The Cloud Kinabalu Glamping & Homestay — Cold Nights, Great Views, and a Few Things to Know First

The Vibe

This is a glamping and homestay property in Kundasang, Sabah — not a traditional campsite where you pitch your own tent. So if you're coming with a kelah and a sleeping bag looking for raw jungle camping, this isn't that. The Cloud Kinabalu is for people who want a comfortable stay with proper beds, hot showers, and views of the surrounding highlands without roughing it too hard.

Kundasang itself is already gorgeous — you're up in the cool highlands near Kinabalu Park, and on a clear morning the views from here are genuinely something. The property sits on a steep hill, which means most rooms look out over the landscape. Arrive at night and the cool air hits you immediately. Super sejuk, especially if you're coming from KL. Expect temperatures to drop proper cold after dark — this is highland Sabah, not the coast.

The crowd here is mostly families, couples, and leisure travellers who want a chill highland stay. The place has an outdoor play area for kids, landscaped grounds people like to walk around, and a general holiday-getaway feel. It's relaxed. Not adventurous. Think of it as a boutique hillside homestay with some glamping units thrown in.

Getting There

The address is Jalan SK. Pinausok, Pinausok, 89308 Kundasang, Sabah. From Kota Kinabalu, you're looking at roughly 2 to 2.5 hours depending on traffic. Take the main road towards Ranau — Kundasang is along the way, before you reach Ranau town. Once you're in the Kundasang area, use Google Maps with this listing (tap here) because the Pinausok area can be a bit winding and signage isn't always obvious. The property is set on a steep hill, so the last stretch of road has some incline to it. Normal car should be fine, but drive carefully if it's been raining — the road gets slippery.

What to Expect

You're up on a hill in the Kundasang highlands. The surrounding area is green, hilly, and full of the kind of wildlife you don't usually see in Peninsular Malaysia — one guest mentioned spotting fireflies, bats, a giant frog about a foot long, and all sorts of insects at night. That stuff is real up here. The biodiversity in Sabah's highlands is on a different level.

The glamping units and rooms are nicely designed on the outside — good landscaping, thoughtful layout. But the experience varies quite a bit depending on which unit you book. Some guests had a comfortable, well-equipped stay. Others — specifically those in the tent glamping units — reported cleanliness issues. More on that below.

Privacy is something to consider. The layout means some rooms open up facing public walkways where other guests and visitors pass through and take photos. If you're a couple wanting a private retreat, check specifically which unit you're booking and ask about the layout before you confirm. Don't just assume all units are the same.

Nights here get genuinely cold. Bring a proper layer — a hoodie isn't going to cut it after midnight. For highland Sabah temperatures, the TAHAN HexLink Sleeping Bag is rated down to 18°C and works well as a blanket too — useful even if you're staying in a room that gets drafty at night.

Facilities

Rooms & Glamping Units

Nicely designed on the whole. The rooms come with hot water, tea and coffee packets, a hair dryer, and an iron. Some units have a table and chairs outside — nice spot to sit and take in the view. The tent glamping units, however, have had cleanliness complaints — dead flies, mold on windows, mosquitoes inside. Avoid the tent glamping units unless the management has visibly improved things.

Kitchen

There is a kitchen on site but you pay extra to use it. Given how far the nearest restaurant is, this is a real inconvenience — especially if you're staying a few days. Factor in that cost when budgeting your trip.

Water Heater

Hot water is available but apparently needs to be adjusted a specific way due to the cold climate. The host or staff should show you how — ask when you check in so you're not fumbling with it at midnight.

Outdoor Play Area

There's an outdoor play area for kids. Families with young children seem to appreciate this.

Food & Drinks

No cafe or restaurant on site. The nearest proper eatery is described as "way too far." Some fast food options are reportedly available on the property, but don't count on a full meal spread. Bring your own groceries if you want to cook — and budget for the kitchen fee.

Parking

Not explicitly mentioned in reviews, but given it's a hillside property with a steep access road, confirm parking availability when you book.

What Campers Are Saying

One couple who stayed noted the rooms were well-designed and cosy — hot water, tea and coffee ready in the room, even a hair dryer and iron on hand. The table and chairs outside their unit was their favourite spot. They were happy with the stay and praised the staff for being friendly and responsive. Views were a big tick for them too.

A family with two young girls had a really positive experience. The kids loved the outdoor play area and the landscaping. They had access to a fully stocked kitchen (so their unit may have had different arrangements, or they paid the extra kitchen fee) and cooked their own meals on site. Said they'd come back.

One guest who stayed specifically in the tent glamping units was less impressed. Flies inside the room, dead insects on the walls and bed, mold on a window that couldn't even be opened, mosquitoes throughout the night. Said she wouldn't recommend the tent units. That's a hard review to ignore — cleanliness in glamping should be basic.

Another guest who visited on a rainy night said the cold was intense and the wildlife was wild — fireflies, bats, beetles, a massive frog outside. Loved it though. The elderly host was described as kind and attentive. Views in the morning were worth it.

The pricing complaint came up more than once. The stay fee is already on the higher side, and the add-on kitchen fee stings when there's no cafe or nearby restaurant to fall back on. Manage your expectations on the value-for-money side.

TAHAN Tip

Book the right unit. Don't just pick based on photos — specifically ask whether you're going into a standard room or the tent glamping units. The tent units have had cleanliness issues flagged by guests and that's a meaningful difference. Also, ask about the kitchen fee upfront and whether it covers cooking equipment or just the space. Plan your meals before you arrive — either bring groceries and budget the kitchen fee, or eat before you check in and stock up on breakfast items. And no matter what unit you're in, bring warm clothes. Kundasang cold is real cold. If you tend to feel the chill at night, the TAHAN HexLink Sleeping Bag is worth tossing in your bag even for a homestay stay — some rooms up here get surprisingly drafty past midnight.

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.

You Might Also Like

• Kinabalu Park Campsite — if you want to be even closer to the mountain with a more rugged, proper camping experience right inside the park.
• Mesilau Nature Resort Campsite — another Kinabalu-area option with cooler temperatures and a quieter highland atmosphere worth exploring.