Why You Need To Visit Kota Kinabalu Islands, Sabah – Ultimate Guide

Nestled on the northern coasts of Borneo is Kota Kinabalu (KK), the capital city of Sabah, also known as the “Land Below the Wind”. Being one of the top destinations in Malaysia, Sabah is home to various attractions and sites such as the beautiful Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park, the mesmerising Mount Kinabalu, scenic mangrove cruises, world famous diving hotspots in Semporna and the famed “Maliau Basin” also known as Sabah’s Lost World.

If it is your first time in KK, then we highly suggest you to explore the nearby islands at Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park (TARP) before venturing out of KK. Named after Malaysia’s first prime minister, this marine park consists of 5 islands; Gaya Island (Pulau Gaya), Manukan Island (Pulau Manukan), Mamutik Island (Pulau Mamutik), Sapi Island (Pulau Sapi) and Sulug Island (Pulau Sulug). 

When should you visit TARP (KK Islands)?

The TARP (KK Islands) can be visited throughout the year as there is no extreme monsoon season in this region of Borneo. However, between the months of October to March, you might experience heavier downpours, rougher seas and poor visibility under water. We’ve found that the best time to visit the KK islands is between May to September, where you can get sunnier days to enjoy your island hopping escapade. 

How to visit the TARP (KK Islands)?

To get to the islands, you will first have to travel to the Jesselton Point Ferry Terminal which is located at KK city centre. If you’re coming directly from the Kota Kinabalu International Airport (KKIA), it would take you around 10-15 minutes by taxi/Grab to reach here. 

Upon reaching here, you will see a hall filled with a few rows of tour agencies which provides island hopping trips to the KK islands. Since each of the agencies have their own packages, we suggest you to do a bit of surveying before making your decision to get the best deal. 

If you plan to purchase the tickets at Jesselton Point, we advice you to either come a day earlier to pre-book your tickets or come early (by 8am) on the day of your island hopping trip.

You will be able to avoid the huge crowds and secure your tickets as they are usually snapped up by 10-11am. Another option is to get your tickets on Klook as they do offer pretty attractive packages for island hopping.

Depending on the weather, the last boat back to KK usually departs around 4pm. If there is a storm brewing, expect to depart back to KK early, so do remember to get the boat operators number in case you need to contact them.

Can I stay overnight at the TARP Islands?

Yes, you can choose from any of the 4 lavish resorts within the TARP. You can stay at the gorgeous Manukan Island Resort at Manukan Island, or stay at the more exclusive 5 star resorts at Gaya Island; Gayana Marine Resort, Gaya Island Resort and Bunga Raya Island. 

Useful tips 

• Keep your tickets with you when taking the boat to the islands as the boat operators here will request for it before boarding.
• Most of the tour agencies offer packages with snorkelling equipment, so do check with them whether they provide it for you. 
• Look out for the jellyfish while swimming/snorkelling. Jellyfish seasons here generally occur between March to April. Their stings can be extremely painful.  
• Some of the smaller islands here do not have a locker to store your belongings, so we suggest you to carry a waterproof bag to keep your belongings dry.
• Food and beverages at the island are much more pricy than at the city, so save yourself some money by bringing along pre-packed meals.
• If you want a hassle free trip, consider booking with Klook as they provide island hopping with meals included.
• Please help keep the island clean, so others can appreciate them too.
• The islands here are famous for its huge monitor lizards. They are quite harmless and used to seeing people. So don’t be alarmed if you see a few of them crawling around on the island.

So getting that out of the way, let’s dig deeper on Why You Need To Visit Kota Kinabalu Islands, Sabah? 

1. Gaya Island (Pulau Gaya)

Gaya Island is the largest island of TARP located just 10 minutes away from Jesselton Point. This island has an area of over 3,700 acres and got its name from “Gayo”, a Bajau word which means big. Gaya Island is known for its exclusive 5 star resorts, private beaches, exceptional hiking trails, turtle rehabilitation centre and forest reserve.

At the South-Eastern part of the island, there is a Filipino community, which resides at stilt houses along the island shores. It is estimated to be over 6,000 floating Filipino homes here, which can be clearly seen all the way from the city. This area is not recommended by the police to venture as crime is at an all time high. The Sabah government have since been trying to end the squatter problems by relocating these illegal immigrants to a better place. 

