Planning to visit the other side of Malaysia? How about stopping by at Sabah for a few days and experience the beautiful nature and its wonderful culture? What’s so interesting over the other side of the country? Sabah is overflowing with history, diverse culture, wildlife, and marine life, beaches, islands forests, and mountains. If you are a nature lover or an adventurous and outdoorsy person, you would love it there.
Some of you might doubt that there’s anything to do here in East Malaysia but after reading this, we are bound to change your mind.
For starters, everyone has heard of Mount Kinabalu for sure. If you are a bit of a challenge seeker and you love to hike, then take on the challenge and conquer the majestic Mount Kinabalu. Enjoy the breathtaking view after you have conquered the summit and peak. But even before you take on the conquest of hiking the mountain. Mount Kinabalu is the 20th tallest mountain in the world and the highest mountain in Malaysia. There are numerous Mount Kinabalu climbing packages for you to choose from many tour agencies in Sabah.
Also, the majestic beauty of the mountain is not limited to just Mount Kinabalu itself, the national park is also a treasure to discover. Did you know that the Kinabalu Park is protected under UNESCO World Heritage Site since December 2000? With its diverse variety of flora and fauna is a haven to all you nature lovers out there. You can visit its Botanical Gardens which is open daily from 9 am- 3 pm to study more of the plants there.
Tired from conquering Mount Kinabalu? Looking to ease your muscles? Visit the Poring Hot Springs where you can soak in the natural sulphuric hot springs. You can choose to go to the public baths or pay a small amount of fee for an enclosed bathtub to enjoy your privacy.
Don’t forget to make a pit stop at Kundasang to enjoy the cool breeze and nature. It is named the “New Zealand of Malaysia” and you will find out why once you step foot in there. You will see cows roaming freely in their range and enjoy the cool weather up there. Reward yourself with some fresh ice cream at the Desa Cattle Dairy Farm, or just get yourself some fresh milk!
If you’re not so much of an adventurous person who likes to hike, don’t worry, there are tons of grounded activities for you to choose from. Do you like the sun and the sea? Well, good news! Sabah has dozens of islands for you to explore. With Kundasang being the New Zealand of Malaysia, Sabah is also known as the Maldives of Asia.
Hop on a boat and go island hopping for a day or days if you really love the sea. If you like to explore the islands on your own, you can easily head over to the jetty and get yourself a boat ticket and cruise your way to your favorite islands. There are so many islands for you to choose from. If you love to dive, Sipadan Island is your calling. It has been featured numerous times in National Geographic and Discovery Channel. Discover the marine life while getting to swim with them. How about whale shark sighting and turtle nesting for a change? Lankayan is the island for you to witness baby sharks swimming right in front of you from your balcony. What about mermaids? Do you believe in them? Well, Mantanani Island is also known as the Mermaid Island because dugongs live around the sea of this island. Dugongs are also called the mermaids of the sea! Can’t wait to swim in the sea and bask in the salty air and sun? You can book your Island Hopping and Diving Tours in advance! Borneo, Known as the top diving spots in the world.
Never seen an orangutan in your life? Well, we wouldn’t blame you, because they are only found in Borneo rainforests, specifically in Malaysia and Indonesia. While you’re in Sandakan, go visit the Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Center. You’ll be able to watch these orangutans roaming free swinging from one branch to another. If you’re lucky enough, you might get to see these orangutans right in front of your very own eyes. Be warned, do not get too excited or make sudden aggressive movements when you encounter an orangutan as this might provoke them, causing them to be hostile. Not to mention, just right next to the Orangutan Center is the Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Center where you’ll see these cute little bears roaming around. Not forgetting the Proboscis monkeys as well. These monkeys are only to be found in Borneo only as well! Perfect for animal lovers! You can easily book for a Sabah Wildlife Tour and get a guided tour that can share more on this wildlife information!
Not so much of an adrenaline junkie, sea lover or nature devotee? No worries! Just enjoy the food and experience the local culture of Sabah! Sabahans are known to be the friendliest and nicest people in Malaysia. They welcome you with arms wide open, ready to show you and share with you their diverse culture and backgrounds.
Visit the Mari Mari Cultural Village and you will get glimpses of the distinct culture of Sabah’s natives and ethnic groups of Dusun, Rungus, Lundayeh, Bajau, and Murut. You will learn so much about the history, culture, and tradition of these tribes. You will leave the village feeling enlightened and cultivated about the culture. This is one of Sabah’s beauty- to have so many tribes and ethnic groups that are still existing. And to have these tribes and ethnic groups to be so willing and welcoming to share their culture with people is even more wonderful.
Not only the ethnic groups in Sabah are diverse, but the variety of food is also equally as assorted. Sabah has a lot of noodles for you to choose from. Every local town will have its own specialty noodle. And if you are lucky enough to be there during the fruits season, feast your taste buds with these local fruits. The “tarap” fruit is only available in Sabah and also called as the Sabah fruit in Chinese. Feeling adventurous? Try “butod”, the juicy sago worm if you are daring enough. You will have to eat it the butod raw, while it is still alive and crawling. Take up the challenge and win boasting rights to your friends!
With all these mentioned above, have we changed your mind and convinced you in visiting Sabah on your next trip? What are you waiting for? Book your flights and hotels now. Plan your trip ahead and book your Sabah tours or Borneo tours as well because you don’t want to miss out on these fun-filled adventures! If you need affordable accommodation in Sabah, check out Beelik’s website for amazing deals!