Mainland Borneo is famous for its dense rainforest & megadiverse ecosystem, but fewer travellers are familiar with the idyllic tropical islands scattered around it.
Many of these sit in what’s known as 'Turtle Corridor', an extensive and internationally protected stretch of water between the Philippines and Malaysia. It’s a critical habitat for sea turtles and a profusion of other marine life which, coupled with fantastically clear waters, makes for excellent diving. The turtles can also be spotted on land, when they come ashore to lay eggs.
The islanders take great care to protect the creatures that make them so special, & many of the islands run turtle conservation projects. While this means you may sometimes be unable to access certain beaches in the evening, you may well get the chance to watch a turtle egg-laying or hatching, under a ranger’s supervision - infinitely more magical than looking for them by yourself in the dark & accidentally trampling on a nest.
With tropical beaches to relax on and professional dive-masters on hand to help you explore the world-class waters, one of Borneo’s islands may well be that paradise you dream of whenever your attention wanders.
...that the UK's Foreign Commonwealth Office is currently advising against all but essential travel to all islands off the coast of eastern Sabah from Kudat to Tawau, including (but not limited to) Lankayan, Mabul, Pom Pom, Kapalai, Litigan, Sipadan and Mataking.
