Top 10 Campsites in Sabah You Can't Miss (2026)

I've been camping across Malaysia for over 10 years now, and I've personally reviewed every single campsite on this list. Sabah is on a different level — the kind of place where you wake up to Gunung Kinabalu staring you down from across a river valley, or you're deep in the Kinabatangan jungle listening to things you can't name. If you've only been camping in Peninsular Malaysia, camping in Sabah will reset your expectations completely.

This list covers all kinds of campers — the ones who want full glamping comfort with mountain views, the ones who want proper jungle immersion, and the ones just looking for a budget campsite Sabah that doesn't compromise on scenery. I've been to all of these. Everything you read here comes from actual nights spent on the ground, not from a brochure.

• Tungog Rainforest Eco Camp
• Dingin Batu Campsite, Kota Belud
• Nulinau Glamping Garden, Kota Belud
• Mesilau Nature Resort
• The Mountain Camp @ Mt. Kinabalu by PrimaStay
• Bayu Kinabalu Campsite, Kiau Taburi
• NR Campsite Kundasang
• Secret Place Cafe and Camping, Kudat
• Damai View Campsite, Sabah
• Yun Hai Camp And Stay, Sabah

1. Tungog Rainforest Eco Camp

Tungog Rainforest Eco Camp is run by KOPEL Bhd, a community conservation organisation from Kampung Mengaris right on the Kinabatangan River — so every ringgit you spend here goes back to the local community. You're not pitching your own tent; you stay in basic jungle huts, eat local meals, and go out with a guide every day. It's structured, purposeful, and honestly unlike anything else I've done in Malaysia.

Best for: Wildlife lovers, conservation travellers · Standout: Guided jungle experience on the Kinabatangan River, community-run

Read my full Tungog Rainforest Eco Camp review →

2. Dingin Batu Campsite, Kota Belud

If you want that full Gunung Kinabalu view without actually climbing it, Dingin Batu is where you go — pitch at the lavender spot and the mountain is just sitting right there in front of you, no trees, no obstruction. The vibe is relaxed and kampung-style, run by genuinely friendly people, nothing commercial about it. It's a proper campsite that delivers exactly what it promises.

Best for: Mountain view seekers, casual campers · Standout: Unobstructed full-face view of Mount Kinabalu from the lavender spot

Read my full Dingin Batu Campsite review →

3. Nulinau Glamping Garden, Kota Belud

Nulinau Glamping Garden in Kampung Melangkap Baru is a fully furnished glamping setup — we're talking proper tented cabins, a BBQ area, a well-stocked kitchen, and a river literally at the edge of the garden. On a clear day, the Mount Kinabalu view when you first pull up is the kind that makes you stop and just stare for a minute. This one's built for families and couples who want comfort without sacrificing scenery.

Best for: Families, couples, glamping first-timers · Standout: River at the campsite edge plus Mount Kinabalu views on clear days

Read my full Nulinau Glamping Garden review →

4. Mesilau Nature Resort

I'm putting this here because people keep asking about it — but let me be straight: Mesilau Nature Resort has been closed indefinitely since the 5.9 magnitude earthquake that hit Ranau in June 2015, which wiped out the access road and bridge. Don't drive all the way to Ranau thinking you're checking in here; find out now rather than after a two-hour drive from Kota Kinabalu. That said, it's a place worth knowing about for when things change.

Best for: Keep on your watchlist · Standout: Historic highland resort near Kinabalu — check access status before planning

Read my full Mesilau Nature Resort review →

5. The Mountain Camp @ Mt. Kinabalu by PrimaStay

This is a managed glamping spot near Mesilau right at the base of Mount Kinabalu — loft-style tented cabins with proper sleeping setups and mountain views when you open your eyes in the morning. The host genuinely cares whether you have a good time, which makes a real difference up here. It's the kind of place that converts the skeptics in your group — if your partner said no to camping before, this might change their mind.

Best for: Couples, glamping converts, Kinabalu base experience · Standout: Loft tented cabins with direct Mount Kinabalu views at the foot of Borneo's highest peak

Read my full The Mountain Camp @ Mt. Kinabalu by PrimaStay review →

6. Bayu Kinabalu Campsite, Kiau Taburi

Bayu Kinabalu sits in Kampung Kiau, Kota Belud, and the view of Gunung Kinabalu from here is the kind you genuinely can't find the right words for — you're looking at the mountain side-on, and if your tent is pitched right, you can even spot Sopuk Mopuk waterfall in the background. Early mornings up here are special. And it doesn't cost you the Kinabalu park price tag to experience it.

Best for: View chasers, budget campers, early risers · Standout: Side-angle Kinabalu view with Sopuk Mopuk waterfall visible in the background

Read my full Bayu Kinabalu Campsite review →

7. NR Campsite Kundasang

You know that moment where you unzip your tent in the morning and the view just hits you? At NR Campsite Kundasang, that's Mount Kinabalu — full, clear, massive, right in your face with no trees blocking it. On mornings when the low clouds sit just right, it's honestly one of the better campsite views in all of Sabah. It pulls a mixed crowd too — families, couples, hikers doing Sosodikon Hill.

