Attraction Places At Sabah

List Of Interesting Places In Sabah, Malaysia 

Mount Kinabalu / Gunung Kinabalu

Mount Kinabalu in malay Gunung Kinabalu is a prominent mountain on the island of Borneo in Southeast Asia. It is located in the East Malaysian state of Sabah and is protected as Kinabalu Park, a World Heritage Site. Kinabalu is the highest peak in Borneo's Crocker Range and is the highest mountain in the Malay Archipelago. Mount Kinabalu is also the 20th most prominent mountain in the world by topographic prominence. Via ferrata (or iron road in Italian), is a mountain path consisting of a series of rungs, rails and cables embracing the rock face. There are more than 300 via ferrata routes around the world and the world's highest via ferrata, can now be found on Mount Kinabalu in Malaysia, whereby the highest point starts at 3,400 m and ends at 3,800 m. This is the first time that the sport of via ferrata climbing is being introduced in Asia. 

An activity for everyone, the via ferrata is devised to give people with little or no climbing experience access to rock faces normally reached by mountaineers and rock climbers.There are several requirements for one to take part in the via ferrata activity, including having an average fitness level, being able to hike up to 3,200m in 6 hours, being at least 10 years of age, being at least 1.3 metres tall; and, especially, having a fearlessness of heights (or willing to conquer their fear of heights). This is a challenging adventure, and those interested to experience via ferrata on Mount Kinabalu should note that the beginner's route will let the climber take their first experience along the granite walls of Mount Kinabalu (a journey of about 2–3 hours). The intermediate route will let the climber experience a 4- to 5-hour journey, which will reward the climber with a breathtaking view of the heights and sights.

Kinabalu Park

Kinabalu Park, the entrance to Mount Kinabalu, is located at 1,585 metres above sea level and is the main starting point for the summit trail that leads to the top of Mount Kinabalu. It covers an area of 754sq km and is made up of Mount Kinabalu, Mount Tambayukon and the foothills. The mountains have a fascinating geological history, taking 'just' a million years to form. The mighty Mount Kinabalu is actually a granite massif that was later thrust upwards through the crust of the surface. 

Subsequent erosion removed thousands of feet of the overlying sand and mud stone, exposing this massif. During the Ice Age, glaciers running across the summit smoothed it out, but the jagged peaks that stood out above the ice surface remained unaffected, retaining the extremely ragged surfaces. This rugged mountain remains the focal point of the National Park to this day

Kundasang

Kundasang is in Sabah in Malays Historically a small village today has grown into a small town. With an elevation of about 2,000 metres above sea level, it is one of the coolest places in Sabah with temperatures dropping to 13ºC at night. It is located about 6 kilometres away from Kinabalu National Park, 12 kilometres from Ranau town and is renowned for its vegetable market which is open seven days a week. It is the closest village to Mount Kinabalu and has a panoramic view of the Mountain. Besides being within close proximity to Mount Kinabalu National Park, Kundasang itself has grown into a popular leisure destination with many resorts in the vicinity. It is popular for its fresh vegetables, and plantations and farms suitable for temperate climate.ian Borneo. Located 6 km from Mount Kinabalu Park, it is also the location of the Kundasang War Memorial.

Desa Cattle / Desa Dairy Farm

Desa Dairy Farm the largest in Sabah with an area of 199 hectares, is located at the Mesilau Plateau, Kundasang about 30 minutes drive from Mt.Kinabalu National Park. It is one of the subsidiaries of Desa Group of Companies which is wholly owned by the state government of Sabah, Malaysia.

