If island hopping is not your cup of tea, then journey on to Kudat. Kudat is 190 km northeast of Kota Kinabalu. It takes approx. 3 hours, driving through rice paddy fields and quaint villages. Alternatively, take a 30 min flight with MASwings Airline from Kota Kinabalu or 50 mins flight from Sandakan into Kudat.

Kudat is famous for its Rungus longhouses, picturesque coastline, handicrafts, great seafood and Tanjung Simpang Mengayau, DMA Gombizau Honey Bee Farm, Gong Making Village etc.

It is much more fun to visit Kudat by land. It is is the most northerly major town in Sabah, and indeed in all of Borneo.

Tanjung Simpang Mengayau (Tip of Borneo)

Tip Of Borneo

The Tip of Borneo is about 23km from Kudat town or 40 minutes drive. The name simpang Mengayau” Means "lingering junction" in Malay, It is the meeting point between the Sulu sea and the South China Sea. This is the northernmost point in Borneo Island. Borneo Island is the third largest island in the world. Come for the beautiful sunset, stay for the wide sandy beach of Pantai Kalampunian the next day.

Stall selling keropok & tidbits at Kpg Menggaris

Kudat is famous for its coconuts and peanuts. you will see a large number of stalls with all sorts of local goodies hung in plastic bags for sale . Locally called the “Pasar Gantung “ or hanging market, it sells a number of special products from the Kudat district. Coconut cookies, crackers made from tapioca in various flavours from plain or salted to spicy with a mixture of chili powder and sugar or even flavoured with prawn and fish. 

The peanuts here are sold steamed in their shells, or roasted with garlic, a specialty of the Hakka Chinese who settled in Kudat in the 1880’s.

Kampung Sumangkap Gong Factory, Matunggong, Kudat

Gong making village; Kampung Sumangkap

This single village produces gongs, an important Rungus instrument, for the district and to all over Malaysia as well. Even the Sultan of Brunei buys his gongs from here! Watch gong makers at work, try your hand at making or playing one yourself, and take home a handmade gong as a souvenir or even a small gong for display in your living room.

Gombizau Honey Bee Farm, Matunggong, Kudat

Kpg Gombizau's Honey Farm

See traditional bee farming techniques and get a taste of rainforest honey. Remember to buy a bottle of cold ice honey to quench your thirst after your visit. Rubber tapping is also done on site, as is the harvesting of traditional medicinal herbs, which can also be bought as a medicine.

 
Kampung Bavanggazo (Rungus Longhouse)

Rungus Longhouse

The Rungus longhouse is about 2.5 km off the main road. Traditionally, the Rungus people live in longhouses built on stilts, but as we are in modern living now, longhouses on stilts are more rare now. The longhouse at Kg. Bavanggazo has been constructed entirely from traditional materials but with added modern comforts like toilets and showers. Here, you can sample the real Rungus living through their food, daily rituals and music on a day trip or overnight stay.

Kampung Salut roadside stalls

Roasted coconut & lokan at Kampung Salut

As the day goes by, you will have lunch at Kampung Salut. We will enjoy roasted coconut and charcoal burned Lokan. We will show you the best food available at roadside stalls, from local treats to age-old recipes. With every bite, you will know the authentic taste of Sabahan cuisine.

The trip ends when we have to return to Kota Kinabalu.