Hiking is an outdoor activity that involves walking in natural environments, such as forests, mountains, and national parks. It has gained immense popularity in recent years due to its numerous benefits for physical, mental, and emotional well-being. Furthermore, hiking can be promoted as a lucrative tourism product as it appeals to adventure enthusiasts, nature lovers, and those seeking a break from their hectic lives.
Hiking not only provides physical and mental health advantages but also contributes to the development of tourism. While improving physical fitness, it also allows individuals to connect with nature and contributes to the growth of local economies through sustainable tourism practices.
Recognising the significance of hiking in the tourism aspect, Haimie Miasin, a passionate advocate for outdoor activities, has established a two-kilometer trail in Kg Kondis, Kota Belud, called Love Trail Indaraha. This initiative aims to promote hiking as a recreational activity and provide individuals with an opportunity to explore the beautiful natural surroundings.
The trail winds its way up the hills, providing hikers with an enchanting journey through a lush tropical jungle teeming with captivating sights and sounds of the environment.
Ascending the hill feels more like a serene nature walk, inviting hikers to slow down and appreciate the natural surroundings. It is a leisurely nature walk uphill as there are stops for one to appreciate nature. The trail that meanders up the hills will bring hikers through a typical tropical jungle that offers interesting sights of the environment.
Along the trail, there are designated stops where one can take a moment to immerse themselves in the beauty of nature.
The towering trees create a canopy that casts dappled shadows, offering delightful shelter from the heat of the sun. It adds to the tranquility of the hike, allowing hikers to enjoy a cool and refreshing experience amidst the tropical climate.
The tree’s canopy lends dappled shadows as shelter from the heat.
“I want my guests to enjoy the hike, like a nature walk,” Haimie who is a member of Kadamaian Tourism Association (KATA), said.
According to her, the reward for hikers is at the top, where they will have a chance to view Mount Kinabalu in its majestic glory. The view is indeed fantastic, with the vast valley below and the mountain against the blue sky, especially during sunny days.
To Haimie, the satisfaction of hikers is paramount as this will encourage them to make return visits with their family and friends.
Camping facilities are provided for those who wish to stay overnight, she says.
There are some shelters at the top of the trail and of course, a relatively flat area to pitch their tents.
According to her, hikers will be charged RM18 per adult and RM14 for children aged 13 and below. For those who wish to have food and drinks at the end of the trial, they are charged RM25.
“They must inform us in advance, though,” she stresses, adding that this will allow her to prepare the food in advance.
KATA President Walter Kandayon supported Haimie’s efforts as it augmented the tourist attractions in Kadamaian and other places within the Kota Belud district.
“Tourism is one of the income-generating sectors for the state and we wish to play a part in this to ensure that the people in the rural area benefit from tourism,” he said, adding that there are several hiking spots in Kota Belud.
“There are about 80 hiking trails in Kota Belud at the moment. We encourage the operators to not only have a nice challenging trail but also information on nature such as the medicinal values of plants along the way. We all know that leaves, flowers, stems, and fruits may have health or medicinal values and they can expound on this as they go along. At the moment, some of our trails have guides while others don’t. We want to rectify this in the future.”
“There are historical spots in Kadamaian, such as the people’s fight against the Japanese in Kg Sayap for instance. We can’t really share this with tourists without further study and research,” he stressed, adding that for the moment they only offer the beauty of nature, but operators can talk about events or legends but only in their particular area.
He stresses waterfalls such as those in Kg Kiau and Terintidon are already highlighted in their tourism promotion.
“We are looking into a comprehensive tourism package soon,” he said, adding that they will also be taking into consideration toilet facilities that may not be up to standard in some places.
There are currently more than 70 participants registered with KATA involving 40 villages.-BNN Journalist
