Go wild in Malaysia this spring at YTL Hotels with a diverse range of wildlife focused experiences to choose from.
YTL’s properties; Gaya Island Resort, Tanjong Jara Resort and Pankor Laut Resort each offer guests the chance to immerse themselves in breathtaking local wildlife, observing an array of natural spectacles. Guests have the bucket-list opportunity to spot some of the world’s rarest and most endangered species, such as Ridley’s Myotis bats at Gaya Island Resort and the Sunda Pangolin at Pankor Laut Resort, one of the rarest mammals in the region. Meanwhile, Tanjong Jara Resort provides guests with the chance to experience the Turtle Hatchery with a special Divers Retreat Package to celebrate its 10 year anniversary.
Gaya Island Resort, Malaysia: Wildlife Wonders Package
Nestled on the tranquil shores of Pulau Gaya, Gaya Island Resort is the perfect destination for an unrivalled exploration into Borneo’s natural wonders. Situated within a 4,922-hectare protected Marine Park, Gaya Island Resort is pioneering ecological conservation offerings. The resort’s unique location offers a haven for both indigenous and transient species from the king cobra to the dollarbird.
This February, the luxury resort unveiled a brand new ‘Wildlife Wonders’ package – a flawlessly curated four-day, three-night adventure designed specifically for nature enthusiasts eager to discover the island’s rich biodiversity. Guests embarking on the Wildlife Wonders package will commence each morning with breathtaking views of Mount Kinabalu, partaking in guided explorations led by the resort’s resident naturalist and bucket-list worthy experiences such as kayaking through mangrove forests and a dawn bird-watching experience. Gaya Island Resort is home to a range of rare and fascinating species, some of which are exclusively unique to the island, such as the Dring’s Slender Litter Frog which is endemic to Borneo; Ridley’s Myotis bat; Bornean Keeled Pit Viper and Smiths Giant Gecko, with piercing green eyes. The notorious king cobra, the world’s longest venomous snake, also inhabits the marine park that Gaya Island Resort is situated within.
The Wildlife Wonders package starts from £218.40/MYR 1,200++ for 2 people per night with a minimum three-night stay, in a Bayu Villa as well as full board and scheduled return boat transfers between Jesselton Point Ferry Terminal in Kota Kinabalu and the resort. Gaya Island Resort’s nightly rate starts from £181 including breakfast.
Tanjong Jara Resort, Malaysia
Tanjong Jara Resort is a renowned coastal haven, located on the pristine East Coast of Peninsular Malaysia. Since it opened in 1980, the team have priortised preserving the hotel’s natural environment, impinging as little as possible on the surrounding nature. Beyond the pristine beaches, and luxury accommodations, the Turtle Hatchery at Tanjong Jara Resort offers guests the unique opportunity to witness nature’s most touching spectacle, reintegrating baby sea turtles back into their natural habitat. The Turtle Hatchery season runs from March – mid November 2025, and to celebrate its 10 year anniversary, guests booking on the Tenggol Divers Retreat can enjoy a 10% discount on visits before 30th April 2025.
Continuing its partnership with the dedicated marine conservation organisation PULIHARA, the Tanjong Jara Resort continues to work to create a safe sanctuary for nesting turtles. Designed with a simple wooden lattice frame, the hatchery enables guests to observe nests while ensuring the turtles remain protected. Guests are educated on turtles’ life cycles, the challenges they face in the wild, and the conservation efforts that help to safeguard their future. Guests looking to extend their contribution to conservation can through the Nest Adoption Programme which offers the chance to protect turtle nests from poachers, ensuring that eggs remain untouched and turtle hatchlings reach the ocean safely.
The Tenggol Divers Retreat package is from £238.04/MYR 1,350 +++ per room for 2, nightly, minimum three-night stay. Early bird 10% discount available on stays until 30th April costing £175.77/MYR1215 +++Tanjong Jara Resort’s nightly rate starts from £140 including breakfast.
Pankor Laut Resort, Malaysia
Pankor Laut Resort, nestled amid an untouched rainforest, offers guests a blend of luxury, natural beauty and timeless wilderness to create a truly memorable experience. Preserving its two-million-year-old ecosystem, Pangkor Laut Resort has only developed a fraction of the 300-acre private island it is located on, enabling wildlife to thrive amid wooden accommodation structures, seamlessly blending the resort into the forest. Conservation is a huge focus for the resort with The Nature Conservation Centre giving guests the chance to learn about the celebrated local wildlife.
The resort is home to various rare and endangered species such as the Sunda Pangolin, which are noted as Critically Endangered by the IUCN Red List; the Great Hornbill bird, known for its distinctive call and the Mangrove Pit Viper snake. Large monitor lizards can be spotted enjoying the island’s rocky outcrops and white-bellied sea eagles soar elegantly above the trees and waterways. Guests can also spot turtles on the island at the specialist Teluk Ketapang turtle hatchery where the team rehabilitate injured and sick turtles and teach guests about wildlife preservation. A range of rare plant species can also be found at the resort in The Tropical Botanical Gardens where the expert team have successfully nurtured rare species, such as the Triangular Clubmoss, indigenous to the island.
Pangkor Laut Resort’s nightly rate starts from £164 including breakfast.