As a tourist, the only way for you to visit Gaya Island is by booking with either one of the 3 resorts which are located far away from the squatters, so you don’t have to be worried about your safety. If it is within your budget, we highly recommend you to stay at least a night at any one of these exclusive resorts on Gaya Island!

Bungaraya Island Resort

• Located at the North-Western side of Gaya Island.
• The resort’s name is derived from the Malay word “Bunga Raya” which means hibiscus. The hibiscus is also Malaysia’s national flower.
• Provides private transfer to the resort.
• Features 48 exclusive timber villas on the hillsides of Polish Bay, overlooking the stunning crystal clear waters and white sandy beach (Police Beach).
• The Polish Beach stretches on for over 400m on this side of the island and is well-known to be one of the most private and beautiful beaches in the world.
• The resort offers a variety of activities such as jungle trekking, a 50m flying fox which descends into the lush forest, canopy walks, kayaking, paddle boarding, snorkelling and a Nautilus sunset cruise. 

Gayana Marine Resort

• Located at the Eastern side of Gaya Island.
• Provides private transfer to the resort.
• Features 45 overwater tropical villas located at Gaya Island’s crescent Malohom Bay.
• You will get an unobstructed view of the South China Sea right from your own villa.
• Cool off on a hot day by taking a plunge into the crystal clear waters from your private balcony. 
• You can take part in the island’s conservation efforts by joining the coral planting activities.
• Go scuba-diving, paddle boarding, or jungle trek at the resort

Gaya Island Resort

• Located at the Eastern of Gaya Island, just across Gayana Marine Resort
• Provides private transfer to the resort
• Features over 121 rooms which offer different views from the island; Rainforest view, Hillside view, Mount Kinabalu view and the Ocean view
• This resort is also a PADI 5 Star Dive Resort and offer various packages suitable for novice and seasoned divers
• Try out the fishing excursions at Mengalum Island, located 20 nm away from Gaya Island. The Mengalum Island is a designated area for game fishing and used for the annual Sabah International Fishing Tournament
• You can also join the guided nature walks, embark on the Tavajun Trek to explore the private beach of Tavajun Bay, visit the Gaya Island Resort Marine Centre or try creating your own handicraft at the Borneo Craftworks workshop   

2. Manukan Island (Pulau Manukan)

The island is also home to Sabah Parks HQ and consists of 2 nature trails for those keen to do some exploring. The 1st trail cuts through the dense jungle of the island leading to the Northern side of Manukan Island. The 2nd trail which is the most popular one leads hikers to the island’s Western tip, also known as Sunset Point. It is at this spot where you will be able to get a gorgeous sunset view of Sulug Island by the South China Sea.  

You can also try out the water sports activities on Manukan Island which never fails to disappoint. Among the tourists favourites here are the banana boat ride, flying fish, jet skiing, parasailing and sea-walking. There is also a shower and changing room on the island for your convenience.

However, since there are no lockers available on the island, you will need to keep an eye on your belongings. We’d suggest to keep all your stuff inside a water proof bag and carry it around for safe keeping. If you can’t get enough of Manukan Island, why not spend a night at the Manukan Island Resort! 

Manukan Island Resort

• Located at the Eastern side of Manukan Island
• 2 options to get to the resort, from Jesselton Point or Marina Jetty – Sutera Harbour. Depending on your booking, you should be entitled to a complimentary trip from Marina Jetty, Sutera Harbour (15 minutes boat ride)
• Features over 20 chalets and an outdoor pool overlooking the South China Sea
• This resort is also a PADI 5 Star Dive Resort, which makes it a great accommodation for divers

3. Mamutik Island (Pulau Mamutik)

Being the smallest island of the TARP, this 15 acres island is perfect for those who wants to avoid the huge crowds at Manukan and Sapi Island. Although the island is small, it does offer visitors a nice stretch of white sandy beach and coral reefs to explore. Mamutik Island is also the closest island to the mainland, taking around 10 minutes to get here via speed boat.

