Borneo Beaches

With such attention grabbing jungles and wildlife, Borneo's beaches aren’t the first thing that come to mind to those planning a Borneo holiday, but with it’s gorgeous gently curving bays backed by lush rainforest, and some of the best diving opportunities in the world, it’s hard to think of a more perfect beach destination. 

For a magical mix of exotic marine life and flawless stretches of sand we just love Lankayan Island; a tiny unpopulated island which you can walk around in 30 minutes, dine peacefully under swaying casuarinas and bask in the sparkling Sulu Sea. 

With black tip reef sharks swimming along the shoreline, beautiful unspoilt coral, a wreck abundant with colourful fish and a regular population of turtles nesting and hatching from June to September, Lankayan really is an undiscovered gem!

If you are after a real diving Mecca then head to Mataking or Kapalai, two incredible resorts with access to the notorious Sipadan dive site; one of the top 5 diving destinations in the world! Mataking is great for a family holiday with a white sandy beach and myriad of activities on offer, and Kapalai’s stilted over water villas offer unrivalled access to this under water treasure trove! Both are great bases to submerse yourself in the world of parrot fish, barracudas, turtles, mantarays, and tuna. 

Discover the indescribable thrill of sharing a space with hammerhead sharks and whale sharks, whilst indulging in the fantastic cuisine and comfort of this tropical retreat.

Gaya Island, in the Tunku Rahman Marine Park, is topped with lush green forests to explore on foot and surrounded by colourful coral gardens to float above bedecked with snorkel. A great place for families or for a honeymoon, the still shallow water here is a first time divers playground, as clown fish, frog fish, turtles and rays frolic in this protected oasis only 15 minutes from Sabah’s capital of Kota Kinabalu.