Sabah occupies the northern tip of Borneo, where primeval rainforest spills down to the Coral Triangle, one of the most biodiverse places on earth, above and below the waterline. This is the kind of destination that doesn’t need a filter. Orangutans move through the canopy overhead. The jungle closes in, the food is extraordinary, and the people who live here have been doing this for thousands of years. We’ve done the work so your clients don’t have to think. This edition covers when to go and why it matters, the stays that genuinely earn their setting, the experiences worth building a trip around, the local food that will stay with them long after they’re home, and multi-day itineraries that pull it all together, seamlessly. Sabah at its most extraordinary. And completely unfiltered.
Sabah occupies the northern tip of Borneo, where primeval rainforest spills down to the Coral Triangle, one of the most biodiverse places on earth, above and below the waterline. This is the kind of destination that doesn’t need a filter. Orangutans move through the canopy overhead. The jungle closes in, the food is extraordinary, and the people who live here have been doing this for thousands of years. We’ve done the work so your clients don’t have to think. This edition covers when to go and why it matters, the stays that genuinely earn their setting, the experiences worth building a trip around, the local food that will stay with them long after they’re home, and multi-day itineraries that pull it all together, seamlessly. Sabah at its most extraordinary. And completely unfiltered.
The best time to visit Sabah is during the dry season from March to October, when calmer seas, clearer skies, and lower humidity create ideal conditions for wildlife encounters and island exploration. April to August is the sweet spot. Drift the Kinabatangan at dawn, island-hop through Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park in water that is almost unreasonably clear, and spend unhurried mornings at Sepilok watching orangutans and sun bears on their own terms. September to October brings quieter trails and rivers, excellent for wildlife without the crowds. The wetter months from November to February have their own pull: intensely green jungle, dramatic skies, and a slower, more intimate rhythm that suits longhouse visits, traditional festivals, and travellers who want Sabah at its most raw and most real.
Let us take you deep into the heart of Sabah. Our Travel Specialists have curated a collection of Experience Stays that bring its wild beauty and cultural richness to life.
Gaya Island Resort
Gaya Island Resort sits within the Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park, just a ten-minute speedboat ride from Kota Kinabalu, close enough to the city, yet completely removed from it. Nestled into the hillside of ancient Pulau Gaya, its 121 villas are woven into primary rainforest, each with private balconies looking out over the South China Sea or deep into the canopy below. Guests can snorkel straight off the beach into coral gardens, explore jungle trails with a resident naturalist, or spend time with the resort’s marine biologist learning about reef restoration and turtle conservation. The Spa Village, tucked into the mangroves, offers treatments rooted in the healing traditions of Sabah’s indigenous peoples. Come evening, the restaurant serves fresh local seafood with Mount Kinabalu visible on the horizon. A short ride from Kota Kinabalu, yet worlds apart from everywhere else, Gaya Island Resort offers Borneo at its most refined, where rainforest, reef, and genuine warmth come together in one remarkable place.
The LUMA Hotel – A Member of Design Hotels
Set in the heart of Kota Kinabalu, The LUMA Hotel is where Borneo’s creative energy and cultural identity are given a permanent address. Kota Kinabalu’s first design hotel, LUMA takes its name from the Bajau word for home, and that sense of belonging runs through every corner. A spiral staircase carved from local Sabahan timber rises through the lobby, floors polished by a local artist pay tribute to Mount Kinabalu, and works by Sabahan creatives line the walls alongside coffee pulled from KK’s own Crack Inc. roastery. Guest rooms follow clean Japanese-inspired lines, light oakwood floors, bespoke timber wardrobes, and pivoting panels in the green-tiled bathrooms that open to the city skyline and, on higher floors, a stretch of the South China Sea. Downstairs, the Fish Market Restaurant brings the ocean to the table through a sauna-style steam hotpot concept that is entirely its own. From here, Kota Kinabalu’s night markets, waterfront, and cultural landmarks are all within easy reach, with the wider adventures of Borneo just beyond the city limits. The LUMA is the ideal base for travellers who want to arrive somewhere that already feels like Sabah.
