All reviews
Review Author: Cecilia Tok
Review Date: 11 May 2026
Review Body: One of the most special parts of the trip for me was getting to spend almost an entire day with the locals in Kiulu village. It didn’t feel like a staged tourist activity at all, it genuinely felt like we were being welcomed into their lives and community.
June, our guide even brought us to Winnie’s dad’s farm, who gave us the opportunity to try rubber tapping, which made the experience feel so personal and meaningful. At first everyone was a little shy, but as the day went on they slowly became more comfortable with us and it was honestly so sweet. By the end of it, it felt less like a tour and more like we were all just one big family spending time together.
Those genuine moments and connections are what made the experience so memorable for me, and it’s something I’ll carry with me for a long time.
Review rating: 5
Review Author: Hanim
Review Date: 13 May 2026
Review Body: I’ll always hold this experience close to my heart. The warmth and enthusiasm from the locals made me feel so welcomed, almost like I truly belonged there. Our host, June, was incredibly knowledgeable about the village, as well as Sabah’s culture and history, and it was such a pleasure listening to her stories. The rubber tapping experience was especially interesting, as I’ve always been curious about how people used to do it back when rubber tapping was a major economic activity in Singapore. We ended the experience by making our own dalai bead accessories, which we got to bring home as souvenirs. Overall, it was a truly eye-opening and memorable experience.
Review rating: 5
Review Author: Akif
Review Date: 06 May 2026
Review Body: This was an unforgettable experience that touched our hearts. The locals were so passionate about their culture and sharing it with us through the music, dances and food. They made us feel right at home throughout the experience.
We were introduced on the traditional food and music which was a truly unique experience. It was hard to leave as we all got to bond.
June and her team was very attentive and made us all of us felt comfortable. Her sharings of the Dusun culture was very insightful.
If you’re keen to learn more about the Dusun villagers and culture, this is the one. ☝🏼
Review rating: 5
Review Author: Sharmeen
Review Date: 06 May 2026
Review Body: The people were incredibly friendly and made us feel at home. I really enjoyed the cultural dance and the storytelling by June, it was very meaningful. The toilets were also clean.
Review rating: 5
Review Author: Peta S
Review Date: 04 Aug 2026
Review Body: Did a day trip from Kota Kinabalu that combined white water rafting with a jungle survival experience in the afternoon.
Staff were lovely, helpful and attentive. All were chatty and personable - definitely did not feel like we were just another random customer they had to deal with - very much an interactive experience.
Review rating: 5
Review Author: Hannah Raven
Review Date: 29 Sep 2025
Review Body: A really amazing company. Caring, understanding, guides really knowledgeable. The food at their camp was perfect and the whole team looked after our (UK school group) needs from start to finish! Just perfeft!
Review rating: 5
Review Author: Nouredine Ould-Ahmed
Review Date: 07 May 2026
Review Body: Had an amazing day , the rafting was really fun and the guides made the day very enjoyable, from the delicious food to the survival session where we learnt to make fire. Would recommend!
Review rating: 5
Review Author: Aring
Review Date: 29 Sep 2025
Review Body: Awesome arrangment, complete facilities basecamp, sweeper and guide were outstanding patience doing jobs. Highly recommended.
Review rating: 5
Review Author: Ann Ann
Review Date: 29 Sep 2025
Review Body: The best place to seek for a relaxtion and adventure..high recommanded.. nice and friendly services.
Review rating: 5
Review Author: Borneo Royacea Bazan
Review Date: 29 Sep 2025
Review Body: Good cooking experience with the natives
Review rating: 5
Review Author: Sue Mitchell
Review Date: 29 Sep 2025
Review Body: Our tour group had the wonderful opportunity to experience June’s cooking class. We stopped by a market where she explained the various local wares & then stepped us through making traditional meals. June & her assistants made this one of the highlights of our tour & the return to the community makes it even more enriching.
Review rating: 4
Itinerary
Itinerary Day 1
Itinerary Summary: Live like a local in Kiulu, hands-on farming, local cooking, and traditional craft experience
Itinerary Description: 8:30 AM Arrival & Welcome Briefing. Meet your local hosts, enjoy a short introduction, and get oriented for the day.
09:00 AM Rubber Tapping Experience. Try your hand at tapping rubber and learn about latex harvesting.
10:00 AM Organic Vegetable Farming. Visit an organic farm and join simple activities like planting or harvesting.
11:00 AM Local Rice Cake Workshop. Make traditional rice cakes with village women and learn about their cultural roots.
01:00 PM Local Lunch. Enjoy a homemade Kiulu village meal prepared with fresh ingredients.
01:45 PM Dalai Bead-Making Workshop. Create your own dalai bead accessory to take home.
02:45 PM Kopi Kampung & Tinapung Tasting. Relax with traditional coffee and taste the tinapung you made earlier.
