Kundasang: Day Tour with Desa Dairy Farm and Alpaca Club

Kundasang gives you a full day of Sabah in miniature: a quirky house, mountain views, a working dairy farm, alpacas, local markets, and a striking mosque. The best part is the contrast between Mount Kinabalu country and the easygoing farm stops.

I like the private vehicle, which lets you keep the day comfortable rather than moving with a large group. I also like the mix of stops: the Desa Dairy Farm offers more than a viewpoint because it is still an operating farm. The drawback is the long 12-hour day, and clouds can hide Mount Kinabalu when you reach the viewing platform.

Key points to know

• A private 12-hour outing: Hotel pickup in Kota Kinabalu, private transport, and a Malay or English-speaking driver-guide are included.
• Mount Kinabalu is not guaranteed to appear: The viewing platform is scenic, but cloud can block the peak.
• Desa Dairy Farm is a working farm: You get a taste of rural Sabah rather than only a quick photo stop.
• The day mixes famous and playful sights: Rumah Terbalik and the Alpaca Club add lighthearted stops to the mountain drive.
• Lunch is not included: Set aside money for food, drinks, and any optional activities.
• Recent guides include Hamiz and Hazmi: Both have been associated with safe, courteous, unhurried outings.

Why Kundasang makes a strong day trip

Kundasang is one of Sabah’s best escapes from Kota Kinabalu. The town sits in the highlands near Mount Kinabalu, Sabah’s great mountain and the third-highest peak on an island anywhere in the world. It is also ranked as the 20th most prominent mountain in the world.

That geography gives the outing its main appeal. You leave the city behind and spend the day among cooler mountain conditions, open farm views, roadside markets, and places built around the area’s rural character. The tour calls Kundasang the Little New Zealand of Sabah, a comparison that makes sense at the dairy farm, where green hills and livestock replace the city’s roads and buildings.

I would choose this tour if you want a broad introduction to the area without arranging several separate rides. You get cultural sights, food and market time, animal encounters, and mountain scenery in one private outing. It is not a hiking trip, and it does not promise a long stay at any one attraction. Think of it as a well-packed sampler of Kundasang.

Rumah Terbalik starts the morning with a joke

The first major stop is Rumah Terbalik, also known as the Upside Down House. You spend about 1.5 hours here on a guided visit, looking at a house presented from an unusual angle.

This is a playful start rather than a solemn cultural landmark. It gives you a chance to take unusual photographs and see a familiar building turned into a visual puzzle. The guided format matters because the stop is short enough that you want help making sense of what you are seeing rather than simply walking around without context.

I like this opening because it breaks up the drive and gives the day an immediate sense of variety. You are not waiting until the mountain stops for something to do. The tradeoff is simple: if novelty attractions do not interest you, this may feel less important than the farm and mountain portions.

Plan to bring a camera. The tour specifically recommends one, along with sunglasses and a hat. These are small things, but they help when you are outdoors later in the day.

Nabalu Town brings markets and mountain views

The route continues toward Nabalu Town, where you get time for a break, local market browsing, and views. The schedule allows about an hour around the Mount Kinabalu viewing platform and the town area.

Nabalu is useful because it combines two things in one stop. You can look for local products and browse market stalls, then pause for the broad mountain setting. The market gives the day a more local, everyday feel than a string of paid attractions. You may find this is the right place to spend some cash on small purchases or snacks, which is why cash is included on the suggested packing list.

The mountain view depends heavily on weather. A recent departure reached the area without seeing Mount Kinabalu because clouds covered the peak, yet the surrounding views still made the stop worthwhile. That is important advice: do not book this day solely for one perfect mountain photograph.

Bring a jacket even if Kota Kinabalu feels warm when you leave. The highland weather can change, with strong winds or sudden rain. A jacket also makes the viewing stop more comfortable when you are standing still rather than walking.

