Islands and Beaches in Borneo (Sabah)
Part of the Borneo (Sabah) travel guide — see every topic in All Borneo (Sabah) Guides.
Sabah's islands are the state's easiest pleasure. Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park — five islands within twenty minutes of Kota Kinabalu's jetty — puts white sand and coral within reach of a half day. Further afield, Mantanani in the north-west, Mataking and Sibuan off Semporna, and the Tun Sakaran Marine Park's volcanic islands offer progressively better water and progressively longer journeys. The east coast has the world-class diving; the west coast has the accessible beaches.
Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park
Gaya, Sapi, Manukan, Mamutik and Sulug, gazetted in 1974 and sitting three to eight kilometres offshore from Kota Kinabalu. Boats leave from Jesselton Point continuously and take fifteen to twenty-five minutes. Manukan is the most developed with a resort and facilities; Sapi is the busiest day-trip beach; Mamutik is small and good for snorkelling; Sulug is the quietest by a distance. Gaya has the largest forest and a stilt village. Expect boat fares plus a marine park fee, and expect weekends to be busy.
Mantanani and the north-west
Mantanani, about ninety minutes by road from KK then forty-five minutes by boat, is a pair of islands with genuinely good sand, clear water and a well-known dugong population, though sightings are rare. It has become a popular day trip and a handful of simple resorts. Further north, the Tip of Borneo at Tanjung Simpang Mengayau is the northernmost point of the island, with beaches either side and a good surf break, and the Kudat area has quiet coast and Rungus longhouses.
The east coast islands
Off Semporna, the Tun Sakaran Marine Park holds Bohey Dulang, an extinct volcanic crater whose rim you climb in about forty-five minutes for one of the best views in Malaysia — a flooded caldera of turquoise water ringed by green ridges. Sibuan, Mantabuan and Maiga are sandbar islands with Bajau Laut sea-nomad communities. Mataking and Pom Pom have resorts. This is also the region for Sipadan diving, and the security situation on the east coast is worth checking before travelling.
Practicalities
Marine park fees apply at Tunku Abdul Rahman and Tun Sakaran and are separate from the boat fare. Snorkelling gear rents for 15–30 ringgit. The islands closest to KK have suffered from crowding and coral damage; the further you go the better the water. Jellyfish appear seasonally. Sun exposure on open boats is severe. And note that Sabah's beaches are generally good rather than exceptional by regional standards — the state's real distinction is what is underwater and in the forest, not the sand.
Islands and Beaches at a glance
| Closest islands | Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park — 15–25 min from KK |
|---|---|
| The five | Gaya, Sapi, Manukan, Mamutik, Sulug (quietest) |
| Best view | Bohey Dulang crater rim, Tun Sakaran — ~45 min climb |
| North-west | Mantanani — 90 min road plus 45 min boat |
| Northernmost point | Tanjung Simpang Mengayau, the Tip of Borneo |
| Note | Marine park fees are separate from boat fares |