GPS of Desa Cattle, Decimal coordinates (latitude, longitude): 6.013877, 116.593519, Mt. Kinabalu is just in front of you on your way in to Desa Dairy Farm if weather condition is good. You are viewing another side of Mt. Kinabalu! The cold weather, farm fencing, and Friesian cattle make you totally away from all the pressures and stressful life from the reality world

Poring Hot Springs 

Poring Hot Springs is about 13 kilometers from Ranau or about 40 kilometers from the Kinabalu National Park Headquarters in Kundasang. The hot springs is actually part of the huge Kinabalu National Park. The Poring Hot Springs was first developed by the Japanese during World War II and has progressed gradually to become one of the top tourist destinations amongst foreigners and locals alike. The hot waters of the spring contains sulphur are piped into open-air Japanese style baths where you can rest your tired limbs after the long hours and strenuous climb up the Mount Kinabalu

Other than the natural hot spring as the main attraction at Poring Hot Springs, there are also other interesting areas in the park which is worth visiting. There is a butterfly farm, the Poring Orchid Conservation Center, the tropical garden, the Poring canopy walkway and the Rafflesia flower site.

Sabah Tea Plantation / Ladang Tea Sabah

Sabah Tea Plantation is located in village Nalapak in Ranau district, about 120 kilometers from Kota Kinabalu, Sabah. Location tea plantation is on the highway between Telupid - that is, after crossing into Ranau Poring Hot Spring. This tea plantations at an altitude of 2,272 feet above sea level with an area of ​​6,200 acres of farm size. The tea plantations are surrounded by lush forest that has been around since 130 million years ago. The tea plantation is also against the backdrop of the mountain and a single organic tea plantation in Malaysia

Pusat Santuari, Ikan Kelah Jinak "Tagal" Sabah

Fancy something more unique than your average spa? Then head on to Kampung Luanti, Ranau for a fish massaging session! In the Local Kadazan Dusun dialect, ‘tagal’ means ‘no fishing’, and the main purpose of the ‘tagal’ is to preserve the environment as well as the ecosystem to benefit the future generation. ‘Ikan Pelian’ or Malaysian Mahseer comes from the family of Cyprinidae. These fishes are specifically trained by the villagers to perform the healing massage activities

The fish massage is deemed to have a curative effect on those who suffers from psoriasis. Come to Kampung Luanti for regular fish massages and you will enjoy smoother and suppler skin - just like a baby’s bottom. It takes about 2 hours and 30 minutes by road to Ranau from Kota Kinabalu. You can get a taxi or you could rent a car and drive to Ranau

Sipadan Island / Pulau Sipadan

The late Jacques Cousteau, a world-renowned oceanographer, once described Sipadan Island as an untouched piece of art while divers around the world have voted it as one of the top five dive sites in the world. Rising 700m from the sea floor and at only 12ha., Malaysia's sole oceanic island is very small in size. A 25-minute walk is all that is needed to circle the island on foot, but the huge amount of diverse marine life it attracts from the blackness of the open sea is simply mindblowing. Surrounded by crystal clear waters, this crown jewel is a treasure trove of some of the most amazing species out there. 

Declared a bird sanctuary in 1933 by the Colonial Government of North Borneo and re-gazetted in 1963 by the Malaysian Government, the dense vegetation on Sipadan Island supports a large variety of tropical birds that include sea eagles, kingfishers, sunbirds, starlings and wood pigeons. Exotic crustaceans including the amazing coconut crab roam the beaches and scurry among the undergrowth. Encounters with turtles, resident schools of jacks, bumphead parrotfish and barracudas are almost assured when diving around the tiny coral island.

Mabul Island / Pulau Mabul

Mabul Island is a small island located at the south-eastern coast of Sabah. Ever since 1970s, the Mabul Island has been a fishing village and grew increasingly popular among divers since in the 1990s. It has become a famous diving destination due to its proximity with the renowned Sipadan Island. Mabul Island is approximately 15 kilometers from Sipadan Island and is a 20-hectare land which is made up of mostly flat grounds. The Mabul Island is surrounded by sandy beaches and on the northwest corner of the island is a two square kilometer of breath-taking reeves.

