Kiulu Valley is nestled in Tuaran district of Sabah (Malaysian Borneo) and aptly stands for ‘Valley in the mist‘. With a population of only around 2,000 people, Kiulu sustains on eco-tourism, agriculture and adventure tours. As a result, for nature and outdoor lovers like myself, there are plenty of things to do in Kiulu Valley.
After spending over a month volunteering at the Monkey Bar for orangutan conservation last year in Kuching Sarawak, I was very keen on coming back to Borneo and exploring a totally different part of it – Sabah. I was already so impressed by Kuching – Be it visiting the lovely Bako national park or witnessing turtles laying eggs at Satang; I had some of the best outdoorsy experiences among other cool things the cat city had to offer.
As part of Travel Earth’s newly launched Earthy Awards event, held in Shangri-La’s Rasa Ria Resort & Spa, Kota Kinabalu last month, I was fortunate enough to also experience the stunning charms of Kiulu valley, which left me smitten.
5 Fun Things to do in Kiulu Valley for Adventure and Nature Lovers
With our extremely experienced, smiling and super friendly guide Auther (Owner of the epic company – Trek Finder Tours) in tow, our small group of 10 explorers and influencers set off to explore Kiulu valley in 48 hours.
Mountain Biking
Our tour kicked off when we arrived Kiulu, which is approximately an hour’s drive from Kota Kinabalu’s city center. Our vehicle was parked by the river and our mountain bikes (with gears) were stacked on a tree. The tour was so well organized that they asked our heights beforehand so that they could match it with the right bike – brilliant! This is one issue I always have while renting bicycles and can seldom find the correct seat height.
We had to wear helmets for safety and considering all of us hadn’t cycled in a while, we were a bit skeptical of the terrain. However, the biking levels were fairly easy except when we had to cross a moving suspension bridge, that was extremely tricky to ride on.
We passed green meadows, farmstays, and quaint cottages. This was our first introduction to the amazing natural beauty of Sabah and Kiulu and it was like love at first sight.
Tip – Carry a cap, mosquito repellent, sunscreen, and light clothing. Sabah can get very hot and humid and the mosquitos are relentless.
White Water Rafting
After sweating it out by cycling around Kiulu, our next stop was a hearty lunch at the wonderful ‘James Kiulu White Water Rafting Center Cafe‘ before dipping in the refreshing waters of Kiulu river.
Our rafting point was just a few minutes from the riverside restaurant. Upon arrival, we were given lifejackets, helmets, and paddles. Our guides briefed us on safety procedures and general rafting terms.
Even though the rapids here are just Grade 1 at this time of the year, it was quite a thrill. Few rapids had twists and turns and our guide ensured we hit the best spots with our rafts.
We even body surfed few rapids and were instantly refreshed by the cold splash of water.
At one point, I even spotted a monitor lizard on the banks of the river amidst the lush greenery on either side.
I have rafted in Rishikesh several times but rafting on Kiulu river was just a totally different experience altogether.
Enroute you stop to feed the fish and mind you they are hugggeeee – its done in an ethical way and the locals really care about their flora and fauna. Here I also learned a new skill – how to break rocks with my bare hands. Don’t believe me? Watch this video –
I would totally recommend you to ask the locals to teach you this trick, if nothing else, it can surely come in handy to impress your peers 😉
Kayaking
Post rafting we enjoyed the evening in a lovely local homestay in the heart of Kiulu.
The next day after a visit to the cultural village, it was time to try kayaking. The kayaking point starts from Tembara jetty by the riverside cafe, which was also our starting point for a lovely evening/night cruise.
Kayaking on this calm river in Tuaran was such a delight and a relief from our chaotic lives.
Spotting Wildlife on Tembara River Cruise
Tembara river cruise is popular for all the right reasons. Imagine cruising into the spectacular sunset at Sulaman bay with the backdrop of water villages or hitting the mangroves and spotting dazzling fireflies? This is what the cruise entails and more.
