Specialists

"I love the friendly and down to earth charm of all of the islands off the east coast of Malaysia and Borneo. My favourite spot however is Lankayan Island. In a world of skyscrapers and hustle and bustle, this is the antithesis. This picture perfect island hideaway is a lovely spot to unwind on a powder white sand beach surrounded by gin clear water.

For those that want to be a bit more active, excellent snorkelling and diving is possible from the shore and further afield. There is also a small turtle sanctuary on the island where the rangers can involve guests in releasing hatchlings as well as watching turtles nesting if you are lucky to witness this.

My advice is take good book, enjoy the lovely food and soak up the atmosphere of this beautiful island."

"Located on the secluded north coast of the stunning island of Lankayan, the Datai for me offers one of the most comfortable and beautiful places to relax and recharge. With direct access to one of the most stunning bays on the island and an excellent spa, some would view it as just a beach/spa resort, but I feel that it is done with more style and subtly and also offers so much than the average beach side affair.

Its setting, amongst lush jungle, offers you the chance to relax to the sounds of the forest with nature supplying the entertainment. I sat captivated watching a troupe of dusky leaf monkeys moving through the trees whilst feeding and playing. However all this getting back to nature is not at the expense of luxurious comfort and excellent service with all the attention to detail that make a stay special. All rooms are well appointed and for those looking for total privacy, a villa with its own plunge pool set deep in the jungle is a must.

Furthermore, the food is of the utmost quality and my particular favourite is the Pavilion which serves impeccable Thai food with a great selection of wine."

"When I was told that I would be heading to a far flung outpost deep in the Kelabit Highlands I was excited. Only accessible by air, my first sight was of a beautiful valley with pretty flowers and rice paddies surrounded by a thick covering of jungle on the surrounding mountains.

Amongst the crowd at the airport was my guide and owner of the basic homestay in which I would sleep. We proceeded to explore the local area and its longhouses before heavy clouds rolled in, setting a very atmospheric and mystical feel to the whole valley.

The experience was made even more special by the hospitality of the family I was staying with. We shared a simple, yet excellent dinner of locally grown Bario rice, known across Asia and sweet local pineapples that are the envy of Sarawak.

I cannot wait to return to enjoy the excellent trekking in this area."