to prepare before going to Kundasang?

If you plan to go for a hike,

• Comfortable clothing
• Insect repellent
• Water bottle
• Light snack
• Hiking equipment

If you plan to go for hot spring,

• Comfortable clothing
• Swimming suit
• Towel
• Shampoo
• Soap

Other items such as

• Masks
• Money (Prepare extra for hotel deposit and tips)
• Boarding ticket
• Medicine 
• Umbrella
• Sweater (The temperature can drop to less than 15 celsius)

Do note that all travellers need to be fully vaccinated with a second dose received after 2 weeks (14 days). 

When is the best time to visit Kundasang

I think you can visit Kundasang anytime of the year. But it is best to visit anytime from January to April as it tends to be less crowded. Try to avoid visiting during the school holiday.

Best places to stay in Kundasang

Feel free to choose accommodation based on your preference, number of visitors and proximity to the tourist attractions.

Affordable accommodations below RM80 per night with good reviews (more than 4 stars for google review)

• OYO 90285 Pogimpaan Homestay

I stayed in this homestay during my last stay in Kundasang. I can experience the Kadazan way of living and I love this place as you can enjoy Mount Kinabalu view. During leisure time, you can play with the Husky here. It costs around RM70 per night.

It offers standardised amenities such as kitchen, parking facility, in-house restaurant, refrigerator, electric kettle. If you come with families, you can also opt for their attached bedroom.

It is 

• 34 min drive from Poring Hotspring
• 7 min drive from Arnab village
• 34 min drive from Desa Dairy Farm

Book via https://www.oyorooms.com/my/112591/. The check in time here is 2pm and checkout time is 12pm. So, if you want an earlier check in, please call them for that request. And remember to bring your identity card or passport while checking in.

• OYO 90264 Lily Cottage & Kitchen

It is a lovely place to stay and you can also experience the Kadazan way of living. It costs around RM86 per night for a private room with a shared bathroom. You get to enjoy amenities such as free wifi, kitchen, seating area, parking facility, coffee/tea maker, in-house restaurant, electric kettle, public washroom and most important a garden and backyard that you can relax and unwind.

It is :

• 13 minutes drive from Kundasang war memorial
• 22 minutes drive away from Sosodikon Hill Kundasang
• 19 minutes walk away from Kinabalu Park Headquarter

Book this room at https://www.oyorooms.com/my/112202/. Remember to use this promo code (OYOWEB40 ) while booking. Their check-in time is 2pm and check-out time is 12pm. Please bring your identity card while check in.

• Ayana Holiday Resort, Kundasang, Sabah

Located at Tinompok, Ayana hotel gives you the perfect backdrop with its natural surroundings. It is just 680 meters away from Mount Kinabalu National Park.  It is cool staying here as the temperature in the morning and afternoon average around 20 degree and at night you can experience 13 degree celsius. Woohoo, remember to bring your sweater. This place is quite misty all year round so it is a great escape from hot and humid city life.

They offer four categories of accommodation, ranging from standard, deluxe, superior and holiday house.

It is also located nearby

• 6 minutes drive away from Taman Botani
• 12 min aways from Crystal Hill
• 28 min drive from Desa Dairy Farm

Book your accommodation via https://ayanaholidayresort.com/contact.php

Good accommodations with excellent reviews

• Kinabalu Pine Resort

You can enjoy the Mount Kinabalu view, sitting at your balcony while sipping a cup of hot tea. It is a multi-award winning resort. The price starts from RM200 for a standard valley. You can enjoy the amenities such as  free WiFi internet access, satellite television channels, intercom facility, en-suite bathroom, toiletries, hair dryer,coffee & tea making facilities.

It is 

• 15 minutes away from Kundasang War Memorial

If you want more information, you can check out their https://live.ipms247.com/booking/book-rooms-kinabalupineresortsdnbhd.

• Spring Garden Kundasang

It is located in the Mesilau part of Kinabalu National Park. The flower bed here is just so amazing. It costs around RM800 here. It is best for a honeymoon or for those who want private space to relax. Staying in the resort in the UNESCO world heritage site of Mount Kinabalu, you can relax by either going for a hike or going to their garden. The garden is open from 9am to 4pm to visitors. There are many individual chalets providing kettle and heated wood floorings. Rest assured towers are provided and some rooms come with a bathtub.

 It is 

• 23 min drive from Desa Dairy Farm
• 21 min drive from Sosodikon Hill Kundasang
• 14 min drive from Maragang Hill

Best places to visit Kundasang

1. Desa Dairy Farm

You must make a reservation at least a day before you visit. It is recommended not to come during public holiday as it is crowded. There is free parking available here so please come earlier.

