10 Pulau Tiga

MALAYSIAN BORNEO

A gorgeous 20-minute wind-in-your-hair boat ride away from the Sabah mainland lies a cluster of small islands that burst to the surface as mud volcanoes in the late 1800s. Two centuries later, they were made famous as the setting for the first series of the British and American versions of the reality TV show Survivor. And, while not exactly a secret, the island’s earthy beauty remains intact. There’s plenty of vibrant marine life – fan corals, parrotfish, green turtles – to keep snorkellers happy, while inland there are mud pools for a DIY spa.

Fly Emirates and Malaysia Airlines from Dubai to Kota Kinabalu via Kuala Lumpur, about Dh2,800 return.