Padas White Water Rafting – Wet & Wild Adventures in Sabah, Borneo
Are you ready for adventure? Then join a white water rafting adventure along the Padas River Sabah Borneo. White water rafting on the Padas River, near Kota Kinabalu, is a challenging adrenaline-filled tour you will never forget. Experience the raging water of the Padas River, which is claimed to have the best rapids in South East Asia!
This Padas River white water rafting trip covers around 9km of the 200km long Padas River. This adrenaline-fuelled journey will take around 2 hours. During your White Water Rafting Padas River Sabah Borneo trip, you will visit such rapids as:-
- Merry-Go-Round Rapid
- Break Point Rapid
- Scooby Doo Rapid
- Cobra Rapid
- Curve Rapid
- Lambada Rapid
- Head Hunter Rapid – with the name, you have a clue of what to expect.
Test yourself – Padas White Water Rafting, Sabah, Borneo
The Padas River is situated in the interior of the southwestern part of Sabah that is only accessible by train (used since the late 19th century in Borneo). So you’ll enjoy a coach ride and a train ride to reach Padas Gorge, Sabah, Borneo.
If you are looking for a gentler white water rafting trip, then check out our white rafting Kiulu River trip, a Grade – II rafting experience. Alternatively, if you want more adventure during your stay in Kota Kinabalu, you could consider a PADI Discover Scuba Diving Experience and try scuba diving along coral reefs near Kota Kinabalu.
Trip Itinerary – Padas River White Water Rafting, Sabah, Borneo
04:00hrs: you will be picked up from your hotel in central Kota Kinabalu and transferred by private minivan transfer to Tenom Railway Station, which is located in the interior division of Sabah, East Malaysia, on the Island of Borneo.
06:45hrs – 07:00hrs: you will arrive at Tenom railway station.
07:15hrs: Boarding time for the train. At 7:30hrs, you’ll depart Pangi station. Enjoy the ride and the breathtaking views!
08:00hrs: You will arrive at Pangi Station and be greeted by the Riverbug Padas rafting team. Light refreshments will be served, and a safety briefing will be conducted. You can use the facilities here (toilet and changing rooms), and you will store your belongings here. You’ll join a safety briefing before you start rafting.
09:00hrs: You will go to the Padas rafting starting point, a short walk from the station, and prepare for the rafting activity. The rafting will then commence along the Padas River from the starting point and will take about 1 1⁄2 hours to 2 hours (10km), including 8 points of rapids as you raft down Padas Gorge. The Padas white water rafting activity will be faster / slower depending upon the flow of the River (and whether it is High, Medium or Low water level).
~ 10:30hrs: You have made it! Congratulations on completing the Padas white water rafting ride. You will arrive at the Padas rafting ending point. From here, you will head back to Pangi station for lunch by motor trolley.
~ 11:10hrs: Arrive back at Pangi station. You’ll have the chance to freshen up using the changing facilities and enjoy your well-earned lunch. You can choose to purchase here photos from your Padas rafting ride. There will be time to relax before catching the train from Pangi station – find a comfortable spot to chill out, or you could bring a book with you to read. Please note that there is no internet connection at this location.
13:30hrs: Time to say goodbye and travel by train from Pangi Station back to Tenom Station.
14:30hrs: Arrive at Tenom station. Time for a quick rest/toilet break before starting your transfer by private minivan back to Kota Kinabalu. The transfer will take an estimated 3 hours, depending on traffic.
17:30 hrs: You will arrive at your hotel in Kota Kinabalu.
Trip Pre-requisites – White Water Rafting Padas River, Sabah, Borneo
A good fitness level is required for white water rafting at Padas River Sabah Borneo. Children need to be 12 years and older to join this trip. All rafters will sign a Liability Release Form before they start the rafting activity.
Trip Inclusions
Return transfer from a hotel in central Kota Kinabalu, rafting equipment, English-speaking Rafting Guide, lunch, insurance and certificate, 0% Sales & Service Tax on the tour price as applicable from 6th May 2019.
Trip Exclusions
There is an outskirt pick-up charge for collections from Resorts/hotels north of Kota Kinabalu (e.g. the Shangri-La’s Rasa Ria Resort). You can choose to purchase a DVD of your Padas River white water rafting activity on the day.
Recommended Packing List For The Trip
Sandals with strap, shorts and T-shirt (NOT white colour), swimwear, personal spend, insect repellent, sun-block lotion, change of clothes, towel.
Notes – Padas White Water Rafting, Sabah, Borneo
The white water rafting to Padas River involves a very early start, so get plenty of sleep the night before and remember to set your alarm. Ask your hotel for a packed breakfast to be ready for you to collect before your pick-up time.
Sometimes the train may break down on the day of your trip (as it is an old train). If this happens, your transfer route on the day will be adapted, and an alternative train route will be used. Your Guide / Driver will brief you if this is the case for your trip. As such, please ensure that you don’t have a flight to catch after your Padas white water rafting trip, as the return time will vary depending on the train condition and the current water level.
For the Padas white water rafting activity, you must have trimmed fingernails and toenails. Please do not wear jewellery or valuable items during the rafting activity (best keep the latter stored safely at your hotel).
The prices shown are valid for trips up to 31st December 2023. For Padas white water rafting trips after this date, don’t hesitate to get in touch with us for a quote.
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