Holiday Destination

Sabah is the ideal place to combine participation in the race with a holiday.

Whether you prefer adventure and adrenalin rush, an exotic nature and wildlife experience, diving at some of the world's best dive sites, climbing one of the highest peaks in Southeast Asia, experiencing the local culture and sampling the local cuisine, or perhaps "just" relaxing at a 5-star beach resort, Sabah is blessed with it all at reasonable prices. 

With 32 recognized different ethnical groups, Sabah has a rich and diverse culture which is also expressed in the various cultural festivals and culinary palette available for sampling.

Formerly know as North Borneo - the Malaysian state of Sabah is situated at the northern tip of Borneo, the world's third largest island. Mt. Kinabalu, one of the highest peaks in South-East Asia at 4,100 m and a Unesco World Heritage site, rises steeply from the surrounding jungle and dominates the skyline for the entire north-western part of the state. The TMBT (acronym for "The Most Beautiful Thing") makes reference to Mt. Kinabalu and is centered around the foothills, ridges and valleys associated with the mountain. Climbing Mt. Kinabalu is normally a 2-day trip and needs to be booked in advance. Poring Hot Springs on the eastern flank of Mt. Kinabalu offers soothing sulfur baths for tired legs. 

The northwestern region of Sabah is known for it's pristine beaches and the Rungus culture distinguished for their longhouses and beadwork. Sandakan, the former capital of North Borneo, is known as the gateway to the nature tourism of the East Coast region of Sabah. A large proportion of the East Coast region is mangrove forest in the lower delta of the mighty Kinabatangan river, the longest in Sabah. Tours to the Kinabatangan and it's tributaries provides opportunities for close-up encounters with some of Borneo's indigenous and in some cases endemic wildlife such as the unique proboscis monkeys, the gentle orangutans and the Borneo pygmy elephants as well as a host of other smaller and larger wildlife and birds. The Sepilok orangutan rehabilitation centre and the off-shore Turtle Islands are other popular destinations from Sandakan.

The South East coast area of Sabah centered around Semporna is gateway to the off-shore islands resorts and magnificent dive sites with Sipadan Island made world famous by Jacque Cousteau as one of the top dive sites of the world. Semporna and the surrounding seas is the centre for the Bajau Laut (or Sea Gypsies), one of only a few nomadic sea people in the world, traditionally spending most of their lives on boats and making a living off the sea and coral reefs.       

In the interior, the conservation areas of Danum Valley and Maliau Basin, known as the "Lost World of Borneo", comprise some of the best places to experience the full magnificence and wonders of the tropical rainforest. 

The above is just a brief overview of some of the best known tourist destinations, but there is a host of options catering for all from backpackers to 5-star.    

You may get additional inspiration at for instance http://www.sabahtourism.com/ 

For group or tailor-made tour arrangements, you may for instance contact DOWNBELOW Marine & Wildlife Adventures who also runs a local lodge and island dive resort.

Transport & Start Area Logistics

The start of the TMBT 12, 30, 50 and 109 km courses is located in Kg. Lingkubang  (6° 8'53.53"N, 116°26'38.58"E) about 1.5 to 2 hours drive northeast of Kota Kinabalu. The start for the 37 km and 7.5 km is at Perkasa Hotel at Kundasang - the same area as the 109 km finish line. The finish areas for the 12k, 30k, 50k and 109k are separate from the start area in three separate locations:

• Finish 12 km:                   Kg. Tambatuan (6° 7'29.43"N, 116°27'9.98"E)
• Finish 30/50 km:              Pekan Nabalu (6° 1'40.22"N, 116°27'50.27"E)
• Finish 7/37/109 km:         Kundasang (5°58'36.19"N, 116°34'45.47"E) 

The start area is relatively remote with no easy access via public transport and no nearby accommodation except limited homestay and camping options. Optional bus transport from Kota Kinabalu to the start line on the morning of the race (Saturday night for the 37k) and from the finish areas back to Kota Kinabalu after the race is offered - see below.

