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Boutique, Eco-Luxury Resort in the South China Sea
Abundant sea life swirls around the luxurious over-water villas at the Gayana Marine Resort, where the highest quality of service and amenities meets environmental protection on an island off the coast of Borneo. Dine overlooking the South China Sea on the day’s sustainable catch, learn to dive on the nearby reef, or trek into the lush jungle before returning for a rejuvenating treatment using indigenous plants, locally sourced ingredients, and oils. Find a tranquil escape among turtles and mangroves at a resort that welcomes you wholeheartedly to its little slice of paradise.
- Enjoy a cool jungle breeze in one of 52 luxury stilted villas
- Learn to dive with P.A.D.I. certified instructors in an idyllic location
- Dine on the freshest seafood at one of the finest Chinese restaurants in Malaysia
- Swim, snorkel, paddleboard, or kayak in the gentle South China Sea
- Indulge in a mineral-rich Malay mud wrap or gentle botanical scrub at the Echo Wellness Spa
- Get up close to seahorses and bamboo sharks at the Marine Ecology Research Center
A trip to the Gayana Marine Resort is more than a luxurious break in a tropical paradise. This resort effortlessly provides modern luxury and sustainable living while preserving the ecosystem for generations to come. At the Marine Ecology Research Center, contribute to protecting the island by replanting in the coral reef.
Hotel Amenities
Accommodations
Gayana Marine Resort’s 52 stilted, over-water villas offer unforgettable views and the lulling soundtrack of waves lapping below to send you to sleep. Traditional Borneo architecture is enhanced by modern comforts, including Frette linens, hardwood interiors, and a minibar stocked with complimentary beer and soft drinks. Choose a Rainforest Villa for jungle views, or an Ocean Villa to connect with the sea — a flight of stairs leads directly into the water from your balcony. Ocean-facing Palm Villas also features a plunge pool and a glass floor over the glistening water. Breeze Villas, with a separate living area and two bathrooms, are perfectly suited to small groups and families.
Room service is available throughout the resort, and if you choose an Ocean or Palm Villa you can enjoy dinner on your own waterside deck.
Offers
I Prefer Member Rate
Preferred Suites
Visa® Worlds Offer
Dining
Gayana Marine Resort boasts two deliciously different restaurants and a cocktail bar. Choose between an over-water restaurant where you can select your own seafood from the tank, and an informal all-day dining restaurant overlooking the sea.
Alu Alu – One of the finest Chinese seafood restaurants in the area, where you can choose from the menu or pick from the local species in 28 glass tanks. The chef will be happy to wok-fry, braise, or steam your choice. Vibrant flavors are delicately presented, with dishes including marinated octopus with seaweed and sesame, and stir-fried sea crab with black pepper sauce.
Macac – Head to Macac by the pool for Western fusion delights with a Malaysian twist. This relaxed restaurant is perfect for lazy lunches of wood-fired pizzas or club sandwiches, and romantic dinners of Pad Thai, steak, or beef rendang. Breakfast is served until 10 a.m.
Latitude Lounge – Visit at sundown for picture postcard panoramas and your first drink is on the house. If you can bear to take your eyes off the view, there’s a pool table, too.
Private dining – If you have a question about an occasion to celebrate, or if you just want dinner in the resort’s most captivating and secluded setting, arrange for an intimate meal on the private jetty.
Activities at Gayana Marine Resort
Visit the on-site Marine Ecology Research Center and help to replant corals in the reef, or get close to some of the fascinating marine life. The resort dive center is well-equipped with paddle boards and snorkels for exploring the ocean and is P.A.D.I. certified for scuba diving trips. Reduce stress with a caviar facial or bamboo scrub at the Echo Wellness Spa, or simply relax by the tranquil pool.
Step out into the thick jungle that neighbors the resort and discover the array of diverse flora and fauna. Marked trails weave through the canopy and you can even take a four-hour trek to sister hotel Bungaraya Island Resort. Then, catch a boat back after a refreshing cocktail.
Location
This luxury hotel is located in Malohom Bay on the south coast of Gaya Island, in the Kota Kinabalu region of Malaysian Borneo. Gayana Marine Resort is set in a natural inlet surrounded by ocean on one side, and thick jungle thriving with wildlife on the other.
Address
Malohom Bay, Gaya Island, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia
Transportation
- Airport
- Kota Kinabalu International Airport is 5.6 mi / 9 km from Jesselton Point and guests can reach the resort following a 15-minute speedboat ride.
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