The Island of Mabul started as humble beginning with it being only a fisherman village. Now, it is a famous spot for diving enthusiasts. Mabul Island is located only about 15 minutes by speedboat from the exclusive Sipadan Island. The Mabul Island gained popularity among divers as it is one of the best muck-diving sites in the world. Underwater animals are abundant in the clear waters of Mabul Island. This offers divers an adrenalin-filled diving experience no one can forget. Though Mabul Island has gained international recognition for being the best site for muck-diving, it is the myriads of exotic and tiny creatures which bring divers back, armed with macro and waterproof cameras time and time again. Do expect to see an incredible array of the rarest ecological marine species. Among the creatures that you are bound to see are the blue-ringed octopus, the flamboyant cuttlefish, the frogfish, the moray eels, the spike-fin gobies and so many other equally amazing creatures.

Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park

The Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park is a major landmark of the city of Kota Kinabalu. It is most famous for its crystal clear water and breath-taking corals, located just a stone throw's away from the capital of Sabah. There are many activities available there which makes it such a hit among locals as well as tourists. Popular activities there include sun bathing, barbeque, snorkeling, kayaking, fishing, windsurfing and even parasailing which grant you the chance of viewing the city and the islands from the top view.

The park has an extensive diversity of creatures here which includes marine life, plant life and animal life. Reefs fringe all around the islands especially on the sheltered eastern and southern sides where the sandy beaches slope gradually into the water to the reef drop-off. There are schools and schools of fishes here and they are more colorful than the corals. The plant life here is most lush on Pulau Gaya. It reflects the connection of the island to the mainland. In an undisturbed state the lowland forest that covers Gaya would have stretched along most of the west coast, and today remains one of the few areas of largely undisturbed coastal dipterocarp forests left in Sabah. 

Kota Kinabalu City

The capital of the state of Sabah located on the island of Borneo, this Malaysian city is a growing resort destination due to its proximity to tropical islands, lush rainforests and Mount Kinabalu. Generally referred to as KK, it is located on the west coast of Sabah within the West Coast Division. KK is the largest city in the state in Sabah and is the main gateway into the island of Borneo.

Kota Kinabalu lies by the coast overlooking South China Sea on a narrow flatland and occasional hills bordered by Crocker Range which hosts Mount Kinabalu. The urban sprawl is concentrated along the coast towards the north and south of the city. Kota Kinabalu is a fast growing tourism destination. Tourism actraction at kota kinabalu such as Filipino Market/ Handicraft Market, Kota Kinabalu Waterfront, Tanjung Aru Beach, Monsopiad Cultural Village ,The Green Connection Aquarium,Chinatown and muzium sabah.

Tanjung Aru Beach / Pantai Tanjung Aru

Tanjung Aru Beach is located at the end of Jalan Tunku Abdul Rahman and is approximately 6 kilometres from Kota Kinabalu city. It is the Tanjung Aru Beach which has a special place in the heart of every local. When you visit the beach, you will find out why is has gained such reputation from the locals. The Tanjung Aru Beach took its name from the casuarinas or aru tress that surrounds the sandy beach. This is the place for people to get the best seats for viewing the greatest sunset on earth every evening when the sun slowly sets into the horizon.

The Tanjung Aru Beach has transformed quite a bit from being hawker stalls to restaurants and beachside cafes. The beach is divided into three sections, beach 1, beach 2 and beach 3. There are plenty of places to eat at Tanjung Aru Beach. Foodstalls here serve food and drinks till late at night. You may opt to choose from enjoying a simple meal of coconut and sugarcane juice with chicken or beef satay or you can also opt for a full-course dinner at the seafood restaurant found here.

There are several activities which you can do here at the Tanjung Aru Beach. You can either take a jog or stroll along the long stretch of sandy beach in the morning or in the evening. There is also a park here which is called the Tanjung Aru Beach Park. It was formerly known as the Prince Philip Park. This is a great place to bring your family for quality family time. You can come here in the afternoon and spend time here till after dinner

Sabah Museum / Muzium Sabah

Just off Jalan Penampang and surrounded by lush gardens is the Sabah Museum Complex, comprising the Main Building, the Science and Technology Centre, the Heritage Village, Ethno-Botanical Garden and the Sabah Islamic Civilization Museum. Inside are various Galleries housing Natural History, Ceramics, Ethnography and Archaeology exhibits, among others. There is a Heritage Village on the Museum grounds where you can enter and experience different types of traditional houses of the various indigenous groups of Sabah. Cultural activities are held here from time to time.

