Visiting Tip of Borneo is according to me a must-do when going to Borneo. It was one of the most unique experiences I had on my entire trip. A lot of people skip this part of Borneo due to it being so secluded, but they really miss out. Tip of Borneo is the most northern part of the Borneo island, and it feels very wild and untouched. It is so remote that you can walk along kilometers of beach and not meet a single person. If you want to go off the beaten track, look here! Most people that visit Tip of Borneo tend to only go for the day, but I would suggest you stay for a night or two to really get that full experience. This guide will lead you through what you can to in Tip of Borneo, how to get there, where to stay and where to eat.

To do in Tip of Borneo

Visit the Tip of Borneo monument

The most popular thing to do in Tip of Borneo is visiting Tip of Borneo monument. This is the most northern point of the Borneo island and also where the Sulu Sea och South China Sea meet. You will find the South China Sea to the left and the Sulu Sea to the right.

Spend some time on the beaches of Tip of Borneo

Tip of Borneo is famous for its beautiful beaches stretching along the coast. There are three main ones in the area that you should take your time to visit.

Kalampunian Beach– Kalampunian is the longest beach in Tip of Borneo and the most northern located one. This runs for about 2 kilometers all the way to the Tip of Borneo monument. It’s by this beach that the Tip of Borneo town centre is located.

Kelambu Beach – This is the most southern located beach in Tip of Borneo. It has a little peninsula that you can walk out to when low tide.

Bavang Jamal Beach – This beach is located in between Kalampunian and Kelambu and is the smallest beach. At this beach there is a beach cafe together with a camping site if you want to spend a few hours here.

Watch the sunset

Tip of Borneo has some of Borneo’s (and Malaysia’s) best sunsets. It is also quite cosy to watch the sunset in Tip of Borneo since it’s so empty, making it really peaceful.

Explore the area on foot

One of the best things to do while visiting Tip of Borneo is to just walk around and explore the area. Walk along the bumpy roads or the beaches and be mesmerized with the beautiful landscapes. Don’t forget to bring a camera!

Go surfing

Yes, you heard correct! You can surf in Tip of Borneo. If it’s not too windy there are some nice beach breaks along Kalampunian Beach. But be prepared that you’ll probably be the only one in the line-up. The place I stayed at had different types and sizes of surfboards to borrow for free. I headed out one early morning and was completely alone. It was actually quite amazing to experience a non-crowded surf spot. However, I would not recommend you to surf alone if you’re a beginner. The waves can be kind of wild from time to time.

Where to eat in Tip of Borneo?

You will notice, while visiting Tip of Borneo, that you are very remote. There are restaurants in Tip of Borneo, but very few. In the town centre there are three options, although the opening hours can be a little shifty.

Ina Cafe – I had most of my meals here and it was very cheap and tasty. A large Mie or Nasi Goreng for 12 MYR ($2.5). This is the place that was run by the people who also hosted my accommodation. Very convenient for me!

Cafe Santai – I had one dinner here, but I was completely alone. I didn’t even know if they were open and the lady running in couldn’t speak English, but I managed to order a Mie Goreng and it was very good.

Cafe Tokow – This place is only open during the day so it’s a good lunch option.

Where to stay in Tip of Borneo?

There aren’t a lot of options on where to stay in Tip of Borneo. Below you’ll find the three top accommodations based on your budget.

Budget: If you’re on a budget, your best option is Tampat do Aman. The price per night is around $13. However, this accommodation is located approximately 2.5 kilometers away from the beach and the little town centre, so if you don’t have a car, you will be very distanced.

Mid-range: I did a little research on where to stay to be close to the beach and the few restaurants that Tip of Borneo has to offer, and booked my stay at Tumombuvoi Homestay (Sidi’s place). This place is located basically on the beach – the Kalampunian Beach – and they also run one of the small cafes where you can eat all your meals. The prices start at around $43 per night for a cabin on the beach.

Luxury: If you are willing to spend a bit more money, Kudat Riviera Exclusive Beach Villas is a good option. You rent an entire beach villa with pool, which can fit up to 4 people, with prices starting at $290 per night in total. This hotel is located on the Kelambu Beach, a little bit further away from the restaurants and Tip of Borneo town, so a car is recommended.

How to get to Tip of Borneo?

Tip of Borneo is located on the most northern tip of Borneo island, located in the Sabah region of Malaysian Borneo. Kota Kinabalu is the capital of the Sabah region and is 3.5 hours away from Tip of Borneo. This is the best starting point for your trip to Tip of Borneo. There is an internation airport in Kota Kinabalu so it’s easy to get here. From Kota Kinabalu, you have four different options on how to get to Tip of Borneo and I’m breaking them down below.

Public bus

There is a local bus that runs twice a day from Kota Kinabalu to Kudat, one in the morning and one in the early afternoon. This costs $9 and takes about 4 hours, but will only take you to Kudat, which is the closest town to Tip of Borneo. From Kudat you need to take a taxi for about 30 minutes.

Grab

Downloading the Grab app (similar to Uber) is the most convenient way to get to Tip of Borneo. You book the Grab from your location in Kota Kinabalu and about 3 hours later you will be dropped off at your accommodation in Tip of Borneo. This is however the most expensive and will cost around $60.

Shared taxi

There are some small taxi/shuttle companies running shared taxis from Tip of Borneo and Kudat to Kota Kinabalu. This is both affordable and relatively convenient, since you get picked up and dropped off at your accommodation. The standards might not be the best however. I took a shared taxi on my way back from Tip of Borneo to Kota Kinabalu and we literally squeezed 7 passengers into a normal sized car plus everyones bags. The price for a shared taxi is around $19.

Rent a car

If you want the flexibility of getting around, renting a car is the best option.