Franz ElizA drive from Kota Kinabalu to Kundasang typically takes roughly about 2 hours. Most people would make a stop in Pekan Nabalu for a quick rest. But for some, the stop could take more than half an hour.
Pekan Nabalu is a popular rest stop before reaching Kundasang. This small town is about 12 km from Kinabalu Park. People often stop by Pekan Nabalu for a toilet break or to shop for local produce and souvenirs. There’s also a viewing point with a beautiful mountain view to enjoy.
If you’re on your way to Kundasang from Sabah’s capital city, don’t forget to drop by Pekan Nabalu. Pekan Nabalu means ‘mountain town’ in the Dusun language. Keep reading to explore what to expect from Pekan Nabalu.
A Rest Stop Worth Visiting
On your way to Kundasang, it’s hard to miss Pekan Nabalu as there will be many cars parked in its spacious car park.
You’ll also see a big pineapple statue – that’s because Pekan Nabalu is well-known for pineapples.
So, what can you do in Pekan Nabalu? Here are a couple of things you can do there:
Make a Toilet Break
Public toilets are available in Pekan Nabalu, so you don’t need to wait until reaching Kundasang to use the toilet. There is a small fee to enter the toilet – public toilets usually charge 20 cents per entry – so make sure to have some coins on hand.
After your toilet break, don’t go just yet. Check out what the town has to offer first.
Buy Local Produce and Snacks
One of the first things you’ll see upon reaching Pekan Nabalu is the row of shops selling local produce. There are local flowers like orchids, fruits like pineapples, and vegetables like chilis, cucumbers, onions, and more. There are also local snacks like ‘kuih cincin’ and ‘amplang’.
Also, don’t forget to try local food like wild mango or also known as ‘bambangan’ – if you like sour food – and ‘tuhau’ (wild ginger). There’s also ‘bosou’, which is a fermented fish mixed with rice.
Before leaving, perhaps you’d want to bring home some hill rice; otherwise, you can always find it at any local restaurant or food stall nearby.
Shop for Souvenirs
Another way you can support local businesses is by shopping for souvenirs. There’s a row of shop lots selling souvenirs in Pekan Nabalu – you’ll be spoiled with choices.
During my recent visit to Pekan Nabalu with family and friends, we bought many souvenirs, from bracelets to sarongs.
While bargaining is okay, do it mindfully. Try not to haggle too hard. According to a local friend, many of the souvenirs are cheaper than those in KK. Even if the local sellers did slightly increase the prices, that’s understandable, considering most tourists would try to haggle.
Admire the Gorgeous Mountain View
There’s a viewing point in Pekan Nabalu. You’ll see it when you park your car in the car park near the souvenir shops. From the viewing point, you can see Mount Kinabalu and a smaller mountain called Mount Sadok-Sadok.
It requires good timing to get the best picturesque view of Mount Kinabalu, though. I arrived sometime in the afternoon and at the time the mountain was heavily covered by clouds. Anyhow, I was content with my photos regardless.
Note: You might get a much better view of Mount Kinabalu at around 9.30 am and 5 pm.
There was a local photographer at the viewing point. He had a DSLR with him. I assume he’s always there. The man was kind enough to help us take photos and videos. Later we learned that he has a photography shop nearby where we can print our photos if we liked. My friends had their photos printed for about RM10.
Final Thoughts
Is stopping by Pekan Nabalu worth it? Yes, it is worth it. There are several things you can do in Pekan Nabalu, from making toilet breaks to shopping. If you like pineapples, this is the right place for you as it’s well-known for pineapples.
Apart from pineapples, visitors can choose from the many types of local produce the town has. Before leaving, don’t forget to get a souvenir or two, including a picture of you at the viewing point.
