KINARUT: An untouched hidden gem along the coast of Kinarut, nature lovers seeking a private and quiet island getaway can do so at Ara Dinawan Island Retreat — an oasis away from the chaotic bustle of the city.Just a 20-minute boat ride from the Dinawan jetty at Beringgis Seafood Restaurant, the eco-friendly retreat is a glamping haven surrounded by lush greenery and pristine waters with mindful efforts towards environmental conservation and reducing carbon emissions.
An aerial view of the Ara Dinawan Island Retreat - courtesy: https://www.ara-dinawanisland.my
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Its Resort Manager Johnny Ong said with the retreat limiting its accommodation to only 14 glamping tents, guests can expect privacy and tranquillity at the island — a stark contrast to other islands which are often crowded with tourists.
“We have set a limit for the number of guests at the island each day (which is 30 people). It’s just nice for small gatherings, let’s say among friends, family and relatives for a private event or celebrations,” he said.
Ara Dinawan Island located along the coast of Kinarut.
Guests can also expect an authentic close-to-nature island feel with its untampered environment and grassy off beaten paths which offer a less commercialised back-to-basics experience.
“In many places, when it starts being developed, the place loses its identity, nature, and environment.
Another breathtaking scenery of the island. courtesy: https://www.ara-dinawanisland.my
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“Hence, we are going for an eco-friendly concept — we try to reduce our carbon footprint, reduce cutting trees and we try to work around nature to minimise impact towards the environment.
“The trees have been here for a long time. We try to remain and keep as much of it as possible. That’s why we opted for the glamping tents so we could work around in between trees, instead of cutting down all of it.
The main entrance of the guest room. courtesy: https://www.ara-dinawanisland.my
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“What we want to provide here is an authentic Borneo island experience, unlike a lot of the other islands which are too commercialised,” said Johnny.
While the resort appeals to those wanting a quiet and relaxing time, there are also a variety of water sport activities for those seeking fun and adventure, including kayaking, paddle boarding, parasailing, snorkelling, banana boat and jet skiing.
The guest room - it has the homely feeling. courtesy: https://www.ara-dinawanisland.my
As part of its commitment to being eco-friendly, the retreat runs on full solar power during the day, in addition to practising rainwater harvesting and proper waste disposal.
“During the day the resort’s operations are fully solar-powered, so our kitchen, restaurant, clubhouse and fridges are all fully solar-powered from 9am to 3pm.
“Other than that we practise rainwater harvesting where we collect the rainwater and use it to water plants, wash our equipment and kayaks.
“When we collect rubbish we will separate it based on categories — glass, plastic, bottles, and then we will send it out to the recycle centre in Kota Kinabalu ,” he explained.
With clear water and calm waves, this island is ideal for swimming, among others. courtesy: https://www.ara-dinawanisland.my
Additionally, the retreat has also jointly conducted community projects with Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) and the private sector in its conservation efforts.
“Before the pandemic a lot of tourists visited Sabah which had caused some damage to marine life. When you do not control the number of guests coming to the island, the place gets destroyed after a while.
Kayaking and canoeing through the crystal clear water is truly a memorable experience. courtesy: https://www.ara-dinawanisland.my
“So some efforts we’ve done include working with UMS students and the private sector to rebuild the marine ecosystem. This is something we’d like to do on our part to conserve marine life for our next generation.
“Sometimes we have UMS students coming here on the weekends with professionals for community projects, and they will teach them how to plant seaweed and seagrass.
The sea looked beautiful as it rested in the morning glow. courtesy: https://www.ara-dinawanisland.my
“We would like to try to involve our guests with what we’re doing here as well through beach clean-ups,” said Johnny.
Both overnight and day trips are available at the retreat. Those interested may visit https://www.ara-dinawanisland.my/ or contact 0165798181 for bookings and further information.
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