Longhouses, Tribes & Traditions

Bite-sized trip

Itinerary:
Kota Kinabalu - Kudat - Kota Kinabalu
Duration:
2 days / 1 night (flexible)
Price:
from £ 220.- per person (excluding flights)

Kudat is located on the northern tip of eastern Borneo, where you'll find sweeping coastlines and experience native cultural traditions of the traditional Rungus tribes. Drive through lush green rice paddies, small villages and past local stalls selling handicrafts and native food. The Rungus people are well known for their distinctive language, intricate beadwork on their costumes, customs and architecture which you'll get to see within your time here. In the evening you can enjoy a traditional cultural dance, and some tasty local cuisine cooked by your hosts. This is a fantastic trip if you'd like to get closer to the local culture and explore this traditional way of living.

Day 1 – Arrival at Rungus longhouse

After an early breakfast in your Kota Kinabalu hotel, your guide and driver will pick you up and you’ll head north for 3 hours. You’ll pass rice paddies, the countryside and local stalls selling crafts and homemade food. You’ll then stop at Bavangazzo Village, home to the Rungus tribe, a sub-tribe to the indigenous Kadazan-Dusun. The tribes are known for their intricate bead-work (which you’ll observe and learn more about), and their longhouses, which are made completely out of locally sourced material too.

After a traditional native lunch at the longhouse, you’ll continue for another hour towards the northern tip. Here you can stroll across the golden coastlines and take in the scenery. Heading back to your longhouse for the evening, your hosts will welcome you with potent rice wine, traditional dancing (which you can have a go at if you’d like!), and more of their delicious homemade food. After a long day exploring and taking in your exciting experiences, you can rest your head in your private longhouse room.

Day 2 – Departure from Rungus longhouse

Wake up to the sounds of the forest and a native breakfast, making you feel like you are one of the Rungus! You can spend the morning exploring your surroundings. You’ll find a few crops and lush gardens, or you can stick around and chat with your new friends. Most of the longhouse communities use ingredients from the land around them to survive on, eating local is the only way is some cases! You’ll have lunch at the longhouse before saying goodbye, and heading back to Kota Kinabalu to arrive late afternoon.