Self-drive

For self-drive to the start, please be aware that except for the 7.5, 12 and 37 km, the finish areas are a significant drive from the start area. For the 12 km race, transport from the finish area back to the start area can be organised directly with the local villagers for a small fee. Transport from the 30, 50 and 109 km finish areas to the start area would be difficult to arrange as there is limited or no public transport options and no or limited taxis available at the finish locations.

For those driving to the start, we encourage car pooling to avoid congestion with parked cars. Parking will be along the main road (Jalan Ranau Bypass), but with a no-parking zone within ~200 m of the hanging bridge leading across the river to the start area to allow for bus dropoff. No parking is allowed across the river at the start venue or along Jalan Lingkubang leading to the start area, see sketch of start area layout at bottom of page.

If you car-pool and want to drop one car at the finish area prior to going to the start, PLEASE MAKE SURE THAT YOU PARK WELL AWAY FROM THE FINISH AREA AND DO NOT BLOCK THE GENERAL FLOW OF TRAFFIC. All the finish areas have limited space to park and for traffic flow, and inconsiderate parking by runners on the course can cause severe traffic and logistical issues.

Optional Transport

Optional transport from Kota Kinabalu (KK) to the start area and from the finish areas back to Kota Kinabalu can be booked and paid for via the Racematix registration platform. The transport needs to be booked and paid for well in advance of the race, preferably together with the registration.

Three pickup and drop-off locations are available in the Kota Kinabalu area:

• At the Hyatt Regency Kinabalu Hotel (partner hotel hosting the RP collection, please refer to Itinerary) at approximate coordinates (5°59'5.13"N, 116° 4'30.39"E)
• At Ming Garden Hotel & Residences at approximate coordinates (5° 58' 12.25" N, 116° 4' 8.26" E) 
• At the central bus area along Jalan Padang close to the entrance to the town padang at the bus area at approximate coordinates (5°58'48.75"N, 116° 4'34.18"E). This location is within easy walking distance from a range of accommodation in central KK, and easily reached by taxi or grab from accommodation further afield. Please note that the exact location along Jalan Padang will depend on the available space in the morning at the pickup and may vary slightly. 

You need to chose the pickup / drop-off location when booking transport in Racematix. Please make sure you update the location should you have a change of mind of which location to use. This can be updated until about a week before the race.

Provisional bus departure times are listed below for transport from Kota Kinabalu to the start. These may be adjusted if required to suit any adjustments of the starting times of the different categories. Please be at the designated departure point a minimum of 10 minutes in advance to board the bus. Buses will not wait for late-comers.

Provisional bus departure times from KK to Start, 29th August 2026:   

1. 50 km and 109 km categories:            3:00 a.m.
2. 12 km and 30 km categories:              5:00 a.m.
3. 37 km night challenge (to Perkasa):    8:00 p.m.

Provisional bus departure times from KK to Start,30th August 2026:   

1. 7.5 km category:              5:00 a.m.

The return trips from the finish lines will run through the day. Please be prepared for some waiting time for the buses to fill up. We will use a significant number of 10-seater vans to reduce any waiting times.

Please note that the return buses will not run through the night due to safety concerns and past experience. The last bus to Kota Kinabalu will leave between 11 pm and midnight. All 12k, 30k and 50k competitors should be able to catch the buses back to Kota Kinabalu on Saturday, unless they want to proceed to the Kundasang area to stay overnight to either take part in the 7.5 km on Sunday, watch the 109 k finish during the next day and/or have a relaxing rest-day in the coolness of the mountain highlands. The 37 km competitors will have bus transfer back available together with the 109 km and 7.5 km on Sunday through the day.

Except for people who DNF early and the top runners in the 109 km category, who may be able to catch a bus back to Kota Kinabalu on Saturday night, the majority of the 109 km competitors will either be continuing the race through the night on the course or finish during the night. 37 km competitors will also mostly continue through the night, though the fastest or people who DNF may stop during the night. Participants are responsible for own accommodation and for competitors who expect to finish during the night we recommend to book accommodation in advance. There is a range of accommodation options available both at and within a 5 km distance from the finish line. 

Other Transport Requirements

Transport for Supporters

Transport may also be booked for family members and supporters who wish to go to the start and finish to watch the race and support. The transport from KK to the start, and from the finish line back to KK will be on the buses with competitors. Please note that for the 100km, 50km, 30km and 12km the start and finish areas are at different locations.

