✈️ For Visitors

Island Hopping Near Kota Kinabalu — Complete Guide

Q: When is the best time for island hopping?

April to June is the sweet spot, because it is the one window that works on both coasts — the Kota Kinabalu islands are driest February to April, and Semporna is driest April to July. For diving, operators generally name roughly March or April to September as the most reliable months. July and August are the busiest. Avoid December and January on the east coast, when seas are roughest, and October on the west coast, its wettest month.

Last updated: 6 October 2026

TARP (Tunku Abdul Rahman Park)

Five islands about 30 minutes by boat from KK — Sabah's most accessible island hopping destination. Great for snorkelling and water sports.

Getting There

The ferry terminal relocated on 1 March 2026 to South Jetty, inside Kota Kinabalu Port on Jalan Tun Fuad Stephens. Terminal open 7.30am–5pm daily; first departure usually 8am to 8.30am, last return boat 4pm (Jesselton Point FAQ, checked October 2026). The terminal's FAQ says the last boat to the islands is usually 1pm to 1.30pm, though its Islands page says 3pm, so confirm at the counter. Boat fares depend on how many islands you visit and are listed in full on the ferry page. The Sabah Parks conservation fee is charged separately, per person per day, and covers the whole marine park: Malaysians RM8 adult, RM5 aged 13 to 17, free for 12 and under, 60 and over and persons with disabilities; international visitors RM25 adult, RM20 aged 17 and under or 60 and over (Sabah Parks, checked October 2026).

The Islands

Gaya: the largest island, at about 15 square kilometres, with about 20km of marked trails and coral reefs around it (Sabah Parks). Its resorts include Gaya Island Resort, Gayana and Bunga Raya (Jesselton Point FAQ); Gaya Island Resort lists its scheduled return speedboat at MYR160 per adult and MYR80 per child aged 2 to 11, plus a fuel surcharge of MYR10 per person each way, before service charge and taxes (Gaya Island Resort). Manukan: the most developed island, with accommodation and a restaurant run by Sutera Sanctuary Lodges, and good snorkelling off its south and east (Sabah Parks); the terminal's Islands page suggests it for families and first-timers. Sapi: the water sports hub (Jesselton Point), with a café and snack shop. Mamutik: the smallest and quietest island, with a café and snack shop, and the terminal's pick for snorkelling. Sulug: the furthest from the mainland and a favoured swimming spot, with no camping (Sabah Parks); it is not on the terminal's standard island list, so ask operators. All checked 6 October 2026.

Water Sports

Jet skis, banana boats, donut rides, fishing rides, snorkelling tours and gear rental are on offer at the terminal and on the islands. Per person, it is jet ski RM250, banana boat RM45, donut ride RM70, fishing ride RM100 (ask where the fishing ride goes) and snorkelling tour RM90, with snorkel gear RM10 per item per day, as listed by the terminal (Jesselton Point, checked October 2026); agree the price before you go.

Marine Life

Scuba Junkie KK reports turtles and black tip reef sharks in the park (Scuba Junkie KK, checked 6 October 2026), and Sabah Parks describes sea stars, sea urchins, sea cucumbers, colourful sea slugs and soft and hard corals on its reefs (Sabah Parks). TARP is a marine park: the terminal says fishing is not available inside it and suggests a private charter outside the park (Jesselton Point FAQ).

Semporna Islands

The Semporna archipelago is home to world-class diving and some of Southeast Asia's most beautiful islands.

Sipadan

Malaysia's premier dive destination, about 45 minutes from Semporna by speedboat in calm seas. Only 252 permits are issued a day (Sabah Tourism Board). Sabah Parks charges RM450 per person for non-Malaysians (RM350 scuba diving fee plus RM100 conservation fee) and RM300 for Malaysians, for a one-day visit (Sabah Tourism Board) (Sabah Parks, checked 6 October 2026). Book through one of the 42 operators registered with Sabah Parks, who can book up to six months ahead with a 50% deposit (Sabah Parks, checked 6 October 2026). Sipadan closed for the whole of November in 2023 so the reef could recover (Sabah Parks, 30 October 2023), and Scuba Junkie says it closes every November (checked 6 October 2026), so confirm the dates with your operator before booking. Some operators guarantee a permit only with a package — Scuba Junkie, for example, from 3 days and 2 nights (checked 6 October 2026).

Mabul

World-class macro diving — frogfish, flamboyant cuttlefish, blue-ringed octopus and blue-spotted stingrays, with the odd whale shark for lucky divers (Scuba Junkie — Mabul, checked 6 October 2026). It is about 45 minutes by boat from Semporna and has a local village, with places to stay from backpacker lodges to water bungalows (Sabah Tourism Board). With no accommodation on Sipadan, divers stay at nearby resorts, for example on Mabul or Kapalai (Sabah Parks). Dive prices vary by operator; Bigfin Divers lists RM395 for a 3-dive day trip from Semporna (Bigfin Divers, checked 6 October 2026).

Kapalai

A resort of 40 chalets on high wooden stilts in the sea, joined by boardwalks, with a dive centre that rents diving, snorkelling and kayaking gear; it is about 40 minutes by speedboat from Semporna (Sabah Tourism Board, checked 6 October 2026). Package prices vary by operator.

