From SabahBah.com – Gaya Island Resort is the 3rd resort to open on Gaya island, but the first resort to actually take the name of the island.
Gaya Island Resort shares the island and is not to be confused with Gayana Eco Resort (600m away, across the bay) and Bunga Raya Resort (5km away along the coastline of Gaya island).
The 1,465 hectare Gaya island lies mostly in the Tunku Adbul Rahman Park, although the the eastern edge closest to the city and home to a sprawling water village, is just 1.8 km from Kota Kinabalu and outside the park bounds.
The Gaya Island Resort, however, stakes its claim squarely in the marine park, 5.6 km by boat from the Jesselton Point public jetty.
The new YTL Luxury Resorts developed property boasts 120 villas and 2-bedroom suites, varying in size from the entry-level, 47m² Gaya Villa, to the high-end, 188m² Suria Suite.
The Gaya Island Resort, carved from the Gaya island hillsides, is surrounded by untouched, virgin rainforest, and built from natural materials to blend in with the environment.
The suites feature bathrooms with oversized bathtubs and outdoor verandahs, equipped with day-beds, to enable guests to enjoy its excellent views and pristine surroundings.
Gaya Island Resort Food & Beverage Outlets
There are 4 food and beverage offerings at the Gaya Island Resort.
Feast Village, located near the lap pool, offers all-day dining, serving food from the Asia-Pacific region. On a clear day views of Mount Kinabalu will provide the backdrop to meals.
Fisherman’s Cover is Gaya Island Resort’s fine dining outlet, which serves only seafood dishse in an upmarket ambience that has a dress code and an age restriction (only guests above 16 is allowed).
The Pool Bar & Lounge is next to the resort’s infinity pool. Although Gaya Island Resort faces east towards the city, and therefore does not have a view of Sabah’s spectacular sunsets, sundowners can nevertheless be enjoyed whilst viewing the last rays fading from the peaks of Mt. Kinabalu.
Tavajun Bay is a secluded beach, 5 minutes by boat from Gaya Island Resort, where guests can enjoy a seclude lunch or pre-ordered, specially prepared meal for a special occasion or just to relax.
Natural Attractions near Gaya Island Resort
Surrounding the resort are various natural attractions. The coral reefs found near Gaya Island and elsewhere around the Tunku Abdul Rahman Park, are quite spectacular considering how close to the city it is.
The jungles of Gaya island itself is pristine and home to a surprising variety of wildlife.
Proboscis and macaque monkeys, a plethora of documented Borneo birdlife, snakes and hornbills are all commonly heard and often spotted. There are also wild boar on Gaya island, but less likely to be seen.
A short walk from Gaya Island Resort you will also find mangrove swamps, an ecologically important intertidal zone that is the nursery of the reefs, providing shelter and nutrition to the juveniles of many species of marine critters.
Gettings to Gaya Island Resort
A journey of about 20 minutes from the airport will bring you to the jetty, from where a transfer by boat to Gaya Island Resort will take between 20 and 30 minutes, depending on the prevailing weather and sea conditions.
Guests are received and check-in at the harbour, and are immediately received and escorted to their villas upon arrival at the resort.