03:30 PM Farewell. Say goodbye to your hosts and depart Kiulu with your handmade souvenirs.
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Spend a Day Living Like a Local in Sabah
One of our fave experiences! Seriously heartfelt peek into local life.
4.9
|11 Reviews
Group size
Up to 16 guests
DURATION
7 hours
Booking type
Join-in trip
MEET UP
At location
Group size
Up to 16 guests
- Experience highlights
- Itinerary
- Inclusions
- Availability
- More Info
- Host
- Reviews
A rare chance to step inside village life in rural Sabah.
Most visitors pass through Sabah seeing its beautiful landscapes. This experience invites you to slow down and experience something a little different.Spend a day in Kiulu Valley, where you'll be welcomed into a real Dusun farming community—not a staged cultural village, but a place where families still grow their own food, tap rubber, make traditional rice cakes, and create handicrafts that are part of everyday life.Your day begins with stories. Meet an uncle who's been tapping rubber for decades, and discover how neighbours here still look out for one another in ways that feel increasingly rare. Join the village aunties as they bring fresh ingredients from their own backyards to prepare a homemade lunch together, learn traditions like rice cake making and Dalai bead crafting, and spend time chatting, laughing, sharing stories, and maybe even learn how to dance their traditional dance along the way.More than the activities themselves, this experience is about the people. There's plenty of time to ask questions, hear their stories, and experience the slower rhythm of life in rural Sabah. Nothing here is performed, you're simply spending time with people who are sharing a little piece of their everyday life with you.This community experience is made possible through June, who has spent years working alongside villages in Sabah to create meaningful tourism opportunities that provide additional income while preserving local traditions and strengthening community livelihoods.If you're someone who loves meeting people, hearing personal stories, and discovering places through the communities that shape them, this is one of the most genuine ways to experience Sabah.What to ExpectMeet welcoming Dusun villagers and hear their storiesTry hands-on rubber tapping in a local plantationVisit a local farm and learn about village lifeMake traditional rice cakes with local hostsCraft your own Dalai bead keepsakeShare a homemade village lunch prepared with fresh local ingredientsEnjoy warm conversations, genuine hospitality, and a slower pace of travelGood to KnowSuitable for all ages and most fitness levels, with only light walking involved.Activities may vary slightly depending on the weather and what is happening in the village that day.Lunch is prepared using fresh, local ingredients, supporting families within the community.This is a real working village, so every visit is a little different. The conversations, people you meet, and small moments along the way are often what guests remember most.
Experience highlights
What You’ll be Doing
Live like a local in Kiulu, hands-on farming, local cooking, and traditional craft experience
Show Details
What’s Included
Traditional rubber tapping session
Visit the local farm
Local snack making
Dalai bead-making session
Traditional lunch and tea
All tools, materials & ingredients
Local guide
Not included
Gratuities for your guide
Pickup and dropoff at KK City Centre
Available Add-ons:
Pickup and Dropoff at KK City Centre (RM369.18)
Show Details
Who you’re supporting
Community Champion
Women-led Wonder
Low Carbon Hero
Show Details
Next Available Dates
Prices shown in USD
Select Time for 23 Oct 2026
Additional Information
Where we'll meet
Start Point
Meet-up at Kiulu (Address will be provided after booking)(Kiulu, Malaysia)
- 15 mins before selected timeslot
End Point
- End at Start Point(s)
Transport Add-ons
Add-on 1
- Pickup and Dropoff at KK City Centre(Price: RM369.18 for up to 6 guests)
Start & Ends
Daily
08:30AM - 03:30PM
Suitability / Accessibility
- Vegetarian food available
- Halal food available
- Child Friendly (No Minimum Age)
Cancellation & other policies
Cancellation
Cancel 24 hours before activity for a full refundMinimum Participants
If there are fewer than 2 participants, the host may reschedule or refund your booking.
See More
What to Pack
- A set of dry clothes for changing
- An open heart to learn and interact with locals
- Dry bag
- Hat
- Towel
- Water bottle
- Water shoes
From
RM331.2
/person4.9(11)
Show Prices
Meet your host
Mejin and June started Outreach Borneo back in 2018 with a simple idea—connecting travellers to the real Sabah through the eyes of its local communities. Based in Kiulu, they’ve built something truly special: a travel experience that feels more like being welcomed into someone’s home than joining a tour. Whether it's learning to cook over a bamboo fire, exploring jungle trails, or staying in village homestays, everything is thoughtfully done with the local people at heart. They work closely with families, guides, and farmers to make sure tourism brings real benefits to the area. What stands out most is how they’ve grown without losing sight of what matters—sharing culture, protecting nature, and making sure everyone involved gains something meaningful.
Experience: 8 years
Speaks: Basic English, Bahasa
Acceptance rate: 79%
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