Currently, the farm operator does not allow any feeding due to the pandemic. So while visiting here, you can only see some cattle roaming the pastures. Most of the cattles are in the functional concrete barns. It will be best to check earlier on the cow milking time. The best place to take some pictures will be the place with a lot of sunflowers and the pasture with some cattle roaming.

While buying the milk products, you can also see the milk carton assembly lines. I love their milk, ice cream and yoghourt products. So, you can consider buying some as a souvenir.

It is best to come earlier as it is always crowded. You can make your reservation with this link.

Source: Sabah Travel

Address: Jalan Cinta Mata Mesilou, 89308 Kundasang, Sabah, Malaysia

Operation hour: 8.30am to 4pm

2. Kundasang Farm Ville

 You will be amazed by how farmers utilise the land and space to plant strawberries and vegetables.

You can harvest strawberry and hydroponic vegetables here but with a small fee.

 It is a nice place for families and couples. I came here because I wanted to have lunch in the Hooga cafe. It is free to enter the farm ville.

By the way, remember to take a group picture with the backdrop.

The entry price for an adult is RM10. You can buy 1 kg of strawberry at RM60 and RM 5 per pot. The vegetables can be good hotpot ingredients. 

Address: 89308 Kundasang, Sabah, Malaysia

Operation hour: 8am to 10pm

3. Alpaca Club

Source: the vibes

I don’t think anyone can say no to these cute little furry animals.  They are actually part of the camel family but they are the smallest in size. All alpacas are imported from Australia and there are a total of 11 of them. Feel free to take some pictures with them but try to lower your voice as you will scare them.

 I felt so relaxed while feeding them. The grass feeding them costs around RM3. Overall, you will spend around 20 minutes relaxing here.

The entrance fee is as follow:

Address: Jalan Cinta Mata Mesilou, 89308 Kundasang, Sabah, Malaysia

Operation hour: 9am to 5pm

4. Spring Garden Mersilou

Special callout to all flower lovers, you can enjoy an array of flowers here. They all bloom all year round due to the cool weather here. I enjoy the quiet ambience here while enjoying Mount Kinabalu magnificent view. 

Source: Agoda

Address: Jalan Golf Course Mesilou, 89308 Kundasang, Sabah, Malaysia

Operating hour: 9am to 4pm

5. Poring Hot Spring

It is highly recommended to come here in the morning session so you have plenty of time to indulge yourself in the hotspring. There are two types of hot spring, public and private. It is free to explore public hot springs. 

Due to the pandemic, I chose the private hotspring. It is about RM20 max for a private room for an hour. 

The hot sulphur bath can help reduce stress by relaxing tense muscles and improve good sleep. Some said the hotspring can relieve skin irritations and allergies. Remember to bring towers, swimwear and sandals.

You can also try your luck to see the Rafflesia flower in full boom.

Apart from hot spring and rafflesia garden, you can also explore butterfly farm, canopy walkway, waterfall, Poring Orchid conservatory and bat cave. It is worth spending 1-2 days here.

Address: 89300 Ranau, Sabah, Malaysia

Operating hour: 8am to 3pm

Places of attraction in Kundasang

1. Sabah Tea Garden

Want to enjoy a cup of tea in a quiet and peaceful place? Sabah Tea Garden is the right place. Located 2,000 feet above sea level, the harvests here are 100% free of pesticide.

I have explored some good spots to take photos.

There are 8 variations of tea packages.

 I have got the amazing agarwood and magnificent misai kuching tea packs for my family. The entrance is free.

Address: 17, Kg. Nalapak, Jalan Ranau-Sandakan, 89309 Ranau, Sabah, Malaysia

2. Kundasang War Memorial

It was established in 1962 to pay respect to the brave Australian and British prisoners of war who died in Sandakan. There are four beautiful gardens such as the Australian Garden, English garden, Borneo garden and the Contemplation garden and pool. It is truly a mix of different nationalities.

Walking here is like walking in a quaint english garden.

3. Maragang Hill

Good news for hikers who want to try out hiking at a beginner level. It is just 1.6km to the peak of Maragang hill and you get to enjoy the spectacular view of Mount Kinabalu. You might discover some maroon leaf monkeys while hiking.

Remember to take a picture with the sign to show that you have been here.

Red leaf monkeys are adapted to highland habitat.

Even though the trip only takes half a day, you need to book the tour in advance. Most people take around 1.5 hours to go to the peak. If you are fast enough, you can reach it within an hour.

