Getting around Sabah is safe and easy. Most Sabahans are multilingual and are able to speak at least three languages - Bahasa Malaysia - the national language - English and their mother tongue. Chinese (Hakka) is also widely spoken. Most street signs are in Bahasa Malaysia. For ease of navigation, Jalan (Jln.) means Street, Kampung (Kg.) Village, and Bandar and Pekan design small towns. Sabahans are very friendly and if you need help getting around, just stop and ask someone and 99% of the time you will be greeted with a big smile. Self drive holidays are also easy as the road system to all major destination is well maintained and road sings are very clear. 

Gayana Island - Sabah

Secluded beaches, calm turquoise waters, lush green landscape. Wake up to the call of exotic birds. Take a leisurely hike through the jungle canopy. Snorkel among colorful marine life. Watch fishes swim by from the privacy of your own balcony. Dine al fresco under the moonlight…… Treat yourself to the tranquility of this little patch of tropical paradise where you can completely unwind and immerse yourself in the natural beauty that surrounds you. Idyllic Gayana Island EcoResort is an ecological paradise nestled away in a beautiful bay on the far side of Gaya Island, off the shores of Kota Kinabalu. Crystal clear waters and secluded beaches wrap around the inlet, with lush tropical rainforest and mangrove forming a serene backdrop.

Just minutes away from the bustling city, Gayana offers a secluded island escape, designed and operated with nature in mind. Gayana features 22 semi-detached over water chalets built on timber stilts constructed out of sustainable local woods with thatched roofs.

All 44 rooms are tastefully furnished and absolutely relaxing with spacious private balconies, and equipped with modern conveniences for your comfort. An elevated wooden boardwalk winds its way past the chalets, lined with flowering bougainvillea and tropical plants.

	Location Map

The resort also features a gift shop, offering a selection of beach wear, leisure wear, handicrafts, postcards and snacks. Conveniently located at the reception lobby, it is popular with guests and visitors alike. Gayana offers non-motorized watersport facilities including canoeing, snorkeling, sea kayaking and scuba diving. Island hopping, fishing and crab catching can also be arranged upon request. As the forest is virtually at your doorstep, you can also go jungle trekking. The challenging 6 Km trial leading from the resort through the thick canopy of high dipterocarp trees to the nearby Malohom Beach is well-marked and can be explored with a guide or on your own.

The resort's ground is also a sanctuary to many of the island's wildlife such as the pied hornbills, long tailed macaques, monitor lizards, wild boars, green imperial pigeons, jungle rats, geckos, snakes, Buffy fish owls and various species of insects. So keep your camera handy…… you'll never know who or what you'll bump into. However, it is important to remember to keep your distance. Do not feed or provoke the animals in any way.

Another important reminder….. Do keep all doors and windows or at least the nettings closed when you leave your room or when you go to bed at night. You surely do not want any uninvited furry or scaly visitors in your room! (just in case)


History of Gayana Island Eco Resort | Borneo
The tropical wildness of Borneo with the underwater wilds of the South China Sea--that is the dual draw of Gayana Island EcoResort. A half-hour and a world away from Kota Kinabalu, the lively capital of Sabah, this four-star resort is a village of thatched-roof bungalows amidst the national park of Tunku Abdul Rahman.