Dream accommodation in a beautiful secluded island is perhaps best way to describe gaya island resort.
Within Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park off the coast of Kota Kinabalu, lies Pulau Gaya, which is home to Gaya Island Resort, one of the best and most lavish resorts in Borneo. To get to the resort, one first has to go to Kota Kinabalu, continue with land transfer for about 15 minute to Sutera Harbor Marina and from there a speedboat will deliver visitors to the island.
First reactions after setting foot on the island are simply mesmerizing. The resort lies between the folds of descending tropical rain forest and a golden sandy beach meeting a blue clear sea with its coral reefs.
Added to this, the famous and majestic rise of Mount Kinabalu stands in the distance as a sentinel over its island creation.
To minimize its carbon footprint the resort has applied itself to ecologically sustainable practices – the use of motorized vehicles is limited to operational purposes only.
The architecture of the villas at Gaya Island Resort reflect the authentic Sabahan building style and local materials used for the buildings blend amicably with the resort’s natural surrounds.
Gaya Island Resort features 120 villas and 1 two-bedroom Suite. Kinabalu Villas face to the South China Sea. Bayu Villas are located on a gentle hillside within a short walk from beach. Canopy Villas are set higher up in the forest with either rainforest or mangrove aspects. The largest accommodation is the two-bedroom Suria Suite, suitable for family or group guests. Every villa is tastefully designed with contemporary elegance to deliver luxurious comfort and a tranquil atmosphere.
For a gastronomic journey, the resort provides 5 tantalizing dining venues for a great range of choice. Feast Village is an all-day restaurant situated by the hotel’s lap pool with views of Mount Kinabalu and the surrounding beach. Here one can savour an abundance of dishes from the Asia-Pacific region and beyond. When night falls the options are to eat at Fisherman’s Cove where fresh seafood can be enjoyed or one can dine at Omakase, a two-story restaurant offering three Japanese omakase styles as well as teppanyaki, shabu-shabu and nabe.
For unwinding around the pool the Pool Bar & Lounge is a contemporary casual poolside lounge with a floating cabana and swim-up bar – a perfect place to relax in style.
A unique and private dining experience can be arranged in Tavajun Bay, about a 5-minute boat ride from the resort where lunch or gourmet picnic basket is served upon request.
One’s stay would not complete without visiting the award-winning Spa Village Gaya Island. It is built in a mangrove setting with six treatment rooms on offer. The guarantee here is to be indulged and rejuvenated with a refreshed body and mind.