Muzium Marin, sabah / Marine Museum, sabah

The state-of-the-art marine museum is yet another addition to the Universiti Malaysia Sabah campus. Established in 1995, the Borneo Marine Research Institute (BMRI) is aimed to promote education, research and training in conservation and sustainable development of marine resources, and a rational deployment of biotechnology. Situated within the Borneo Marine Research Institute (BMRI) Complex adjunction to the Sepanggar Bay area, this aquarium and marine museum boasts one of the best aquarium facilities on the Borneo Island.

Rumah Terbalik Sabah / The Upside Down House Of Borneo

Rumah Terbalik Sabah is best described as an otherworldly upside-down home. Billed as Southeast Asia’s first, the 1,500sqft compound looks like its neighbours traditional Sabahan homes, but the house, car and even a wheelbarrow leaning against the outdoor wall are all flipped over.

Designed by Alexander Yee, a look into this topsy-turvy home is like stepping into the pages of Alice in Wonderland, with sofas, ashtray, books and the TV in the living room, the beds and dressers in the bedrooms, the microwave, stove, tables and chairs in the kitchen all stuck to the ceiling.Similar to Germany’s ‘The World Stands on its Head’ upside-down home, Rumah Terbalik Di Sabah (Upside Down Home in Sabah) is a childhood fantasy come to life.

Sepilok Orang Utan 

Sepilok Orang Utan Rehabilitation Centre is located about 25 kilometers west of Sandakan in the state of Sabah, East Malaysia. The centre opened in 1964 as the first official orang utan rehabilitation project for rescued orphaned baby orangutans from logging sites, plantations, illegal hunting or kept as pets. The orphaned orangutans are trained to survive again in the wild and are released as soon as they are ready. The sanctuary is located within the Kabili-Sepilok Forest Reserve which covers an area of 4,294 ha (10,610 acres), much of which is virgin rainforest.Today around 60 to 80 orangutans are living free in the reserve. It has become one of Sabah's tourist attraction. 

Monkey Tops Safari

The Monkey Tops Safari is accessible by highway and takes about 1 hour and 30 minutes to get to. Besides the abundance of mangrove tress found in the Klias Wetland Peninsula, this wetland forest is enriched with vegetation and wildlife such as the Proboscis Monkeys, Long Tail Macaques, crocodiles, fireflies and many species of birds.

Its main building is made of local materials and can accommodate at least 200 visitors at any one time. The complex houses a counter bar and a souvenir shop with a good assortment of local handicrafts. It also has a 30-foot observation tower that enables you to enjoy the sights of the tropical wetland and its rich wildlife across the river banks. The complex has a 500- feet boardwalk with Nipah Atap roofing and a river jetty providing a comfortable river cruise.

Danum Valley 

The Danum Valley Conservation Area, 83km south-west of Lahad Datu, is blessed with a startling diversity of tropical flora and fauna. This vast Eden-like basin is home to the rare Sumatran Rhinoceros, orang utans, gibbons, mousedeer and the beautiful clouded leopard. Some 270 species of birds have been recorded in the area. The Danum Field Research Centre is located within the confines of the 440sq km forest reserve. 

It also boasts one of the first eco-resorts in Sabah, known as the Borneo Rainforest Lodge. This comfortable resort has a restaurant, bar and comfortable chalets overlooking the Danum River. Jungle treks, river swimming, bird watching, night jungle tours and excursions to nearby logging sites and timber mills are some of the activities offered here. 

• The above list is just a small part of a must-visit if you are visiting the state of Sabah, so for those of you who have info / additional information on other interesting areas that are not listed in the Sabah state may share in the comment section as a reference and information together.
• Most of the info and pictures are taken from google, website Sabah state tourism & tourism website Malaysia & if there is any mistake or error information e-Tourism bloggers Malaysia irresponsible.