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7 hr
Explore two pristine islands with guided snorkeling, beach time, and a seaside lunch in Tunku Abdul Rahman Park
Reserve
7 hr
Discover vibrant coral gardens and tropical marine life in one of the world's most biodiverse waters
Reserve
7 hr
Discover two pristine islands in Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park with snorkeling, beaches, and lunch
ReservePrices from verified partners. Availability updates in real time at checkout. Free cancellation policies apply where shown.
The landmarks, rooms, and views travelers on this tour remember — all visible on a single visit.
A long, curving white-sand beach known as the most developed in the park with clear waters for swimming.
The Coral Flyer is a 250-metre zipline connecting Sapi Island to Gaya Island, soaring over turquoise waters.
Giant water monitors, locally called biawak, frequently roam near the barbecue and beach areas on Sapi Island.
A popular snorkeling site where the reef drops off close to the shore, allowing for easy underwater exploration.
A vibrant section at the southeast tip of Sapi Island perfect for beginners to view stingrays and cuttlefish.
They complement each other; most visitors who do both call the public island circuit the more active choice, while the resort day pass offers superior comfort. Choosing manukan and sapi island hopping tours provides flexibility across the Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park, whereas a private retreat focuses on relaxation.
| Feature | Top pick Public Island Hopping | Gaya Island Resort |
|---|---|---|
Target audience |
Budget travelers and adventurers | |
Primary activity |
Snorkeling and beach exploration | |
Budget level |
25 MYR plus boat fees | |
Transit complexity |
Multiple ferry transfers required | |
Crowd density |
High traffic during summer peaks | |
| See tickets → |
Verdict: Select manukan and sapi island hopping tickets if you prefer varied coastal scenery, or choose the resort pass for an exclusive, low-stress environment.
Choose your ticket, select your date, and reserve in under two minutes. Secure checkout handled by our verified partner.
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Arrive at the entrance, show your voucher on your phone, and walk in. Most tickets include priority or skip-the-line access.
Practical details for your visit straight from our verified partners — hours, access, rules, and how to get there.
Wear light, breathable clothing suitable for tropical weather and swimwear for your manukan and sapi island hopping activities. Bringing a change of dry clothes is recommended for the return boat ride.
Keep all belongings in a waterproof bag during your manukan and sapi island hopping journey. Security staff may perform random checks at the Jesselton Point Ferry Terminal.
Capture the turquoise waters and coral reefs during your manukan and sapi island hopping day; waterproof cases for phones are highly recommended.
The islands feature sandy terrain and jetty piers that may present challenges for visitors with limited mobility. Please inform your boat operator at the terminal regarding specific needs for your manukan and sapi island hopping trip.
Families participating in manukan and sapi island hopping should supervise children closely near the water. Life jackets are provided by boat operators and must be worn during transit.
Basic restaurants are available on Manukan and Sapi islands, but bringing your own snacks and water is advised for your manukan and sapi island hopping tour. Maintain hydration throughout your visit.
Best time to go, insider tips, nearby landmarks, and the cancellation fine print — flip through to skim what matters to you.
Flexible, no hidden fees.
Cancellation terms depend on your specific boat operator booked at Jesselton Point Ferry Terminal. Most providers offer refunds for weather-related cancellations if requested before the scheduled departure time.
Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park was gazetted in 1974 as Sabah's first marine protected area, covering five islands and 4,929 hectares of coral-rich waters nine kilometres west of Kota Kinabalu. Manukan Island, the second largest in the park at 20 hectares, anchors the marine park's visitor infrastructure with a stone jetty built in 1979 and a network of boardwalks connecting three developed beaches. Sapi Island, smaller at 10.4 hectares, lies 800 metres northeast and draws snorkelers to its shallow fringing reefs where visibility routinely exceeds 15 metres during the dry months from March through October. The park's coral assemblages comprise 25 recorded species, including branching Acropora and table corals that grow within two metres of the surface along Sapi's eastern shore. Marine surveys conducted between 2019 and 2023 documented 241 fish species across both islands, with sergeant majors, parrotfish, and butterflyfish dominating the shallow zones accessible from shore. Hawksbill and green sea turtles patrol the deeper channels, though sightings remain sporadic. The conservation fee introduced in 2008 funds reef monitoring programs and waste management systems that removed 14.7 tonnes of debris from the islands in 2025 alone. Manukan and Sapi island hopping became the park's signature activity in the 1990s, when Jesselton Point Ferry Terminal standardized the six-kilometre crossing to a 15-minute speedboat run. Today the marine park receives approximately 340,000 visitors annually, with peak arrivals concentrated between April and September when southwest monsoon conditions calm the South China Sea. The islands close briefly during squall events but otherwise maintain seven-day operations year-round. Both destinations offer marked snorkeling trails, with Sapi's 300-metre route passing over seagrass beds that shelter juvenile fish and occasional blue-spotted stingrays. The marine park authority enforces a 100-person daily capacity on Sapi to limit reef trampling, while Manukan accommodates larger groups through its three-beach layout and deeper anchorage zones.
"The park's 25 coral species draw 241 fish varieties to waters where visibility routinely exceeds 15 metres."
A step-by-step walkthrough of the visit — what you'll see, how long each stage takes, and the details that matter.
You board the speedboat at Jesselton Point just after 08:00, when the terminal's covered slips still hold the morning cool. The crossing to Manukan takes 12 minutes, the boat banking wide around the island's southern point before pulling into the main jetty. You rent snorkel gear from the dive hut near the beach, then wade into water that stays chest-deep for 30 metres out. The reef begins where the sand transitions to rubble — schools of sergeant majors hover above branching coral, and you spot a parrotfish scraping algae from a table formation. The boat shuttles you to Sapi at midday. The island's eastern beach curves in a 200-metre arc, and you follow the marked trail that hugs the reef edge. Visibility here is sharper than Manukan, the coral formations denser and closer to shore. You swim over seagrass patches where small wrasses dart between blades. At 14:30, you return to the beach pavilion for the included lunch — grilled fish, rice, and stir-fried greens served buffet-style. The return boat departs Sapi at 16:00, reaching Jesselton Point by 16:20 as the afternoon ferry traffic thins.
The boats from the Jesselton Point Ferry Terminal operate between 08:00–17:00. The marine park itself is open daily from 08:00–17:00.
Yes, the conservation fee is 25 MYR per foreign adult, which is valid for all islands visited on the same day.
Tickets for a manukan and sapi island hopping tour can be purchased directly at the Jesselton Point Ferry Terminal, or through authorized operators.
For a better experience, the best arrival window is 08:00–10:00 to avoid mid-morning crowds and maximize your time.
Limited storage is available, but it is recommended to keep personal items with you during your manukan and sapi island hopping adventure.
Yes, families are welcome, provided that children wear life jackets during boat transit as part of standard safety for manukan and sapi island hopping.
Yes, you may bring your own food and drinks, though restaurants are available on the larger islands during your manukan and sapi island hopping excursion.
Prohibited items include illegal substances, drones without permits, and single-use plastics to protect the park environment during your manukan and sapi island hopping visit.
The departure point is Jesselton Point Ferry Terminal, Jalan Fuad Stephens, 88000 Kota Kinabalu, reachable by taxi or local transport.