The sea, the forest, and a luxurious hotel! A hidden gem of a Southeast Asian resort that we want to keep it a secret, Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia

What is Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia?

Kota Kinabalu is not on the Malay Peninsula where Malaysia's capital Kuala Lumpur is located, but on the northeastern part of the island of Borneo, a medium-sized city with a population of about 500,000. It is characterized by a variety of attractive geography, including beautiful beaches on isolated islands, dense tropical rainforests, and the World Heritage site of Mount Kinabalu, as well as untouched nature.

Kota Kinabalu has a strong image of "mother nature" and "jungle," but the city center is lined with high-rise buildings and has developed into an urban area.

From famous city hotels and stylish restaurants to local markets where you can enjoy the atmosphere of Southeast Asia, the city has a variety of different faces, and it is also easily accessible, with the airport being just 8km from the city center. It is a destination that offers a variety of ways to enjoy yourself.

A hidden gem in Southeast Asia! Snorkeling and swimming in crystal clear waters

The first thing we would like to recommend in Kota Kinabalu is the beautiful beach on a remote island! It is easily accessible by a 15-20 minute high-speed motorboat ride from the boat dock in the city. The convenience of being able to arrive at the beautiful beach in just 30 minutes from the hotel is what makes it so appealing.

Our destination on the boat is Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park, a national park consisting of five islands. The three most popular islands are Sapi Island, Manukan Island, and Mamutik Island, and for first-time visitors, we recommend the most popular Sapi Island and the relaxing Manukan Island. On the small island beach with crystal clear water, you can enjoy a variety of marine activities such as snorkeling, banana boat rides, and parasailing.

Sapi Island is an island with beautiful blue sky and sea. The shallow waters stretch out far away, making it perfect for children and those who are not very good at swimming. You can enjoy the sea to your heart's content even if you don't swim much, picking up seashells or putting on goggles to find fish swimming in the coral reefs.

Flowers are blooming on the sandy beach, so you can take plenty of photos that will look great on social media.

Manukan Island is a truly beautiful island with its crystal clear emerald green sea and blue sky.

The largest of the five islands, you can relax on the spacious beach. You may even encounter a monitor lizard on the sandy beach.

If you are worried about arranging your own boat ticket to the island and local activities, you can ask a tour company to take care of it for you. They will take care of everything for the day, from transportation from your hotel to the boat dock, arranging boat and island taxes, renting equipment and fitting the size, checking the food and shop situation, and watching your luggage during activities.

Some tour companies have special offers, such as campaigns or refunds in case of cancellations due to rain. Also, if you want to enjoy "island hopping" by visiting several islands in one day, a tour is the easiest option.

Malaysia is a perpetual summer country, and ideal weather for the beach all year round. Although there is a rainy season and a dry season, the temperature and climate do not change much throughout the year. The best season is the dry season from April to October. November to March is said to be the rainy season, but recently the difference between the dry and rainy seasons has become smaller, and even in the rainy season, the rain usually stops after a short time. Even if it does rain, it usually does so after 3pm, so you will often be able to enjoy activities in the morning.

Jesselton Point Ferry Terminal

Go on a guided eco-tour to an unexplored region! See rare wild proboscis monkeys

Kota Kinabalu, where untouched nature remains, is full of the charm of not only the sea but also the rivers and forests of the tropical rainforest (jungle). One thing you definitely can't miss is the sunset river cruise where you can see wild proboscis monkeys against the backdrop of a beautiful sunset. Be sure to go and see their lively ecology.

Proboscis monkeys, as their name suggests, are characterized by their large noses, resembling those of a Tengu (a long-nosed goblin). They are an endemic species that only lives in the wild on the island of Borneo. They are a rare animal that is also designated as an endangered species. The river cruise takes place on the Garama River, about a two-hour drive from the city. It is a secluded river surrounded by mangrove jungle. As it is quite far from the city, we recommend joining a tour.

The cruise departs in the evening because the heat of the day subsides and the proboscis monkeys come out in search of food. Proboscis monkeys are rare among monkeys in that they are herbivores and eat leaves, so you can see them leisurely eating on the trees along the river.

The chances of encountering them are quite high, and it is almost impossible not to see them. You can enjoy them with the naked eye, but if you have binoculars you can see their expressions clearly, so it's a good idea to bring them along.

The excitement of seeing with your very own eyes the rare animals you've only seen on the covers of picture books and study notebooks is sure to fascinate both adults and children.

Enjoying Malaysian cuisine alongside the mangrove river will also be a memorable experience.

▼Tour example

The hotel is packed with activities too! A resort stay that will keep both adults and children entertained

In addition to enjoying the great outdoors, Kota Kinabalu also offers luxurious hotel stays at reasonable prices. City hotels in the city center are convenient and comfortable, but this area is also unique in that you can enjoy a variety of activities at resort hotels with vast grounds in the suburbs. The leading luxury resort hotel with plenty of fun is the Shangri-La Rasa Ria Kota Kinabalu.

Shangri-La Rasa Ria is a luxury hotel that has won numerous international awards, including the Best Hotel View in Malaysia at the Haute Grandeur Global Hotel Awards 2023, a prestigious award in the hotel industry. Boasting magnificent views and warm hospitality, it also offers a pool, restaurants, various resort activities and a kids' club. It is a hotel that will satisfy everyone, with golf and spa facilities, and guided nature observation eco-tours on the vast grounds.

The wise choice is to use the following, if you want to enjoy the beaches and shopping on remote islands, you can stay at a city hotel in the city center, and if you want to spend your time relaxing with minimal travel, you can stay at a resort hotel. If you have an itinerary of about a week, we recommend enjoying both.

Please be careful not to confuse the Rasa Ria with the Shangri-La Tanjung Aru Resort in Kota Kinabalu.

Shangri-La Rasa Ria, Kota Kinabalu

A beautiful resort in Southeast Asia surrounded by the finest nature of sea, mountains, rivers and forests

In addition to the things we have introduced in this article, Kota Kinabalu is full of attractions such as the world's largest flower, Rafflesia, rare insects that will delight insect enthusiasts, shopping at local markets, and Malaysian cuisine. In addition to the year-round climate and the ease of travel, it is also a hidden gem of a resort with reasonable prices. Why not visit this little-known place?

Interview and photography: Yuriko Sachi
Photo courtesy of: Sabah Tourism Board
Interview cooperation: Wendy Tour

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