Transport of 109k Drop-bag, Finisher bags and luggage 

Halfway drop-bags (109 km) and finisher bags (all categories) must be taken to the start area and deposited at the designated areas for transport to the finish areas by the organizers. For the 109k, the "halfway" and finish is at the same location, and a single bag may be used. For half-way and finisher bags please note:

• Maximum one bag per competitor.
• Size and weight should be kept to a minimum with a maximum size of 20 litres and 8 kg.
• It is highly recommended to use waterproof bags.
• Bags must be sufficiently strong and securely closed to withstand handling and transport.
• Bags must be clearly labeled with bib number and name/telephone number
• The organizers will transport bags to the finish line, but cannot take responsibility for any damage or loss.
• Please do not include any valuables in bags.
• Please make sure bags are deposited in the correct location (there are three finish areas).
• Bags must be picked up at the finish area after completing the race - please present your bib to collect.
• The organization will not be held responsible for bags that are not collected.

For the 109 km competitors who will be staying overnight at the Kundasang area, an additional "small" piece of luggage may be dropped for transport to the 109k finish area. The same rules as above apply.

Start Area Logistics

An outline sketch of the start area at Lingkubang is provided below. The starting area is on an open field on the opposite site of the Kadamaian River from the main access road. This, together with limited space, gives special logistical considerations. We require the cooperation of all participants for a smooth and orderly registration and start with any delays. Some pointers are outlined below:

BUS DROPOFF

• A combination of 40-seater buses and 10-seater vans will be used for the optional transport from Kota Kinabalu to the starting area. The 40-seater buses will drop participants at the location marked "Bus Dropoff Zone 1" in the overview map below, while the 10-seater vans will mostly proceed to "Bus Dropoff Point 2".
• From Bus Dropoff Zone 1 and parking along the main road, competitors must cross the hanging bridge to get to the hall for registration and the adjacent starting area.
• Please note that the traffic across the hanging bridge is strictly one-way leading up to the race - once across you will not be able to get back and get access to for instance your dropbag, so make sure you are race ready when crossing the bridge.
• If the queue at the hanging bridge is too long, we have 10-seater vans on standby to transport competitors from the queue to Bus Dropoff Point 2.

LUGGAGE DEPOSIT AND REGISTRATION 

• Adjacent to the bus dropoff point, there will be a collection point for the halfway (109 km only) and finisher bags (marked on the map with Bag1 and Bag2, respectively, for the two dropoff locations)
• Your drop bag, if any, must be clearly and securely marked with bib number
• Your drop bag must be deposited at one of the two drop-off locations. PLEASE NOTE: There are three destinations, so ensure you follow guidance to drop your bag at the correct distance category, ALSO if you arrive in your own transport.
• After the bag drop (and subsequently crossing the hanging bridge if you come from bus dropzone 1), you must proceed to the hall to get scanned in to be officially registered for the race.
• A queue will form at the hanging bridge - please move as swiftly across as you can without running
• Immediately after registration in the hall - move to the starting area at the field outside of the hall. Do not stay inside the hall as there is limited space and this will slow down the registration process.

 TOILETS

•  Toilets are available at 2 main locations:
  1. Two toilets immediately behind the hall at the starting area
  2. Six toilets within the school opposite the small gravel road running alongside the sports field at the starting area. Please enter through the gate halfway along the road.
• In addition, there are private toilets immediately after the hanging bridge that the owners have agreed can be used for the event.
• Please be considerate - be quick to give fellow participants a chance and keep the toilets clean.
• Please note that the toilets are without toilet paper and with the use of water to avoid any clogging.

RACE START

• The 50k and 109k categories will start first at 6 am. Line up behind the starting arch and be ready for start at least 10 minutes before start.
• The 30k and 12k categories will start two hours later at 8 am to allow the 109k and 50k competitors to clear the smaller trails and hanging bridges before the next wave of runners.
• Immediately after the start, there is a 4m wide gate in the fence surrounding the field. Please be realistic about your pace and allow the top runners to be in front at the start.
• There is subsequently several kilometers of wide road and a significant hill to allow runners to spread out and find their spot in the field prior to entering the small trails.
• Please respect proper trail etiquette on the smaller trails - give way to faster runners, no pushing and respect each other's space and pace. 

