Kota Kinabalu

Formerly known as Jessleton, the capital of Sabah is located on the west coast of Borneo under the shadow of Mount Kinabalu, and with good beaches is a good base from which to explore the more remote parts of Borneo. The city has a new feel to it, having been rebuilt after the Second World War, and is a blend of Malay, Chinese and European influences with a collection of Chinese shop houses, traditional market places, shopping malls and a number of decent seafront restaurants. From Kota Kinabalu it is possible to explore the Kinabalu National Park, or take a snorkelling trip to a Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park which lies 5 km off the coast of Kota Kinabalu consisting of 5 small islands, fringed by golden sands and coral reefs.