Before and after Bigfin Beach Resort
For most of our guests Bigfin is usually either the first or last stop in Sabah before entry or departure via a flight from Kota Kinabalu, for some recovery and relaxation time before onward travel. Below is a list of how and where to go after Bigfin, the following routes can also of course be done in reverse!
Please note that we are not a tour agency and can not arrange these tours for you, further research and booking is up to you! We just hope to share some useful information about top places to go in this area :) Just don't skip a visit to Bigfin!
Please note that we are not a tour agency and can not arrange these tours for you, further research and booking is up to you! We just hope to share some useful information about top places to go in this area :) Just don't skip a visit to Bigfin!
Kota Belud
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Kota Belud doesn't really hold much of interest for tourists in the town itself, unless you are there over a weekend in which case you should go to the local SUNDAY MARKET. Outside of town, the surrounding countryside is lovely and there are a few rural attractions worth a visit.
RAMPAYAN Laut Kawa-Kawa River Cruise offers late afternoon and evening river tours to spot Proboscis monkey's and see millions of glittering Firefly's at night. Pre-covid it could get pretty busy over here but for the time being it is still fairly quiet. BUKIT BONGAL A sweaty but worthwhile steep trek uphill to a great rest point overlooking Kota Belud with panoramic views stretching from Mountain to Ocean. KAMPUNG SAYAP Visit this quaint pretty village to experience life in rural Sabah. Go trekking through the rice paddies, jungle and hilly terrain and take a dip under a waterfall. Nearby Tegudon Tourism Village has tents and basic cabins that you can rent for the night to experience some incredible midnight stargazing. Note that you might need to bring your own food supplies as restaurants are scarce, though you will see small farms selling local fruits and vegetables. |
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Kundasang (Mount Kinabalu National Park)
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Bigfin is only 1 hour 45 minutes by road from Kundasang, where you will find plenty of accommodation options near the entrance to Mount Kinabalu park. To go directly to Kundasang you need hire a car or take a taxi, RM250 per taxi each way. We recommend that you take the route via Kota Belud to the mountain, which is much more scenic then heading back towards Kota Kinabalu. This route will take you past emerald green rice paddies, lush green valleys, rushing clear rivers with a majestic mountain backdrop as you ascend up through the clouds.
If you can, try to make a quick detour off the main road and stop at POLUMPING MELANGKAP VIEW POINT to soak up the stunning river and mountain view, and if you are brave enough, take a refreshing swim! If you have time the we recommend that you do the 2 hour return trek to Donggiranuk Peak for a stunning viewpoint. At Mount Kinabalu park you can make the epic ascent to the highest peak in Southeast Asia. This gruelling hike up through different layers of forest canopy is well worth the effort to summit at sunrise. Do note that trips are pricey, and in the event of bad weather Sabah parks does not give any refund if the trip is cancelled. If you do not have time time or budget then alternatively you can keep it easy (and cheap) and take some pleasant walks in the park around the mountain base. Gardeners must not miss the beautiful Orchid garden. However, a walk around the base is nowhere near as spectacular as the summit at sunrise, an experience you will never forget! If you have the guts we highly recommend ascending down the daring (downright terrifying) via ferrata route. To book Mount Kinabalu climbs directly, visit the official Sabah Parks website reservation.sabahparks.org.my/ |
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Pouring (Ranau)
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There are several attractions for a day in pouring. You can visit Sabah tea gardens for a hot cup of tea whilst admiring the view, look for a stinky Rafelasia (the world's biggest flower), soak your achy body post trekking in the rejuvenating hot springs and enjoy being immersed in nature at the Pouring treetop canopy walkway.
With several accommodation options nearby to spend a night, Pouring makes a great mid point stopover on the long road to Sandakan. You can catch a bus to Sepilok/Sandakan (4 hours) or Kota Kinabalu (4 hours) from Ranau public bus station in town. Ask staff at the hotel you are staying with for specific bus times and pick up points, but busses usually come 1 per hour in the morning on route from Kota Kinabalu or Sandakan. |
Sepilok / Sandakan
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No trip to Borneo is complete without sighting Orangutans (or at least attempting to).
