Keningau Airport

Gateway to Sabah's interior highlands and indigenous Murut culture.

Keningau is a mid-sized inland town in Sabah, Malaysian Borneo, situated in the Pegalan Valley roughly 140 kilometres south of Kota Kinabalu. It serves as the administrative and commercial hub of the Keningau District and is one of the largest towns in the interior of Sabah.

The town is home to a diverse mix of ethnic groups, including the Murut, Kadazan-Dusun, Chinese, and Malay communities, giving it a multicultural character that is reflected in its markets, festivals, and cuisine. Surrounding the town are rolling hills, rice paddies, and jungle-clad highlands that offer quiet rural scenery.

While Keningau lacks the tourist infrastructure of coastal Sabah, it appeals to travellers seeking authentic off-the-beaten-path experiences, cultural encounters, and access to the rugged interior of Borneo.

• •Keningau Town Square — lively central hub with local stalls and weekend markets.
• •Murut Cultural Centre — showcases traditional Murut artifacts, costumes, and the bouncing lansaran platform.
• •Keningau Tamu — weekly open-air market where indigenous communities trade jungle produce and crafts.
• •Batu Punggul — dramatic limestone pinnacle rising from the jungle, reachable by river from nearby Sapulut.
• •Gunung Lumaku — forested mountain offering challenging trekking through pristine Bornean rainforest.
• •Nabawan — remote township south of Keningau serving as a base for Murut village homestays.

Getting around: Keningau is best navigated by private car or 4WD, especially for reaching rural attractions. Minibuses and shared taxis connect the town centre to surrounding districts and to Kota Kinabalu via the interior highway. There is no rail service. Local taxis are available in town but rideshare apps have limited coverage in this interior area.

Best time: Visit between March and September during the dry season when roads are passable and outdoor activities are most enjoyable.

Local food: Try hinava (raw fish cured with lime and chilli), ambuyat (sago starch dipped in tangy sauce), tapai (fermented rice wine), and fresh wild boar dishes commonly found at local restaurants and the weekly tamu.

This guide is provided for general information only. Verify details locally before making travel decisions.