We just ushered in 2016 a week ago and soon, we will be ushering in the new Lunar New Year -- year of the Red Fire Monkey. If you’re looking for ideas on how to spend your Chinese New Year holidays, read on as we serve you ideas on how to welcome the lunar new year red hot and fiery!

Kinabalu Park with Mount Kinabalu in the backdrop

1. Bask in the beauty of the Kinabalu Park

Being the first ever UNESCO Heritage Site in Malaysia, Kinabalu Park is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Sabah and Malaysia, offering a magnificent view of the majestic Aki Nabalu (local eponym for Mount Kinabalu) shrouded in thin white mist and surrounded by a wealth of greens. The air is also cool and refreshing at Kinabalu Park, perfect for a walk in the park!

Drinking in the view from atop the canopy walkway

2. Explore Poring Hot Springs

Poring Hot Spring makes a wonderful family holiday destination, thanks to its natural hot spring -- which is believed to have therapeutic properties -- and also its variety of flora and fauna, ranging from tall, big trees to a butterfly park to the canopy walkway that offers a breathtaking aerial view of the forest. Get up close and personal with nature as you explore the beauty of Poring Hot Springs!

Tourists spellbound by the ‘wild man of Borneo’

3. Spot the adorable orangutans in Sepilok

The orangutans are the icons of Sabah and each year, Sepilok draws in thousands of tourists who are eager to get a sneak peek of these adorable primates! That being said, no Sabah vacation is ever complete without a visit to the Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre. Here, you will get the opportunity to witness orangutans frolicking in their natural habitat and be entertained by their quirky antics. Read more about Sepilok here.

Bornean Pygmy Elephants splashing about by the Kinabatangan riverbank

4. Cruise along the Kinabatangan River

The longest river in Sabah, the Kinabatangan River offers one of the best backdrops to see Borneo in its truest splendour and an opportunity to see many species of wildlife in their natural habitat. Cruising along the river, you may get the chance to spot the Bornean Pygmy Elephants -- the smallest elephants in the world! -- along with many other rarely-spotted species of wildlife. Read more about the Kinabatangan River here.

Grilled seafood feast at Pasar Sim Sim, Sandakan

5. Go makan in Sandakan

Famous for its fresh and relatively cheap seafood, Sandakan is a town bursting with enticing flavours, offering delicacies from grilled seafood to the iconic seafood bak kut teh to the famous UFO tart and the yummy coto Makassar. When in Sandakan, always be sure to wear elasticated clothing!

For tours that include the places mentioned above, check out our list of Discover Sabah Packages for tours tailor-made to suit your unique wants and budget. Here’s wishing you a fun, adventurous and prosperity-filled New Year of the Red Fire Monkey!