Agoda’s guide to getting up-close and personal with nature on your next holiday
Our planet offers countless wonders to behold. After slogging it out in the urban rat race, we can count ourselves lucky that we’ve still got plenty of nature escapes perfect for some well-deserved R&R. Take the time for a wildlife retreat, appreciate, and learn more about how we can preserve our beautiful planet in the process too. Check out Agoda’s five ‘wild’ holiday ideas to get you started.
Discover Malaysia’s homegrown species
At 130 million years old, the Belum Temenggor rainforest in Perak is one of the oldest rainforests in the world. There is plenty to do here for nature and outdoor enthusiasts, from wildlife watching and jungle trekking to kayaking and camping. If you’re lucky, you may catch a rare sighting of the Malayan tiger, Asiatic elephant or the white handed gibbon—mammals that have been classified as species under threat of becoming endangered.
Sleep with the rainforest right at your doorstep at the Belum Rainforest Resort, where many of the luxury guest rooms feature stunning nature views.
Swim with Miniloc Island’s marine life
Surrounded by a beautiful cove against a backdrop of sheer limestone cliffs, the El Nido Resort in Miniloc Island, Philippines is a great destination for those seeking crystal clear waters and vibrant marine life.
Resort activities include guided sunrise and sunset hikes, boat trips to the nearby lagoons and caves, and snorkeling excursions with the local fish. Talakitok, which can weigh up to 80 kilos and measure up to 170 centimeters long, stalk these waters. These massive fish are often mistaken for sharks, so keep an eye out for them.
Soar sky high with Phuket’s nature, Thailand
Perched high above the Phuket jungle are the amazing Keemala Hotel ‘bird nest’ villas.
With a strict ‘Anti Animal Exploitation Policy,’ the resort houses several rescued animals onsite. Guests can meet Keemala’s resident water buffalo – rescued from Thai slaughterhouses – and learn about the species’ daily routine and significance in Thai culture. The resort is home to other rescued animals including goats, ducks, peacocks, and chickens, which make an especially thrilling experience for kids.
Be a marine conservationist for a day (or two)
For a feel-good holiday, head to Gayana Marine Resort in Kota Kinabalu, which has its very own on-site Marine Ecology Research Centre, a learning and educational organization that raises awareness about the marine ecosystem and the increasing threats on marine life. Guests can participate in rehabilitation activities such as replanting corals in the reef or get up-close with sea creatures from seahorses to bamboo sharks.
Go off-grid with India’s majestic predators
Ranthambore National Park in Rajasthan is one of the largest wildlife sanctuaries in Northern India, and is famous for its large population of Royal Bengal Tigers. While the tigers are the main attraction for wildlife enthusiasts, don’t forget to keep an eye out for the Indian leopards, nilgai, wild boars, striped hyenas, sloth bears, and chitals.
The glamping tents at the nearby Oberoi Vanyavilas Ranthambhore Hotel are luxurious enough for a Maharaja. A walk around the wooded grounds will acquaint you with the diverse bird life including magpie robins, purple sun birds, and oriental white eyes.
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About Agoda
Agoda is one of the world’s fastest growing online travel booking platforms. From its beginnings as an e-commerce start-up based in Singapore in 2005, Agoda has grown to offer a global network of 2 million properties in more than 200 countries and territories worldwide, offering travelers easy access to a wide choice of luxury and budget hotels, apartments, homes and villas to suit all budgets and travel occasions.
Headquartered in Singapore, Agoda is part of Booking Holdings (Nasdaq: BKNG) and employs more than 4,000 staff in more than 30 countries. Agoda.com and the Agoda mobile app are available in 38 languages.