Bunga Raya Island Resort & Spa
Named after the hibiscus, Malaysia’s national flower, Bunga Raya Island Resort & Spa sits tucked into a secluded bay on Gaya Island, within the Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park, around a 30-minute speedboat ride from Kota Kinabalu. Framed by white sand on one side and centuries-old jungle rising steeply on the other, its timber villas are terraced into the hillside in the tradition of Bornean architecture, each with a private balcony looking out over the South China Sea or surrounding rainforest. Guests can snorkel and dive the nearby coral reefs, kayak the calm waters of the bay, or follow jungle trails into the heart of the island’s rainforest with guided nature walks. The hilltop spa is set within lush surroundings and offers treatments blending Asian healing traditions with natural botanicals. Come evening, the resort’s underground Wine Cave, home to an extensive collection, offers an intimate end to the day. Secluded enough to feel like a private escape, yet within easy reach of the city, Bunga Raya delivers the essence of Borneo in one beautifully considered setting, jungle, reef, and genuine warmth in one place.
You can book all of these Experience Stays as a standalone option or integrate them into your clients’ itineraries.
Borneo’s wild north has its own rhythm of ancient jungle, thriving reef, and a cultural depth shaped by generations of people who have never stopped calling this place sacred. Here are some of the unique experiences that capture exactly why Sabah stays with you long after you’ve left.
Cruise along the Kinabatangan River
Drift along one of Borneo’s most legendary waterways as the jungle comes alive around you. The Kinabatangan River winds 560 kilometres through the heart of Sabah, and its lower reaches are home to one of the most concentrated wildlife corridors in Southeast Asia, proboscis monkeys, orangutans, and Borneo pygmy elephants gathering at the water’s edge as the light fades. Board a small river boat at dusk and cruise slowly into the canopy’s reflection, with crocodiles resting along the banks and all eight species of Bornean hornbill crossing overhead. Expert local guides ensure nothing goes unnoticed. One of Sabah’s most extraordinary natural experiences, intimate, unhurried, and completely unforgettable.
Go on an Island Hopping from Kota Kinabalu to Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park
Just a short boat ride from Kota Kinabalu lies one of Malaysia’s most accessible marine sanctuaries. The islands of Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park sit just 15 minutes from Jesselton Point jetty, white sand, coral gardens, and clear shallow water that feels a world away from the city you left behind. Hop between two islands, snorkel straight off the beach into reef teeming with tropical fish, follow a jungle trail through the interior, or simply settle into the sand with the sea view. A BBQ lunch on the island rounds out the day before a late afternoon return to the mainland. A perfect introduction to Sabah’s marine world, and one of the easiest times you’ll spend in Borneo.
Immerse in the Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation & Sun bear Conservation Centers
From Sandakan, a short drive through the Sabahan countryside leads to two of Borneo’s most important wildlife sanctuaries, and two of its most moving experiences. At the Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre, orphaned and injured orangutans are nursed back to health in the heart of primary lowland rainforest. Watch feeding time from a raised forest platform as these remarkable animals make their way through the canopy. Just next door, the Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre is dedicated to the world’s smallest bear, the Malayan sun bear, found only in Southeast Asia. Rescued from captivity and carefully rehabilitated, the bears here are a quiet reminder of what is at stake in Borneo’s forests, and what is being done to protect it. Together, these two centres offer something rare, wildlife encountered not as spectacle, but as something worth caring about.
You can seamlessly integrate all of these Unique Experiences into your clients’ itineraries.
Sabah’s food scene is as rich and surprising as the destination itself. Shaped by decades of cultural exchange between Malay, Chinese, and the indigenous peoples of Borneo, the flavours here are entirely their own, passed down through generations.