You can find almost all of the basic amenities on the island (minus a hotel), such as shower and changing rooms, lockers, lavatories, picnic tables, barbeque pits and a few restaurants. There is also a dive station for those interested in exploring the island’s marine live. As the island is abundant with coral fragments on the beach, its no surprise where it got its name from – “Mamutik” means shell collection.

However, be aware that the beach is rocky and the sea can be rougher on this island. This sometimes causes the visibility in the water to be poor. While swimming/snorkelling, be careful not to step on the sea urchins that accumulate beside the corals as their stings can be extremely painful.

4. Sapi Island (Pulau Sapi)

Despite being the 2nd smallest island of the TARP, this 25 acre paradise is ranked as the top favourite island to go by tourists. Sapi Island is famous for its adrenaline pumping, Coral Flyer Zipline, beautiful beaches and plethora water activities such as banana boat ride, flying fish, jet skiing, parasailing, sea-walking, snorkelling and scuba diving. 

There is also a shower and changing room, lockers, lavatories, picnic tables, barbeque pits and a few restaurants for your convenience. The island’s name “Sapi” is symbolic to its history and derived from the sound of a mowing buffalo. For those who wants to explore the hiking trails, check out the a “secret cliff” on the island which is not known to most of the tourists here.

To get here, take the trail on the left of the island’s entrance and keep right until you see a shrine. Then, walk straight until you reach a Y-junction. From there , take the left trail which will lead you to the cliff. The whole duration of the hike should take 25-30 minutes and will be definitely rewarding when you see the gorgeous view of the ocean and the neighbouring islands. 

While you are here, don’t forget to try out the Coral Flyer Zipline, which is the biggest attraction of the island. Being one of the world’s longest island to island zipline, this ride takes you from the nearby Gaya Island to Sapi Island. Covering a distance of over 235m, the Coral Flyer enables you to experience travelling up to 60km/h across the pristine waters of Sabah. 

You can get your tickets at the entrance counter of Sapi Island or book online to save some time. After purchasing your tickets, a boat will ferry you to Padang Point of Gaya Island. From there, you will need to hike approximately 10 minutes to reach the starting point. 

As Sapi Island is very popular, don’t be surprised by the amount of tourists crowding the beach. It can be quite frustrating if you come all the way to the island for some peace and quiet, but end up being stuck with the huge, noisy crowds which takes up all of the beach spots. Which is why we want to share a little secret with you… 

Behold, the “hidden beach” of Sapi Island! To get here, you will need to walk to the other end of the beach which is seldom visited by tourists. But, getting here can be a bit challenging as the rocks in the water are very slippery. The solution is simple, you will need to climb over the huge, dry boulders along the 200m rocky shore. You will still find some tourists here, but not as many compared to the main beach. 

If all that sounds exciting, why not camp at the island? Even though there is no hotels on the island, the facilities here are sufficient enough to make your camping trip comfortable.

Once the last boat departs back to KK around 4pm, this island will be like your private getaway. To camp on the island you will need to get a permit from the park warden.  

5. Sulug Island (Pulau Sulug) 

Being the farthest TARP island, Sulug Island is completely remote and uninhibited. In fact, if you were to ask boat operators to take you here, most of them would be unwilling to do so as there is nothing on this island – not even a jetty! It takes around 25 minutes to get here from Jesselton Point and only a handful of curious tourists come here to explore the island.

Similar to the other TARP islands, Sulug has a crystal clear water and soft white beach which is full of corals and seashells. Named after the Sulu people of Sabah, this 20 acre island attracts mainly photographers and nature lovers who love capturing photos of the untouched island. If you look at the island from afar, it has a long sand spit which is “T” shaped and resembles a “broccoli”. 

After reading all about Sulug Island, if you still insist to visit this isolated island, we suggest you to book a charter boat with the tour agencies to ensure that you won’t be stranded here (no regular boat services to the island).

However, if you want to live like Robinson Crusoe and camp on this island, you are welcome to do so. Make sure to bring your own tents and survival equipment, otherwise you might end up starving till the boat operators pick you up.

Have any experience or tips on travelling to TARP Islands – Kota Kinabalu? Or are you planning a trip soon? Let us know and share your thoughts and questions in the comments section. We’d love to hear from you!