Sabah And Sarawak The states of Sabah and Sarawak are located on the island of Borneo in east Malaysia, both offering easy access to some of Borneo’s most magnificent natural wonders.

The capital of Sarawak is Kuching, the most dynamic and cultured city on the island blends culture, cuisine, modern and colonial architecture and local crafts. Hire a sampan and meander slowly down the Sarawak River where you can witness picturesque Malay villages and 19th century Chinese shophouses, set against the mountains in the backdrop.

Just out of Kuching, you can take a trip out to see hundreds of Sarawak’s well-known and charming longhouses. Explore nearby national parks where you will find the rare proboscis monkey, spectacular caves and karsts, giant rafflesia’s in bloom, wetlands, mangroves and rare palms and orchids. 

Densely packed with naturally blessed wonders, Sabah is an eco-tourist’s delight. It’s covered with lush, tropical jungle teeming with exotic flora, wildlife and the most concentrated population of orangutans found anywhere in the world. Marvel at the beauty from Sabah’s peaks, or admire the beauty of her depths in the underwater paradise of Sabah’s reefs.

A protected area, diving in the waters off of Sipadan Island offers some of the most diverse diving in the world. With abundant marine life, spot sea turtles in their natural habitat, swim amongst swirling tornado-like formations of fish, float alongside gliding manta rays and see whale sharks, hammerheads and more than 3,000 species of fish.  

Many flock to Sabah to climb Mount Kinabalu, Southeast Asia’s tallest mountain standing at 4,095 metres high. The trek will take you past fruit trees, through lush vegetation and alongside hundreds of orchids living under a constant foggy mist. Taking two days to climb, the first day will get you about halfway up while the second day, after an early start, you’ll be at the summit by sunrise for incredible views once the fog clears. Relax and heal your aching body in the sulphurous waters of the Poring Hot Springs or take the canopy walkway along a series of walkways 60 metres above the ground.  

Near Sandakan in northern Borneo, is the world’s largest orangutan sanctuary, Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre. Founded in 1964 to rehabilitate orphaned infant orangutans, you can get as close as two metres to these beautiful creatures on the viewing platform and at feeding times. Sometimes looking after other animals such as sun bears, gibbons and rhino, once they have been rehabilitated and taught self-survival skills, they are released into the surrounding reserve.

Forty kilometres from Sandakan’s coast is Turtle Islands Park, a group of three islands where Green and Hawksbill Turtles are protected with an egg collection program. Rangers collect the eggs nightly and resettle them at hatcheries. Once the eggs hatch, the turtles are released into the sea.