Maliau Basin (Sabah's Lost World)

• Area: 588.4sq km
• Located in the South central part of the Malaysian State of Sabah
• The Maliau Basin contains an unusual assemblage of 12 forest types, comprising mainly of lower montane forest dominated by majestic Agathis trees, rare montane heath forest and lowland and hill dipterocarp forest
• The highlight of the adventure is to trek to the majestic 7 tiers Maliau Falls
• Permission to enter must obtain in advance from Yayasan Sabah. It must remember that Maliau Basin is a remote, rugged and isolated area with limited access, communication and safety facilities

Tawau Hills Park

With its sprawling grounds, lush green foliage and sparkling river, Tawau Hills Park is the ideal place to get in touch with nature. Located some 24 km. from Tawau town, the park is a popular spot for families and friends to enjoy a picnic or, for the more adventurous, spend a night camping under a blanket of stars.

The park serves as a vital water catchment area for the major rivers in this part of Sabah, the Tawau , Merotai, Kinabatangan, Mantri and Balung rivers. Covering an area of 27,972 hectares, the Tawau Hills Park was gazetted in 1979. It is home to numerous plant and animal species. Walking down any of the many paths, visitors will notice that a wooden label identifies almost every plant. The dominant vegetation is lowland dipterocarp forest. With increasing altitude (above 1,000 m.), a thick damp mossy forest takes over. Lowland orchids are also abundant; the most spectacular is the Elephant's Ear Orchid. Be sure to check out the 2-hectare Lowland Gardens, home to an astounding selection of flora.

If you are fortunate, you might even catch a glimpse of the wildlife here. The wildlife are generally elusive but sightings of long-tailed macaques, giant tree squirrels, civets, red-leaf monkeys and even a troop of white monkeys have been reported.

Visitors can opt to stay at the chalets or lodges, most of which have basic amenities such as common bathrooms and kitchens. Feeling adventurous? A camping ground is also available not too far from the river. The rivers are clean and ideal for swimming (some parts are quite deep, so weak swimmers should be cautious). There are also plenty of hiking trails, some of which lead to a hot spring area and waterfalls. Be sure to follow the signs!

Many people visit Tawau Hills Park during the school holidays or at weekends. To avoid crowds, weekdays are the best time to explore the park.

Madai - Baturong Forest Reserve Nature Centre

• Area: 3,436.5 hectares
• About 50 km. from Lahad Datu or about 15 km. from Kunak
• Madai is basically a bird cave where the popular bird nest delicacy originates, while the Baturong Cave is riddled with several caverns containing ancient coffins
• Madai Baturong Forest Reserve Nature Centre is classified as Class 1 forest reserve

Tabin Wildlife Reserve

• Area: 120,500 hectares
• Tabin plays an important role as a dedicated ground for the breeding of endangered wildlife and protected mammals in Sabah.
• Tabin offers a unique way to experience the excitement of adventure and the opportunity to spot some wildlife such as the three largest mammals of Sabah the Borneo Pygmy elephant Sumatran Rhinocero

Kapalai Island

• Between Sipadan and Mabul Island lies a sand bar known many years ago as Kapalai Island. Unfortunately, erosion has taken its toll and now the sand bar sits on top of the reef known as the Ligitan Reefs, a very extensive stretch bordering the deep and vast Celebes Sea.
• The underwater scene offers some of the best "muck-diving' in the world.
• Rare subjects such as flamboyant cuttlefish, blue-ringed octopus, sea moths and mating mandarin fish are seen on a regular basis.

Mabul Island

• Mabul Island is one of the best "muck diving" site in the world.
• It is a small oval shaped island surrounded by sandy beaches and perched on the northwest corner of a larger 200-hectare reef.
• Mabul is arguably one of the riches single destinations for exotic small marine life anywhere in the world
• Many types of crustaceans, shrimp, eels and gobies can be found at Mabul

Mataking Island

With its sparkling white sand, mesmerizing blue waters and top-class resort, Mataking Island is the ideal getaway for both the avid diver and non-diver. Divers can gear up and explore the Eel Garden, Coral Garden, Nudibranch Garden, Turtle Playground, Lobsters Lair and Hump Head Point.

Non-diving activities include a luxurious pampering experience at Jamu Spa, batik painting, kayaking, canoeing and jungle-trekking to name a few. A must-do during your time in Mataking is to take a leisurely walk to Pulau Mataking Kecil (literally meaning Small Mataking island) which is a 20-minute walk from the main island. The best time to take this walk is in the morning when the tides are low, allowing you to walk on a sandy stretch that leads directly to the smaller island. With the sea surrounding you on both sides, you will feel almost as if you are walking on water!.

Sipadan Island

• Sipadan island internationally famous island that lies five degrees north of the equator in Sulawesi Sea (Celebes Sea)
• Sipadan is an oceanic island and was formed by living corals growing on top of an extinct undersea volcano, which rises 600m from the seabed.
• The geographic position of Sipadan puts it in the centre of the richest marine habitat in the world, the heart of the Indo-Pacific basin.
• The turtle tomb, an underwater limestone cave with labyrinth of tunnels and chambers that contain many skeletal remains of turtles makes another unique feature to divers visiting to Sipadan

Teck Guan Cocoa Museum

Can't imagine a world without chocolate? Neither can we. For the true chocolate lover, a visit to the Teck Guan Cocoa Museum in Tawau is a must. Tawau is known for its booming cocoa industry and the museum proudly houses the history of its development over the years.

The Teck Guan Cocoa Museum, located at Mile 2, Tanjung Batu Laut, opened its doors for visitors in 2002. With its attractive design and layout, the museum is the only one of its kind in Malaysia. The fragrant scent of cocoa greets you as you enter the doors. Within the museum grounds, you will also find a cocoa processing plant and manufacturing factory, giving you an up close view of the production process.

A wall-to-wall illustrated history explains in detail the discovery and development of coca in Malaysia and the world. The museum also has a mini auditorium, which seats 40 people at a time. Here you will enjoy a 20-minute video on cocoa processing and production.

The ‘Hoko' lady then awaits to show you how cocoa snacks and other cocoa delicacies are prepared. Various Hoko products are also available for purchase, from chocolate jam to instant hot cocoa beverages