Most island resorts are built on the idea of getting away from it all. Gaya Island Resort, nestled within Malohom Bay in Sabah’s Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park, takes that idea seriously. The island is vehicle-free by design. Ancient rainforest covers its interior. A 100-year-old mangrove forest lines the shore. Just 10 minutes by speedboat from Kota Kinabalu, you’re inside one of Malaysia’s most important marine conservation areas. Not only is it surrounded by pristine nature, this resort is also a member of Small Luxury Hotels of the World.
If you want to do Borneo differently – and without sacrificing comfort – here’s why you should book Gaya Island Resort.
The resort sits within a protected marine park where ancient mangroves meet sheltered coral reefs
Gaya Island Resort occupies Malohom Bay on Pulau Gaya – the largest of the five islands within Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park – where a 100-year-old mangrove forest meets sheltered coral reefs and rainforest covers the island’s interior. The island is entirely vehicle-free, a deliberate choice that keeps the sounds of the rainforest and the rhythm of the sea undisturbed. From the Kinabalu Villas, the outline of Mount Kinabalu – the highest peak in Southeast Asia – is visible on clear days across the South China Sea. Two house reefs sit directly off the resort’s jetty, navigable without a guide.
The resort’s conservation team has built a firefly sanctuary, rehabilitated sea turtles and released rescued owls back into the rainforest
Led by YTL Hotels’ Director of Conservation Justin Juhun and resident Marine Biologist Scott Mayback, Gaya Island Resort’s conservation work goes well beyond passive preservation. The resort has cultivated a dedicated firefly sanctuary using researched host plants, installed artificial nesting boxes for red giant flying squirrels in the canopy, and runs a sea turtle rehabilitation and release programme – the first of its kind in Malaysia to successfully return endangered turtles to the wild. Guests can join guided nature trails through the ‘Seven Natural Wonders of Gaya’ programme to encounter proboscis monkeys along their dedicated jungle trail, kayak through the 100-year-old mangrove forest, and watch fireflies appear at dusk.
Tavajun Bay is a secret, private beach reserved exclusively for guests
Five minutes by boat around the headland, Tavajun Bay is the resort’s most treasured escape – a secluded beach reserved exclusively for guests, where the jungle meets pristine waters. Lunch here is a single dish cooked fresh over charcoal, changing daily. Tavajun Bay is also the gateway to the Gaya Island Resort Marine Centre, where coral restoration work and turtle rehabilitation take place.
The resort is built around Borneo’s culture, not just its landscape
A cultural thread runs through the whole property, with traditional Resting Chambers along the garden walkway, each named in honour of one of Sabah’s indigenous tribes. Villa interiors are finished with Sabahan craftsmanship. The weekly Singgah Singgarung Night brings Kadazan tribal music, traditional Borneo dishes and an open fire to the beach. The resort’s signature annual event is Tadau Kaamatan – the Harvest Festival – where the Bambarayon ritual and traditional dances mark the culmination of the rice-harvesting season, one of Borneo’s most significant cultural celebrations.
The spa is one of just a few worldwide built within a mangrove forest
Spa Village sits within the resort’s protected mangrove forest – one of the few spa environments in the world in this specific natural setting – with six treatment rooms and outdoor decks overlooking the ancient trees. The treatment program draws on the indigenous healing traditions of Borneo, including techniques rooted in the practices of the Bajau sea nomads: rice scrubs, traditional massage and aromatherapy treatments. There’s also daily yoga and a 40 metre lap pool that sits beside the beach.
