3D2N Miso Walai Homestay with Kinabatangan River Cruise & Jungle Exploration Print

• Explore the Kinabatangan River on two river cruises, go trekking in the rainforest, and participate in KOPEL’s conservation programme with a tree-planting activity
• Immerse yourself in the daily life and traditions of the Orang Sungai, with more time to enjoy cultural exchange and authentic Sabahan hospitality
• Stay in comfortable village homestays, from stilted wooden houses to modern rural homes, all with internal bathrooms and guest rooms
• Join hands-on activities such as cooking lessons and outdoor farming, and become part of your host family’s daily routines
• Visit local attractions like the Batu Tulug Museum, learning how heritage and conservation go hand in hand
• Your stay directly contributes to the community’s sustainable ecotourism initiatives and forest restoration efforts

More than just a place to stay, Miso Walai Homestay invites you to immerse yourself in local traditions, join daily routines, and experience true Sabahan hospitality. Live as part of a local family, sharing home-cooked meals, joining in daily routines, and gaining insight into the traditions of the Orang Sungai. Each home is different — some rustic, others modern — but all share the same warmth and sense of belonging.

Over the three days, you can enjoy a river cruise on the Kinabatangan River to spot wildlife, wander through the rainforest on a guided trek, or simply take in the sights and sounds of the village. The extra day allows you to settle into a slower pace, making it not just a homestay, but an enriching cultural journey.

Miso Walai Homestay

The Miso Walai Homestay is based in Batu Puteh village along the Lower Kinabatangan River, home to the Orang Sungai, or “River People.” This community-based programme, established in 2000 and operated by the local co-op KOPEL Bhd, brings together more than 18 host families who welcome visitors into their homes. Each homestay is different. Some are rustic wooden stilt houses, others more modern. But all share the same warmth and hospitality. Guests are invited to live as part of the family, sharing traditional meals, joining farm activities, and learning local customs. The homestay also serves as a gateway to river cruises, forest treks, conservation programs, and cultural exchanges, making it a meaningful way to connect with both the people and natural beauty of the Kinabatangan.

Koperasi Pelancongan (KOPEL)

Formed in the late 1990s by the people of Batu Puteh village, KOPEL Bhd grew from the pioneering MESCOT Initiative, a grassroots movement to protect the last fragments of forest in the Lower Kinabatangan. Facing the loss of traditional resources to large-scale agriculture, a group of villagers came together to create sustainable alternatives through eco-tourism and forest conservation. Today, KOPEL operates as a cooperative that unites the community, restoring degraded forests, co-managing the Pin-Supu Forest Reserve, and generating income through conservation-based tourism. By staying with KOPEL, visitors directly support local livelihoods, youth empowerment, and the ongoing mission to protect one of Sabah’s most important wildlife corridors.