It is possible to travel by road directly from Bigfin (6-7 hours). However, be warned that this is not the most pleasant journey. The roads are in poor condition, and sadly, once you get past Ranau there is not much to look at aside for Palm oil plantations. We recommend that you break up the journey with a night in Kundasang or Pouring (see above) Alternatively, for those short on time, head back to KKIA and take a flight directly to Sandakan. This is the easier option! At the time of writing, AIRASIA has 5 direct KK-SDK flights per day. However, if choose to fly do note that recently there have been frequent flight changes and delays for this route. See semi-wild Orangutans at Sepilok Orangutan rehabilitation center. The animals are brought here having been rescued from the nearby area, usually due to habitat destruction or abuse. They are fed to help supplement their diet, but they are free to roam and forage in the surrounding forest. You should also visit the Sun bear sanctuary next door to learn more about these heavily trafficked mammals. To have a chance to spot Orangutans in the wild you should take a trip to Sukau and a river cruise down the Kinabatangan. Full package tours are best arranged through a travel company. The Kinabatangan is probably the most budget friendly and easily accessible of all the jungle tours you can do in Sabah, and since your are close to the river wildlife is easier to spot and you have a higher chance to tick off a fair few native species off your animal sightings wish list. If huge towering trees, dense forest canopy and primary rainforest is what you are after then you should look into a trip to Maliau basin, Danum Valley, Tawau hills park or Tabin. Since these places are all national parks, trips can be arranged directly. Bigfin direct to Sandakan Private taxi: RM700 per taxi Bus from Inanam bus station (North KK): RM40 per person Flight from KKIA - Sandakan: RM100-500 per person Note: Sepilok is around 40 mins BEFORE Sandakan town. If you are taking the bus to Seplok, get off before Sandakan! |
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Kudat
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If you feel you have had your fill of jungle trekking and are craving more beach time, Kudat is where its at! Kudat has a rugged beautiful coastline with long white sandy beaches stretching to the very tip of Borneo. The area is still quiet and underdeveloped with very few restaurants or accommodation options, a stark difference from other busy beach destinations in South East Asia! If you are here from December to April Kudat also gets some decent surf, lessons and surf boards are available to rent at Bluefin on Kalampunian beach. Be aware that it can be a bit tricky to get around in Kudat so we would recommend hiring a car or motorbike if you plan to travel this far North. Where to stay - there are not many options in Kudat so would suggest to book in advance! Basic: Secret Place (campsite) Medium: Howards place Splurge: Kudat Riviera Note that unfortunately (at the time or writing), there is no direct public transport from Kudat to the East coast (Sandakan), bus services only run from Kota Kinabalu - Kota Belud - Kudat. Although there is a coastal road from Kudat to Sandakan, it is in poor condition and not recommended to drive that way. If travelling by car, then after Kudat you should head back to Kota Marudu then Ranau (for Sandakan). There is no Public transport for this route. |
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Kota Kinabalu
Recommended routes
Long trip (2-3 weeks)
Kota Kinabalu - (taxi/1h20mins/RM150) - BIGFIN BEACH RESORT KOTA BELUD - (taxi/1h45mins/RM250) - Kundasang (Mt KK) - (taxi 30 mins/RM80) - Ranau - (bus 5H/RM30) - Sepilok - (bus 45min/RM15) Sandakan - Semporna (Bus, 6 Hours/RM40) - Speedboat (45 mins) to BIGFIN DIVERS MABUL
Short trip (1 week - or add into longer trip)
Kota Kinabalu - (taxi/1Hour20mins/RM150) - BIGFIN BEACH RESORT KOTA BELUD - (taxi RM300 2H/ BUS from KB RM20 3H) - Kudat - (bus 4H/taxi 3 hours) - Kota Kinabalu
Kota Kinabalu - (taxi/1h20mins/RM150) - BIGFIN BEACH RESORT KOTA BELUD - (taxi/1h45mins/RM250) - Kundasang (Mt KK) - (taxi 30 mins/RM80) - Ranau - (bus 5H/RM30) - Sepilok - (bus 45min/RM15) Sandakan - Semporna (Bus, 6 Hours/RM40) - Speedboat (45 mins) to BIGFIN DIVERS MABUL
Short trip (1 week - or add into longer trip)
Kota Kinabalu - (taxi/1Hour20mins/RM150) - BIGFIN BEACH RESORT KOTA BELUD - (taxi RM300 2H/ BUS from KB RM20 3H) - Kudat - (bus 4H/taxi 3 hours) - Kota Kinabalu