Welcome Seafood Restaurant
Welcome Seafood Restaurant in Kota Kinabalu has earned its reputation as one of the city’s most beloved dining institutions. Set in Asia City just a short walk from the waterfront, it offers something no tourist menu can replicate, live tanks brimming with seafood pulled straight from Sabah’s waters, and a kitchen that knows exactly what to do with it. Guests select their catch directly from the tanks, tiger prawns, mantis prawns, geoduck clams, lobster, and crab, before choosing how it’s prepared. Creamy butter prawns and stir-fried geoduck with ginger are firm local favourites, served alongside uniquely Sabahan vegetables that round out the meal. Lively, generous, and genuinely great value, Welcome Seafood is a no-fuss, full-flavoured introduction to Sabah on a plate. Open daily from 12:30 PM to 9:30 PM.
Biru Biru Cafe & Bar
Tucked in the heart of Kota Kinabalu, Biru Biru Cafe & Bar is one of the city’s most beloved spots, a turquoise-walled hangout where the line between cafe and bar blurs effortlessly from day to night. Artisan decor, warm lighting, and a laid-back energy give it a character that is entirely its own, with a menu that weaves local Sabah influences into casual Western comfort food, think smoked duck pasta, juicy beef burgers, and cocktails made with traditional Sabahan rice wine alongside classic mojitos and Moscow mules. Come evening, the atmosphere shifts, live bands take the stage most nights of the week, cocktail happy hour runs from 12:00 PM to 9:00 PM daily, and the crowd spills from indoor tables to outdoor street seating. The kind of place regulars return to out of habit, and first-timers end up staying far longer than planned. Open Monday to Thursday from 5:00 PM to midnight, Friday to Sunday and public holidays from 12:00 PM to midnight.
October Coffee House
October Coffee House is one of Kota Kinabalu’s most celebrated independent cafes, a local institution that has consistently topped the city’s best coffee rankings since it opened in 2013, outranking international chains year after year. Known for its dedication to quality roasting and skilled baristas, it draws a loyal crowd of locals and travellers alike with its warm, relaxed atmosphere and a menu that goes well beyond the cup. Alongside expertly brewed local coffee and signature blends, the kitchen turns out crowd favourites like the October sandwich, Korean spicy beef wraps, and freshly made crepes, all at prices that make it easy to linger. Multiple outlets are dotted across the city, making it an easy stop morning, afternoon, or well into the evening. Open daily from 10:30 AM to midnight. Unpretentious, consistently excellent, and thoroughly Kota Kinabalu, October Coffee House is the kind of cafe that earns its reputation every single day.
Go beyond Kota Kinabalu with thoughtfully curated multi-day itineraries, designed by our Travel Specialists, that unlock the full breadth of Sabah, giving your clients the time, depth, and freedom to experience Borneo at its most extraordinary.
From the wildlife sanctuaries of Sandakan to the sun-drenched coastline of Kota Kinabalu, this journey captures two of Sabah’s most compelling sides. Encounter orangutans, sun bears, and river wildlife in the ancient forests of the east, then head west to island-hop through crystal-clear marine parks, explore vibrant night markets, and watch the sun sink into the South China Sea.
From the gleaming skyline of Kuala Lumpur to the cool mist of the Cameron Highlands, the heritage streets of Penang, and the wild heart of Borneo, this journey moves through some of Malaysia’s most iconic and contrasting destinations. Explore world-class food, colonial history, and tea-draped hillsides before crossing to Sabah, where the rainforests of Sandakan and the coastal energy of Kota Kinabalu bring the full depth of Malaysian Borneo to life.
Our Travel Specialists have handpicked these Travel Inspirations to help you unlock the magic of every destination, ensuring an adventure you’ll never forget.
And that’s it! Remember, you can book all of these experiences with us and integrate them into your clients’ itineraries, ensuring you offer them the best experience possible, within minutes!
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