Borneo to be wild

Shared by Malaysia, Indonesia and the Sultanate of Brunei, Borneo has long been famous for wildlife in the trees as well as under the water, and the newly rebuilt five-star Gayana Eco Resort places guests squarely in the middle of both. Waking up under crisp white sheets in one of the 40 thatched bungalows, listening to waves breaking on the shore below, it’s hard for them to remember that they got here from Kota Kinabalu in just 20 minutes in a speedboat.

Situated off the coast of Sabah in the north west lie five coral reef islands which make up the Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park, named after the first Prime Minister of Malaysia. And it’s on one of these islands, Pulau Gaya, that the retreat is hidden away.

Under the water, the diving is excellent, with turtles, rays, barracuda and coral reefs to explore. This is one of the few sites in Asia where the endangered giant clams still live in the wild and the nearby MERC (Marine Ecology Research Centre) has seven of the eight species in the world. They actually grow and release them back into the sea. Guests never know what they will find there on a visit, from injured turtles to a passing nurse shark with a damaged fin receiving medical attention, and it is excellent for educating people about the challenges the sea and its inhabitants face.

The rooms, positioned on stilts over the sea, are available in four categories: Rimba, Pantai, Bakau and Bayu. Rimba rooms offers an excellent view of the jungle and hills, Pantai rooms look over the resort, which looks beautiful at night when the lights come on, Bakau rooms have a view of tropical mangroves and Baya rooms have ever-changing views out across an endless sea. Room service orders are delivered by gondola to visitor’s private deck, the bathrooms are wonderful and all the furniture is made using Malaysian hardwood. The Bakau and Bayu suites come with their very own floating deck, and the only way to start the day is for a quick swim from the private balcony.

Back at the resort, the Solace Spa has four treatment rooms and a relaxation room with views of the pool and lagoon, along with traditional therapies and remedies. Afterwards, guests can float along to one of the two restaurants. The Alu Alu Restaurant has a magnificent view of Malohom Bay over well presented plates of delicious seafood, and the Fusion Poolside Restaurant, in front of the infinity pool and the sea, offers a more informal culinary experience.

If all the fine food calls for activity there are plenty of options, including the dive centre, kayaking, jungle trekking, underwater fish feeding and private beach drop-offs for travellers who like a bit of solitude. There is also golf, trips to the local market and tours of Kota Kinabalu if they can tear themselves away from the resort and its restful surroundings.

Long-haul tour operator, Tropical Sky Ireland is offering a guaranteed upgrade to a beachfront room till 19 December on all bookings and 10% off spa treatments. Prices in November are from €1,844 per person and include flights from Dublin, seven nights’ accommodation on a B&B basis, resort transfers, taxes and surcharges.

For further information visit Tropicalsky.ie.