Best for
The resort suits families who want pool and water-play time, with island outings also possible from the marina on site.
Best for
The resort suits families who want pool and water-play time, with island outings also possible from the marina on site.
What makes it special
A landscaped peninsula beside the South China Sea gives the resort room for gardens, waterfront views, and a slower coastal rhythm.
Room to consider
Ask about a sea-facing room if island views matter; outlooks vary, and available room locations depend on your travel dates.
Insider tip
Arrange an island outing through STAR Marina, and confirm boat availability and park entry requirements before choosing your day.
Free membership gives you access to preferred rates, exclusive benefits and current promotions for your stay.
Shangri La Tanjung Aru Resort sits on the edge of Kota Kinabalu, facing the South China Sea and the islands of Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park. The resort has one of Sabah's most recognizable coastal settings. Guests see water, islands, boats, palms, and sunset light from a place that is close to the city but still shaped by sea air.
This is a strong base for travelers who want Borneo with resort comfort. Kota Kinabalu's airport and city center are close, yet the resort feels removed from traffic and concrete. Days can move between pool time, island trips, spa treatments, seafood, city markets, and views toward Mount Kinabalu on clear days. The setting makes the stay feel both tropical and practical.
A west-facing private patio opens directly to the resort gardens. This ground-floor, 53 m² room overlooks the South China Sea and the wedding gazebo. It sits near the Sunset Bar and offers a king or twin beds.
The bathroom has a soaking tub plus a separate shower. Premium Shangri-La toiletries and extra towels are supplied. A pillow menu gives you a choice at bedtime, while plush bathrobes and slippers are ready after a bath.
Your Nespresso machine includes four complimentary recyclable pods. Coffee and tea facilities and a minibar offer other refreshments. Bedside controls adjust the lighting. Both wired internet and Wi-Fi are available, along with elegant stationery.
An international direct-dial phone comes with voicemail for messages when you are out. Satellite and cable television provide a choice of entertainment, alongside in-house movie channels. An in-room safe is supplied for the storage of your personal belongings.
A west-facing private patio opens directly to the resort gardens. This ground-floor, 53 m² room overlooks the South China Sea and the wedding gazebo. It...
Look over the resort pool from your private balcony. This Tanjung Wing room measures 47 m² and offers a king or twin beds. There is space to lounge, with bedside lighting controls close to hand.
A separate shower and soaking tub give you two ways to unwind. The bathroom includes extra towels and premium Shangri-La toiletries. Plush bathrobes and slippers are supplied, and a pillow menu lets you choose your preferred pillow.
Enjoy four complimentary recyclable pods with the Nespresso machine. Coffee and tea facilities provide more choice, with a minibar for other refreshments. Wired internet and Wi-Fi are available for your devices, and elegant stationery is provided.
Use the international direct-dial telephone for calls, with voicemail to take messages. The television offers satellite and cable channels as well as in-house movies. An in-room safe is supplied for your personal belongings.
Look over the resort pool from your private balcony. This Tanjung Wing room measures 47 m² and offers a king or twin beds. There is...
Floor-to-ceiling glass doors frame the South China Sea and its islands. They open to a private balcony in this 506 sq ft room. Choose a king bed or two twin beds, with a pillow menu to suit your sleep preferences.
Bright blue, green and brown tones reflect Borneo’s tropical plants and wood. The bathroom has a separate shower cubicle and a soaking tub. Extra towels, plush bathrobes, slippers and premium Shangri-La toiletries are supplied.
Your Nespresso machine comes with four complimentary recyclable pods. Coffee and tea facilities and a minibar add other refreshment options. Lighting controls sit beside the bed, while wired internet and Wi-Fi let you connect your devices.
A direct-dial phone offers international calls and voicemail. Elegant stationery is also available. Satellite and cable television brings a choice of channels, alongside in-house movies. An in-room safe provides storage for your personal belongings.
Floor-to-ceiling glass doors frame the South China Sea and its islands. They open to a private balcony in this 506 sq ft room. Choose a...
The Horizon Lounge is temporarily closed.
Sea views and a private balcony define this 47 m² room. Contemporary Borneo accents shape the decor. Your bed is a king or two twins, with a feather duvet, bed toppers and a choice of pillows.
The bathroom offers a soaking tub and a separate shower. John Masters Organics toiletries, bathrobes and slippers complete the bathing amenities. Suit pressing and shoe shine are available, and an iron and ironing board are supplied.
Make Nespresso coffee with four complimentary recyclable pods or prepare tea. One serving of Coffee Tarik or Teh Tarik is complimentary once per stay. You can also order from the 24-hour in-room dining service.
A Bluetooth speaker supports wireless and wired charging. The 43-inch LED television carries satellite and cable news and movie channels. Wi-Fi keeps your devices connected. A direct-dial phone with voicemail and a digital alarm clock round out the room’s equipment.
