Following on from the last article about TARP, I had to chip in with my own experience of Gaya island, an island off the coat of Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Borneo. This feature is specifically about both Gayana Marine Resort (formally known as Gayana Eco Resort) and Bungaraya Island Resort, both worth visiting!
Let's throw it back to 2013, I was working as as a travel writer in Singapore. As much as I adore that city, I quickly realised that you often need to take yourself off the tiny city-island in order to stay sane. I heard that Sabah offered a piece of affordable paradise and so off I went to explore and write about the experience! That trip stuck in mind forevermore as one of the most unique weekends-away i've ever had.
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he view from my villaHow to get to Gaya island:
Fly in to Kota Kinabalu. You may want to spend a couple of days here before jetting off to your private paradise! If you're staying at the two resorts i've mentioned here, they will arrange a speed boat to pick you up from the port at Jessleton point.
Gayana Marine Resort
Gayana Marine Resort really is the kind of place dreams are made of, an ideal destination for a honeymoon or a very pampered break (because why do we need an excuse for some indulgence?). GMR is home to the Marine Ecology Research Centre (MERC), which raises awareness about the marine ecosystem and houses a Giant Clam Restocking Programme - among other things. Whether you're into marine biology or not, this is an incredible place to visit for some tranquility and a luxury island experience.
This resort focuses on water based living. It’s kind of expensive, it’s luxury and if you like the sound of it then get saving! Visually, it's much like the Maldives, without as much of a hefty price tag, and a destination bound to impress. The accommodation is what sprinkles the whole experience with gold dust. G-O-L-D D-U-S-T. The villas each stand alone on wooden stilts, in shallow clear waters offering the right balance of privacy, peace and pamper. If you haven't slept with water beneath your head before, I fully recommend you try it! There's something incredibly serene about sleeping on water will guarantee you a peaceful nights sleep if you're in need of some de-stressing.
Since my trip was complimentary at the time, we stayed in the Palm Villa. Back in 2013 this would have usually cost AUD$970 (about S$1140) per night. Like I said before, expensive but worth the spend.
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The stairs to the sea
The room is everything you expect luxury to be, complete with a glass floor to sneak at peek at the fish happily going about their business beneath, a huge decking with private plunge pool and private stair access to the sea, not to mention the breath taking view from your bed. Waking up looking out onto the ocean is my absolutely favourite way to wake up and one I intend on making a regular occurrence in the not so distant future! Alright fairly distant.
If the experience sounds a little pricey for you, even for an extravagant occasion, they have other villas available for AUD$606 (about S$710), but be sure to request a water facing villa, as posed to a jungle facing villa!
There are two restaurants at the resort, which is handy because there is nothing else around you. (Although the resort will provide a boat to the mainland).
I don't know about you, but if i'm spending the big bucks to stay in a luxury room, i'm happy to make the most of it and indulge in some room service. When I say some, I mean every day. At Bungarraya, breakfast can be delivered to your villa, by boat, for you to enjoy on your decking! Boats delivering breakfast to my villa is something I could definitely get used to.
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Passing the afternoon by with a glass of wine
Find out more about Gayana Marine Resort here.
Bungaraya Island Resort
As stunning at Gayana Marine Resort is, it's not for everyone. If it sounds a little secluded or inactive for you, you may be better suited to Gayana Eco Resort’s sister resort, Bungaraya Island Resort.
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The view to the beach
Things I preferred about this resort where:
- There's a beach! I love sand and sea. The sandier the better!
- You feel more like you're on a tropical island with the jungle and the wildlife
- There are some hidden secrets to the island, such as a cellar and lounge filled with wines and cigars.
- Beach front dining!
For more information on Bungaraya Island Resort, click here.
Which one to stay at?
My advice would be stay in both of these resorts if you're planning a special trip and split your time between the two. That way you get the best of both island experiences, since they are very different. I believe if you book both they arrange complimentary transport for you between the two resorts.
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Hope you enjoyed this review! Have you been to Borneo?
Yasmine