Sandakan – a charming, quiet city on Sabah’s east coat

Sandakan is on the north-east coast of Sabah and is a good gateway for exploring Sabah's nature hot spots, like the Kinabatangan River and Sepilok. There isn't much to do in the city itself, but the charm of the old town, the lack of western development and the friendly people make it an enjoyable visit …

2 days, 1 night at the Kinabatangan River

The Kinabatangan River is the second largest river in Malaysia, stretching 560km through the southwest of Sabah. Borneo's endemic proboscis monkeys, crocodiles, hornbills, pgymy elephants, amongst other birds and mammals, can all be spotted along the riverbanks from the water. It's really worth a visit if you're in Sabah. Seeing these animals in the true …

Sepilok – orangutans, sun bears & rainforest

Sepilok is a small place that's been made popular by the Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre, Sun Bear Conservation Centre and the Rainforest Discovery Centre. Three unmissable attractions in a relaxing environment make a perfect couple of days. A lot of people will only visit Sepilok as a day trip from Sandakan, but they'll have to rush/miss …

Kinabalu National Park – nature, orchids & trekking

Kinabalu National Park is a perfect place to immerse yourself in nature, switch off and relax for a few days. The area was one of the first national parks in Malaysia, and is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. With over 4500 species of plants, 100 mammal and 326 bird species and multiple walking trails, …

Kota Kinabalu – markets, museums and a marine park

Kota Kinabalu (KK) is the capital of Sabah, the northern Malaysian state in Borneo. The city is on the coast of the south China sea and surrounded by rainforest, making the air nice to breathe (what a difference after Kuala Lumpur!). The city has developed a lot in recent years - a few shopping malls …