Kundasang town gives you time for lunch

The schedule includes about an hour in Pekan Kundasang for a break and lunch. Food is not included in the $116 price, so you will pay separately for your meal and drinks.

This free period helps keep the day from feeling like a constant rush between attractions. It also gives you a chance to eat in the mountain area instead of returning to Kota Kinabalu hungry. The exact restaurant and menu are not specified, so you should treat this as a planned pause rather than a fixed dining experience.

I see this as a practical part of the tour. A 12-hour trip needs a proper meal stop, and the private format may make the timing feel easier than a large group schedule. Still, remember that lunch is one of your extra costs. Personal travel insurance and activities not named in the tour are also excluded.

Desa Dairy Farm is the day’s most distinctive stop

The Desa Dairy Farm visit lasts about 1.5 hours and is the heart of the Kundasang experience for many people. This is an operational dairy farm, not just a decorative country setting. You walk around, take in the views, and see a working side of the highlands.

The farm helps explain why Kundasang is linked with Little New Zealand. The setting, livestock, and open views create a clear change from Sabah’s coastal capital. You get the pleasure of a rural stop, but also a little context about how the area functions.

I like this part because it gives you something more lasting than a quick photo opportunity. You are seeing a real agricultural site while enjoying the highland scenery. It also suits families and anyone who likes animals but does not want a strenuous outdoor activity.

The visit is still limited to around 1.5 hours. You should not expect a full agricultural workshop or a long farm course. It is a sightseeing stop with walking time and views. Comfortable shoes will help, although the supplied information does not set out a detailed footwear requirement.

The farm can be busy on weekends and public holidays. Sabah residents use Kundasang as a popular getaway, so you may find more people at the best photo areas and attractions on those dates. If you can choose your travel day, a weekday may feel calmer, though the tour is available for one day according to the schedule you select.

Alpaca Club adds a gentle animal encounter

The Alpaca Club gives you about an hour to meet alpacas. After the large mountain setting and the working dairy farm, this is a smaller, more focused animal stop.

The appeal is easy to understand. Alpacas are unusual in this part of a Sabah day trip, and the visit gives you a chance to get close to them and take photographs. The tour describes the club as a place to interact with the animals, so you should expect an encounter rather than only viewing them from a distance.

I like the way this stop changes the pace. The morning and early afternoon are built around driving, scenery, and broad sites. Here, the attention narrows to a few friendly animals. That makes the schedule feel varied, especially for families.

There is also a practical point: optional activities during free time are not included. If the club offers any extra activity beyond the included visit, check the cost before taking part. The entrance fees listed for the tour are included, but not every possible add-on is covered.

The City Mosque closes the route with architecture

The final listed stop is Sabah City Mosque, officially Masjid Bandaraya Kota Kinabalu. You spend about 30 minutes there before returning to Kota Kinabalu.

This is a short visit, but it gives the day a different finish. After farm animals, markets, and mountain roads, you return to an architectural sight in the city. The mosque is known for its striking design, and the stop works well as a final visual change before hotel drop-off.

Thirty minutes is enough for a brief visit and photographs, but it is not enough for a detailed architectural tour. Keep your expectations at that level. The supplied tour details do not specify a dress code or whether interior access is part of the visit, so follow any local instructions given at the site.

The placement at the end also makes logistical sense. You see the mountain area first, then finish back in the city rather than spending another separate day getting to the mosque.

What the private vehicle changes

Private transportation is one of the strongest practical features here. You are not sharing the day with a large public group, and the booking is for a private group. That gives you a more personal setting with the driver-guide and can make a long day less tiring.

The driver also serves as your guide, with English and Malay available. Recent guide names connected with departures include Hamiz and Hazmi. Hazmi was described as kind, courteous, and careful behind the wheel, while another outing with Hamiz was handled at a comfortable, slow pace. Those details matter because road comfort is a major part of a full-day mountain trip.

