Planning to have a tour of Sabah, the heart of Malaysian Borneo? For tourists and travelers like you, there is nothing that you will not like in Sabah. It has plenty of spots and attractions for those who love nature. It boasts of an impressive tropical paradise and a mixture of nature and culture. Check these 10 most beautiful must-see places in Sabah and plan your next vacation:
1. Mari Mari Sepanggar Island
Sabah’s most chilling place is Mari Mari Sepanggar Island. Travelers enjoy the serenity on the island as it is surrounded by a turquoise sea. The sandy beach offers a place to relax under the shaded tables and chairs and under the sun. Those who love the fun water sports will never get bored here because the island is one of the places in Sabah for paragliding, kayaking, snorkeling, diving, and stand-up paddleboarding. Local foods and drinks also make the staycation more refreshing.
Address: Sepanggar Island 88000 Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia
Website: Mari Mari FB: Mari Mari
2. Mount Kinabalu
Mount Kinabalu is one of the peaks in Southeast Asia that is perfect for mountain climbing. Although it is a high mountain at a height of 4,095m or 13,435ft above sea level, it is not a difficult peak to climb. In fact, it is known as Low’s Peak, the world’s highest peak via Ferrata as certified by the Guinness World Records. It is a mountain towering above the clouds, which is why one minute the peak is there and the next minute, it is gone. Climb up first thing in the morning to enjoy the breathtaking view of the summit.
Website: Mt. Kinabalu |FB: Mt Kinabalu |Instagram: Mt Kinabalu
3. Manukan Island
Manukan Island is one of the best places in Sabah that is worth visiting. It is the second-largest island located within a park, along with other four stunning islands. Located off the coast of Kota Kinabalu, tourists and visitors can access the beautiful place by riding a boat. It is a place that boasts of a tropical paradise and some beach stretches that are ideal for swimming, snorkeling, and diving to view the coral reefs. It also features a clubhouse, several restaurants, recreation facilities, and more.
Website: Manukan Island
4. Kota Kinabalu
Kota Kinabalu is the capital of the Sabah city. It may be a tiny place in the city, it offers a pack of attractions for travelers who love culture, nature, and amazing views. Thousands of travelers love visiting the Floating Mosque and walk along the Likas Bay after. The Signal Hill Observatory Platform is also open for visitors who want to see the stunning views around and over Kota Kinabalu. The main stretch of Gaya Street becomes livelier and full of life after dark with dozens of bars and restaurants to hop in. Take a visit to Kinabalu Park to complete the tour and bring home wonderful memories of these places in Sabah.
Website: Kota Kinabalu
5. A’Famosa Theme Park
A’Famosa Theme Park is one of the best places in Sabah for water fun and adventure. It is the largest water theme park in the entire country that offers splendid attractions, calm swimming pools, thrilling slides, and a whale lot of enticing treats for everyone. Aside from the resort hotel and pool villas, it also features the Safari Wonderland Freeport and a golf course. Kids will enjoy the adventures at the Kids Zone and Kid’s Adventure Pool that feature the water springs, baby slides, and water park.
Address: A’Famosa Resort, Jalan Kemus, Simpang Ampat, 78000 Alor Gajah 78000 Malacca City, Malacca, Malaysia
Website: Famosa |FB: Famosa |Instagram: Famosa
6. Ranau Sabah
Ranau Sabah is a mountainous town with a height of 1,176m or 3,858ft above sea level. It is surrounded by tea plantations and dozens of hiking trails, making it one of the popular places in Sabah for hikers. Also, the mountain top is a perfect place to chill and unwind because of its cooler temperature, fresher air, and amazing views. Most of the local travelers and tourists stop by the cafes located around the area for a cup of hot tea. Historians also come here to visit the Last Camp Ranau memorial, which marked the final destination of the World War II Sandakan to Ranau Death March.
7. Kota Belud
Kota Belud is an inviting place among tourists and local travelers. There are several attractions worth visiting here, such as the Kawa Kawa River, Tamu Market, Ek Pelancongan, Mount Nopungguk, Bigfin Divers, Dragon Pearl Beach Resorts, Riverside Firefly Ecology Center, and Mantanani Island. The rare Proboscis monkeys are one of the great attractions and wonders of the place. To see them, tourists may need to ride a boat across the river.
FB: Kota Belud
8. Gaya Street Market
Gaya Street Market is open only on Sundays from 6:00 am until 1:00 pm. It is a street located in the central business district of Kota Kinabalu. To make way for the weekly market fair, the street is closed off to traffic. There are different varieties of products, fresh produces, dried goods, and art pieces being sold here. There is a large variety of seafood and authentic Malaya ingredients offered at some stalls. Aside from the crafts and foods, people also love the unique experience of Sabah’s culture and tradition.
Address:
127 Jalan Gaya 88000 Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia
Website: Gaya Street Market |FB: Gaya Street Market
9. Sipadan Island
Sipadan Island is popular for its wonderful diving sites. It is known as Malaysia’s best oceanic island because it is located just around 600 meters from the ocean floor. One of the features of the island is the stunning underwater scenery, which includes sightings of turtles, reef sharks, barracuda, and thousands of fish species and coral species. However, the local government requires any divers to secure a permit before entering the resort.
Address: Pulau Sipadan 88300 Sabak Bernam District, Selangor, Malaysia
Website: Sipadan Dive Resort |FB: Sipadan Island
10. Gomantong Caves
Gomantong Caves are composed of two cave complexes. They are the Simud Hitam or Black Cave and Simud Putih or White Cave. While the Simud Hitam is the most visited cave, some explorers find the Simud Putih as one that is more challenging to explore. Compared to the Black Cave, there are more nests found at the White Cave, thus the security is tighter. Security personnel guards the bird’s nests against people who illegally harvest them.
Gomantong Caves
Address: Gomantong Caves, Sabah, Malaysia
FB: Gomantong Caves
