Sabah is the northernmost state of Malaysian Borneo, a place of extraordinary natural variety: granite peaks, ancient rainforest, coral-fringed islands, and river systems that shelter some of the most biodiverse wildlife on earth. The capital, Kota Kinabalu, sits on the northwest coast and is the gateway for most visitors.
The state's two headline attractions are Mount Kinabalu and the Tunku Abdul Rahman National Park. Mount Kinabalu (4,095 m) is the highest peak in Southeast Asia outside of Indonesian Papua and — unusually for a peak of this height — can be climbed by fit non-technical hikers, typically over two days with a night at the Laban Rata mountain hut. The views at dawn from the summit plateau are remarkable. Tunku Abdul Rahman Park, just offshore from Kota Kinabalu, comprises five islands with beaches, coral reefs, and good snorkelling accessible by short boat trips.
Further afield, the Kinabatangan River in the east is one of the best places in Borneo to spot wildlife from a boat: proboscis monkeys, pygmy elephants, orang-utans, and hornbills are all regularly seen. Sipadan Island, off the east coast, is rated among the best dive sites in the world.
