Beaufort

Beaufort is a small town in southwestern Sabah, Malaysia. The town does not have much in terms of attractions but travellers may find themselves here for one of several reasons: to whitewater-raft the Padas River, to catch or arriving on the train to/from Tenom, or to take a break while doing the overland trail between Sabah and Sarawak.

Most white-water rafting trips along the Padas River, certified Grade Three to Grade Four, are organised by a tour company and will start of from Kota Kinabalu. You may be able to find a company or agent in Beaufort to hook you up with a group. Trips involve a train ride (usually in an open trailer) up to Pangi station. The starting point is just next to the tracks. You will raft down to Rayoh, 9km downstream and after about seven rapids. From Rayoh, you'll catch the train back to Beaufort. The ride can be quite rough and a German tourist was killed in October 2007 while rafting.

Taking the train to or from Tenom will give you an insight to the life of the rural inhabitants of Sabah. The ailing train can get crowded with people and their goods, and the slow ride will let you get acquainted. The ride itself is interesting as it goes along the Padas River Gorge. The area is surrounded by jungle although a fire in the 1990s caused severe damage. Besides diesel locomotives pulling coaches, a railcar also does the run, the only ones in operation in Malaysia. See the Get in section above for train details. Beware that the rolling stock is very old and maintenance has not been a priority for many years. Derailments do happen quite frequently. However, since 2006, rehabilitation and upgrading works have been proceeding to give the line a new lease of life.