Weekend Trip to Kota Kinabalu

Flight time from Hong Kong: 3 hours
The eastern Malaysian state of Sabah and its capital of Kota Kinabalu is an eco-wonderland home to more than 1,500 species of orchids, the fat-nosed Proboscis monkey, huge sea turtles and the “corpse flower” Rafflesia arnoldii, which is the largest flower on earth. From diving to mountain climbing, there’s everything to do on a long weekend.

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Published: 4:00pm, 17 Apr 2014Updated: 4:07pm, 19 Oct 2016

See & Do

One of the most accessible mountains in Asia, Mt. Kinabalu is a must-see. If you only have a weekend, opt for a guided Fast Track day hike with Amazing Borneo Tours (MYR550 ($1,307) per person for 2-3 people, cheaper for larger groups; www.amazing-borneo.com), which picks you up from your hotel in the morning and takes you up to 2,740 meters above sea level—hardly the summit, but over halfway up. Warning: you need to be in decent shape if you want to get any enjoyment out of this hike—it’s like doing a slippery stair climb machine for seven hours. But, there’s plenty of payoff: waterfalls, ferns, pitcher plants, bamboo and misty mountain views.

There is also some excellent snorkeling and diving off the coasts of the outlying islands, which are accessible from the island retreats or via public boat at Jesselton Point Ferry Pier. The pier is a landmark in itself, with some yummy ice cream stalls and cool vintage English phone booths.

Eat

For a lively night out, head to the Filipino Night Market along the city waterfront. It’s a collection of hawker stalls with fried goodness and fresh fish cooked in front of your eyes. If you want to try an eatery with a little history, stop into Borneo 1945 Museum Kopitiam (24 Jalan Dewan, (+60) 272-845, www.borneo1945museumkopitiam.com), which commemorates the soldiers of World War II and serves up amazing iced coffee, chicken curry, pandan chicken and kaya toast. For a nightcap among friendly folks, swing by local institution Shamrock Irish Pub (Lot 6, Waterfront).

Sleep

Nestled into the Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park, the eco-friendly Gaya Island Resort is home to 120 standalone villas that are built into the jungly mountain side. A nature walk every morning will reveal all kinds of creepy crawly things, and you can also go snorkeling, take private beach outings and evening sunset cruises. Access to the island is limited to speedboat transfers, so once you get there it’s all romance and relaxation.

From MYR966 ($2,366). Malohom Bay, Pulau Gaya, Tunku Abdul Rahman Park, (+60) 18-939-1100, www.gayaislandresort.com.

Stretching across a huge sandy coastline, the Shangri-La Rasa Ria has everything you could possibly need: half-a-dozen bars, a golf course, swimming pools, hammocks, beach bungalows and an orangutan sanctuary to boot. It also counts incredible sunsets among its bragging rights, which you can enjoy over happy hour at the beach bar or from your ocean-view terrace.