The hook
The Malaysian slice of Borneo, where one of Southeast Asia's highest peaks rises straight from the jungle, orphaned orangutans swing at a famous sanctuary, and a tiny island offshore is one of the planet's great dive sites.
01Why it's worth it
Sabah, in Malaysian Borneo, packs an outsized amount into one state. Mount Kinabalu, among the highest mountains in Southeast Asia, is climbed over two days by a well-organised trail to a granite summit above the clouds, a bucket-list ascent that needs booking far ahead. Down in the lowland rainforest, the Sepilok centre rehabilitates orphaned orangutans and gives visitors a rare, honest chance to see these Bornean great apes, while river cruises on the Kinabatangan turn up proboscis monkeys, pygmy elephants, and hornbills. Offshore, the marine reserve around Sipadan island ranks among the world's top dives for its walls of turtles, barracuda, and sharks. Between mountain, jungle, and reef, it is one of the richest wildlife and adventure regions in Asia, still relatively raw.
02How to experience it
Pick your focus: book the two-day Kinabalu climb early if that's the goal; base near Sepilok and the Kinabatangan river for orangutans and wildlife; or arrange a Sipadan diving permit well ahead. Many combine all three over a week. Support the conservation-minded operators.
From the locals
Malaysians say the island half of the country is the part visitors skip: "I was born in the Borneo part of Malaysia… it seems that part of Malaysia is most ignored when it comes to tourism, but it's probably one of the best nature places to visit," one wrote. "Sabah seems to be where all the attractions are at, and Kota Kinabalu is probably the best point of entry." Their practical note on the climb: it's demanding but not technical.