An enriching eco-luxury family holiday in Borneo that blends relaxation with nature-based learning, Shangri-La Rasa Ria offers a stress-free sustainable resort experience in Sabah - perfect for families!
Our family of four, with two children under 12, dream of holidays that help us unwind from school and work, indulge in a little luxury, and still stay aligned with our eco-conscious values. If you’re a parent looking for a kid-friendly resort in Malaysia that’s environmentally sustainable and offers memorable experiences for children, Shangri-La Rasa Ria in Sabah is the eco resort Malaysia families are looking for.
First Impressions: Green Beauty Meets Warm Hospitality
Nestled between the rainforest and the sea, the sprawling Shangri-La Rasa Ria resort offers instant immersion in Borneo’s natural beauty. After a short 2.5-hour flight from Kuala Lumpur to Kota Kinabalu, we arrived to warm greetings, traditional bead necklaces, and the local warriors’ welcome dance.
The Room: Comfort With a Conscience
Designed with families in mind, the rooms are spacious with interconnecting options, child-sized amenities, and safety features. Family rooms offer fun bunk beds with plushies, and activity packs for kids, with easy ground floor stroller-accessibility. Sustainable features include the use of biodegradable toiletries, energy-efficient lighting, water-saving fixtures, and no single-use plastics (just refill your water bottle at the water refilling stations around the resort).
Some rooms also offer balconies with views of the garden or the South China Sea, allowing for wildlife spotting right from your room, or while soaking in the enormous outdoor tub.
Pro tip: Request a higher floor for better birdwatching!
Nature-Filled Fun: Rasa Ria Reserve & Kids’ Programmes
Families can join guided nature walks and wildlife spotting in the 64-acre Rasa Ria Reserve tropical jungle. The Winged Wonders Buggy Tour is an exciting introduction to the resort’s biodiversity – a hit with kids curious about primates, birds, and reptiles, while the After Dark: The Glow Experience features magical lights installations, bioluminescent mushrooms and even scorpions that glow in the dark.
Children participate in hands-on activities like observing animals, studying plants, and recording discoveries under the Junior Naturalist programme. Other hands-on experiences that teach children about the environment in engaging ways include the Junior Mycologist programme at the Discovery Centre. Look out for multi-day camp programmes for kids 12 and under, starting Summer 2025.
Pro tip: Book the Junior Naturalist programme when you first arrive – slots fill up fast!
POP QUIZ!
Which Bornean wildlife can you expect to see on a night walk?
a. Slow Loris
b. Proboscis Monkey
c. Orangutan
(Answer at the end)
Beach, Bikes, and Beyond: Outdoor Activities with a Light Footprint
Shangri-La Rasa Ria offers plenty of family-friendly, eco-conscious fun. Think beach clean-ups, kite-flying, and easygoing water activities like kayaking, paddleboarding, slingshotting and croquet. Active families can hike to watch the sunrise over majestic Mount Kinabalu or cruise around on bikes (child carriers are available) to see the resort’s sights. Families can even rent horses for beach rides. In the evenings, there’s a daily sunset dance and drum show, plus cultural performances and exciting fire dances – not to mention, roasting marshmallows right on the beach!
Pro tip: Toddlers under 4 can join the sunrise hikes—if you’re okay carrying them!
Eating Green: Dining That’s Planet and Kid-Friendly
With 8+ dining options, even the pickiest eaters are covered. Savour Malaysian favourites at Tepi Laut, or indulge in sweet treats at Ice Monkee. My favourites were the extensive spread at Coffee Terrace, featuring kid-height buffet counters for young diners to help themselves, and local coffee and chocolate drinks on tap. Eco-conscious dining was also evident at the restaurants, which offered locally sourced ingredients, organic produce, and sustainable seafood options. Families can experience cooking demonstrations and visits to the resort’s Chef Garden to learn about food sourcing and preparation.
Pro tip: Join the Shangri-La Circle and your children 6 and below can enjoy free buffet meals (T&Cs apply).
