Destinations

Why is Danum Valley Field Centre So Expensive to Visit?

Danum Valley Field Centre (DVFC) is a gateway to one of the most untouched rainforests in the world, offering an incredible opportunity to immerse yourself in its extraordinary biodiversity. However, some visitors find themselves questioning the seemingly high costs of visiting this remote destination.  Why does it cost so much? What makes DVFC so special?  The answer lies in the delicate balance of maintaining a world-class research facility, supporting critical conservation efforts, and preserving the pristine beauty of Danum Valley. Read on as we explore the factors behind the price tag and why it’s worth every penny for nature lovers and eco-tourists.

Explore the Best Sabah and Sarawak Destinations in 2025: A Guide to Borneo’s Top Adventures and Attractions

Borneo’s Malaysian states, Sabah and Sarawak, are unparalleled travel destinations offering a blend of natural wonders, cultural richness, and modern amenities. Did you know that Sabah and Sarawak collectively host two UNESCO World Heritage Sites and some of the most biodiverse ecosystems on Earth?  For those planning a trip in 2025, here’s a guide to the top places you must visit in these two extraordinary states.

Getting As Close As Possible To Sabah's Sunset!

It only took me a couple of minutes after landing in Kota Kinabalu for the first person I met to tell me about the beautiful sunsets in Sabah. "You landed just too late, you missed the spectacular sunset tonight!" said my Grab driver, "You should definitely go check it out tomorrow, most of the time it's incredible!" Upon arrival at my hotel, I took a couple of those activities leaflets and fell upon a two-hour last sunset cruise, North Borneo Cruises. This was it! What better way is there to admire a sunset than up-close on water?

Cycling Through Sabah's Unique Landscapes

When visiting a new destination, I would always choose to rent a bike as it's a great way to move around and absorb a new culture and its environment. When I heard of a 3-hour cycling tour through abundant nature trails and authentic experiences which included meeting with the locals of Sabah, I immediately jumped at the opportunity to join in!

5 Reasons Orou Sapulot is the Adventure you have been searching for!

Located close to the world-renowned conservation area of Maliau Basin, a trip to Sapulot will bring you even closer to the Sabah-Kalimantan (Malaysia-Indonesia) border, in an area that appears time forgotten. The region remains the final frontier for the native Murut tribes with their traditional way of life and communal living, transporting you back in time to when things were simpler, and communities were more in tune with Mother Nature and her elements. There are many reasons why this tour is a must-do for adventure seekers, so I wanted to share the top 5 reasons I would recommend this tour.

Kaamatan: Tale of Harvest

It’s that time of year once more. Young girls are shuffling here and there with their hair tied up in a fancy bun; loud gongs can be heard from a far and everyone is rocking the Sumazau. For native Sabahans, this is a normal occurrence for the month of May. But if you’re not from around here, it marks the start of joyous festival that goes on for a month.

Seatango Fun Boat Snorkeling

Just like North Borneo Cruise, Seatango departs from Sutera Harbour Marina Jetty. Right after the guests and Dane arrived; our tour began in full speed. Like always, a safety briefing is compulsory and everyone is required to use a life jacket beforehand. This tour consists of two snorkelling sessions; each session is 45 minutes and one stopover at Tunku Abdul Rahman Park island.

An Authentic Adventure in Borneo

Most of us crave an adventure. A real, exciting, unscripted, truly memorable adventure. No doubt you’ve seen one of those movies where the lead character travels to some isolated, incredibly scenic place and has a wild, fun, life changing experience which makes you enviously crave your own. However it’s getting harder and harder these days to find that ‘authentic’ experience or adventure that so many of us desire.

5 hotspots for nature-lovers : Sabah & Sarawak

From World's largest cave system, endangered baby-faced dwarf elephants, to the world’s tallest tropical tree recently found in Maliau Basin-- Borneo tempts you with a beckoning blend of equal parts strange and splendid. It's alot to digest, especially if you're trying to whip up an itinerary that'll give you the best bang for your buck. So fret not, we did much of the homework for you by narrowing it down to these 5 hotspots :

Are you living the #NoFilter life? Sabah is calling and you must go.

It's called Wanderlust. and it's contagious. usually incurable. Our guests travel thousands of miles for something Special, Raw, & Unfiltered. Because truth be told, Borneo is a pretty epic venue for that, and it delivers with a photogenic tapestry of spiritual cloud-high mountains, expansive river vistas and ancient rainforests not only beckoning your gaze but also teaching you to live the #NoFilter life. Don't believe us? we've got evidence from our gutsy guests grammin all across Borneo.

Top UNESCO World Heritage Sites of SE Asia Part 4

Now for something truly wild, in this part 4 of our UNESCO SEAsia blog we visit the home of the fearsome Komodo Dragon, Komodo Island, Indonesia. Also we will be taking a look at the only UNESCO site in SEAsia that is classified as critically at risk: the incredibly biologically and geologically diverse Tropical Rainforest Heritage of Sumatra.

Top UNESCO World Heritage Sites of SE Asia Part 3

In this part 3 of our special on Southeast Asia's top UNESCO sites we travel to Vietnam. The surreal semi submerged pinnacles of Ha Long Bay look like they should be on the cover of some science fiction or fantasy novel and the myths and legends behind them are equally at home in such a publication. Likewise the ancient temples that make up My Son Sanctuary have a mystic, pre-historical feeling that is remeniscent of an Indiana Jones or Tomb Raider movie. It is for these contributions to Southeast asia's rich cultural and geological histories that UNESCO has declared them world heritage sites.

