Evocatively named, 'Land below the wind', Sabah is situated at
the northeast corner of Borneo, below the typhoon belt in East
Malaysia. Most visitors to Sabah are lured by the natural splendour
of the state and the unique experience of its national parks. The
rugged landscape is perfect for outdoor enthusiasts with some of
the highest mountains in Malaysia to climb, and one of the richest
and least spoilt underwater ecosystems in the world to dive in.
Other extreme sports like paragliding and skydiving are adding to
Sabah's growing reputation as an adventure destination.
Its spectacular environment boasts one of the largest
rainforests in the world and the highest mountain peak in South
East Asia, Mt Kinabalu, stands at 13,500ft (4,101m) within Kinabalu
Park. The park is the most visited and has been declared a World
Heritage Site in recognition of its incredible variety. A popular
trek is the two-day summit trail. Sabah's diversity extends to the
indigenous people of the area that comprise 31 different groups
speaking more than 50 indigenous languages. These ethnic
differences form a rich culture of music, dance and handicrafts
that are unique to the region.
Sabah is an expensive travel destination with the only real
'budget' accommodation located at Kinabalu National Park and Poring
Hot Springs. Direct flights to Sabah are routed to the capital,
Kota Kinabalu.