Sea views and a private balcony define this 47 m² room. Contemporary Borneo accents shape the decor. Your bed is a king or two twins,...
The Horizon Lounge is temporarily closed.
A private balcony looks across the sea towards the coral islands. This 1,162 sq ft suite has one king bedroom, a separate sitting room and a dining area. Light marine colours keep the setting airy.
The marble bathroom pairs a bathtub with a separate shower. John Masters Organics toiletries, bathrobes and slippers are ready for you. A pillow menu, feather duvet and bed toppers add choice and comfort at night.
A Nespresso machine includes four complimentary recyclable pods, and tea is also available. The Bluetooth speaker supports wired and wireless charging. A 49-inch LED television offers news and movie channels. The direct-dial phone has voicemail.
Airport transfers and in-room check-in are included. Daily breakfast is served at Cafe TATU or through 24-hour in-room dining. You also receive pressing for two garments per stay. A daily High Tea Set and selected complimentary drinks are served at CocoJoe’s.
A private balcony looks across the sea towards the coral islands. This 1,162 sq ft suite has one king bedroom, a separate sitting room and...
The Horizon Lounge is temporarily closed.
The 185 m² suite opens to a private wraparound balcony with a sundeck and sea views. A king bedroom is separate from the sitting room and dining area. Its modern design draws on Borneo’s natural surroundings.
Marble surrounds the bathroom’s bathtub and separate shower. John Masters Organics toiletries sit alongside bathrobes and slippers. Feather bedding includes a duvet and toppers, with a pillow menu for further choice.
Four complimentary recyclable pods accompany the Nespresso machine. You can make tea or order 24-hour in-room dining. Watch news and films on the 49-inch LED television. A Bluetooth speaker also offers wired and wireless charging.
Your stay includes airport transfers and in-room check-in. Choose daily breakfast at Cafe TATU or through in-room dining. Pressing covers two garments per stay. CocoJoe’s serves a daily High Tea Set with selected complimentary beverages. Shoe shine and an iron with ironing board are also available.
The 185 m² suite opens to a private wraparound balcony with a sundeck and sea views. A king bedroom is separate from the sitting room...
The resort's location is a major advantage. Tanjung Aru is just outside central Kota Kinabalu, near the airport and the coast. This keeps transfers simple while giving guests a resort-style waterfront setting. The city can be reached quickly for markets, restaurants, museums, shopping, and local food, but the hotel grounds bring the pace back down.
The sea views are also part of the resort's identity. Boats move between the shore and nearby islands, while the horizon changes through the day. In the evening, sunsets can be dramatic, with the sky shifting through gold, pink, purple, and deep blue. Many guests come to this part of Sabah expecting sunset views, and the resort is well placed for them.
Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park sits offshore. Its islands add a sense of adventure to the stay because they are close enough for easy excursions. Guests can spend one day by the resort pool and another on the water, visiting beaches, snorkeling areas, or island trails. The resort works because the coastline is not only scenery. It is the center of the experience.
Shangri La Tanjung Aru Resort has rooms and suites arranged around views of the sea, islands, gardens, or the surrounding landscape. The strongest rooms are those that connect guests to the water and the sunset. Balconies and large windows help the resort feel open, especially in the morning and late afternoon.
The design reflects Borneo without becoming heavy. Natural tones, local details, carved elements, and tropical colors create a comfortable resort mood. Rooms are useful for families, couples, and stopovers before or after wider Sabah travel. Guests visiting Mount Kinabalu, wildlife areas, diving sites, or the islands can use the hotel as a soft landing point.
Suites add more room for longer stays and families. They are also helpful for guests who want space between activities, especially when days include early departures, boat trips, or humid weather. The resort is large and active, but the room experience can still feel calm when guests choose a view that matches the rhythm they want.
STAR Marina is one of the resort's key strengths. It gives guests direct access to the sea and makes island excursions feel easy. Instead of treating the islands as a distant outing, the marina brings them into the resort's daily rhythm. Boats can take guests toward Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park, where beaches, snorkeling, and island landscapes add another layer to Kota Kinabalu.
This is important because Sabah is a destination built around nature. Guests may be planning rainforest visits, wildlife journeys, diving, mountain hikes, or island days. The marina helps make the coastal part simple. A morning on the water can be paired with an afternoon by the pool or a sunset drink back at the resort.
The marine park also gives the stay a more local sense of place. The islands are visible from the resort, so visiting them completes what guests see from their balconies. Water, boats, reef life, beaches, and city views from offshore all become part of the same trip. That connection gives Tanjung Aru more depth than a standard seaside hotel.