The Day-trippers' Guide To Sabah

Snuggled between sun-dappled coastlines and a forested mountain range, there's plenty of reasons to stick around Sabah's state capital Kota Kinabalu. From fantastic waterfront seafood feasts to tropical island-hopping to a steam train ride back into the bygone era, whether you prefer to be spontaneous, follow your noses or intuitions, here's an extra nudge to get you started on your day-tripping agenda : 

5 Reasons Why Borneo is the Best of Both Worlds

Welcome to the wonderland of sorts. From granite mountains to steamy jungles, to the flipside of world-class dive spots, Sabah and Sarawak is a paradise favored by nature, where the world's oldest 130 million year old rainforest meets the epicentre of marine bio-diversity.

Top 3 Must Visit Caves in Borneo

Man has walked on the moon, yet we know less about the depths of our own ocean… the same could be said for our subterranean cave systems buried deep below the earth’s surface. One of the largest cave systems in the world is here in Malaysian Borneo, hidden in the vast interior of the Bornean jungle...

Life Lessons from Scuba Diving

Scuba diving is an eye-opening sport that reveals so much about the underwater world as a whole new frontier. At the same time, it also offers allegorical lessons that can be applied to our everyday life. Here are the list of things that you may learn and observe from a trip underwater.

Things to Bring When Climbing Mount Kinabalu

The say the clothes make the man, and when it comes to doing sporty activities such as mountain climbing, this saying rings truer than ever. If an activity involves five to six hours of trekking, comfort should be your utmost priority. Check out this list of clothing and equipments you should have on your expedition to conquer Mount Kinabalu

Top Things to do in Sabah (Part 2)

Welcome to Sabah! Here is where you’ll find an awe-inspiring treasure trove of gorgeous islands, lush tropical rainforests, exuberant cultures and exotic wildlife. In this second part of our two-part blog, we will give you more ideas on what to do to maximize your Sabah adventure! Read on:

Top Things to do in Sabah (Part 1)

Welcome to Sabah! Here is where you’ll find an awe-inspiring treasure trove of gorgeous islands, lush tropical rainforests, exuberant cultures and exotic wildlife. If it’s your first time here and you don’t know what to expect, here are some great ideas on what to do in Sabah

Top High-Altitude Adventures: Best of Borneo’s landscapes.

2016 is the year to revive your sense of adventure, a little differently. Borneo is synonymous with ‘Adventure’, and when paired with the very best of highland scenery…. The journey is not across, but rather, UP! From the symbol and pride of Sabah towering above all at 4,095m to eye-soothing views from the peak of a mountainous island formed by the remnants of an ancient volcano —Adventure-seekers, you best gear up for mad-beauty at great heights :

Revisiting Mount Kinabalu - Experiencing the Ranau Trail (Part 1)

It is said that you will never be quite the true Sabahan until you have climbed Mount Kinabalu, preferably more than once. Fairly enough, travelers from all over the world have flocked to Sabah for years and made month-long reservations to experience what it’s like standing on the summit of Mount Kinabalu. Therefore, when offered the opportunity to climb Mount Kinabalu (for the third time in my lifetime), I just couldn’t say no.

Valentine’s Day in Sabah! - Top 10 Romantic Island Getaway Destinations

With Valentine’s Day just around the corner, it’s time to make some getaway plans. Enter the romantic islands of Sabah! With its beautiful white sandy beaches and azure blue waters, the islands in Sabah are part of the reason why many flock to Sabah for a romantic rendezvous  -- and on Valentine’s Day, what better place are there to say ‘be mine’? If you’re single, worry not. You too deserve a treat for being the wonderful person you are!

A Bornean Pampering Treat at Ka'andaman Spa

Life as a woman in the 21st century is hard work. With goals to achieve, people to meet, places to see and fun to be had. It’s a wonder we still have time to breathe. Luckily, the 21st century also provides women with plenty of options and ways to decompress and pamper themselves. Enter Ka’andaman Spa -- an award-winning local Sabahan spa that offers an authentic Bornean wellness experience.

Best Staycation Spots in Kota Kinabalu

Kota Kinabalu city, the city capital of Sabah is a hub teeming with excitement, offering a smorgasbord of experience from cultural delights and amazing gastronomies to a wealth of natural wonders and leisure spots. Enter the staycation experience: a vacation spent in one's home country rather than abroad, or one spent at home and involving day trips to local attractions.

Top 10 Places To Watch Sunset In Sabah

In 2014, Huffington Post writer, Kathleen Peddicord wrote an article listing Sabah as one of the top 8 places in the world to witness a beautiful sunset -- we couldn’t agree more! To help you in your quest of watching one of the world’s best sunsets, here are a list of places from where you can enjoy a glorious sunset today!

Beautiful Twin Islands Hopping Tour

The best thing about staying in Kota Kinabalu is that the city is basically less than an hour away from all the major attractions, such as Tanjung Aru Beach, the Sabah State Museum, Gaya Street Sunday Market (open only on Sunday) and the beautiful islands of Tunku Abdul Rahman (TAR) Marine Park.  

Tamu Gaya: Gaya Street Sunday Market

“TAMU” GAYA – Gaya Street Morning Market. If Kota Kinabalu has intrigued you one way or another, you might want to start the friendship right by an evening stroll down Gaya Street. It’s the epicenter of post WWII nostalgia. A row of 17 shop houses made Bond Street back in the day, the oldest strip on Gaya Street.. or to better put it, living history as nothing much has changed since their opening in the late 1940s.