Best for: Budget campers, families, Sosodikon Hill hikers · Standout: Full unobstructed Mount Kinabalu view straight from your tent door

Read my full NR Campsite Kundasang review →

8. Secret Place Cafe and Camping, Kudat

Secret Place is run by a local Sabahan family — Roby and his crew — and it feels less like a campsite and more like being invited to stay at someone's home that happens to sit on a private beach. Hammocks, ocean views, sunset dinners, a host who actually checks whether you're having a good time — it has a different energy from the mountain campsites on this list. The crowd is mostly travellers passing through Kudat: backpackers, couples, and a few who clearly just stumbled upon it and decided to stay longer.

Best for: Beach lovers, backpackers, couples · Standout: Private beach access, family-run hospitality in Kudat

Read my full Secret Place Cafe and Camping review →

9. Damai View Campsite, Sabah

Damai View is a small, personal campsite run by its owner — campers call her Mamy — out in Kampung Kiau Taburi near Nabalu, and the whole pitch is exactly what the name says: unobstructed Gunung Kinabalu, no trees, no buildings, just the mountain and your morning kopi. It earns that reputation. It's not big or fancy, and that's exactly why it works.

Best for: Peaceful retreat, mountain view lovers · Standout: Completely unobstructed Kinabalu view from your tent door, personal host

Read my full Damai View Campsite review →

10. Yun Hai Camp And Stay, Sabah

Yun Hai — 雲海 — means sea of clouds, and the moment you're up in the hills of Kampung Tombongon along the Jalan Kokol road above Kota Kinabalu, you get it completely. Tents are set up for you, staff are on site, and the views make you just stop and stare — proper sea of clouds rolling across the hills. It's made for people who want the camping experience without having to figure everything out themselves.

Best for: First-timers, KK day-trippers, cloud chasers · Standout: Sea of clouds above Kota Kinabalu, fully hosted experience

Read my full Yun Hai Camp And Stay review →

What to Pack

Sabah camping conditions vary a lot depending on where you're going. The highland spots around Kundasang and Mesilau get genuinely cold at night — we're talking single-digit feels-like temperatures — while the Kinabatangan jungle is humid and warm. Here's what I'd bring regardless of which campsite you pick:

• Rain jacket and a dry bag — Sabah rain doesn't give you warning
• Headlamp with spare batteries — some of these sites have zero electricity
• Insect repellent — especially if you're near the river
• Quick-dry towel
• Warm layer for highland sites — nights at Kundasang and Kiau Taburi catch people off guard
• Decent sleeping setup — cold ground is the number one thing that ruins a Sabah highland night

For the highland campsites on this list, two things I'd specifically recommend: the TAHAN HexLink Sleeping Bag — it's rated for Malaysian weather and actually designed for our highland temperatures, not imported specs that don't match our conditions. And if you're bringing your own mat, the TAHAN Panthera Inflatable Sleeping Pad with its built-in foot pump and 10cm thickness will save your back on uneven ground. Both pack down small enough that they're not a hassle to carry.

FAQ

When is the best time to camp in Sabah?

Generally, the drier months between March and August are your best window, though Sabah doesn't have a strict monsoon season like the Peninsula. Highland spots like Kundasang and Kiau Taburi can be cold and misty year-round, so don't go expecting dry warm nights just because it's not raining in KK. Always check local weather closer to your trip and have a rain plan ready regardless of when you go.

Which Sabah campsites are good for beginners?

Yun Hai Camp And Stay is probably the most beginner-friendly on this list — tents are set up for you, staff are on site, and you're not in a remote jungle. The Mountain Camp by PrimaStay and Nulinau Glamping Garden are also solid picks if you want comfort and proper facilities without needing to know what you're doing. Save Tungog for when you're ready for a more guided, structured jungle experience.

Are there Sabah campsites with Mount Kinabalu views?

Quite a few on this list, actually. Dingin Batu, Bayu Kinabalu, NR Campsite Kundasang, Damai View, and Nulinau Glamping Garden all offer Kinabalu views — some more obstructed than others. The lavender spot at Dingin Batu and the tent door at Damai View are particularly well-positioned for a full clear view on a good morning. Early risers will get the best of it before cloud cover builds up.

Is Mesilau Nature Resort still open?

No — as of the time of writing, Mesilau Nature Resort has been closed since the June 2015 earthquake that destroyed the access road and bridge. Don't plan a trip there without first checking for the latest updates. I included it in this list because it comes up so often in searches, and I'd rather you find out here than after driving all the way to Ranau.

Mike has been camping across Malaysia for over 10 years — from jungle treks in Taman Negara to beach camps in Perhentian. He writes about it so you don't have to find out the hard way. Follow along on TAHAN Outdoor's blog for honest campsite reviews, every week.