Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
288
for divers. Their standard package of 6 days/5 nights runs at RM1,250 ($363/£225) per
person, which includes accommodations, meals, and thr ee div es a day . E quipment is
extra, as is the char tered helicopter flight to the island, which is expensiv e at RM969
($281/£174) round-trip (booked through the dive operator, flying on Tues, Thurs, Fri,
and Sun). Layang Layang closes during the monsoon season (early S ept to Feb).
If you want to stay close to Kota Kinabalu, Borneo Divers (see above) makes day trips
to
Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park.
This group of five islands about 8km (13 miles)
off the coast of Kota Kinabalu has been protected since the mid-1970s. Throughout the
park, waters ar e clear and visibility is good. Although not as lauded as S ipadan and
Layang Layang, if y ou're looking for some quick diving ex citement but y ou have time
and money constraints, it's highly recommended. A day trip that includes two boat dives
and a shore dive costs RM265 ($77/£48), not including equipment rentals. Borneo Div-
ers has a base camp on the smallest island, from which they also conduct complete PADI
scuba courses.
Sabah has many other div e sites, including sites such as P ulau Tiga, of
Survivor
TV
fame. A couple of sites also offer wr eck diving, so if y ou're interested, inquire when you
make your booking.
For other types of watersports, your best bet is to either book these activities thr ough
your resort or plan a DIY trip to Tunku Abdul Rahman Park. Catch a ferry at the newly
upgraded Kpta Kinabalu City Terminal, near the S abah Ports Authority/Marine Police
Jetty, to take y ou to the par k. It costs RM30 ($8.70/£5.40) and is only 8km (13 miles)
from Kota Kinabalu, so you can spend a day trip at one or more of the park's five islands
sunning on the beach.
Snorkel
rentals go for around RM10 ($2.90/£1.80), and parasail-
ing charges r un RM100 ($29/£18). The latest thrill is
seawalking
—donning an enor-
mous helmet connected to the sur face with a tube, which allo ws y ou to br eathe
underwater without tanks. This costs RM150 ($44/£27) per person (
&
088/249-115;
www.borneoseawalking.com).
Tip for snorkelers:
Bring cotton socks to wear under your
rental fins, to pr event blisters. There ar e cafes and toilets near the jetties, plus good
accommodations on two of the islands.
Sabah's rugged terrain makes for terrific hiking, camping, biking, and rafting for any
level, from soft adventure or extreme sports.
TYK Adventure
(Borneo Travel; Lot 48-2F,
2nd floor , B everly H ill P laza;
&
088/727-825;
www .tykadventuretours.com) was
founded by a local Chinese awar d-winning tour guide Tham Yau Kong, who also hap-
pens to hold records for the longest cultural walk (1998) and for leading the first gr oup
to circum-cycle Mt. Kinabalu (1999). M ountain biking trips ar ound Papar or P enam-
pang can be arranged for RM310 ($90/£56) per person for the day trip; the rate includes
hotel transfer, mountain bike, and helmet.
Many come to S abah to climb
Mt. Kinabalu.
It's an exhilarating trip if y ou are pre-
pared and if you hit it just right, in terms of weather and timing. It can be done only on
an overnight trip, which includes a 4- or 5-hour hike fr om the park headquarters uphill
to a ranger station, where you stay the night. Groups awake at 3am to begin the 3-hour
hike to the summit. This is not light tr ekking, as some par ts are steep, altitude sickness
can cause headaches and nausea, and remember—you're tooling along in the pitch dark-
ness, the whole point being to arriv e at the summit in time for the spectacular sunrise.
Come prepared with cold weather snugglies, or at the very least a wool sweater or fleece,
long pants, windbreaker, rain poncho, and hiking boots. B ring a good, strong flashlight
and pack plenty of trail mix and spor ts drinks for r ejuvenation. And finally, there's no
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