I went to Malaysia twice in 3 years and stayed for two weeks, and I definitely want to go again to explore places I haven't seen yet, and see places I've seen and loved again. On my first trip to Malaysia, I visited the Peninsula of Malaysia, and on my second trip, I visited the State of Sabah on the Island of Borneo. During my trip to Sabah State (North Borneo), “Where do you find places like this?”, “We thought of these places!” I got a lot of messages saying. If you are looking for a reason to go to Malaysia's Sabah State, here are 12 beautiful reasons!
1 – An Economic Destination for Turkish Citizens
The economic conditions are known, now we talk about the economy much more, we make more calculations. Sabah State is among the economical travel destinations for Turkish Citizens.. The currency of Malaysia is Ringit. 1 Usd is approximately 4,6 Ringgit. You can eat well for 4-5 Usd per person, and you can find decent accommodation options for 20-30 Usd. The entrance fee to many national parks is around 5 Usd. Let's not forget that it is more economical when compared to countries such as Indonesia and Thailand in the same region.
I write the prices especially in Usd so that the constant change in the TL exchange rate does not mislead my readers.
The only item that can be high cost is the air ticket. The easiest way to overcome it is to follow the campaign periods or flight mile campaigns of the airlines. You can easily find suitable flights to Singapore and/or Kuala Lumpur and from there to one of the airports in Sabah State with Singapore Airlines, Turkish Airlines or Air Asia.
2 – Reaching Halal Food is Easy
I know that one of the points that Turks worry the most about their travels is halal food. The majority of Malaysia's population is Muslim. Muslims are followed by Christians, Buddhists and Hindus. In Malaysia, where different religions live in harmony, all religions are extremely respectful towards other religions. In this respect, unless otherwise stated Meals are cooked as halal food. So you can taste the food that comes before you with peace of mind.
3 – Travelable Any Time of the Year
We have four seasons, but in tropical countries there are usually only one or two seasons as dry/humid season. There is no certain season barrier to go to Malaysia's Sabah State, you can make a travel plan whenever you want with the temperature that is constantly between 27-30 degrees. For example, wouldn't it be great to enjoy the tropical warm seas in Sabah while Türkiye is experiencing winter? Moreover, January-February is a great time for whale watching in Kota Kinabalu. It would also be nice to check if there is a festival during your visit, because there are many festivals held in Sabah State.
4 – Malaysia does not require a visa from Turkish citizens!
Visa is one of the most annoying issues for me while traveling. Not being able to plan a trip before the visa issue is clarified is really discouraging. Lucky for us, we don't have such a problem going to Malaysia! Turkish Citizens visiting Malaysia are exempt from visa for 90 days. In other words, all you need for a trip to Malaysia is your passport, you can put your passport in your bag and tour Malaysia for up to 3 months.
5 – Sipadan Island, One of the Best Diving Spots in the World
Sipadan Island, discovered by Captain Jacques-Yves Cousteau and called an "untouched work of art", is considered among the best diving spots in the world. The island is now fully protected, uninhabited and only 176 divers are allowed to dive each day. There are over 3000 fish species around the chimney-shaped island. Diving here is every diver's dream. April and May are the best times to dive, but when we went in June, it was perfect, moreover, there was no high season crowd.
6 – Beautiful Dishes of Southeast Asia
You certainly won't go hungry in Sabah State. Whatever you love in Southeast Asian cuisine, you can be sure that you can find the best here. Traditional Malay foodBesides, you can find many dishes from Indian, Chinese and Japanese cuisine in Sabah. If you say you don't want these, most of the western food chains have branches in Sabah. You can find any kind of food you want, from burgers to pizza, from croissants to pasta.
I think you should still not fill your stomach with “western” food, because Sabah State enjoys all the blessings of the sea. If you like seafood, you can eat seafood, from shrimp to squid, from lobster to crab, to various kinds of fish, at very affordable prices in Sabah.
7 – Magnificent Virgin Nature
Island of Borneo; It is one of the rare countries where you can see the rainforests and the rich submarine and the untouched nature closely and stay in the facilities within the nature. We stayed in the rainforest at Sepilok. Sepilok Nature Resort, where we stayed on the banks of the Kinabatangan River Bilit Adventure Lodge and where we stayed on Mabul Island in Semporna Borneo Divers Mabul Resort were the places where we had a wonderful accommodation experience intertwined with nature. Sabah State is a destination where nature displays all its generosity and which nature lovers will enjoy very much.
8 – Seeing Endemic Species in Their Natural Environments
There are many endemic animal and plant species on Borneo Island; The world's largest flower, rafflesia, flesh-eating plant species, orang uten, long-nosed monkey, sun bear, pygmy elephants are the most popular and come to mind first. It is possible to see these creatures in national parks, conservation centers or in their natural habitats. There were too many moments in Sabah State when I said “I feel like I'm in a documentary” many times, I'm glad we turned our way here.
9 – Friendly and Warm-Blooded People
When you come to Southeast Asia, people are generally very friendly and warm-blooded. The situation is similar in Sabah State. In addition, I can't help but point out that they show extra care and love since we come from Turkey and are a Muslim country. When we say “Türkiye”, they immediately say “selamunaleykum” and start a conversation. Even while wandering around the city of Tawau, where there are very few tourists, we traveled very safely without any disturbance.
10 – A Complete Paradise for Sea Lovers
When Malaysia is mentioned, the Petronas Towers in Kuala Lumpur or the murals in Penang come to mind first. But Malaysia is actually a country surrounded by tropical seas on all four sides. Borneo is already an island, surrounded by coral reefs formed over thousands of years. Sabah State, on the other hand, is the place that has received the most from these beauties. Whether you want to go to the islands just near Kota Kinabalu, to the islands of Sandakan or to the islands of Semporna, you can have the perfect sea experience. Whether you just swim, snorkel, dive or just sunbathe, you should definitely experience these beauties one day.
11- Amazons of Asia: Kinabatangan River
One of Southeast Asia's most important eco-reserve areas, home to many endemic plant and animal species, and referred to as the Amazons of Asia, the Kinabatangan River is another unforgettable experience in Sabah State. The Kinabatangan River should be on your Sabah State route to stay in huts by the river, take boat tours on the river to observe the animals, and take walks in the rainforest day and night. The river is the natural habitat of many endemic species such as long-nosed monkeys, orang uhan and pygmy elephants. If you are lucky, you may see one or more of these species during boat tours.
12 – Spectacular Sunrises and Sunsets
I have witnessed sunrises and sunsets on different continents in different seasons in many parts of the world. But I've never seen them as beautiful as those I've seen in Sabah State. While I fell in love with the sunset in Kota Kinabalu, the sunrise on Sipadan Island was beyond words… The thing I miss most about Sabah State is the sunrises and sunsets…
Places to Visit in Sabah I suggest you take a look at my article.
Sabah Tourism Board hosted us on our trip to Sabah State, Sepilok Tropical Wildlife Adventure agency provided our trips here. A big thank you to everyone who contributed and made our trip a great one. All the information you need about the Sabah region Sabah Tourism websitefor your private trips Sepilok Tropical Wildlife Adventure You can contact with.