MY · Sabah · 5.67°N 116.37°E

tambunan

Rafflesia, bamboo valleys and paddy fields in the Kadazan-Dusun heartland.

Best time
Any time of year; the altitude keeps it mild. Late May brings Kaamatan, the Kadazan-Dusun harvest festival.
How long
1 day, or 2 days, 1 night
Getting there
Fly from KL to Kota Kinabalu (about 2.5 hours), then drive about 1.5 hours over the Crocker Range.
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MY · Sabahtambunan5.67°N 116.37°Egowherelah.com
Dear group chat,Rafflesia, bamboo valleys and paddy fields in the Kadazan-Dusun heartland.— gowherelahTo: whoever’s drivingTambunanMY, Sabah
KLtambunan
≈ 1,651 km from KL, as the crow flies
Tambunan. Kampong Tinompok. Farmers winnowing after threshing of padi. Siapa yang kenal dengan INAN ini?

Photo: Trebor70 at English Wikipedia · Public domain

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Photos: Wikimedia Commons, credited on each.

Tambunan is a cool valley town in Sabah's interior, about 750 metres up in the Crocker Range. Terraced paddy fields, bamboo forests and some 70 villages fill the valley, and the drive over from KK passes the Rafflesia Information Centre.

Makan

  1. HinavaRaw fish cured in lime juice with chilli and ginger, the Kadazan-Dusun classic.Map ↗
  2. TuhauA pungent relish of wild ginger stems, loved by locals and divisive with everyone else.Map ↗

Things to do

  1. Rafflesia Information CentreOn the Crocker Range road above Tambunan; staff can tell you if a flower is blooming nearby.Map ↗
  2. Mahua waterfallA forest walk in Crocker Range Park leads to a waterfall and cool pools.Map ↗
  3. Mat Salleh MemorialMarks the spot where Mat Salleh, who led a rebellion against the British North Borneo Company, was killed in 1900.Map ↗
  4. The valley roadsDrive past terraced paddy and the bamboo groves planted under a colonial-era rule.Map ↗
  5. Gunung Trus MadiSabah's second-highest peak, a serious climb that needs a guide and planning.Map ↗

Good to know

  • Rafflesia blooms are unpredictable and last only a few days, so ask at the information centre before hiking in.
  • Bring a light jacket; evenings in the valley can be cool.

Last checked October 2026. Things change, so check opening times, fees and transport before you go.