Miso Walai Village Homestay

Encompassing numerous dialects and beliefs, the local “Orang Sungai” (River People) have a unique and diverse story to tell of their past and changing future along the Kinabatangan River. Traditional local food is a speciality. Homestay activities such as learning to cook, and outdoor farm activities are part of the experience. The Homestay program is also a great platform to arrange river cruises on the Kinabatangan River and forest trekking through the village co-op KOPEL Bhd.

There are more than 18 family households participating in the Miso Walai Homestay. Each village homestay is unique. Some homes are large and modern by rural village standards. Other homes are rustic and still maintain their traditional wooden stilt design. All homestays have internal bathrooms and separate rooms for guests. We specialise in cultural programs for students, families, groups, and volunteers. We ask visitors to respect our code of cultural conduct to help us preserve our culture and continue to offer authentic insight into our way of life into the future (see responsible tourism link below).

Our homestay specialises in looking after our visitors, with kind hosts and great local food, all of which is included in the homestay experience. Our guests become an extended member of the family. Our guests include volunteers, student education groups, special interest travellers, naturalists, bird watchers and wildlife photographers. The homestay is undeniably a more social and culturally oriented experience, compared to a jungle camp, with village and farm life central to the experience. Miso Walai Homestays provides a platform to visit our rainforest sites, get involved in our conservation program, or visit local attractions such as the Museum at Batu Tulug.

Centrally organised the Miso Walai Homestay Program is organised and operated by KOPEL Bhd the community ecotourism co-op of Batu Puteh community.

Our Cooperative has an OFFICE in our village (Kg Mengaris), and is located under the Kinabatangan River Bridge, on the main road from Sandakan to Lahad Datu.

Miso Walai Homestay was established in the year 2000, and has now been running for more than 20 years.