Snorkeling in Kota Kinabalu: Manukan and Sapi Islands

Snorkel two islands and set your own pace between reefs and beaches

A full-day snorkeling trip from Kota Kinabalu takes you by speedboat to Manukan Island, where you can walk nature trails or rest on the beach, then to Sapi Island to snorkel its coral reefs and swim. Hotel pickup and drop-off, lunch on the island, and an English-speaking guide are included. Snorkeling gear rental and park entrance fees are separate.

Step-by-step itinerary

Snorkeling at Manukan and Sapi Islands

• Hotel pickup and transfer to jetty
• 15-minute speedboat ride to Manukan Island
• Explore nature trails or relax on Manukan beach
• Transfer to Sapi Island for snorkeling
• Snorkel and swim at Sapi Island
• Enjoy lunch on Sapi Island
• Free time to relax or explore Sapi Island
• Boat ride back to Kota Kinabalu
• Transfer back to hotel

The experience

Seven hours from hotel to hotel, starting with pickup and a 15-minute speedboat ride across the Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park to Manukan Island. The island is the park's second largest, shaped like a boomerang with well-marked walking paths that cut through the interior and sandy shores where you can sit and do nothing. You choose how to spend the time there: walk or stay put.

The boat then takes you to Sapi Island, the smallest in the park and built for snorkeling. The coral reefs sit close to shore and hold enough marine life that you can see the difference between a reef and open water. After you've been in the water, lunch arrives on the beach: a BBQ meal served on the sand. The rest of the afternoon is free time: more snorkeling, swimming, sunbathing, or a short jungle walk if you want to move around again.

Your guide speaks English and stays with the group throughout the day. The speedboat, jetty fees and hotel transfers are all included in the price. You'll need to rent snorkeling gear separately and pay the park entrance fee at the jetty. Neither is built into the tour cost.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup and drop-off in Kota Kinabalu.
• speedboat transport to both islands.
• jetty fees.
• an English-speaking guide for the full day.
• and a BBQ lunch on Sapi Island's beach.

Before you book

Days and timesTuesday to SaturdayDeparts at 09:00

Book up to17h before

AgesAdult (12 to 70 years) · Child (3 to 11 years) · Under 3: can't be booked

GroupUp to 15

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Paid on siteUS$ 16.12

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Low physical effortPublic transport nearbyNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with heart problemsInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Discova Southeast Asia

Is this one for you?Hotel pickup means you don't need a car or arrange your own way to the jetty, so the trip works whether you're staying in the city center or elsewhere in Kota Kinabalu. The full day gives you real time on each island, not a rushed stop, and the free time on both lets you snorkel as much or as little as you want.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (3 to 11 years). Children under 3 can't be included in the booking.

How long is the boat ride from Kota Kinabalu to the islands?

The speedboat ride to Manukan Island takes 15 minutes across the clear water off the coast. The transfer between Manukan and Sapi is much shorter, and the return trip to the jetty is the same 15-minute crossing.

What can I do on Manukan Island besides snorkel?

Manukan Island has well-marked nature trails you can walk at your own pace, and wide sandy beaches where you can relax and swim. The snorkeling there is possible but Sapi Island is where the coral reefs are richer, so most people save their underwater time for the second stop.

Is snorkeling gear included in the tour price?

Snorkeling equipment rental is not included and costs extra. You arrange and pay for it separately. The park entrance fee is also separate from the tour price.

What time does the tour start and end?

The tour runs for seven hours total from hotel pickup to drop-off. Your hotel pickup happens in the morning, though the exact time depends on where you're staying in Kota Kinabalu.

What's included in the lunch on Sapi Island?

Lunch is a BBQ meal served on the beach at Sapi Island and is included in the tour price. You eat on the sand with free time before and after to snorkel or swim as you like.