Tag: the best in Asia

Sipadan Kapalai Dive Resort Travel Guide 2022

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Sitting on sturdy stilts on the shallow sandbanks of the Ligitan Reefs, Sipadan Kapalai Dive Resort is one of the best resorts in the Sipadan Islands. Built-in full style as a relaxing and comfortable water village with no land in sight. The resort offers the purest image of beautiful natural serenity.

Dive spots from Sipadan Kapalai Resort are extremely close and can be reached in just a few minutes. Sipadan Kapalai Dive Resort is an ideal destination for divers and non-divers alike seeking a great holiday experience. Are you ready for an adventure this summer? Here’s the Guide to Sipadan Kapalai Dive Resort in Malaysia.

 

The Best Diving Spot in Malaysia

 

Sipadan Kapalai Resort Dive Centre provides diving, snorkeling, and kayaking gear for rent. The resort also offers a variety of diving courses (Professional Association of Diving Instructors or PADI) which is best for first-time divers. The courses include Open Water and Introduction to Night Diving.

Diving around Kapalai is exceedingly easy and shallow but quite spectacular. The corals and the sandy bottom host an amazing array of colorful underwater animals making diving here an unforgettable experience. The island is home to the weird and brightly colored flamboyant cuttlefish rumbling on the bottom creating the most spectacular underwater display.

 

Dive Resort Facilities

Sipadan Kapalai Dive Resort offers an innovative concept with a touch of a traditional Malay-style village. Kapalai’s chain of chalets are all linked by miles of wooden walkways.

The resort is made of 59 wooden chalets offering twin and triple sharing accommodation are attached with a clever balcony which offers the total sought privacy by the lovers of sunbathing and sun tanning. Chalets are equipped with bathrooms with bathtubs, showers, and toiletries. It is also equipped with coffee and tea-making machines.

Other facilities:

  • Broadband Internet Access
  • Satellite phone
  • Freshwater from mainland

Dining Services

Delicious meal served in buffet style under the terraced, open central structure. A huge western sundeck with a sitting area that allow divers to have a drink, a great spot for relaxation while enjoying the view of Kapalai’s fabulous tropical sunset.

Dining Timetable

Breakfast: 7 am – 10:30 am
Lunch: 12:30 pm – 2 pm
Dinner: 7 pm – 8:30 pm

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Havana Mutiara Belitung Hotel

 

Rental Price for Extra Equipment

Kayak – MYR 35 per hour
Kayak transparent – MYR 50 per hour
BC Jacket – MYR 38 per day
Regulator / Gauges – MYR 38 per day
Mask, snorkel – MYR 23 per day
Fins – MYR 13 per day
Wet suit – MYR 32 per day
Booties – MYR 12 per day

 

How to get to Sipadan Kapalai Dive Resort

From your location, fly to Tawau, the nearest town to Kapalai Island You can fly to Tawau either from Kota Kinabalu, Kuala Lumpur, or Singapore.

From Tawau
The resort shuttle service will pick you up from the airport and transfer you to Semporna town (50 minutes)

From Semporna
Take the resort speed boat to Kapalai Island (40 minutes)

Scheduled boat transfers from Semporna to Kapalai Island

  • 10:00 am
  • 12:30 pm
  • 3:30 pm

Sipadan Kapalai Dive Resort Map

Other Resorts and Hotels Near Sipadan Kapalai

  • Seafest Hotel
  • Green World Hotel
  • 7 Inn
  • Sipadan Inn 2
  • Wave View Hotel
  • Grace Hotel Semporna
  • Pacific Inn
  • Dragon Inn Floating Resort
  • Ocean House
  • Han Palace Hotel

Things to do in Palau Ubin, Singapore

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Things to do in Palau Ubin - Singapore | Vlog smarter

 

 

Palau Ubin, also known as Ubin, is an island situated in the north of Singapore, to the west of Palau Tekong. Palau Ubin is one of the last areas in Singapore that have an abundance of natural flora and fauna.

The island forms part of the Ubin-Khatib Important Bird Area (IBA), identified as such by Birdlife International because it supports significant numbers of both migratory and resident birds. The island managed by the National Parks Board.

One of the best destinations in Southeast Asia, Palau Ubin is the place for nature lovers or thrill-seekers. To give you more overview of how wonderful the island is, here are the top things to do in Palau Ubin, Singapore.

 

 

Things to do in Palau Ubin

 

 

Enjoy the Nature and Wildlife

The island is a paradise for nature lovers, Palau Ubin has plenty to offer with its lush greenery and abundant wildlife. You can visit the Pekan Quarry, which is an old granite quarry and now turned into a beautiful lake.

The surrounding area is home to an assortment of different wildlife including different species of birds like Oriental Pied Hornbill. There are a lot of different beautiful spots like Butterfly Hill, Sensory Trail, and a lot more.

 

 

Recommended: Best Time to travel Southeast Asian Countries

 

 

Discover the History and Ecosystems of the Island

Head to the East of the island to check out the old restored houses and the Chek Jawa wetlands and boardwalk, a 1.1 kilometer boardwalk where you can enjoy gazing down at the marine wildlife in the coral reef. Climb up the 20-metre Jejawi Tower for a bird’s-eye view of Ubin. The viewing point can only accommodate 20 people at a time.

 

 

 

Go Mountain Biking

Ketam Mountain Bike Park in Ubin was designed according to the International Mountain Bicycling Associations with Trail Difficulty Rating System (TDRS). The TDRS indicates the complexity level of the route. These must be the best bike trails for mountain biking enthusiasts. If you’re up for this adventure, head over to the western end of the island to enjoy the obstacles to work on your bike tricks.

 

 

Go Kayaking

Explore the island by the water through kayaking. There are plenty of adventure organizations that have set up at the Ubin’s main village offering kayak tours. Some organizations offer a program ranging from a 4-hours mangrove kayaking course to a full-day Ubing bisect kayaking session. Be sure to keep your eyes peeled for the abundance of wildlife that lives in the area when you sail through the mangroves.

 

 

Hike to Puaka Hill

Your journey to Puaka Hill may only take 15 to 20 minutes to complete but because of its rocky and steep trail, you’ll be panting by the time your reach its peak. Reach the top and you’ll be rewarded with great paradise-like view overlooking Ubin.

 

 

Visit the Most Picture-worthy Spots in Palau Ubin

From high atop the hills to the memorable murals at the drink stall, there are a lot of spots on the island that are the most photogenic according to tourists who visited the island. Here are the top picturesque spots in Palau Ubin:

  • The Sensory Trail
  • Palau Ubin Tree
  • Puaka Hill’s View
  • Pekan Quarry
  • The drinks stall mural
  • Chek Jawa Boardwalk
  • House No 1 at Check Jawa

 

Stay Overnight at Palau Ubin

Sleep beneath the stars and feel the breeze by pitching your tent at any of the two camping sites on the island:  Jelutong and Mamam. Mama can be located further north of the island while Jelutong is situated closest to the village and faces the mainland. Both camping locations have toilet facilities nearby. Jelutong is the only spot that is equipped to accommodate a campfire. Just register your stay at Palau Ubin Police Post and you’re good to go.

 

 

How to get to Palau Ubin

Board a bumboat at Changi Point Ferry Terminal to get to Ubin. It will take about 15 minutes to get to the island. The boats in Ubin run on an irregular schedule as they only depart once they have 12 people on board. The driver collects the fees before the boat jets off. You’ll be charged an extra 2 dollars if you bring along a bicycle.