The tour is not a fast race through the attractions. The scheduled stops allow roughly 30 minutes at the mosque, one hour at the viewing area, one hour in Kundasang for lunch, 1.5 hours at the Upside Down House, 1.5 hours at the dairy farm, and one hour with the alpacas. Driving time fills the rest of the 12-hour day.

A private vehicle does not remove the distance. You will still spend a significant part of the day on the road. If you dislike long outings, this may feel too packed. If you want to see several Kundasang highlights without arranging transport yourself, the private setup is a strong advantage.

Is $116 a fair price?

At $116 per person, the value depends on how many people are in your private group. The cost includes private transportation, an English or Malay-speaking driver-guide, entrance fees, taxes, and service charges. It does not include lunch, insurance, personal purchases, or optional activities.

For a solo guest or a small group, the price is not a budget day trip. You are paying for the private vehicle, the guide, and the convenience of one organized route. The fee makes more sense when shared among several people in the same booking, since the transport is private rather than a standard public coach.

I would compare this price with the cost and effort of arranging several separate stops yourself. The tour bundles the Upside Down House, mountain viewpoint, Kundasang, dairy farm, alpacas, and City Mosque into one day. That saves planning time and removes the need to manage the route between attractions.

The main question is not simply the price. It is whether you value comfort and a private schedule more than the lowest possible fare. If you do, the package is reasonable. If you mainly want Mount Kinabalu photography, the weather risk makes the purchase less certain.

Who should book this Kundasang day tour?

This outing suits you best if you want variety. Families can enjoy the upside down house, farm animals, and alpacas. Couples and small groups can appreciate the private transport and scenic stops. First-time visitors to Sabah may also like the way the tour combines city architecture with rural Kundasang in one day.

It is a good fit for people who prefer light walking and sightseeing. The schedule includes visits, walks, photo stops, and market time, but no demanding hike is listed. You should still be ready for a long day and changing weather.

I would be cautious about booking it if you need a slow, deeply focused visit at every stop. Six main sights plus driving do not leave room for extended exploration. I would also avoid making the decision based only on a clear Mount Kinabalu view, since clouds can block the mountain.

For comfort, pack sunglasses, a hat, camera, jacket, and cash. A jacket is the item I would take most seriously. Wind and sudden rain can change the feel of the day quickly in the highlands.

Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before departure for a full refund, and you can reserve now and pay later. The activity is not suitable for people over 95 years old.

Should you book it?

Book this tour if you want a convenient, private introduction to Kundasang with several very different stops. The dairy farm, alpacas, local market time, and mountain setting give the day plenty of character, while the Upside Down House and City Mosque keep it from becoming a single-theme outing.

Skip it if you want a dedicated mountain hike, a guaranteed Mount Kinabalu view, or a short half-day visit. The 12-hour schedule is the price of seeing this much from Kota Kinabalu.

For most people, the best reason to choose it is the balance of comfort and variety. You get a private driver-guide, included entrance fees, and a full day beyond the city. Just bring a jacket, budget separately for lunch, and treat the mountain view as a welcome bonus rather than a promise.

FAQ

How long does the Kundasang tour last?

The tour lasts 12 hours, including pickup from Kota Kinabalu, sightseeing in Kundasang, and the return journey to Kota Kinabalu.

Is hotel pickup included?

Yes. Pickup is included from your hotel lobby in Kota Kinabalu.

Is the tour private?

Yes. It is operated for a private group with private transportation.

Which languages are available?

The driver-guide can provide the tour in English or Malay.

Is lunch included in the price?

No. Lunch is not included, so you should bring cash or another accepted payment method for food and drinks.

Are entrance fees included?

Yes. The tour includes entrance fees, taxes, and service charges for the listed activities.

Can I see Mount Kinabalu during the tour?

You visit a Mount Kinabalu viewing platform, but a clear view is not guaranteed. Clouds may cover the peak, and weather can change quickly.

What should I bring?

Bring sunglasses, a hat, camera, jacket, and cash. A jacket is especially useful because strong winds or sudden rain may occur.