In order to save the hassle of arranging your own transport to rural Kudat, visit the Tip of Borneo (Tanjung Simpang Mengayau) as part of a day trip to the Kudat peninsula from Kota Kinabalu. In addition to stopping at Tip of Borneo (Tanjung Simpang Mengayau), excursions typically take you to traditional Rungus longhouses for insight into the local ethnic group and a bee farm in Kampung Gombizau.
From Kota Kinabalu, you can either take a light aircraft to the peninsula, which departs a few times per week, or arrive by shared taxi, which departs from Padang Merdeka bus station. On arrival at the bus station, look out for drivers holding a sign saying Kudatb—vehicles wait until they’re full before departing.
Tip of Borneo is one of the best places in Borneo to watch the sunset, so be sure to coincide your visit with dusk. The annual Sunset Music Festival is held at the Tip of Borneo in June; local artists perform live music and dance with the ocean as a backdrop.
There’s much more to the Kudat peninsula, otherwise known as the Tip of Borneo, than just Tanjung Simpang Mengayau. Highlights include the Rungus Museum, which preserves the local culture with art and artifacts; the Kudat Turtle Conservation Society, located on the south end of Bavang Jamal beach; and Tampat do Aman, a nature reserve and jungle camp that offers experiences such as beach hiking and survival training.