Must-see hotels in Sabah

  • Tanjung Bulat Jungle Camp

    Sabah

    Located on the bank of an oxbow lake, far from any village, this wonderful place is great for wildlife spotting. Digs are simple: six twin rooms with bug…

  • Scuba Junkie Mabul Beach Resort

    Sabah

    The most eco-conscious of all Pulau Mabul's lodges, this place attracts a younger international crowd. Super-fresh chalets come with porches and bathrooms…

  • Sukau Rainforest Lodge

    Sabah

    Named one of the Unique Lodges of the World by National Geographic, this is the most upscale place on the river. It has beautifully appointed split-level…

  • Borneo Rainforest Lodge

    Sabah

    Set beside the Danum River, Borneo Rainforest Lodge is for Indiana Jones types with healthy wallets – adventure combined with luxury, if you will. If you…

  • Borneo Divers Mabul Resort

    Sabah

    With flower-filled lawns, this charming accommodation has lovely chalets with wood floors and boutique accents, clustered around the pool. The restaurant…

  • Hibiscus Beach Retreat

    Sabah

    Perched on a hill overlooking a beautiful 1.5km swath of sand lapped by teal-green sea, these two bijou one-bedroom cabanas, Treetops and Clifftop, have…

  • Mataking Island Resort

    Sabah

    As the only resort on leaf-shaped Pulau Mataking, this hotel is something special. With its deluxe villas, some with private balcony, and attractive…

  • Kapalai Resort

    Sabah

    This sumptuous stilted water village sits on its own private sandbar on the Ligitan reefs and has beautiful, wood-accented rooms with finely chosen decor…

  • Hibiscus Villa Borneo

    Sabah

    With its infinity pool, dark-wood floors, moody subdued lighting and exquisitely chosen furniture, this fine three-bedroom villa on a private beach leaps…

  • Avillion Layang Layang

    Sabah

    The only accommodation on the island and it’s all about diving. The five daily meals – that’s right, five – are scheduled around the dive times. The…

  • Gaya Island Resort

    Tunku Abdul Rahman National Park

    Around 100 beautifully finished villas set in either lush jungle foliage, atmospheric mangroves, or looking out on the greens and blues of the sea. This…

  • Four Points by Sheraton Sandakan

    Sandakan

    The infinity pool on the 13th floor looks out over the waterfront, while the spacious rooms are blessed with wonderful views and feature big comfy beds,…

  • Hotel Sixty3

    Kota Kinabalu

    This award-winning hotel has an international feel in its 100 rooms, with glossy floors, evocative B&W photos of Kota Kinabalu and Sabah on the walls,…

  • Toojou

    Kota Kinabalu

    This brightly painted flashpackers raises the bar for hostel digs in KK. Rooms are clean and practical, but the cheapest lack windows. From the cool 'opis…

  • Sandakan Backpackers Hostel

    Sandakan

    Decorated with murals by the former owner and former guests, this friendly and clean hostel has rooms with sea views and a rooftop area with even more…

  • Jesselton Hotel

    Kota Kinabalu

    KK's first post-WWII hotel is plush and charming with its pink marble lobby, Persian carpets and baby grand piano. A colonial theme runs through to the…

  • Naga Puri

    Sabah

    Owner Max makes his guests feel extremely welcome at this rustic spot right by the sea. Rooms are simple and come with mosquito nets (with the exception…

  • Gayana Marine Resort

    Tunku Abdul Rahman National Park

    Fifty-two stunning villas stuffed with modern amenities and island-chic touches make up posh Gayana. The Bakau (mangrove) Villa overlooks a tangled,…

  • Sipadan-Mabul Resort

    Sabah

    Winking with fairy lights and drowning in greenery, this resort has a welcoming restaurant, glossed wood floors and a well-stocked shop. Bungalows are…

  • Myne Resort

    Sabah

    Situated on a sweeping river bend, Myne has an open, breezy reception, games room and restaurant festooned with lifeguard rings, vaguely reminiscent of a…