Parking and Shuttle at Perkasa

The "Race Centre" at Kundasang is at the parking lot at the "Perkasa Hotel", located on the top of a small hill above Kundasang, about 1.5 km drive from the town centre. This area works both as halfway station (W6) and Finish line for the 109k, as well as start and finish area for the 37k night run and the 7.5k familly run. It will thus be a busy area, and with very limited parking space, strict management is required.

The parking space at Perkasa is very limited and will be strictly reserved for the TMBT official cars. All competitors, supporters and spectators that drive to the venue can park at the public parking alongside the road between the two round-abouts in Kundasang, see below. A free shuttle service with minivan will be provided from there to Perkasa. The shuttle will run from Saturday afternoon till Sunday afternoon.

For competitors driving to the start of the 37k or the 7.5k, please allow additonal time to get to the start with the shuttle. It should generally not take long, but there may be some risk of queuing in the time leading up to the start of the two races. PLEASE DO NOT DRIVE UP TO PERKASA - IT WILL JUST CREATE A TRAFFIC JAM AND DELAYS AS THERE IS LIMITED SPACE TO TURN AROUND. For those taking the official transport, you will be dropped off at the start/finish area.

TMBT 2026 set for 29th and 30th August 2026.

Some updates may be introduced for the 2026 event. The web-site will be gradually updated and any changes announced.

The Race

The TMBT is Malaysia's oldest Ultra-Trail® Marathon with the inaugural race held in 2011. The acronym stands for "The Most Beautiful Thing", and makes reference to the iconic Mount Kinabalu, which at 4,100 m is one of Southeast Asia's highest peaks and a world heritage site. The TMBT course is set over the ridges and in the river valleys around the base of Mt. Kinabalu, with the highest elevation on the race course just under 2000m.

The event takes runners from the quaint native villages at the foothills on the western side of Mount Kinabalu towards the southern side of the mountain with the 30k and 50k categories finishing at the viewpoint to Mt. Kinabalu at the township of Pekan Nabalu. The 109k category continues around the base of Mount Kinabalu and to the South-Eastern ridges of the mountain to finish in the village of Kundasang.

The routes are challenging but beautiful and give runners an opportunity to experience remote villages and follow village trails through a varied landscape of forest and cultivated areas. Trails pass paddy fields and climb steep ridges clad in pineapples with amazing views to Mt. Kinabalu and over the surrounding ridges and valleys which are often shrouded in clouds. The routes cross numerous streams with refreshing water on a hot day, while most larger rivers are crossed via hanging, bamboo or log bridges. Part of the trails follow the old heritage trails that used to be a part of the old buffalo trading routes linking villagers from Kota Belud to Bundu Tuhan.

The race has a reputation for being challenging to complete with a combination of steep terrain and technical trail sections, and the weather, usually hot in the first part of the day and with a good chance of tropical showers in the afternoon, often add to the challenge.

Race Categories

DISTANCE CATEGORIES

The 14^th version of the TMBT Ultra-Trail® Marathon will tentatively have the following distance categories:

The 109, 50, 30 and 12 km categories start on Saturday morning at Kg. Lingkubang, Kota Belud. The 37 km night challenge starts Saturday night at midnight at "Perkasa" hotel at Kundasang (the halfway and finish station for the 109 km). The 7.5 km loop starts Sunday morning from the finish area for the 109 km at "Perkasa". The 7.5 and 12 km categories are designed to allow newcomers to experience the thrills of trail running with the 7.5 km category characterized as a "fun" or "family" run which is not meant to be competitive. All finishers of the 7.5 km run will receive a finisher medal, but there will not be trophies or podium recognition for the individual categories except for the youth category. The 30 km, 37 km night challenge and 50 km categories are designed for intermediate trail runners while the full 109 km category is catering for experienced trail runners.

The 7.5 km course may be entered as a stand-alone race or as an "add-on" race to one of the other race categories at a discounted rate (please refer to registrations). The 7.5 km race is intended to give people a chance to experience a small section of the second half of the 100 km course. Although short, it has significant elevation loss and gain, and should not be underestimated. There are no age restrictions for children accompanied by a parent or guardian, and we will have a special category for accompanied youth (12 years or younger) for this distance category. Maps and race course stats are shown under "Route Profile".

