#1 BUNGARAYA ISLAND RESORT
Known for pristine beaches and crystal clear waters, Gaya Island is located just off the Borneo coast. The island is home to a handful of upscale resorts, including the secluded Bungaraya Island Resort, which I had the recent pleasure of reviewing. Sitting on the hillside overlooking Polish Bay, the five-star property gives you the best of both worlds: jungle surrounds and seafront living.
After landing at Kota Kinabalu Airport (2.5 hours by plane from Singapore), I was welcomed by the friendly Echo Adventures staff for the easy 30-minute car ride to Jesselton Point. This is the main jetty for speedboat transfers to and from Gaya Island. Return-trip transfers are included for those staying in Bungaraya or sister resort Gayana Marine Resort, which are just 10 minutes apart by speedboat. If you’re a guest at either property, you can make a quick day trip to the other any time you like!
A comfortable 15-minute boat journey later, I found myself in tropical bliss, greeted by the bright blue skies and shimmering, see-through waters. No wonder Gaya has been touted as the “Malaysian Maldives”.
There are 48 timber villas at Bungaraya, all decorated in traditional Bornean architecture, and suitable for a variety of travellers, including honeymooning coup le s , so lo adventurers, and families with kids. My home for the night was a Deluxe Villa, equipped with a generously-sized living area and a bedroom upstairs. Right outside the bedroom was a balcony, which became my favourite hangout spot. There it was a case of nature at its best: a beautiful composition of the sound of crashing waves merging with the chirping of the birds and insects inhabiting the surrounding forests.
Recreation Time
This story is from the December 2019 edition of EL Singapore.
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This story is from the December 2019 edition of EL Singapore.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
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