2 Days Kota Belud Community & Cultural Experience

This two-day journey from Kota Kinabalu offers a rare insight into the rich cultural and ethnic traditions of Sabah. Two itinerary options are available, each combining authentic homestay accommodation in local villages of Kota Belud with hands-on cooking and meaningful interaction with local communities.

Itinerary Option A: Taun Gusi Village Community

Day 1 | Kota Kinabalu – Kota Belud (L, D)

Meet the local community and learn to cook like a native as we spend the day immersing ourselves in traditional culture at Taun Gusi Village. In the morning, we travel about two hours to reach this homestay. Upon arrival, we visit a local farm to gather fresh local ingredients to be used in our cooking class. We then learn how to cook local dishes with the help of our guide, which we then savour for lunch. In the afternoon, we enjoy a trek to a nearby river discovering the landscape and surrounding villages along the way. A traditional dinner is served by our hosts at the homestay.

Overnight at homestay.

Day 2 | Kota Belud - Kota Kinabalu (B)

After breakfast, we have free time to spend at our leisure until we transfer to Kota Kinabalu Airport for our onward flight, or the transfer to our next hotel.

Itinerary Option B: Tambatuon Village Community

Day 1 | Kota Kinabalu – Kota Belud (L, D)

Meet the local community and learn to cook like a native as we spend the day immersing ourselves in traditional culture at Tambatuon Village. In the morning, we travel about two hours to reach this homestay, where upon arrival we visit a local farm to gather fresh local ingredients to be used in our cooking class. Next, we proceed on a tour, which includes a rubber tapping demonstration, visiting paddy fields, and depending on the season, learning how rice is cultivated. We then learn to cook local dishes with the help of our guide, which we savour for lunch. In the afternoon, we try our hand at some local games such as kukundang and coconut bowling before enjoying a trek to a nearby river, exploring the landscape and surrounding villages on the way. We also feed the fish, followed by a traditional dinner served by our hosts.

Overnight at homestay.

Day 2 | Kota Belud - Kota Kinabalu (B)

After breakfast, we have free time to spend at our leisure until we transfer to Kota Kinabalu Airport for our onward flight, or the transfer to our next hotel.

Route

Good to know

Effective from 1 September 2017 onwards, a Tourism Tax of MYR 10 per room per night will be levied directly to the non-Malaysian guests at the hotel upon check-out;
All the sightseeing tours and excursions are organised by local companies. Availability and itinerary are subject to alteration which changes will be informed upon booking is made;
We will do all possible to comply with any dietary requirements during this tour; it may not always be possible to confirm your wishes in advance based on the choice of local restaurant;
We reserve the right to make necessary changes to the tour in case of unfavourable weather conditions or situations where we are forced to make alterations to guarantee the safety of our guests;
Guests traveling over and during local holidays may experience longer waiting times than normal, may see certain sites being closed down, and this programme may be subject to supplementary charges;
Natural elements of any kind have a destructive effect on electronic equipment. It the customer’s own responsibility to ensure that any camera, mobile telephone or other device is properly wrapped and protected against these elements. We cannot be held responsible in any way for negligence and/or not following suggestions for any damage related to this;
Tours and excursions often include obstacles of various kinds that may not make this excursion suitable for wheelchair users or guests with limited mobility;
The protection of the country’s flora, fauna and its historical and cultural treasures is of immense importance for us. We will not pursue any activities that are not in line with our animal, wildlife and environment protection principles;
Please ensure that you bring sunglasses, a hat /cap, insect repellent, torchlight, raincoat, binoculars, good walking shoes and sunblock with a high SPF factor when traveling with us. Even when it is cloudy, the sun still has an immense power;
All mentioned times, durations and stops are based on approximations and may change due to unforeseen circumstances, weather and traffic conditions beyond our control;
No refund either in part or in full will be made for any unutilised services;

What's included

Tours and transfers with licenced English-speaking guiding services / assistance. Other languages are on request and are subject to availability;
Transportation for tour and transfers by air-conditioned vehicle, unless otherwise stated;
Basic accommodation in homestay as mentioned above;
All entrance fees for visits as mentioned in the programme;
All meals as indicated in the programme (food only);
All applicable taxes and service charges.