After kayaking, we had to rush to Sulaman bay in hopes of catching the sunset. Since we were running late, we caught a few snaps on the cruise itself. The sky was on fire by the time we reached this private beach of Sulaman bay – pristine white sands, clean and most importantly – absolutely private and isolated. No other tourists for as far as the eyes can see – now this is an offbeat and exclusive experience.
View this post on Instagram
After a walk on the beach and witnessing an unforgettable sunset, we headed off as the darkness rose, in search of pretty fireflies in the dense mangroves. I am from India so of course, I have seen fireflies in tons of forests and villages but nothing could match this sight of hundreds of sparkling neon lights fluttering over the mangroves. Immediately, all of us were silent as we watched them in pure fascination and they cast their magical spell on us.
Soon, most of us realized we could only capture this image in our minds as none of us could get this on camera and realized it was best to simply enjoy this beautiful moment.
Later on, Auther sent us this spectacular shot clicked by his son which recreates the magic closely, but nothing beats the real experience –
If you are lucky, you can even spot crocodiles and monkeys with a powerful night torch while returning to the jetty. Exciting, ain’t it?
4×4 Offroading Experience
Our last adventure in Kiulu was a 4*4 offroading adventure. We got into these classic cars, customized by the locals. With expert drivers behind the wheels (no you cannot drive these vehicles), we set off amidst bouncy river beds, muddy paths, and bushy terrain.
At first, this didn’t seem very adventurous until one of the vehicles almost flipped and got stuck in the mud. Our guides and drivers had to take help of a rope, fix it to a nearby tree and then accelerate to get out of the tricky situation. Everyone was very experienced and we didn’t feel unsafe at any point. We even stopped at this viewpoint en-route called ‘Malba Tirig Hill’ which made for stunning views of Mt Kinabalu and the valley below.
Bonus thing to do in Kiulu – Since culture plays an integral part in travels, I would highly recommend adding another fun activity while in Kiulu. A visit to the cultural village of Linangkit Dusan Lotud would give you an excellent idea about local culture, traditions, myths, shaman ceremonies, local dances, and food.
Where to Stay in Kiulu Valley, Sabah?
As a traveler, I really enjoy local and offbeat experiences. So staying at the lovely Tombung homestay in Kiulu was such a delightful experience for me. You live, eat, sleep like locals. How cool is that? If you are a princess and prefer 5 stars, this is NOT for you. However, if you can rough it out a bit (think no air conditioning and basic living) then this would be an extremely satisfying experience which I would highly recommend.
Tip – Carry earplugs if natural alarm calls of roosters annoy you. Personally, I would rather wake up to their sounds than the telephonic beeps.
How to Reach Kiulu Valley?
Kiulu Valley is just around 42 km (around an hour in no traffic) from Kota Kinabalu where we reached using Air Asia’s flight via Kuala Lumper, ex Delhi.
Kiulu Valley Sabah Map
This alongside regular visits to Indian jungles in search of the Royal Bengal Tiger, fueled her zest for adventure, nature and wildlife.
Now she is a renowned travel blogger, outreach expert and has worked with over 500 travel brands in the last 15 years.
Hi Jyo,
It is indeed a great joy to be here today.
I am here today via your LinkedIn page.
It is really interesting to know a bit more about this wonderful place called
Kiulu Valley.
The pics speaks different stories.
Thanks for sharing this with your readers.
Keep visiting and sharing more such adventurous events and moments.
All the best
Happy Travelling ahead
Best Regards
~ Philip
Hi Philip, thanks for stopping by and your kind comments 🙂 Glad you liked reading about Kiulu and hope you get to visit Borneo one day- its stunning.
These pictures are so crisp and clear. Kiulu Valley is such a great destination. Like every country the best way to travel would be to connect with the locals and ask for their opinion for the best places to visit/tour as they have the best knowledge of what tourists are looking for.
Hi Kalyan, glad you liked the pictures 🙂 Have you been to Kiulu? Going with locals/ local tour operators is absolutely the best way to travel.