The resort is well suited to families. Pool areas, water play, open grounds, and a relaxed holiday atmosphere make days easy with children. Guests do not need to leave the property for every activity. Children can move between water, food, shade, and rest, while adults keep the day flexible.
The pool scene is central to the resort. It gives guests a place to cool down in Sabah's humid climate and works for both lazy days and active family time. Water slides and play features add energy for younger guests, while quieter corners, loungers, and sea views keep adults connected to the setting.
Families can also use the resort as a base for broader Sabah travel. A stay might include island hopping, a trip to the city market, a cultural visit, or a nature outing. Returning to pools, gardens, and familiar restaurants makes the day easier. The hotel feels especially useful when guests want adventure outside the gates but comfort on return.
Dining is shaped by the sea, the sunset, and the resort mood. Sunset Bar is one of the property's most memorable spaces because it looks directly toward the water and evening sky. It is the kind of place guests remember from a Sabah trip: a drink, sea breeze, islands in the distance, and a slow change of light over the horizon.
The resort's dining range has included casual poolside food, international choices, local flavors, and more relaxed lounge-style settings. Because the property is going through a phased refresh, the exact restaurant mix can change during the project. The steady point is the setting: food and drinks here are tied to water, gardens, and the slower pace of the coast.
Kota Kinabalu itself adds another dining layer. Seafood restaurants, markets, local coffee shops, and Malaysian flavors are close enough to include in the stay. Guests can eat on property when they want ease, then explore the city when they want a stronger local mood. This flexibility is one reason the resort works well for repeat visitors.
CHI, The Spa gives the resort a quieter side. After island trips, humid days, flights, or city visits, the spa creates a slower space for treatments and rest. Wellness time fits naturally here because the resort is already built around water, sunsets, and tropical gardens. It gives adults a reset within a family-friendly property.
The hotel has also been moving through a planned renewal, with phases designed to refresh rooms and public areas. For guests, that makes it wise to check the latest facility status close to travel, especially when a specific restaurant, wing, or activity is important. The underlying strengths remain clear: the location, the marina, the island views, the pool setting, and the ease of reaching Kota Kinabalu.
The link between resort rest and city access is the heart of Tanjung Aru. Guests can be close to nature without being far from practical needs. They can include Sabah's islands, city, markets, and coastal sunsets in one stay. The resort gives Kota Kinabalu a waterfront base that feels both scenic and convenient.
Shangri La Tanjung Aru Resort is best understood as a coastal gateway to Kota Kinabalu and the islands beyond it. It brings together sea views, family pools, marina access, spa time, sunsets, and city convenience. The resort is not isolated, and that is part of its appeal. It lets guests use Sabah actively while still returning to a full-service waterfront setting.
Couples may value the sunset views and spa. Families gain water play, space, and easy outings. Nature-focused travelers gain access to islands and a soft base before broader Sabah journeys. Business or stopover guests gain short transfers and a calmer setting than a city-center hotel.
A strong stay here might include breakfast by the water, a boat ride from STAR Marina, a swim with the children, a spa treatment, seafood in the city, and sunset back at the resort. Shangri La Tanjung Aru Resort gives Sabah a relaxed coastal address where Kota Kinabalu, the islands, and the sea all stay close.
Sunset Bar's peninsula perch frames the evening sky over Kota Kinabalu, making a drink feel tied to the coastal setting.
CHI Spa offers a quieter place for a treatment after water activities, balancing an active island day with unhurried downtime.
The Water Play Area adds child-focused slides and splashing, giving families a separate outlet from the main pool.
20 Jalan Aru, Tanjung Aru, 88100 Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia
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Yes. Shangri La Tanjung Aru is worth it for travelers who want a family-friendly Kota Kinabalu resort with sunset views, pools, marina access, and strong facilities. It works well for Borneo stopovers, family holidays, island trips, spa stays, and guests who want resort comfort close to the airport and city.
Shangri La Tanjung Aru is in Tanjung Aru, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia. The resort sits on a peninsula facing the South China Sea. The location is about 10 minutes from Kota Kinabalu International Airport, the city centre, and boats to nearby tropical islands.
Shangri La Tanjung Aru is widely listed with 498 rooms and suites across its resort wings. Room availability may vary during renovation phases. Guests should check the current open wing and room category before booking, especially for stays during the Kinabalu Wing renovation period.
From May 2026, Kinabalu Wing rooms and suites are scheduled to close for renovation until completion planned in Q2 2027. Other resort facilities are expected to remain in operation during this phase, including pools, water play areas, STAR Marina, Chi, The Spa, and dining venues.
Rooms at Shangri La Tanjung Aru are resort-style, spacious, and designed for views of gardens, Mount Kinabalu, or the South China Sea. Tanjung Wing rooms are often chosen for sea views and access to resort facilities. Families should ask for bedding and connecting options.
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