Day-trip tours from Kota Kinabalu typically include round-trip transportation, and a guide will help you overcome the language barrier and gain deeper insight into Borneo’s unique culture. Excursions tend to combine time in Kota Belud with visits to the traditional Rungus Longhouses, where residents are known for a rustic and communal lifestyle.
If you’re looking for souvenirs, you’ll find plenty of Indigenous, artisan crafts created by local residents here.
There are plenty of stalls selling food and drink, so be sure to arrive at the market hungry.
Very few, if any, of the stalls accept card payments, so make sure you’ve got small denominations of cash.
From Kota Kinabalu, Kota Belud is a 90-minute drive via the A1 and AH150 roads. From the bus station in Kota KInabalu, mini-buses and shared taxis tend to depart when they’re full. You might be waiting a few minutes or a few hours, so it’s best to book a tour with round-trip transportation if you’re short on time.
The Kota Belud market takes place on most Sundays throughout the year, though sometimes the market skips a week, so it’s a good idea to check with a local guide before you make the trip. Toward the end of October, there’s an extra-special edition of the market featuring parading horses and dancing.
Just a couple of hours north of Kota Belud, the town of Kudat serves as the gateway to the Tip of Borneo—famous for its deserted, pristine beaches and crystal-clear water. Here you’ll find a monument that marks the best spot to see the sunrise, and lots of jungle-secluded cabins by the beach.