From steamy jungles to blissful mountains, balmy beaches and peaceful villages, Sabah – one of two Malaysian states on the island of Borneo – is awash with a bounty of natural treasures, seemingly tailor made for fun, relaxation and adventure. We had also heard that Sabah is one of the most romantic places on Earth, making it an ideal destination for a wedding or a honeymoon. After spending 10 days exploring the beautiful region, we’re convinced. Here’s why we think Sabah makes the ultimate honeymoon destination…
Its natural beauty
Lonely Planet calls this place one of the most “physically stunning places on Earth” and after visiting for ourselves we have to agree – the state’s diverse natural landscapes are truly beautiful. Sabah is filled with scenery from lush green rain forests and imposing mountains to dreamy white beaches and sparkling oceans – making it a blissful setting for couples seeking a unique honeymoon.
The romantic resorts
Sabah is home to some of the most romantic hotel resorts in the world. Stand out places include the ultra luxurious Pacific Sutera Resort which comes with a full-service spa, a golf course and its own private beach – a truly tranquil couple’s retreat. The five star Shangri-La’s Rasa Ria is also very special, situated on a wide sweep of beach with a jungle and nature reserve at one end, the resort follows the Shangri-La’s ethos of world-renowned style and exemplary service. Honeymooners should opt for a room in the gorgeous Ocean Wing which features a private pool, an oversized romantic bath for two situated on a private balcony and even a complimentary menu of scents with aromatherapy benefits – little details always count!
The beaches
Borneo’s beaches are world-famous and Sabah has an abundance of impossibly wide, impeccably clean, tranquil white sandy beaches flanked by gorgeous azure blue waters. On some you might even catch a glimpse of the nesting highly endangered Hawksbill or Green turtles who come ashore at night to lay their eggs, usually in batches of 50 to 80. The region also offers some of the best diving and snorkelling opportunities in the world: here the oceans are teeming with colourful marine life, fragile corals and awe-inspiring caverns which are perfect for exploring.
The spas
Spas are always a popular feature on honeymoon and Sabah offers some exceptional spa experiences. We were lucky enough to try an indulgent massage at the on-site spa at the serene Gaya Island Resort by some of the best therapists in the business. They pride themselves of their impressive range of traditional beauty and holistic treatments which reflect the healing traditions of Sabah’s indigenous tribes. Six modernist pods tucked in a lush mangrove forest make up the Spa Village, and the treatment (which used only the finest fresh local ingredients) was an hour and a half of pure bliss.
The sunsets
Nothing is more romantic than watching a sunset with that special someone and Sabah’s sunsets are truly magical. There are a few reasons for this – the unpolluted air offers a better clarity of sunset viewing, the sun always appears to look bigger near equator and the high humidity and dense cloud of Sabah’s tropical climate helps to paint a more colourful sky. Kota Kinabalu has several excellent vantage points from which to see the beautiful sunset in all its splendour.
The diverse range of things to do
A honeymoon in Sabah offers so much more than just relaxing on the beach. Rich in diverse landscapes and fascinating wildlife, you can encounter playful orang-utans at the world-famous Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre, explore an underwater world of corals and caverns, learn about Borneo’s tribal history at a culture village or even climb the slopes of the imposing Mount Kinabalu.
Rainforest romance
Sabah’s incredible rainforest deserves a special mention of its own. This is where the oldest undisturbed rainforest on the planet resides and here you can immerse yourself in forest life and get a chance to meet its many inhabitants – the rare birds, primates (including the unique looking Proboscis Monkey), Orang-utans and herds of Borneo Pygmy Elephants. Up the romance factor and stay at the award-winning Sukau Rainforest Lodge and opt for an enchanting night safari.
The food
Good food is always important on a honeymoon and whether you decide to eat local at the market (where they prepare your meal while you watch) or dine a top class restaurant, Sabah has plenty of options to choose from. Fresh fish, plump succulent fruits and lashings of chilli feature heavily, and of course, so do rice and noodles. Dishes to watch out for include Pinasakan which is a braised basung fish mixed with a tangy wild fruit and Hinava, a raw fish marinated with lime juice and herbs.
The idyllic islands
Sabah has an astounding array of beautiful islands which make an idyllic setting for a honeymoon. We visited Gaya Island (just a 10 minute boat ride from Kota Kinabalu) where visitors can dive, snorkel, swim, hike through the numerous inland trails or take an exhilarating ride on the longest island-to-island zip line. Visitors can also learn about the fantastic conservation work being carried out at the island’s Marine Ecology Research Centre – keep an eye out for the very cute baby turtles!
The hospitality
Borneo has a very laid back culture where the citizens have a reputation for being relaxed, eager to please and quick to laugh. The locals are indeed extremely friendly and attentive – I’ve personally never seen so many smiling, welcoming faces. If you choose a honeymoon in Sabah, you can expect excellent standards of hospitality and service and even little personal touches (toy orang-utan anyone?) especially in Sabah’s exceptional hotel resorts.
Fancy a trip yourself? Here’s some great special offers…
Gaya Island Resort
- 10 nights at the Gaya Island Resort from £1199 per person, flying with Royal Brunei Airlines
- Available for booking until 31st March 2015
- To book, visit: http://www.premierholidays.co.uk/…/honeymoons_in_b…/_nocache
Shangri-La’s Rasa Ria
- 12 nights at the Shangri-La’s Rasa Ria from £1199 per person, flying with Royal Brunei Airlines
- Available for booking until 31st March 2015
- To book, visit: http://www.premierholidays.co.uk/…/honeymoons_in_b…/_nocache
Why choose Sabah for your romantic trip? Here’s the#LoveSabah video
All words and images by Becky Padmore. We visited Sabah as part of the iambassador #LoveSabah trip in partnership with Royal Brunei Airlines and Sabah Tourism. As always all opinions are our own – we did just happen to love this place.
