5 Best Hiking Trails and Nearby Attractions in Kundasang
One of the best places to visit in Sabah is Kundasang. Incredible topography, cool and refreshing air, and unique species of flora—it is the perfect getaway for families, couples, and even solo travellers!
With the current situation regarding travel, many places around Kundasang are either closed or have limited access. But if you think that there’s nothing for you to do there now, you could not be more wrong!
Hilly areas surround Kundasang, and you can find plenty of hiking spots around, suitable for those who want to do a little exercise while looking at the sweeping vistas of the highland. So, if you want to know the best hiking spots in Kundasang, check this out!
1. Maragang Hill
Maragang Hill has been one of the most popular spots among casual hikers in the past couple of years. And who could blame them?
The regular trail is about 2km long, and while it is not as strenuous as Mount Kinabalu, Maragang Hill still poses a considerable challenge for all types of hikers. But if you think the regular trail is peanuts, you can opt for the loop trail, which takes about 6 hours through the jungle and across a river.
At the summit, you will arrive at a platform with a stunning view of Mount Kinabalu. So, if you want to experience the tallest mountain in Malaysia without the trouble of training for weeks, Maragang Hill should be on top of your travel list!
Hiking Maragang Hill with SabahTravel. Video by @sabahtravel
Nearby attractions: After your hike up Maragang Hill, there are two nearby places you can visit to cool off and relax: the Mesilau Cats’ Village and the Mesilou Highland Strawberry Farm.
Cat lovers will have a fun day playing and feeding the cute felines at the Cat’s Village. It is also a great place to bring your little children along to play with furry friends during the school holiday.
At the Mesilou Highland Strawberry Farm, you will have the chance to pluck strawberries for yourself, which many say that it is sweeter and juicier than your typical varieties in the supermarket. They also have several other strawberry-based products, so this is the place to go if you want to satisfy your strawberry cravings!
Sosodikon Hill is less of a hike and more like a short, leisurely walk up the hill. But that does not mean that the view is any less stellar! About 10-15 minutes of hiking or so, you will be able to see a 360-degree view of Kundasang—the sight of Mount Kinabalu and its hilly surrounding is something you don’t want to miss!
If you’re planning to come, we recommend going here early in the morning or late in the afternoon to avoid the blistering hot sun. Not only that but the view during sunrise and sunset is totally out of this world!
Sosodikon Hill offer some spectacular views of Mount Kinabalu in the morning light. Photo by @xchantelleyst
Nearby attractions: If you feel like your adrenaline is not pumping hard enough after the hike up Sosodikon Hill, you might want to stop by the ATV Borneo Adventure Sport. For those who loves exploration, this is your chance to get around the highlands on a quad bike and visit parts of Kundasang that you would not usually go to!
For history buffs out there, Kundasang War Memorial will be more up your alley. Kundasang is an important historical site for the events that happened during World War II, and the Kundasang War Memorial provides an insight into the incident that occurred during that period.
If you want to have a sizeable challenge in Kundasang, Tinorindak Hill is the place to go. The hike will take you around two hours, but some say that the journey is more challenging than the climb up Mount Kinabalu.
Despite that, the view is breath-taking. Once you reach the summit, you are treated with a stunning panoramic view of the surrounding highland, including Mount Kinabalu. If you are lucky, you will also be able to see the carpet clouds rolling by. Just one warning for those who are squeamish: be prepared for leeches!
Hiking trail at Tinorindak Hill. Photo by @eddo.ig
Nearby attractions: The starting point for Tinorindak Hill is extremely closeby to Culvert View. There are plenty of Insta-worthy places around Kundasang, but Culvert View is in a class of its own! Sky Mirror, Sky Staircase, incredible graffiti, rabbits farm—there are plenty of photo-op moments that you do not want to miss here!
And since you are in the Kundasang Town area, how about a short visit to Kundasang Farmer’s Market? Fruits, vegetables, flowers—you name it, and they will have it here. If you want fresh farm produce, this is the place to go. Tarap, red durian, lemak manis (avocado cheese) and some produces that are special in Sabah – beras keladi, beras bario, tuhau jeruk, sambal tuhau and jeruk bambangan.
4. Kimondou Hill
Kimondou Hill is the latest hiking spot opened in the Kundasang area. Located in the mid-point between Kundasang and Ranau at Kg Kibbas, Kimondou Hill has become a viral sensation among casual hikers around Sabah.
The trail is about 1km long, and it is suitable for visitors of all ages since the hike up to the summit does not pose a big challenge. So, expect families with children climbing the hill during the weekends.
One of the highlights of the hike is the sunflowers that you can see at the summit. Sunflowers are not an everyday sight in Sabah, so many people took the chance to take pictures of and with the flowers. Since there is plenty of it here, expect to see some small, harmless bees to fly around.
Nearby attractions: If you are driving from Kota Kinabalu, you are bound to pass by Nabalu Town. There, one place you should go to is the Nabalu Handicraft Market. Local handicrafts and souvenir are aplenty here, all waiting for your choosing!
For those who love to play around with rabbits, there is one place you can do so near Kimondou Hill. The Arnab Village in Kg Kibbas is the first and biggest rabbit park in Sabah, and you will find plenty of families with young children coming here during the holidays. So, if you want to hang around with fluffy rabbits, Arnab Village is waiting for you!
Another hill that you can visit when in Ranau is Lugas Hill. You would have to go a bit out of your way to go here, but trust us when we say it is all worth your while!
The trail is about 2.5km long, and it will take you 2-4 hours to complete. One of the main draws of Lugas Hill is how challenging it is. The trail is relatively untouched—it is as if you hiking in an undiscovered jungle. The path is pretty narrow with a steep slope on both sides, especially on the way to the second summit. So, this hill is definitely not for the faint of heart!
Challenging trail at Lugas Hill. Photo by @anizah.am
Nearby attractions: If you need to wind down after the intense hike up Lugas Hill, you should visit Moroli River Fish Spa. Just dip your legs (or your whole body if you want to!) and have the fishes there nibbling on your dead skin. Not only will you have smoother skin, but the “spa” session is also said to be suitable for people that have psoriasis.
For those who prefer not having fish anywhere near them, you might want to have a relaxing tea session at Sabah Tea Garden. They have plenty of tea-based food, on top of their classic black tea for you to enjoy together with the calming surrounding view. If you want to do something that gets your adrenaline going, they also have activities such as river and jungle trekking for you!