  • Tabin Wildlife Resort

    Sabah

    Tabin Wildlife Resort, run by Tabin Wildlife Holidays, is an attractive retreat with a clutch of upscale, pricey chalets with polished wooden floors and…

  • Lankayan Island Resort

    Sabah

    Lankayan Island Resort is a popular spot for diving romantics that's also heavily involved in turtle conservation. There are a couple of dozen cabins…

  • Walai Penyu Resort

    Sabah

    Run by Narsalis Larvatus tours, this secluded spot on Pulau Libaran consists of a handful of fan-cooled safari tents with twin beds inside, and outdoorsy…

  • Mabul Water Bungalow

    Sabah

    Idyllically lapped by turquoise water, these Balinese-style stilted bungalows with their peaked roofs, fine interiors and palm-fronted porches are…

  • GreenHouse Lodge

    Sabah

    Dedicated to sustainable living and bursting forth from a riot of greenery, a minute's walk from Pulau Mantanani's loveliest beach, this is the kind of…

  • Bunga Raya Island Resort

    Tunku Abdul Rahman National Park

    Well-spaced villas with mod cons from satellite TVs to safe-deposit boxes, iPod docks and Bose sound systems are spread around this tasty resort. The deep…

  • Seaventures Dive Resort

    Sabah

    Moored beside Pulau Mabul, this orange and polar-blue former oil rig accommodation platform is for serious divers. The dive centre is terrific, as are the…

  • Borneo Natural Sakau Bilit Resort

    Sabah

    On the western edge of Bilit, this newish jungle lodge is all soaring ceilings in the airy dining area, while the cosy air-con chalets come with four…

  • Shangri-La's Tanjung Aru Resort & Spa

    Kota Kinabalu

    Located in the Tanjung Aru area, about 3km south of the city centre, this is one of the finest hotels in Sabah. There are beautifully stylish rooms with…

  • Danum Valley Field Centre

    Sabah

    The Danum Valley Field Centre is an outpost for scientists and researchers that also welcomes wildlife enthusiasts. Accommodation is organised into four…

  • Bali Kito Homestay

    Sabah

    Based in Sukau, Bali Kito Homestay can connect you with several hospitable local families and, for additional fees, hook you up with cultural programs,…

  • Mari Mari Backpackers Lodge

    Sabah

    Simple but welcoming raised stilt chalets (sulaps) around a white-sand beach. The huts are a modern take on the thatch-longhouse theme. There are also…

  • Last Frontier Resort

    Sabah

    Maybe they should rename this place the Last Breath Resort after the torturously steep hill you have to ascend to reach the place. Your reward, however,…

  • Tampat Do Aman

    Sabah

    With its maze of jungle walkways, atmospheric Rungus longhouse rooms, fan-cooled chalets and bamboo huts overlooking hibiscus-rich gardens, this is a fine…

  • Tungog Rainforest Eco Camp

    Sabah

    This eco camp faces a pretty oxbow lake by the Kinabatangan River. Luxurious it isn't – expect wooden shelters with mattress, fragrant sheets and pillows,…

  • Pulau Tiga Resort

    Sabah

    Built to house the production crew for the first series of Survivor, the lodge has accommodation in two types of chalets with double beds and air-con. The…

  • Kinabatangan Jungle Camp

    Sabah

    This secluded, earth-friendly retreat on a river bend caters to birders and serious nature junkies. Facilities are functional, with the focus on quality…

  • Kinabatangan Riverside Lodge

    Sabah

    Come here to fall gently asleep in a series of luxury chalets, adrift in simple white sheets and polished wood floors, all connected by a series of shady…

  • Proboscis Lodge Bukit Melapi

    Sabah

    Based on a promontory that saw a battle between local Orang Sungai (People of the River) and the Japanese in WWII, this lodge's fruit-luxuriant grounds…

  • Hotel Grandis

    Kota Kinabalu

    Attached to the Suriah Sabah Shopping Mall, this four-star hotel is unfailingly clean and stylish. Standard rooms are huge, while family suites are large…

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