The 12 km, 30 km, 50 km and 109 km race courses start at the same location, Kg. Lingkubang in Kota Belud District along the Kadamaian river. The different categories will be staggered in time to reduce congestion - please refer to Itinerary.

The 2025 routes are tentatively very similar to the 2023 routes. We are working on providing a better alternative to the 3 km road section between W4 and W5 of the "100 km" route to avoid the 3km highway section, but this is challenging due to steep terrain and land issues. Amendments to the 12, 30, 50 and 100k routes to avoid congestion at hanging bridges between W1 and W2 introduced in 2023 worked well and will be repeated. Amendment to the 37k night challenge and 100 km routes before W10 to avoid a slippery forest section will likely also be maintained depending on the trail conditions closer to the race. Any last-minute course amendments for safety reasons will be conveyed before the start of the race. 

AGE CATEGORIES

For each of the Male and Female genders, there will be 2 age categories in the 12, 30, 37, 50 and 109 km with an additional youth category in the 7.5 km category:

To avoid confusion, we would like to emphasize that the category is automatically assigned at registration based on age - please make sure that your date of birth is properly registered in your Racematix profile. For Veteran and Youth Categories - you take part in BOTH your specific category (Veteran or Youth) AND the Overall Category. So if for instance the winner of the Women Veteran category came in second overall, she will be a double podium finisher as the Women Veteran Champion and Women Overall 2nd place. 

Qualifiers and Championship Points

The TMBT is a qualifying and point earning event to several races and championships.

Borneo ULtra Trails is a member of the International Trail Running Association (ITRA), and the TMBT courses of 30km and longer are rated under ITRA. This makes the TMBT a qualifying race for all races referring to the ITRA points for qualification such as for instance Ultra-Trail Mt. Fuji. In addition to this, the TMBT is a qualifying event to take part in large international races and also a point earning race in international and national championships as outlined below.   

ITRA Course Ratings

As an ITRA rated course, the TMBT takes part in the ITRA National League and is a qualifying event to races that require ITRA points for entry. The 2024 ITRA ratings for the 109k, 50k, 37k Night Challenge & 30k categories are outlined in table below. Final rating of courses may change the details slightly but is expected to maintain the points ranking.

Qualifying Races & Championships

	Asia Trail Master Championship The TMBT 2026 is part of the Asia Trail Master Championship Circuit to qualify for the Championship Race. see http://www.asiatrailmaster.com/ for further information
	ITRA National League Championship The TMBT is part of the ITRA National League Championship for all the ITRA rated categories.
	Ultra-Trail Mont Blanc (UTMB) The TMBT is a UTMB World Series Qualifier. The 109 km event is part of the 100 km series, while the 50 km, 30 km and 37 km night challenge are part of the 50 km qualifier series.
	Western States 100-mile Endurance Run The TMBT is a qualifying event for the Western States 100-mile Endurance Run, considered to be the world's first 100-mile trail run. Starting in Squaw Valley, California and ending 100.2 miles later in Auburn, California, Western States, in the decades since its inception in 1974, has come to represent one of the ultimate endurance tests in the world.

Entry Fees & Entitlements

For entry fees and entitlements, please refer to the Registration page.

Transport, Parking & Accommodation

Please refer to separate sub-menu for transport options.

There is no accommodation provided at the finish line, and for competitors who expect to finish during the night we recommend to book accommodation in advance. There is a range of accommodation options available both at and within a 5 km distance from the finish line.

The most convenient accommodation is the Kinabalu Heritage Resort and Spa (formerly Perkasa Hotel) located at the finish line.

There is no parking available at the Perkasa Hotel. For participants and supporters who drive to the venue, there is parking at the large parking area in Kundasang below, and a free shuttle bus will be provided between the public parking at the race start/finish venue at Perkasa. Please allow sufficient time for the shuttle service as no parking at the hotel will be possible.

Itinerary

For details on schedules, please refer to separate Itinerary page under "Race Info"