Kudat Voyage Tips and guide

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Kudat is 190 km from Kota Kinabalu, about 3 hr by car.

It's a 3hr minibuses ride from the Bas Bandaran Berjaya terminal in Kota Kinabalu. (RM50, Updated April 2025). Buses leave once full. Aim to be at the bus station between 7am - 8am.

• 6.924167116.8308331 Kudat Airport (KUD  ^IATA). flights from Kota Kinabalu and Sandakan  

You can go by taxi, self-drive or with a tour agent. Four-wheel drives and saloon cars with permits are stationed near the Indian Restaurant opposite the Health Clinic in Kampung Air. Four-wheel drives can take between 7-8 passengers at RM20-25 per passenger return, while saloon cars take up to 4 passengers and charge RM240 for a return trip to Simpang Mengayau.

Grab does not operate in Kudat, but Maxim does. Maxim drivers seem to hang out around carpark across the road from main bus station in town (near the KFC). They can drive you to Simpang Mengayau but are unwilling to do it for the 25RM that the app shows, asking for something between 40RM to 70RM (April 2025). They do not know the places to stay around that area so be prepared to show them on the map.

To return from Simpang Mengayau you will likely need to arrange a taxi via your accomendation.

• Esplanade. Walkable area along the coast, near the port. Has a clock tower, a childrens playground, the obligatory "I heart Kudat" sign and some stalls selling food and drink. 

• Tun Mustapha Museum. Museum covering the life of Tun Mustapha, a politician born in Kudat who was involved in the formation of Malaysia, alongside a small exhibit on the history of Kudat in general. free entry. 

• Kudat Park (next to the mosque, can be entered either by the road next to the Tun Mustapha Museum or by a path through the bushes on the main road). Small park that has running paths and childrens playgrounds. Quite active on the weekend. 

• Tip of Borneo, Simpang Mengayau. 
• Honey Bee Farm, Kampung Gombizau. 
• Gong Making Village at Kampung Sumangkap.
• Bead centre, Kampung Tinangol. 

Be sure to check out the Rungus handicraft, particularly their intricate beaded work and handwoven Tinohian cloth. When in Kudat, make a trip to Tanjung Simpang Mengayau, the tip of Borneo. This is the meeting point of the South China and Sulu seas, with a rich historical and cultural background. The dramatic vista of the endless sea and blue skies will take your breath away.

There are multiple seafood places along the coast and around the Esplanade.

• Ayeena Amor Cafe, Simpang Mengayau (just after the sign for the end of the Trans-Borneo Highway (under construction)). Lunch and Dinner. A small cafe and restaurant. Woman who runs it is nice. Lots of fish and meat dishes, but has vegetarian options (rice or noodles with tempeh), and can do take away. 20-25RM for a meal and drink. (updated Apr 2025)
• Ina Cafe, Simpang Mengayau. Lunch. A small cafe that does lunch next just across from the beach. Big portions. Does have a vegetarian option. 20RM for a meal and drink. (updated Apr 2025)

• The Upperdeck Hotel, Jalan Lintas P O BOX 448, 89050 Kudat, ☏ +60 88-622 282. Check-in: 1PM, check-out: noon. Standard hotel near the port. (updated Apr 2025)

• 7.0292116.74621 Tommy's Place @ Tip of Borneo, Simpang Menggayau, ☏ +60 138238148, fax: +60 88 493468. Out of town, on the road up to the Tip of Borneo. (updated Jul 2022)
• Tampat Do Aman, Simpang Menggayau, ☏ +60 11-1605 7737. Check-in: 2pm, check-out: 10am. A basic ecolodge. Run by a guy (Howard) from the UK. Provides a basic breakfast for ~8RM between 7:30AM to 8AM (limited time to get everyone staying there to meet). Owner runs a shuttle to the nearby beaches in the morning and picks you up after sunset. Has a nice wildlife reserve with an observation tower, and a small museum on the Rungus community. (updated Apr 2025)
• Secret Place, Simpang Menggayau, ☏ +60 10-414 5291. Camp and cafe run by a local family. Can rent tents from them for your stay if you do not have your own. (updated Apr 2025)

• Pulau Banggi - Island reachable by ferry from the port in Kudat town. 90 minutes, runs twice a day, 41RM ticket (April 2025).

• Sandakan - There is a bus (Sida Express) every three days. Enquire locally for the date of the next one.