UNESCO World Heritage Sites are places that UNESCO recognised for their Outstanding Universal Value and need to be protected and preserved for future generations. Think the Pyramids of Giza, Taj Mahal or the Great Barrier Reef.
Malaysia has six of them. How many have you visited? Sutera Sanctuary Lodges operates accommodations within two of these amazing sites in Sabah and Sarawak. Here’s all you need to know about them.
Kinabalu Park
Most sabah travel packages will include a stop at Kinabalu Park. It’s known for its centerpiece, the highest mountain in Southeast Asia that stands at 4.095m. More than 13,000 climbers come every year to attempt to summit Mount Kinabalu. Gunung Kinabalu hiking packages are sold out months in advance, drawing climbers from all over the world. But for the indigenous Kadazan-Dusun communities. It is mush more than a hiker’s bucket list. These communities believe the mountain is a sacred resting palce for spirits.
Even if a two-day climb to Low’s Peak is not your cup of tea, Kinabalu Park is the perfect family holiday destination in sabah. It spans 745 sq km and is considered one of the most distinctive ecological areas in the world.
It is also the site of one of the best luxury resorts in Sabah, operated by Sutera Sanctuary Lodges. Whether you are looking for a girl’s trip, romantic getaway or family vacation, there is something for everyone. The mountain lodges here are designed with elegant finishing touches and all the modern comforts. Private jacuzzis, cosy fireplaces, fully equipped kitchens, you’ll find it hard to leave your luxe holiday home.
Waking up in the middle of a UNESCO World Heritage Site is truly an experience. World class nature Kinabalu Park hiking trails at your doorstep, unique flora and fauna not found anywhere else in the world, and crisp mountain air—it is no surprise that it has received recognition as part of the World Network of Biosphere Reserves and is a UNESCO Global Geopark.
Kinabalu UNESCO Global Geopark
Once you’re done with the Kinabalu Park tour, there’s still much ground to cover. The park only makes up a small portion of the Kinabalu UNESCO Global Geopark, an area 4,750 sq km in size. Within this vast expanse there is amazing geodiversity: rocks which are billions of years old and unique landforms like the Poring Hot Springs.
Poring Hot Springs
Poring Hot Springs is another hot spot on any Kota Kinabalu tour package. Located just 40km from Kinabalu Park, it is one of the most popular family resorts in Sabah. Here, Sutera Sanctuary Lodges operates beautiful villas that strike the perfect balance between modern luxury and eco-chic. Each villa is unique and located in a different part of the park so make your Poring Hot Springs resort bookings early, especially during peak and holiday seasons.
Hot springs are the main attraction here. Known for therapeutic and skin-healing properties, these natural hot sulphur baths are the ultimate self-pampering. Surrounded by greenery and serenaded by the wildlife, it’s an experience not to be missed. It is exactly what you need after completing your Mount Kinabalu climb package.
There is no shortage of things to do at Poring Hot Springs and all the activities are designed to celebrate the park’s biodiversity. Visit the butterfly farm or take a short trek to nearby Kipungit and Langanan waterfalls. These are the perfect spots to immerse yourself in nature and enjoy a leisurely picnic. Flower lovers will not want to miss the Poring Orchid Conservation Centre. For a bit of gentle thrill seeking, head to the Poring Hot Spring canopy walk. You are suspended 41m above the ground and rewarded with a birds-eye view of the age-old forest.
Niah National Park
Head south to Miri, Sarawak for an adventure of a different kind. Niah National Park is another of Malaysia’s treasured UNESCO World Heritage Sites. It is an extraordinary experience that combines human history, natural beauty and modern living. Entering the park, you walk along a wooden planked pathway flanked by giant pandanus plants and untouched rainforest. This park is home to hornbills, bats, lizards, monkeys and squirrels. It’s like entering a real-life Jurassic Park.
Niah National Park spans 3,100 hectares of forest and limestone karst formations. The caves are a network of chambers and tunnels, and sites of remarkable archaeological discoveries. This was home to humans dating back 40,000 years. The Great Cave was a living museum for prehistoric tools, pottery and artifacts. The Painted Cave is like an ancient art gallery. In here, they found rock art of burial rites and spiritual practices. Pure Indiana Jones vibes.
To fully experience this Sarawak rainforest resort, make sure your Gua Niah tour package includes a night’s stay at Sutera Sanctuary Lodges’ Niah National Park accommodation. Staying overnight gives you access to the national park after dark, and ensures you don’t miss the main event.
This is nature’s dance that occurs twice a day, every day at the Great Cave. Thousands of bats and swiftlets coexist here in perfect harmony. At dusk, head to the cave entrance and sit in silence. Look up. Thousands of swiftlets will dart into the cave, coming from all directions. After a day of hunting and foraging the jungles, they return to their nests in the cave walls to roost. At the exact same moment, black ribbons of bats swoop out of the cave into the night sky as their watch begins. It is a mesmerising choreographed chaos that you will never forget. At the break of dawn, the ritual is reversed.
The Niah caves are more than a historical site. They continue to provide for local communities who work as guides and experts, sell traditional woven products to tourists and sustainably gather swiftlet nests from the caves. Swiftlet nests are a prized delicacy and have sustained communities here for centuries.
Stay inside UNESCO World Heritage Site with Sutera Sanctuary Lodges.