Other Semporna Islands

Mataking publishes 3-day, 2-night packages from MYR2,475 per person for non-divers and MYR2,935 for divers, twin share, with extra nights from MYR875 and MYR1,030 (international rates, excluding taxes, valid to 31 March 2027; Malaysians enquire) (Mataking, checked 6 October 2026). Pom Pom is an island resort about 45 minutes by boat from the Borneo coast (Pom Pom Island Resort). Tun Sakaran Marine Park is about 45 minutes from Semporna by speedboat; Bigfin Divers lists RM270 for a snorkelling and hiking day trip there (Bigfin Divers, checked 6 October 2026) (confirm whether Sabah Parks fees are included). The Bohey Dulang climb takes about an hour; Sabah Parks charges a climbing fee of RM50 for international adults and RM20 for Malaysian adults, plus RM50 per climb for a guide for up to six people, on top of the park's conservation fee (Sabah Parks, checked 6 October 2026).

Getting to Semporna

Buses leave Kota Kinabalu for Semporna daily at 7.30am and 7.30pm, take about 10 hours and cost about RM67. Or fly to Tawau, then it is about a 90-minute drive to Semporna (Scuba Junkie, checked 6 October 2026). Boat fares to the islands vary by operator, and resort packages often include the transfer; the boat to Mabul takes about 45 minutes to an hour (Sabah Tourism Board, Scuba Junkie). From 1 January 2026 a jetty fee applies when leaving Semporna for Mabul: RM10 for a non-Malaysian adult and RM2 for a Malaysian adult, by Scuba Junkie's report; Mataking says RM10 per person for all nationalities, so carry small notes.

Other Islands

Mantanani: Off Kota Belud, a two-hour drive to the Kampung Kuala Abai jetty, then about an hour by speedboat; diving, snorkelling and kayaking, with accommodation on the island (Sabah Tourism Board, checked 6 October 2026). Lankayan: a coral island in the Sulu Sea, about 1.5 to 2 hours on the resort's scheduled boat from Sandakan, with whale sharks March to May (Sabah Tourism Board); the resort has 23 seafront chalets and says turtles nest especially from June to September (Lankayan Island Dive Resort). The resort does not publish package prices, so they vary. Tiga: about 20 minutes by speedboat from Kuala Penyu jetty, known for mud volcanoes that still erupt from time to time (Sabah Parks); there is no public boat, so book through a licensed tour operator (Sabah Tourism Board). Selingan: in Turtle Islands Park, 40km north of Sandakan; green and hawksbill turtles nest all year, and only overnight visitors see the turtle programme, which happens at night (Sabah Parks). Libaran: off Sandakan, with a turtle sanctuary and hatchery and one resort, Walai Penyu (Sabah Tourism Board). All checked 6 October 2026.

⚠️ Conservation Rules (2026)

Single-use plastic bags have been banned at all Sabah Parks protected areas, including the marine parks, since 1 January 2026 (Sabah Parks, checked 6 October 2026). Bring reusable bottles, containers and bags, and take all your rubbish back with you. No touching coral or marine life. We could not find a reef-safe sunscreen rule on Sabah Parks' own pages, but Scuba Junkie says Sabah Parks requires reef-safe sunscreen at Sipadan (Scuba Junkie, checked 6 October 2026). Use it everywhere: oxybenzone and octinoxate are linked to coral damage.

Budget Summary

For a TARP day trip, budget the boat fare plus the Sabah Parks conservation fee set out above, plus anything you add on. Semporna trips vary by operator: as published examples, Bigfin Divers lists RM220 for a snorkelling day trip and RM395 for a 3-dive day trip, accommodation not included, and Sabah Parks charges RM450 per person for non-Malaysians for a one-day Sipadan visit (RM300 for Malaysians). Mataking packages start from MYR2,475 per person for 3 days and 2 nights, twin share (international published rate, excluding taxes, valid to 31 March 2027). Lankayan does not publish package prices. All checked 6 October 2026. April to June works on both coasts. Most reliable diving months, by operator reports: roughly March or April to September. Go midweek if you can: the terminal says the TARP islands get crowded at weekends, in school holidays and on public holidays.

Q Where do TARP ferries depart from now?

On 1 March 2026 the Jesselton Point ferry terminal relocated to South Jetty, inside Kota Kinabalu Port on Jalan Tun Fuad Stephens. It kept its name — same operator, new address. The terminal is open 7.30am to 5pm daily. The terminal says the first departure is usually 8am to 8.30am and the last boat to the islands usually leaves between 1pm and 1.30pm, with the last return boat at 4pm and no late service. Parking is at JQ Central levels 4 to 6; there is none at the terminal.

Q How much does a TARP day trip cost?

Two charges, paid at two different counters. The boat fare rises with the number of islands you visit and is listed in full on our ferry page. On top of that, Sabah Parks charges a conservation fee per person per day, which covers the whole marine park: Malaysians pay RM8 as an adult and RM5 aged 13 to 17, with children 12 and under, seniors 60 and over and persons with disabilities free; international visitors pay RM25 as an adult and RM20 aged 17 and under or 60 and over. Snorkel gear, food and water sports are extra.

Q Which TARP island is best for snorkelling?

The ferry terminal calls Mamutik the best island for snorkelling, with clear shallow water. Manukan has the most facilities, including accommodation and a restaurant, and Sabah Parks notes good snorkelling off its south and east. Sapi is the water sports hub. Sulug, the furthest island from the mainland, is not on the terminal's standard island list, so ask operators (Jesselton Point and Sabah Parks, checked 6 October 2026).

Q When is the best time for island hopping?

April to June is the sweet spot, because it is the one window that works on both coasts — the Kota Kinabalu islands are driest February to April, and Semporna is driest April to July. For diving, operators generally name roughly March or April to September as the most reliable months. July and August are the busiest. Avoid December and January on the east coast, when seas are roughest, and October on the west coast, its wettest month.