Sabah Holidays

Mt. Kinabalu is the pride and soul of Sabah. Bursting through the famed "Spine of Sabah", the Crocker Range that is, it soars aloft spectacularly into the Borneo sky. Its awesome height prompted reverence from mortals living in its shadow, in bygone ages. In fact, it figures centrally in the traditional belief systems of the once animistic Dusuns in its foothills and the Kadazans in the plains and valleys beyond, who for centuries had regarded it as the resting place of their dead - their version of heaven. Until today, Dusun high priests dutifully perform the annual sacrificial rite of killing seven white chickens, near the summit, to appease the spirits. It is cherished and raved about as the highest peak in South East Asia, which towers 4,101 m (13,455 ft) above a tangle of mountains. Not surprisingly, one visitor who saw the spectacle in 1990, exclaimed tauntingly: " If you haven't seen Mt. Kinabalu, you haven't seen South East Asia." The imposing, snow-free and bald top granite massif rouses man's instinctive yearning to get to the top the feeling of being in the top of the world. Sabah is a multicultural state with many different ethnic groups. The largest ethnic groups are the Murut, Kadazan/Dusun, Bajau, Chinese, Indonesians and Philipinos. Jungle Trekking For trekking, Sabah offers a wide range of activities. From searching the biggest flower on earth, the Rafflesia, to discovering exotic culture in the heart of Borneo, learning the ecosystem in the oldest virgin jungle in the world or just wanting to disappear for days in the Borneo forest. For a thrilling adventure, you should not miss doing whitewater rafting in Sabah. From a leisurely rafting to a really wild ride, Sabah offers several rivers to fit your excitement threshold level. For a steady and pleasant ride, the Papar River, about 30 minutes drive from Kota Kinabalu, the capital city of Sabah is the ideal river. Another popular river is the Kiulu River, an hour drive from Kota Kinabalu. For a more rough and tumble rafting, the ultimate will be the Padas River, classified as grade IV for its spectacular ride. There is plenty of accommodation in and around Kota Kinabalu. Visitors may find excellent offers, in particular by the larger hotels. If you wish to be in Kota Kinabau perhaps the Shangri-La Tanjung Aru is a great option, as it is approximately 10 minutes drive from the city centre and located at the beach. There is a regular shuttle service between the hotel, the centre of Kota Kinabalu and its sister hotel Shangri-La's Rasa Ria Resort.