On day 9, we drive from Keningau via the village of Tenom to Sipitang. This route is just under 125 kilometers and therefore easily covered in a few hours, but you can extend the day with a beautiful train journey to Beaufort.

After a drive of about 40 minutes, you arrive in Tenom, at the Tenom Coffee Valley Café next to the train station. This small building houses a restaurant that serves Western and fusion dishes, and is known for its delicious coffee – a specialty of the town of Tenom.

Tenom Train Station is located less than 200 meters from the café. Here you can take a short walk and view the classic Borneo train, the station, and the centuries-old rainforests in the surrounding area. The Sabah State Railway, formerly the North Borneo Railway, is the only railway line on the island of Borneo. It is a piece of colonial history and an unusual, adventurous train journey that is absolutely worthwhile.

If you want to include the train journey to Beaufort in your trip, it is advisable to add an extra day and stay overnight in Beaufort. The train only runs twice a day, and in Beaufort you will have plenty of time to visit the sights. There are several hotels where you can stay for a reasonable price.

Buy a ticket for the Sabah State Railway and board for the ride from Tenom to Beaufort. The train follows the Sungai Padas River and passes by Crocker Range Park. The journey is 48 kilometers long and takes approximately 2.5 to 4 hours. The rear door of the carriage is open, giving you a beautiful unobstructed view of the landscape. Two trains depart daily from Tenom to Beaufort, so plan your departure from Keningau carefully if you wish to add this experience to your itinerary.

Departure times
From Tenom: daily at 07:00 and 13:00 (Sunday only at 13:00)

From Beaufort: daily at 07:50 and 13:30 (Sunday 12:30)
Cost: 2.75 RM / 0.65 USD / 0.55 EUR per person.

The train consists of three iron carriages, each slightly different, but all cheerfully blue. The seats are hard and worn, and the doors remain open like in an old Western film, so that passengers can enjoy the view – and, for some at least as important, smoke.

The train travels slowly and follows the Padas River on the left. The water is dark and muddy; with a bit of luck, you might see crocodiles in the river or along the banks. Along the route, you see lush tropical vegetation and occasionally small houses hidden in the jungle.

After the Tenom Pangi Dam, the river becomes wilder and more spectacular. There are a few small villages along the route where passengers get on and off. These villages consist of about ten houses, a school, a church, and a football field. Small orchards, fruit trees, chickens, and sometimes a few goats form the basis of their existence. It is possible that you may need to transfer to another train in one of these villages. At Melalap station, you can get off to visit the Riverbugs Camp for Adventures.

From Tenom, drive via the SA33 to Sipitang. This two-lane road is of good quality and winds through the green, mountainous landscape of Malaysia. Along the route, there are small cafes where you can stop for a short break. For enthusiasts, there are also unpaved, narrow, winding roads you can follow; these are marked with waypoints. Please note, however, that these roads are often not visible on your navigation system.

After driving for about 3.5 to 4 hours, we arrive at the final destination in Sipitang, where we can rest for day 10, which promises to be a somewhat longer drive.