Festivals

Known as "the beautiful run," the Borneo marathon takes place along the palm-fringed, coastal roads of the island of Kinabalu in Sabah. Participants can take part in the full marathon (26.2 miles) or half marathon (13.1 miles) or the 10 km run (just over 6 miles). Spectators line the route, creating a festive atmosphere.

Every year, more than 30 ethnic groups indigenous to Sabah come together to celebrate and share their traditions and heritage. The culmination is a two-day festival with demonstrations of folk dance and music, as well as storytelling. Visitors can enjoy authentic homemade food and buy exquisite wooden carved souvenirs and crafts.

This important day in the Buddhist calendar is celebrated by devotees throughout Malaysia. It commemorates Gautama Buddha’s birth, enlightenment and passing over. People visit the temple and make offerings, burn incense and pour water over statues of Buddha to symbolize cleansing. Candlelit processions take place in the evening.

For this two-day harvest festival and public holiday, the indigenous Dayak people of Sarawak come together to give thanks. The colorful celebration attracts locals and visitors from all over Malaysia who come to see the traditional costumes, the procession and beauty pageant, folk dancing and singing and to share authentic food.