Ranau: Exploring Sabah’s Hidden Gem
Ranau is the capital of the Ranau District located in the West Coast of the Malaysian state of Sabah. Famous for its vegetables and aromatic local tea, Ranau is an idyllic community nestled between Kota Kinabalu and Sandakan and serves as a gateway to the world heritage site of Kinabalu Park, site of the highest mountain in Malaysia. Easy access to town is through the Kota Kinabalu International Airport (BKI), which is only two hours away from the town.
Best Time to Visit
Ranau is a year-round destination but August and September are considered the best months to visitit. Ranau gets particularly busy for tourists in December, November and June. Prices for Ranau, Malaysia hotels and flights are always affordable even during these peak months but purchasing in advance can mean additional savings. A visit to Ranau in mid-October coincides with the Cabbage Festival, a showcase of Ranau’s most important crop which growswell in this part of Sabah.
What to Do & Area Attractions
There are many no-frills lodgings located near major tourist sites in the area. One of them is the Nabalu Kondasang Lodge, a one-minute walk from the Mount Kinabalu National Park, where a plethora of natural attractions and activities like mountain biking, golf, farm tours, canopy walk and a hike to Mt. Kinabalu await visitors. The Sutera Sanctuary Lodges at Poring Hot Springs is also near top attractions so is the Ranau Backpackers Hostel. A dip in the waters of Poring Hot Spring, a small resort in Sabah is a most welcome treat and marvel at the natural wonders of Tunku Abdul Rahman National Park comprising of a group of 5 islands located off Kota Kinabalu.