Rest and Relaxation: For Chill Kids and Wound-Up Parents
Parents, rejoice: there’s a free kids’ club for children aged 4 to 12, where they can engage in (mostly free-of-charge) playtime, crafts, and activities in a safe and supervised environment. The children’s pool has fun slides and shaded wading area. Or you can play Jenga, traditional games, or giant chess to unwind together as a family.
The Spa offers treatments for parents (and teens, if they’re tagging along) using natural, locally sourced ingredients. I could not get enough of the blissful Urutan Malaysia spa treatment, blending Malay massage, Chinese breathing, and Indian ayurvedic techniques. You can also pick up a game at the adjoining 18-hole Dalit Bay Golf & Country Club, score at beach soccer, or relax with yoga and other daily activities.
Pro tip: Travelling with an infant? Babysitting services are available, but require advance booking.
Culture Meets Play: Day Trips with Local Impact
Engaging with the local Tuaran community for Sabah cultural experiences is easy – take a trip to the iconic Jambatan Tamparuli suspension bridge, learn traditional dances with Sukarelawan Persatuan Seni Budaya Tuaran (PESTA), and gasp at the ingenuity of the Upside-Down House of Borneo.
You could also enjoy a fizzy tasting session of locally made soda at Uinah factory, or dine at Our Land Eco Farm: the farm-to-table experience leaves a lasting impression – kids meet the produce before tasting it. It is also possible to make a trip to Kundasang to enjoy the cool mountain temperatures and scenic dairy farms, and even take a helicopter adventure to the Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre.
Pro Tip: Bring sunscreen and a handheld fan for mid-day outings.
Behind the Scenes: Rasa Ria’s Green Mission
As a family that tries to reduce, recycle, and compost, it was a joy to see that Shangri-La Rasa Ria really ‘walks the talk’ with their environmentally-friendly practices. The resort implements recycling, solar energy usage, composting, and waste reduction programs and is Malaysia’s first hotel to earn the ISO 20121 certification for sustainable event management. They also pride themselves in partnerships with local communities for cultural exchange and passionately support local artisans like Dumowongi and craft sodamakers Uinah.
“We have a long-term commitment to responsible tourism, where luxury and sustainability move forward together. Our journey in sustainability has always been deeply rooted in the people of Rasa Ria and the community of Pantai Dalit and Tuaran. We want to do the right thing by our people.”
Fiona Hagan, general manager of Shangri-La Rasa Ria, Kota Kinabalu
Pro Tip: Request a tour of the resort’s EcoRia sustainability efforts to view the glass and water recycling facilities yourself.
Final Verdict: The Eco Resort in Malaysia Worth the Trip for Families
Shangri-La Rasa Ria hits the sweet spot: luxurious, educational, stress-free, and deeply committed to sustainability. For families looking for eco-conscious travel in Southeast Asia without compromising on comfort, this Bornean retreat is a clear winner. Their thoughtful rooms, extensive facilities, and passionate staff provide a wonderful experience for the whole family. My only wish was that it was closer to Kuala Lumpur!
makchic’s Top Tips
- Book your holiday during the off-peak times for the best rates. July, August and December to February are their busier periods.
- Sunrise hikes are worth the early wake-up – bring small rewards for kids who make it to the summit!
- Experience wonderful traditional music, costumes and dances at the end of May when the Kaamatan harvest festival is celebrated.
makchic’s stay was sponsored by Shangri-La Rasa Ria, Kota Kinabalu. The writer’s opinions, however, are solely her own.
For more information, please visit Shangri-La Rasa Ria Resort’s website or check out their Instagram or Facebook page.
Join their EcoRia Challenge from 16th to 30th June 2025 in discovering how simple, conscious actions can create ripples of meaningful change, where three participants will win 3D2N stays at Shangri-La Rasa Ria.
Answer: Slow Loris or Kongkang with their signature cute, wide eyes are nocturnal or active at night. They are endangered due to their being hunted as cute pets. Watch the video below (skip to minute 6) to see one in the wild. Follow Danau Girang Field Centre (one of Shangri-La Rasa Ria’s Discovery Centre partners) for more information on Bornean animals and biodiversity.
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