34 Comments
Haramain Tours
4 June, 2018 at 1:33 pmWonderful. I think we would like to visit once in life.
Hajj
19 April, 2018 at 3:57 pmsabah is indeed a great place and famous for its natural beauty. I have hear about foods and places in sabah which attracts people. I have a great wish to visit this place because it is one of my dream places.
Jahn
23 February, 2018 at 7:33 amHmm! That’s really amazing place for Honeymoon. I am also planning again to visit here with my wife.
Jesta
24 November, 2017 at 11:16 amReally nice place for the honeymoon, thanks for sharing this with us.
Suzy
31 December, 2015 at 8:07 amLooks like a lovely place for honeymoon trip! Beautiful photos!
Indy
19 October, 2015 at 7:49 amLooks great and a beautiful place to go on a honeymoon!
Cathy
18 March, 2015 at 6:53 amLooks like a truly fantastic honeymoon destination!
Becky Moore
23 March, 2015 at 9:26 pmIt definitely is! 🙂
Maria
6 February, 2015 at 10:32 amI didn’t know much about Sabah, but those beaches are really gorgeous! Thanks for inspiring us. 🙂
Becky Moore
6 February, 2015 at 11:51 amThanks Maria, the beaches were very special – never seen beaches like it before!
Mike
4 February, 2015 at 4:36 amA quiet piece of paradise is right up my alley, Becky! Oh wait…I need to get married first. Hmmm…guess I will have to go single lol 🙂
Becky Moore
4 February, 2015 at 1:32 pmGreat to hear from you again Mike, hope you’ve been well? It definitely is a slice of paradise!
Mary Anne
2 February, 2015 at 3:02 pmgorgeous beaches and Chimps? SOLD
Becky Moore
3 February, 2015 at 5:41 pmHa ha not a bad combo huh? 😉
Charley W
2 February, 2015 at 2:10 pmI’d never heard of Sabah before reading this post, but I wish I had before we booked our honeymoon last year! It looks and sounds absolutely beautiful. Maybe I can convince my husband to go on Honeymoon V.2?!
Becky Moore
3 February, 2015 at 5:42 pmShame, yes maybe a second honeymoon is the answer 😉
@mrsoaroundworld
2 February, 2015 at 1:23 pmOMG, I knew nothing about this part of the world and it is SO beautiful!
Becky Moore
3 February, 2015 at 5:43 pmIt is indeed Ana and you would love the incredible hotels there!
Arbab
31 January, 2015 at 1:57 amI didn’t know much about Sabah at all but having read this, I’ve now put it on my wish list for honeymoon. Thanks for the post!
Becky Moore
3 February, 2015 at 5:43 pmGlad to be of help 🙂
Suze The Luxury Columnist
30 January, 2015 at 10:48 pmSabah looks absolutely beautiful, I would love to see the orang-utans!
Becky Moore
3 February, 2015 at 5:44 pmThey were very cute, I could have watched them for hours!
Dana Carmel (@timetravelplans)
29 January, 2015 at 2:34 pmBeautiful beaches, gorgeous sunsets, and good food means that I’d be one happy woman in Sabah. Gorgeous photos as always!
Becky Moore
3 February, 2015 at 5:45 pmThanks Dana! Sabah definitely has a lot of things going for it!
Sand In My Suitcase
28 January, 2015 at 2:01 amJanice visited the Sepilok Orangutan Sanctuary several years ago while on a cruise. And they do such a good job of helping to rehabilitate the orangutans to be “wild” again. But we can see there’s more to Borneo than its famous orangutans :-). We wouldn’t mind doing some scuba diving there… Maybe we’ll have to get married again! (to each other, of course)
Becky Moore
3 February, 2015 at 5:46 pmAw if you do let us know and definitely consider Borneo – it’s such a special place!
Scott
27 January, 2015 at 8:23 pmOur honeymoon was a long time ago but I wouldn’t mind just going here anyway! Looks amazing!
Becky Moore
3 February, 2015 at 5:46 pmThere’s always Valentine’s Day? 😉
Emma
27 January, 2015 at 8:22 pmWow I wish I did get to go on honeymoon here, it looks fabulous! Especially the beaches and the sunsets!
Becky Moore
3 February, 2015 at 5:47 pmThanks Emma – the sunsets have to be seen to be believed!
Ryan Biddulph
27 January, 2015 at 2:28 pmBecky that oldest rainforest on the planet looks like it’d be a go! As much as I crave stunning sunsets and love being a beach bum – I am, for like, 10 months a year or something 😉 – it’s always fun to have stuff to do outside of hitting the beach. We loved Costa Rica so much because the national parks were plenty. Stuff to do when not lazing away.
Thanks for inspiring us Becky and keep up the great work!
Ryan
Becky Moore
3 February, 2015 at 5:52 pmThanks Ryan, I would go back in a second and do it all over again!
Jess @UsedYorkCity
27 January, 2015 at 1:18 pmThis does look like the ultimate romantic destination! Those beaches are gorgeous!
Becky Moore
3 February, 2015 at 5:52 pmThanks Jess I’m glad you agree, it’s definitely a place that seems made for two!