Kota Belud

Most tourist could easily missed Kota Belud in their ‘must see’ list, however this bustle town portrays a wonderful tapestry of cultures and customs, with affluent for its cultural market that runs every Sunday. The one that should be on the ‘must see’ list is the famous Tamu Besar that is held every year in October. This market features not only the arrays of handicrafts, but the highlight of the event is the colourful Bajau horsemen parading in their full traditional costume and on their horses dressed in matching multi-colours embroidered costumes too.

What else is there to do in Kota Belud? Here lies some impressive diving and snorkeling destinations off its coast line, where the gorgeous beaches and marine life of Mantanani Islands lies in less than an hour boat ride. In addition to this, Kota Belud has an exceptional mangrove ecosystem that is home to wildlife habitats such as the proboscis monkeys, monitor lizards, macaques, and the best part of the mangrove cruise is the magnificent fiery lights in a thousands of fireflies lighting up the mangrove like Christmas trees.