MOUNT KINABALU:
The ascent to the top of one of the highest mountains in South East Asia is a magical, but not too taxing experience that can be enjoyed even by inexperienced climbers. The region also offers excellent opportunities for expeditions and technical rock climbing. The Mount Kinabalu National Park is famous for containing over 500 species of birds and over 800 species of orchids. The vast range of plant species, which include alpine meadow plants, rhododendron forests and pitcher plants make the rich flora almost unrivalled in diversity throughout the world. Poring Hot Springs, where visitors can enjoy beneficiary sulphur waters, is 43km (26 miles) northeast of the park headquarters. A canopied walkway built through the treetops, provides excellent views of the lush rainforest below. The walkway also gives visitors the chance to see Rafflesias (the world's largest flower). Overnight accommodation in the park and at the springs is available.
KOTA KINABALU:
The capital and main gateway to Sabah, Kota Kinabalu does little justice to its spectacular natural surroundings. It is a new city built upon the ruins of Jesselton, which was badly damaged during the Second World War, and designed around the gold-domed State Mosque. From Signal Hill there is a good view of the city and the surrounding mountains and sea.
EXCURSIONS:
Just south of Kota Kinabalu is the resort of Tanjung Aru, where the recently opened beach complex has been designed with both business traveller and holidaymaker in mind. As well as conference and meeting facilities, there is also a ferry-shuttle service into the town.
Tuaran is half an hour’s drive northeast of Kota Kinabalu. The road runs through lush valleys, forested hills and rubber plantations. The town has a good ‘Tamu’ (market).
SANDAKAN:
Nearly 400km (250 miles) from Kota Kinabalu, Sandakan is the old capital of Borneo. The Sandakan Orchid House displays a rare collection of wonderful orchids and is a must for green-fingered enthusiasts. Also of interest is the Crocodile Farm, located outside Sandakan along the 7th mile Labuk Road. Over 1000 crocodiles, of varying sizes inhabit the farm at any one time. 24km (15 miles) from the town is the Sepilok Orang-Utan Rehabilitation Centre, home of the ‘wild men of Borneo’, the world’s largest orang-utan population. The sanctuary is a rehabilitation centre where orang-utans reap the benefits of inhabiting virgin rainforest in a protected environment. Now one of Sabah’s top tourist attractions the centre is no flippant tourist site as it actively manages to take in injured or orphaned orang-utans and return them to the wild once they are rehabilitated. There is no guarantee of seeing an orang-utan, but they usually turn up for their twice-daily feedings.
TURTLE ISLANDS:
40km (24 miles) north of Sandakan, Pulau Selingan, Pulau Bakungan Kecil and Pulau Gulisan collectively form the Turtle Islands . Visitors get the opportunity to witness the amazing sight of Hawksbill and Green turtles coming ashore in the evening to lay their eggs. The islands can be visited all year round, but from July to October the number of turtles visiting the island increases. Accommodation is available, but highly sought after.
TENOM:
The Tenom region can be reached from Kota Kinabalu by Sabah’s only railway line. A spectacular and thrilling experience, it follows the Padas River up through narrow jungle gorges in the Crocker Range. Tenom town is renowned for its style of longhouse building, unchanged in centuries, and for the traditional songs and dances performed there.
Labuan
The island of Labuan is 10km (6 miles) off the coast of Sabah, and covers an area of 98 sq km (38 sq miles). It is a duty free port and operates as Malaysia’s offshore financial centre. Excellent duty free shopping and wide expanses of white sandy beaches throughout the island make Labuan a popular tourist destination. It is also a popular destination for divers and has four established wreck diving sites. The Cement Wreck is suitable for beginners, but the Blue Water Wreck requires more advanced diving experience. It is possible to penetrate the hull of the Australian and American wrecks, but these dive sights are only accessible to qualified wreck divers with relevant experience. Religious buildings of interest on the island are the An'nur Jamek Mosque, Kwong Fook Kung Temple and Lauan Gurdwara Sahib. The mosque, a place of worship for Labuan's Muslim community, has a progressive futuristic design. The temple, constructed in 1952 is the oldest Chinese temple on the island. The Hokkien community stages a deity procession with trance-like dances and food offerings each year in March. Lauan Gurdwara Sahib, a place of worship for Labuan's Sikh community was built in 1957. The Sikh ‘Golden Temple’ in Amritsar inspired the design. The Peace Park at Layang-Layangan, commemorating World War II, is a tranquil retreat. Japanese-inspired pavilions and ponds with stone bridges are dotted throughout beautifully landscaped gardens.
PULAU PAPAN:
An island only five minutes by boat from Labuan, Pulau Papan is a popular retreat for weekenders from Brunei. Attractive landscaping throughout the island and a colonial lighthouse enhance Pulau Papan's natural charm. Chalet accommodation is available; the only alternative for anyone wanting to stay overnight on the island is camping.
Sarawak
It has been described as Asia's Best Kept Secret. Now the secret is out. Sarawak is the place for history, mystery, romance and exotic adventures. The land of the fabled White Rajahs, the hornbill and the orang utan, Sarawak is the largest State in Malaysia and by far the most exotic.
Its rainforest, the size of Austria, houses the world's richest and most diverse ecosystem. It is also home to the world's largest flower, the Rafflesia, the size of a coffee table, squirrels and snakes that fly, deer the size of cats, plants that eat insects (and small mammals) and species of flora and insects still waiting to be discovered.
More importantly, this ancient virgin rain forest is home to 27 ethnic groups; people each with their own distinct language, culture and lifestyle. Their ancient cultures may differ but they have one thing in common, their warmth and hospitality. You can experience this by spending a night in one of their longhouses listening to legends that go back to the Stone Age. Whether it's an lban, Bidayuh, Melanau or one of the many Orang Ulu groups you stay with, the welcome will be just as warm.
In the towns you can mingle with Malays or the many different Chinese communities that have made Sarawak their home.
Arrive in Sarawak and you step into adventure. How much adventure is up to you. You can stroll for a morning in a national park near your hotel, or you can trek for days through pristine jungle, sleeping each night in a different longhouse. If walking is not your style try mountain biking the jungle trails. Want to get out of the sun? Spend days exploring the world's most extensive cave system, 310 kilometers of passages with more waiting to be found.
If history thrills you, visit caves that were inhabited 40,000 years ago, learn how Indian and Chinese merchants traded for Sarawak's exotic products centuries before the first Europeans came here. Hear stories of princes and pirates, of headhunters and explorers.
But, if that is more excitement than you need, relax on our beaches by the South China Sea, scuba dive off reefs where you will be alone with the sea, or just enjoy a round of golf on one of our excellent courses. Sarawak has something for everyone and a welcome for all.
After all, "Selamat Datang", "Selamat Datai" are some of the different ways to say welcome in the many languages of Sarawak.