If you want to see the sunrise, you can go as early as 3am for their sunrise hike.

4. Ranau Paragliding Park

One of the best ways to capture the magnificent view of Mount Kinabalu is to go high and enjoy the view yourself. Via paragliding and flying for a few minutes, you can feel and see  beautiful land, villages and paddy fields. If you want a good weather condition to fly, make sure the weather is sunny, with clear view and strong wind! The paragliding experience might cost around RM200 per person. There will be a professional pilot guiding your paragliding journey and please make sure the insurance is included . 

Address: Jln Kompleks Sukan Ranau, 89308 Ranau, Sabah, Malaysia

Operating hour: 9am to 5pm every day

5. Moroli River

It is a great place for fish therapy. You can walk in the river where fish swim around your feet and give you gentle rubs. Tagal system in 2001 was a fish and environmental initiative. Tagal means no fishing in local kadazan dialect and turned to Morli River in 2018 for fish massage therapy. 

The entrance fee is as follow:

Kundasang Food Guide

1. Hooga Cafe

It is best to come at night as the lightning here is very beautiful. You can order their Hooga Nasi Lemak with fried chicken and have their cakes as dessert. This is a great place for photos.

Once you finish dining at Hooga, you can come out to grab some ice cream.

This is a great spot to take pictures.

Their western food portion is decent and quite good.

Address: 89308 Kundasang, Sabah, Malaysia

Operating hour: 9.30am to 10pm

2. 89 station

It is a Chinese restaurant in Kundasang. Their signature dishes are fried mushroom, pork and fish skin soup.

You can pick the dishes from the menu on the blackboard. It gives me a feeling of going back to school listening to the teacher writing on the blackboard. The portion is big, so it is best to come with 3 people and order 2 dishes. You must come earlier to avoid the crowd. It is only open until noon. So, don’t come here for dinner. You can park in front of the restaurant.

Address: 89300 Kundasang, Sabah, Malaysia

Operating hour: 10 am to 3pm

3. SS Chinese Restaurant

You can come here for breakfast. I loved their Tuaran Mee. If you would like to come here for lunch, you can try their butter chicken rice. Besides, you can also see the Mount Kinabalu view dining here.

Special callout to Tuaran Mee.

Their menu

Address: Jalan Kundasang Kauluan, Pekan Kundasang, 89308 Kundasang, Sabah, Malaysia

Operating hour: 7am to 9pm

4. Liwagu Restaurant

The restaurant is nicely decorated with rustic cottage themes. It is a fantastic restaurant located in Kinabalu Park. There are two balconies enjoying the greenery. So be sure to take good pictures here.

You can consider ordering their curry laksa. Eating this is very good especially in a very cold weather.

Address: Kinabalu Park, 89300 Ranau, Sabah, Malaysia

Operating hour: 8am to 10pm

5. Bw Bus Restaurant

You can experience dining in an air-conditioned bus, enjoying a cup of coffee and delicious western food. It is slightly hot in the afternoon. It is best to come in the morning. This restaurant closes at 8pm.

Their menu

Address: Pinausok, 89308 Kundasang, Sabah, Malaysia

Operating hour: 10am to 8pm

Shopping in Kundasang

• Kundasang Market

It is a market where you can get fresh harvest from farmers. There are fruit, snacks, drinks and handicrafts available. The best tip I can give you is empty your car boots before you come here as there are many things you can buy here, fresh, cheap and good quality.

Address: 37, AH150, Pekan Kundasang, 89308 Ranau, Sabah, Malaysia

Operating hour: 6am to 8pm 

• Nabalu Market

Clothing

Local handicraft

Local handicraft and snack

It is a great place to get some local snacks such as sabah keropok and banana chips. Many people stopover to get some souvenirs home. Nabalu market is a 90 minutes drive away from Kota Kinabalu.

Average Cost to travel in Kundasang

How to travel around Kundasang

• Rent a car
  • Kereta Sewa Ranau & Kundasang
  • Run Now Car Rental

• Mini bus which is also known as pawong

Kundasang Travel Tips

While dining at Kundasang, do expect the food to be slightly sweet.

While travelling at Kundasang, always make reservations with proper agency. If you are involved in some extreme activities such as paragliding, please make sure the fee you pay includes insurance. 

Closing thought

Kundasang is a great chilling place to be beside Cameron Highland and Genting Highland. I love enjoying the Mount Kinabalu view here. I think you have to rent a car while moving around in Kundasang as it is hard to find a taxi or a car or public transport here. If you want to enjoy hotpot here, you can also buy the fresh harvest and enjoy the home-made hotpot here.