Lilly's Cottage

Mt Kinabalu & Kinabalu National Park


Welcoming Lilly's is a good base close to the park entrance for budget travellers. Shared bathrooms are clean and have hot water. There's a communal BBQ area, but best of all is the on-site, inexpensive Cottage Cafe (7am to 9pm). Lilly also has a transport service to/from KK (RM200) and Sandakan (RM500)


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby Mt Kinabalu & Kinabalu National Park attractions

1. Botanical Garden

0.78 MILES

Many of the plants found on Mt Kinabalu and in Kinabalu National Park are cultivated in the Botanical Garden, north of the visitors centre. Guided tours…

2. Kundasang War Memorial

3.31 MILES

At Kundasang, beside the KK–Ranau Hwy, 10km east of Kinabalu National Park headquarters, is this poignant memorial conceived in 1961. It commemorates the…

3. Ranau Night Market

9.9 MILES

Packed with aromas and produce from all over the region, this is where locals come to haggle and barter every Saturday evening. It's especially photogenic…

5. Butterfly Farm

12.05 MILES

If you've got some time before or after taking a bath (if you're staying the night, for instance), you might like to sample the butterfly farm above the…

6. Orchid Conservation Centre

12.12 MILES

Part of the Poring Hot Springs complex, this centre boasts 1200 species of orchid, all of which are unbelievably found within Kinabalu National Park. It's…

7. Mahua Waterfall

16.59 MILES

Around 26km northeast of Tambunan, this gorgeous 17m-high waterfall plunges into a deep pool below, perfect for a refreshing dip. There's a spartan hostel…

8. Sabah Tea Garden

17.38 MILES

A pretty tea plantation huddles in the mountains near Ranau, producing the famous Sabah Tea. Contact the garden to arrange tours of both the plantation…