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Voykit pocket guide · Malaysia
Beaufort
Spend a half day in Beaufort for white‑water rafting or a train ride to Tenom; otherwise skip unless on an overland route.
Beaufort is a small town on the main highway between Kota Kinabalu and the Sabah‑Sarawak border. Its main draws are the Padas River for rafting and the historic railway to Tenom. Most travellers visit for a few hours en route, but a dedicated half‑day lets you experience the river or the scenic train.
- Country
- Malaysia
- Best months
- Mar–Oct (dry season, river flow good)
- Avoid
- Nov–Feb (heavy rain, river high water)
- Stay
- 0 nights
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- MYR
- Money
- Malaysian ringgit (MYR, RM); cards and e-wallets are widely used in Kuala Lumpur.
- Daily spend
- Budget RM30–50 excl. bed · Mid RM60–100 excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- CelcomDigi, Maxis, U Mobile and Unifi sell tourist SIMs at KLIA with passport registration.
- Emergency
- Police / ambulance 999 · Fire 994 · General emergency (mobile) 112
- Plugs
- Types G · 240 V · 50 Hz · UK three-pin; hotels often have universal sockets.
- Tipping
- Hawker stalls: Nothing.; Restaurants: Nothing if 10% service charge is added; otherwise round up.; Grab / taxi: Round up.; Guides: RM20–50 a day.
- Water
- Treated in cities, but most people filter or boil; bottled water is cheap.
- Toilets
- Western and squat toilets side by side; water hose instead of paper; some public toilets cost RM0.20–1.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Local dish (noodles, rice) | RM5–10 |
| Bottle of water (1 L) | RM1–2 |
| Taxi (5 km (3.1 mi))Taxi (3.1 mi (5 km)) | RM15–20 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- BKI · Kota Kinabalu International Airport
- Main gateway to Sabah, about 92 km (57 mi) north of BeaufortMain gateway to Sabah, about 57 mi (92 km) north of Beaufort
Typical fares
- Bus Kota Kinabalu → Beaufort
- RM9 one‑way, about 1 h 45 min (check)
- Train Beaufort → Tenom
- RM3.80 one‑way, about 2 h (check)
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
The town centre is walkable; taxis and motorbike taxis are available for short trips. Minivan buses connect to Kota Kinabalu, Lawas and Sipitang.
See and do
Known for
- Padas River white‑water rafting
- Sabah State Railway station
- Guan Yin Temple
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Klias Wetlands | Road south from Beaufort towards Kuala Penyu, then turn to Kota Klias jetty | ≈2 h each way |
| Pulau Tiga Marine Park | Drive to Kuala Penyu, charter boat from jetty | ≈3 h each way |
Sleep
- Beaufort town centre
- Small guesthouses and budget hotels within walking distance of the station.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Excuse me / Sorry | Maafma-fah |
| Thank you | Terima kasihtuh-ree-mah kah-see |
| How much is it? | Berapa harganya?buh-rah-pah har-gah-nyah |
| Where is the bus stop? | Di mana perhentian bas?dee mah-nah per-hen-tee-an bas |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Light handshake or hand on heart; wait for women to offer a hand; avoid: Firm grips, hugging
- Pointing: Use the thumb with fingers folded; avoid: Index finger pointing
- Homes: Shoes off; avoid: Walking in with shoes
- Mosques: Covered clothes, headscarf for women; avoid: Entering during prayers
- Public affection: Keep it low-key; avoid: Kissing in public
Scams and watch-outs
- Train rolling stock is old; occasional delays or derailments – check schedule before travel.
- Rafting trips can be rough; confirm safety record of the operator.
Beaufort is generally safe; main risks are road traffic and occasional train delays – keep an eye on schedules.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Beaufort yet. Suggested stay: 0 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Padas River white‑water rafting
- Sabah State Railway station
- Guan Yin Temple
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Sabah State Railway: railway.sabah.gov.my/
- Wikivoyage: Beaufort (Sabah), revision 5275436 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5275436
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Printed from Voykit (/beaufort-sabah). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.