Top 6 White Water Rafting in Malaysia

1.Kiulu River Water Rafting Day Tour from Kota Kinabalu

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 17 reviews · from $120Our pick

Spend about eight hours rafting 7 to 8 kilometers down the Kiulu River near Tamparuli. An English-speaking guide supplies the raft, paddle, helmet, and life jacket, then leads a two-hour river run with swimming and rock-jump stops when conditions allow. Hotel transfers, lunch, and changing facilities are included.

“Fun guides who tried to enhance the experience there’s parts to swim parts to jump into the water and my favourite bit was going down the rapids out of the boat. The lunch provided was tasty the only bad thing was the changing rooms were very basic and dirty, no shower just an empty room with dirty chair”

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2.Kampar River White Water Rafting

★★★★★★★★★★4.3 · 13 reviews · 8 hours · from $146

Travel from central Kuala Lumpur to Perak for a guided 7-kilometer rafting run on the Class I to III Kampar River. You’ll receive certified equipment, a full safety lesson, rescue support, a photographer, lunch, showers, and hotel transport. Expect nine rapids, calm jungle stretches, old mining plains, and a long road journey.

“Brillant! The instructions where very competent and the whole organization was top notch... Highly recommend!”

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3.Kiulu River: River Rafting + ATV Shared Group Day Trip

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 9 reviews · 1 day · from $212

Start with an 8:30 AM hotel pickup, then ride 1.5 hours to Kiulu River for guided rafting, a Sabah-style lunch, and a 110-minute ATV route through hills, mud, and off-road tracks. English, Chinese, and Malay guidance is available. Past guides such as Andy, Mayo, and Alan were praised for humor, safety, and help with equipment.

“I waited for an hour and never got picked up. The tour company did not answer phone email or WhatsApp message. By the time I realised they weren’t coming it was too late to book a replacement activity so my whole day was wasted.”

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4.Kiulu White Water Rafting Tour + meal

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 9 reviews · 1 day · from $71Best value

Leave Kota Kinabalu for a two-hour rafting run on Sabah’s Kiulu River. English, Chinese, and Malay-speaking instructors explain each rapid, lead swim stops, and can arrange a river drop where conditions allow. The $71 price includes transfers, equipment, insurance, entry, and a meal. Expect wet clothes and basic changing facilities.

“The experience was excellent. Staff and guide was great, everything was really well explained. River is beatuful and you pass some of the villages on the river banks. The day we went the water level was very high due to heavy rain the night before, which made the current very strong and fast. Apparently, normally at Kiulu the white water raftering it normally a grade 1-2, however apparently the condition were more like grades 2-3. I would say you need fairly good level if fittness for the paddling. Lunch was excellent too. Also be warned that the toliet and changing facilities are basic. 100% would book again!”

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5.Padas River White Water Rafting from Kota Kinabalu (Grade 3 & 4)

★★★★★★★★★★3.5 · 4 reviews · from $183

You leave Kota Kinabalu before dawn, ride an old Borneo train to Pangi, then raft 10 kilometers of the Padas River with an English-speaking guide. Eight named rapids include Cobra, Washing Machine, and BBQ Rapids. Hotel pickup, equipment, lunch, and the return train are included. Expect a demanding 12-hour day and possible train delays.

“Local operator cancelled last minute with no satisfactory explanation. Left us without sufficient time to book an alternative activity for the final day of our holiday. Avoid at all cost!”

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6.Sabah: White Water Rafting Grade 3-4 at Padas River

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 3 reviews · 1 day · from $121

You’ll leave Kota Kinabalu before dawn, ride an old train to Pangi Railway Station, then paddle seven Grade 3 to 4 rapids on the Padas River. English and Malay speaking guides lead the raft, with safety boats, rescue-trained staff, lunch, changing facilities, and optional body rafting. Expect a long day, but a memorable one.

“We enjoyed the river rafting very much and our rafting guides were funny. The rafting starts off slow then gets stronger the further we go. Only wish that the rafting was longer considering how long it took to get there and a lot of waiting times in between.”

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