Pulau Sipadan is the coral-covered peak of an oceanic pinnacle, and a man who dove there in 1989 called it an untouched piece of art. His name was Jacques Cousteau, and his raves quickly made the island a world-famous dive spot. Reaching the island requires a 20-mile boat ride from Semporna, but the payoff is a chance to see schooling reef sharks, leaf scorpion fish, sea turtles, manta rays and, most impressively, thousands of barracudas swimming in a swirling vortex. Packages typically involve three dives per day, and top dive spots include Barracuda Point, Turtle Cave, Hanging Gardens and the Lobster Lair. CNN, the "Guardian," "Scuba Diving" magazine and others have ranked Sipadan among the Top 10 dive sites in the world.
Lonely Planet calls Mount Kinabalu the main attraction in Sabah, and Kinabalu National Park became the country's first UNESCO heritage site in 2000. Near the northern tip of the island, Kinabalu stretches 13,435 feet into the sky, making it the tallest mountain between New Guinea and the Himalayas. The standard ascent requires two days and a guide, and climbers are required to stay at the Laban Rata Rest House or in one of its non-heated huts. Reserve a spot several months in advance. Trekkers spend the first day reaching the lodge, and most depart by 3:30 a.m. the next morning to reach Low's Peak summit in time for sunrise.
Travelers who conquer Kinabalu's peak will be happy to know the Poring Hot Springs are inside the Kinabalu National Park only 25 miles from headquarters. Built by Japanese occupiers during World War II, the complex boasts several pools of hot, sulfurous water in a forest setting. The current setup will never be mistaken for a luxury spa, but it provides welcome relief to aching muscles. The Poring Hot Spring is also home to tropical and orchid gardens, a butterfly farm, a 135-foot-high canopy walkway and an extensive variety of birds.
Much like the Amazon in South America, the 350-mile Sungai Kinabatangan River is the longest in Sabah, and the less-industrialized sections are teeming with wild animals. Wildlife sights can include pythons, bearded pigs, orangutans, macaques, crocodiles, monkeys, marbled cats and possibly elephants or rhinos. Likewise, the diverse habitats range from limestone caves and forests to mangrove swamps and oxbow lakes. Sukau is the main riverside town offering accommodations, tours, guided treks and jungle camps.
