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Boutique, Eco-Luxury Resort in the South China Sea
Powered By TripAdvisorAbundant 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.
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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Reviews
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A Retreat That Fails to Deliver
Sat Aug 09 2025 22:39:33 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time) by Holland-NL31
The location is undeniably beautiful, and the idea of a secluded retreat sounded promising. Unfortunately, the execution fell short in several key areas. Maintenance & Comfort The villas appear charming at first glance, but closer inspection reveals serious neglect. Roofs are deteriorated to the point where the underlying structure is visible, and many buildings have shifted, leaving gaps under doors. Paint is peeling, and basic comfort was lacking: the shower provided only brief bursts of warm water and was mostly cold — a frustrating experience in a resort of this supposed caliber. Facilities & Availability Although the resort markets itself as a PADI dive center, diving was not available during our stay. Weekdays were quiet, but on Saturday we saw a large influx of tourists arriving by ferry. This raises concerns about the availability of facilities like kayaks and paddleboards during peak times. Restaurant & Food Safety The restaurant offers a limited menu, but the food served is generally well-prepared and nicely presented. However, the menu includes health warnings about potentially undercooked food — and unfortunately, these were not unfounded. Two of us fell ill, likely due to food poisoning. Upon arrival, we were also asked to sign an extensive waiver, including a clause releasing the resort from liability — hardly reassuring. Staff & Housekeeping Staff were friendly, polite, and professional — consistent with what you’d expect from a resort at this level. Housekeeping, however, was subpar. We had to call them back multiple times due to missing toilet paper and towels. When towels were provided, they were simply stacked rather than properly arranged in the bathroom. Cleaning was superficial: mold in the bathroom and only a quick sweep of the floors. Value for Money Prices are exorbitant by local standards. Given the high occupancy rate, the resort’s revenue must be substantial. One would expect a state-of-the-art experience — but that’s far from reality. The quality offered does not justify the cost. Misleading Presentation Photos on Tripadvisor and other platforms appear carefully staged and do not reflect the true condition of the resort. The reality is far less polished. Conclusion The natural surroundings offer peace and beauty, and the resort has all the ingredients to be a top destination. But due to serious maintenance issues, limited facilities, poor hygiene, questionable food safety, legal disclaimers, and a price point that wildly exceeds the actual quality, that potential remains unrealized. A missed opportunity for what could have been a luxurious escape into serenity.
A Perfect stay in Sabah
Thu Jul 24 2025 10:20:16 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time) by cwso2015
An excellent resort in Sabah with floating villa. Staffs are all helpful and very nice. The water quality is excellent that there is no more plastic rubbish in the sea as mentioned in some previous comment. There is also an research centre in the resort to introduce the marine life and protection. Kids learn a lot. We stayed in Palm villa for one night. My kids were surprised and enjoyed a lot in the villa. Recommend to everyone, no regret.
A Super Chilled 5+
Sat Jun 28 2025 05:07:09 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time) by Carmel S
An idyllic location at Gaya Island off Kota Kinabalu. Arrive by ferry from "KK" and from then, if relaxing far from the maddening crowd is for you...then this IS the place. Clusters of overwater bungalows set the scene. We were in a "Palm Villa" right at the end of the pier in deeper water. The villa was split level - oversized - with a sitting room (TV) living room with glass flooring to view the sea life below (amazing), steps up to a king size bed, separate bathroom including a two person shower and spa bath. The highlight however is outside, a private deck for lounging, table and chairs for dining, plunge pool and jetty steps straight into the water. There is only one dining /restaurant, but it caters to all food and special needs - Eduardo is exceptional, service, manner and willingness to please while Spencer the head chef took on my food allergies as a challenge and won out spectacularly. Some memorable eating to be sure! There is also an upstairs bars and a relaxing spa catering to all needs. Water activities are the main attraction - no fishing, it is a marine protected area and has a dedicated information center to explain about regeneration. Snorkeling, diving (equipment available) paddle boarding and kayaking. Bush walking is optional also. This tranquil resort is hard to beat if you want a chilled, relaxing holiday in a beautiful location with super attentive staff (shout out to Narmioah as well) who really only want to please and ensure you have everything you need, such a boating up breakfast to the villa's rear deck ! No rubbish in the water which is pristine, although we were advised that seasonally mainly in monsoon times, seaweed and flotsam can was in to the bay from the ocean - we saw none.
Amazing team and trip!
Tue Jun 17 2025 05:42:47 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time) by danbA8182WU
Absolutely fantastic resort. I was originally tempted to cancel due to seeing some negative posts but so glad I didn't. Everything was perfect. Eduardo and Rechey are the best!
Excellent experience at gayana merine resort
Sun May 18 2025 10:14:52 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time) by Syafiqdanial99
I would like to express my sincere gratitude to all the staff at Gayana Marine Resort for their outstanding service and warm hospitality. From the very beginning, I was impressed by the professionalism and friendliness of Mr. Santos and Khai, who assisted us even before we arrived at the resort. Upon our arrival, we were warmly welcomed by the entire team, which made both my partner and me feel incredibly special and happy. A big thank you to the Front Office Manager, Mr. Steve, as well as Awang, Mei, and the two lovely ladies who greeted us. Mei was especially helpful, handing me the life jacket during the boat ride—thank you, Mei, for your kindness and care. The restaurant was wonderful, and I’d like to give special thanks to Terry and Alno for their attentive service. I also want to mention the hardworking uncle at the restaurant—I didn’t catch his name, but he very hard working person. Last but not least, thank you to the reservation team for the complimentary room upgrade to an ocean view. This gesture made our celebration even more meaningful, and it’s something we’ll never forget. Thank you, Gayana Marine Resort, for making our stay so memorable. We truly appreciate the exceptional service and genuine hospitality Best regards Syafiq
