Lasau Podi – Most Beautiful And Deadly Place in Sabah?

Not known to many, Lasau Podi is one of the most beautiful places in Kota Belud and often called the “New Zealand of Malaysia” due to its scenic countryside backdrop. But beneath all this beauty lays a deadly secret that most people would not know. There wasn’t much information on Lasau Podi when we first visited the area, so we decided to share this bit of information with you.

What is this deadly secret? 

You may have guessed it on the way here by its name “Lapang Sasar” which means shooting range in English. Huge signboards indicating danger zone can be seen along the Jalan Lasau Podi (road) when you drive here. The entire area is used by the military to conduct airstrikes and ground attack practices, so you do not want to be caught wandering around these fields when they commence their training. 

Map of Lapang Sasar Lasau Podi – Kota Belud, Sabah

You will notice very little trees in the area, which probably indicates how much damage was done during these military sessions. Whenever you see a red flag flown, do not enter the area and if you are wandering in the fields get out immediately as the military sessions are taking progress. So do keep an eye out for any “red flags” if you do plan to visit this area. 😂

Look out for red flags in Lasau Podi – Kota Belud, Sabah

Beautiful view – Lasau Podi, Kota Belud, Sabah

 

How to visit Lasau Podi?

As Lasau Podi is located at the outskirts of Kota Kinabalu (KK) city, you have very limited choices when it comes to transportation. The only way to get here is by renting a car or taking a taxi/e-Hailing to Kota Belud. From Kota Belud town, you will have to travel another 30km to get to this area. We do not recommend trying to use a taxi/e-Hailing to get here as very few cars pass by this area and you could end up getting stranded if that happens. 

 

How long is the drive to Lasau Podi?

If you are travelling from Kota Kinabalu it will take around 2 hours to get here (approximately 85km North-East of KK city). For those planning to drive here yourself, we suggest to use Waze/Google Maps to get here as some parts of the road have no signboards. The journey to Kota Belud are made up of long stretches of paved roads which makes driving here quite pleasant. 

Start your journey early to avoid the rush hour – Kota Belud, Sabah

Expect long stretches of roads on the way here – Kota Belud, Sabah

However as you make your way to Lasau Podi, you can expect plenty of potholes and cow dungs along the way, so do take extra precaution when driving.

Look out for potholes – Kota Belud, Sabah

 

Useful tips

• If you plan to drive here, ensure that your car tyre and brakes are working well
• Take your time when driving and don’t speed as there are plenty of potholes and cows wandering on the road
• We suggest leaving the area before it gets dark as there are no street lights here
  Make sure there is no red flag or military activity in the area before you enter Lasau Podi
• Most importantly, carry along your camera to snap photos of the breath-taking hillside views 

5 Safe Driving Tips (Image credit: Good Year)

6 Road Trip Tips (Image credit: Selective)

Unlit roads – Kota Belud, Sabah

So getting that out of the way, let’s find out what you can discover at Lasau Podi?

1. Stunning green fields and the best Mount Kinabalu view

Being one of the hidden gems of Sabah, you probably won’t see any tourists in the area. From the moment we heard about Lasau Podi, we knew we had to see this place for ourselves. We arrived Lasau Podi around 8.30am and spent a couple of hours here taking photos before heading over to Sondot View Camp to cool off. 

Scenic “New Zealand” backdrop – Lasau Podi, Kota Belud, Sabah

Candid – Lasau Podi, Kota Belud, Sabah

Hidden gem – Lasau Podi, Kota Belud, Sabah

One thing to note about the area is that it is very windy and quiet. So every once in a while you can hear the strong wind blowing which sounds almost like a car approaching. 

As you drive along Jalan Lasau Podi, you will be able to see the lush green fields on either side of the road. On a clear day, the majestic Mount Kinabalu can be seen at the far end of the horizon. 

Mount Kinabalu view never fails to disappoint! Lasau Podi, Kota Belud

 

2. Go stargazing

As Lasau Podi is located far from the city, there is less light pollution here, hence making it the best place to spot the Milky Way. Driving here (at night) itself can pose a few hazards as you navigate your way along the pitch black night to stargaze. If you do plan to stargaze, do take extra precaution and carry along extra torchlights just in case you need to use it. 

Best places in Sabah to stargaze – Lasau Podi, Kota Belud, Sabah

Since Lasau Podi is not a designated camp site and a restricted area at times, camping here is a grey area. There are of course adventure seekers who camp here, however we decided not to take the risk and end up getting caught in the military cross-fire. 

Adventure seekers camping under the stars – Sabah

Have any experience or tips on visiting Lasau Podi? Or are you planning a trip soon? Let us know and share your thoughts and questions in the comments section. We’d love to hear from you! 

If you’re doing a lot of traveling, then getting a BigPay card is your next smart decision. We have used it for almost all our purchases during our travel in Malaysia and found it helpful. You can save on the currency conversion fee when you use the apps. Just make sure to select the local currency of the country you are in to get cheaper rates. Click here to sign up. Don’t forget to use our referral code GB1RB1XMDE to receive a bonus when you activate the card.