What's not included

50% midnight surcharge for transfer pick up between 10 pm to 7 am;
Personal expenses such as other meals, drinks, tips and gratuities, shopping, portage fees and optional tours/ visits, unless otherwise stated;
Hotel accommodation in the destination of commencement;
Any domestic / international airline tickets, airport taxes, visa fees, specific camera / video fees, additional transportation cost from and to the general pick-up / drop-off regions (such as airports, out-of-town resorts, ports, harbours and accommodation in surrounding towns);
Any accommodation expenses of a personal nature. This includes (compulsory festive) meals and drinks, mini-bar consumption, laundry, room service, any telephone or other communication cost not mentioned in the programme;
International travel and medical insurance coverage for customers;
Voluntary carbon emission compensation: USD 1.50 per person per day.

Sustainability

This is one of our Sustainable Trails, an excursion that maximises positive impacts on local communities and minimises negative impacts on the environment in the following ways:

Eat locally – Meals are cooked by local communities using delicious locally-sourced ingredients;
Stay eco-friendly – Stay overnight at a traditional homestay for a truly local experience;
Experience meaningfully – The cooking class is a perfect example of learning by doing, which also creates direct benefits for local cooks.

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INCLUSIONS

A full day tour with a professional English-speaking guide. Other languages are on request and may be subject to supplementary charges
Transportation by car / mini-van with professional driver.
All entrance and donation fees for visits as mentioned in the description.
All applicable taxes and service charges
Lunch at a local restaurant is included (food only)

EXCLUSIONS

Tours, inclusions of any kind and other services that are not outlined in the tour description
Personal expenses such as meals, drinks, tips and gratuities, shopping, portage fees and optional tours, unless otherwise stated
Hotel accommodation in the destination of commencement.
Compulsory Christmas, country-specific festival and/or New Year dinner at included hotels
Single supplement charges for single travelers, where applicable
Any airline tickets, visa fees, additional transportation cost from and to the general meeting point
Supplements for transfers for customers arriving or departing from any airport or resorts located outside the general pick-up and drop-off locations
Hotel expenses of a personal nature, should an overnight be included: this includes mini-bar consumption, laundry, room service, any telephone or other communication cost not mentioned in the program
Travel insurance coverage for customers (highly recommendable)

GOOD TO KNOW

This tour is operated on full private basis with English-speaking guide. Other languages are on request / subject to availability and supplementary charges may apply.
Transfers are only operated within the downtown Chiang Mai areas and restricted to main hotels only.
Regions outside the central business district such as Mae Rim, Hang Dong, Doi Saket, Mae Taeng and Chiang Mai International Airport are excluded and supplementary charges apply.
We regret that are unable to provide pick-up and drop-off transfer services from and to apartment complexes, local guest houses or private apartments. We advise you kindly to head on your own arrangement to the nearest hotel inside the downtown Chiang Mai area.
We will do all possible to comply with any dietary requirements during this excursion; it may not always be possible to confirm your wishes in advance based on the choice of local restaurant.
Due to the nature of this tour, we regret to inform you that this excursion is not suitable for wheelchair users.
Guests are advised that some walking is required during this excursion; we always ensure that we take the most comfortable ways from the entrance of the sight to the sight itself.
The road up and down Doi Angkhang is not suitable for large coaches; for group travel, note that the group needs to be split up into mini-vans. We always will make efforts to confirm the exact pick-up time upon reservation.
For any operational issues in which are not able to confirm the exact pick-up time in advance, we reserve the right to inform you the day before the departure of the tour.
Due to the absence of ATM machines and credit cards payment portals, we highly recommend to bring sufficient cash with you. Please ensure that you bring sunglasses, a hat /cap and sunblock with a high SPF factor when traveling with us on this tour – even when it is cloudy, the sunrays still have an immense power.
We reserve the right to make necessary changes to the excursion in case of unfavourable weather conditions or situations where we are forced to make alterations to guarantee the safety of our guests.
It is recommendable to bring a jacket / sweater with you as temperatures on Doi Angkhang are often much cooler than around Chiang Mai.
It is the responsibility of the customer to provide us with the correct hotel information, should pick-up and drop-off services be included in the package.
Any changes in accommodation outside 48 hours will be handled accordingly: changes within 48 hours may be on request.