Kiulu River

The Kiulu runs through the hills north of Kota Kinabalu in Kadazandusun farming country, and it is the gentle counterpart to the Padas: graded around one to two, with small rapids, shallow runs and long calm stretches, which makes it the family and first-timer river in Sabah. A typical run covers eight or nine kilometres in a couple of hours past villages, bamboo groves and suspension footbridges, with children swimming from the banks and buffalo in the shallows. Operators combine it with village lunches, tamu markets, bamboo rafting on the traditional lashed rafts, and homestays in the surrounding kampung. The Kiulu valley has been promoted as a community tourism area, so a fair amount of the money stays local, and there is a river festival held here.

What you actually see

• Grade one to two water - small rapids and long calm stretches.
• Village riverbanks - houses, bamboo and suspension footbridges along the run.
• Traditional bamboo rafting - the lashed rafts as an alternative to inflatables.
• Kadazandusun homestays - village accommodation and lunches around the valley.

When to go

All year; more water in the wet months. A day.

Honest expectations

It is gentle - thrill-seekers should go to the Padas instead. In dry spells the water gets too low and trips are cancelled or shortened. Trips are packages including transport.

Nearby

Tamparuli and its suspension bridge are close; Kota Kinabalu is south.