The fantastic journey will first begin with the first whistle stop, as the train veers to hug the coastline of Kinarut. A colourful Buddhist temple appears near the foothills along the tracks. The train then passes through mangrove swamps and rice fields where water buffaloes meander in the fields along the tracks, and rustic village houses provide an insight into the way of life of Sabah's interior. The train crosses a steel trestle bridge over the Papar River into Papar and allows a 30-minute stop for passengers to experience the ‘rice bowl' township before heading back to Tanjung Aru.