SABAH

Executive summary by darmansjah

SABAH is a country at the forefront of eco-tourism. There is hardly a better place to go if you want to get in touch with Mother Nature. The capital of Sabah, Kota Kinabalu is a charming little city with plenty of places to spend a day getting lost in but it is outside the city where the fun realy begins.

MOUNT KINABALU continues the eco-tourism theme and is known to be one of the most accessible mountains in the world as well as a great introduction to trekking for first-timers. The mountain’s biodiversity is extraordinary; the most famous tenants are the giant flower Rafflesia and the orang-utan.

Both AirAsia and SilkAir (silkair.com) fly direct from Singapore Changi Airport to Kota Kinabalu Airport in Sabah. AirAsia flies to Sabah from Kuala Lumpur’s Low Cost Carrier Terminal (LCCT). Malaysian Airlines also flies to Sabah from Kuala Lumpur.

Hotel Eden54 on Gaya Street is a budget-friendly option that punches well above its price range. It is situated close to many attractions, and a short walk to Jesselton Point Jetty, the Sabah tourism office, and several shopping malls (from US$40; eden54.com).