Borneo Tropical Island Vacation at Gaya Island

The first thing most visitors will notice when they are approaching Gaya Island is the sheer size of a tropical island covered by lush green landscape but seems more like a mini rainforest. Then you will fully understand why the motto of the island is "where the tropical forest embraces the tranquil sea".

Indeed, Gaya Island's lush forest is the richest of the five islands in wildlife. Long-tailed macaques, pied hornbills, wild boar, and monitor lizards can be sighted here. You can also hike across 20 km of graded nature trails, and even camp in the island forest (with prior permission from the Marine Park warden).

For the typical tropical island vacation, Gaya Island has one of the best island beaches in Borneo. Gaya Island's advantage is its calm turquoise waters given the many private bays and secluded beaches (some are said to be untouched by man) on the island. It is also a perfect destination for a tropical getaway. Gaya Island's Bulijong Bay (or more popularly known as Poice Beach) located on the northern end of Gaya has one of the best fine sandy beaches in Sabah. Its semi-circular bay shaped creates the perfect atmosphere for swimming, snorkeling, and picnicking.

But do note that Bulijong Bay is quite secluded, so there is no place for you to rent swimming equipment or diving gears. You can either bring your own or hire them from the nearby Gayana Island Eco Resort or arrange through your tour operator.

The other popular beach is Camp Bay, located on the southern side of the island. However, its water is too shallow to swim in but great to just have a dip in. Camp Bay is also a good starting point for many nature trails around the island. You can start with a shorter trail that takes a few minutes to trek. For swampy adventure, take the one that goes through a small mangrove forest. For the serious trekkers, there is a 13-miles long trail that covers most of the island to keep you occupied with nature.

OVERNIGHT STAY: A tropical island vacation won't be complete without an overnight (or two) stay at Gaya Island. The Gayana Island Eco Resort is the only resort on the island and offers a secluded island escape. The resort is essentially designed and operated with nature in mind. Facilities at the resort include a seafood restaurant, a gift shop, a reef rehabilitation research center, environmental interpretation center and a beach side bar. There are 22 semi-detached 44-room chalets built over water on timber stilts. The timber are constructed out of local woods with thatched roofs. The rooms are equipped with modern conveniences and tastefully furnished with spacious private balconies.

Gayana Island Eco Resort is only one of six such facilities in the world and provides you with the unique opportunity to observe at close range the various species of giant clam and marine life housed in 19 displayed aquariums at the Marine Ecology Research Centre (MERC). The MERC focuses on the conservation, rehabilitation and restoration of the coral reefs and its key organism, the giant clam. If you want to know more about the environment, there are marine biologist and forest ecologist in the resort that can give you better insights and lectures.

You will truly have a wonderful and memorable Borneo Tropical Island Vacation at Gayana island and the Gayana Island Eco Resort. Its unparallel and unique, but perhaps most important, Gaya Island is also a place to be educated.