Malaysia Project Tour

Welcome to Malaysia! Upon arrival at Kota Kinabalu International Airport you’ll be met and transported to our hotel. If you arrive early, you can join an optional city tour to explore KKs vibrant culture and key landmarks. In the evening, we’ll gather as a full group for a welcome dinner, setting the stage for the meaningful journey ahead.

Lodging: Kota Kinabalu

We’ll spend the day getting to know two of our key partners in Malaysia. First up we’ll visit the TONIBUNG CREATE center a workshop where TONIBUNG manufactures parts for micro-hydro and solar energy systems, and where Indigenous leaders come for training and knowledge exchange. This center was built in collaboration with Green Empowerment over a decade ago. We will spend some time here, getting to know the workshop and talking about how our work together has evolved. Then we will have lunch at the PACOS Trust community garden, school, and processing house. Another partner for over 20 years, PACOS is dedicated to empowering Indegenous communities throughout Sabah through a variety of programs.

We will enjoy some free time before convening for a group dinner.

Lodging: Kota Kinabalu

Today we travel to Kampung Buayan, a Kadazan-Dusun Indigenous community that partnered with TONIBUNG and Green Empowerment to build a micro-hydro energy system and has managed and maintained it for over ten years. Buayan is a key collaborator in our Smart Grid for Small Grids program, actively testing new technologies and providing feedback for ongoing development.

On the journey, we’ll meet a Buayan’s community technician and visit both the powerhouse and intake site. Upon arrival, the community will welcome us with a small cultural celebration, followed by a conversation with the village energy committee about how access to electricity has transformed daily life.

We’ll stay two nights in Buayan to experience daily rhythms and deepen our understanding of life in the village.

Lodging: Buayan Homestay

Note: Accommodations are basic. Most homestays provide floor mats in shared rooms. A limited number of elevated beds and private rooms are available—please indicate preferences when registering.

Today we’ll explore how energy access supports daily life and livelihoods in Buayan. In the morning, we’ll visit the village’s socio-economic center, then forage for local plants and fruits, and join the women’s group for a demonstration of traditional food processing techniques like tuhau (wild ginger) and banana chips.

After a shared lunch, we’ll hike a portion of the historic Salt Trail to neighboring Kampung Tiku, a remote community with its own micro-hydro system. In the evening, we’ll debrief the day and enjoy a festive dinner and karaoke night with the community.

Lodging: Buayan Homestay

We’ll say farewell to Buayan and begin our journey on to newer project sites, stopping en route to visit Kampung Terian to see their solar-hydro system.

We’ll have lunch in Kota Kinabalu then travel on to the Ranau region (approx. 3 hours) and check into the tranquil Sabah Tea Resort, nestled among rolling tea fields and forested hills. 

Enjoy the evening at leisure and group dinner.

Lodging: Sabah Tea Resort

Today we’ll visit one of the pilot projects of our ambitious Sabah RE² Roadmap, a bold initiative to scale renewable energy across rural Sabah. In Pokolon Paus, the community is working with TONIBUNG to upgrade their self-built pico-hydro system and install a new solar-powered community center. We’ll tour the energy system and hear directly from residents about their experience sustaining and improving local infrastructure. 

On our return, we’ll stop at Walou, a village with a solar PV system that powers their socio-economic center that they use as a marketplace, Internet source, and meeting hub.

Lodging: Sabah Tea Resort

We’ll begin the day with a group debrief, taking time to reflect on the communities, technologies, and connections we’ve encountered. Afterward, enjoy a relaxing day in the rainforest setting of the tea estate before heading back to Kota Kinabalu (approx. 3-hour drive).

Lodging: Kota Kinabalu

As our time in Malaysia comes to a close, we’ll provide breakfast and airport transfers based on your departure schedule. Safe travels and thank you for joining us on this journey!