Island Hopping on Manukan and Sapi Islands

If you are staying in Kota Kinabalu, island hopping is one experience you should not miss.
Several islands with emerald-green water are only about 20 minutes from the city by boat.
I visited two of them—Manukan Island and Sapi Island—so here is a rundown of the trip, including how it worked and what it cost.

A quick note: Jesselton Point has moved

This is the first thing you need to know.
The boats to the islands leave from Jesselton Point. It was my first visit, so I never saw the old location, but while researching the trip I learned that the terminal had moved in March 2026.
It now operates from South Jetty, inside Kota Kinabalu Port behind Jesselton Quay.
Plenty of information online still points to the old terminal, so double-check the location before you go.

📍 New Jesselton Point location on Google Maps

A free shuttle cart was waiting at the entrance to the new terminal and took us to the boarding area.
Its retro, tram-like design was a fun little surprise.

Buying tickets and the cost

You buy boat tickets directly from one of the counters inside the terminal.
There were around ten counters, and the ocean-themed murals made the space surprisingly photogenic.

I chose the two-island option—Manukan Island and Sapi Island—which cost RM55, or roughly ¥2,200.
That price covered the return boat trip and the transfer between the two islands.

Manukan Island also charged a separate entrance fee of RM25 per person, or around ¥1,000.
This was not included in the boat ticket.
The boat and entrance fee therefore came to RM80, or approximately ¥3,200, for the day.

Snorkelling equipment was available to rent at Jesselton Point.
I rented fins for RM10 and a mask for RM10, bringing the rental total to RM20, or about ¥800.
If you do not have your own gear, rent it here before boarding.

Boat schedule:

• Departures: from 8:30 a.m. Every 30 minutes until 12:30 p.m., then hourly

• Returns: hourly from 12:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.

I arrived shortly before 10:00 a.m. and took a boat just before 11:00 a.m.

This is what the boat looked like inside.
There were about 15 passengers. It was snug, but there was just enough space between everyone.
The return boat was more substantial, though I forgot to take a photo of it.

Manukan Island: lunch and a walk around the island

After around 20 minutes on the boat, we reached our first stop, Manukan Island.
A heart sculpture and colourful fish greeted us as soon as we stepped ashore—it was very much a tourist spot.

Manukan had more facilities than Sapi, including restaurants and a resort hotel.
There were not many places to eat, however, so keep the limited choice in mind.

I went to Arang Restaurant and ordered a black-bun burger and a coconut.
Lunch overlooking the beach was excellent, and the burger was genuinely good.
The prices did not feel excessively high for an island, although I cannot remember the exact amount.

The water was impressively clear.
For the first few metres from shore, I could see straight down to the bottom.

Then there were Manukan Island's famous—or perhaps just very noticeable—monitor lizards.
One slid out from under a bench and strolled past as if it owned the place.
Its size was startling at first, but it seemed accustomed to people and showed no sign of aggression.
Even so, give them plenty of space and do not disturb them.

Sapi Island: the better stop for snorkelling

I took the 1:00 p.m. boat to Sapi Island.
It had fewer facilities than Manukan, but that also made it feel more natural and less developed.
The contrast between the green hillside and the clear water was spectacular.

I spent most of my time on Sapi snorkelling.
There were plenty of fish close to shore, and they were used to swimmers, so even a first-time snorkeller should have something to see.
Fish swam through the shallow water near the beach, making it enjoyable even if you are not a confident swimmer.

I took the 3:00 p.m. boat back to Jesselton Point.
The half-day trip felt like just the right amount of time.

What the day cost

Item	Cost
Boat trip (two islands + terminal fee)	RM55
Manukan Island entrance fee	RM25
Snorkelling equipment rental (fins + mask)	RM20
Total (excluding food and transport)	RM100 (about ¥4,000)

This does not include food or Grab fares, but the island-hopping activities themselves were reasonably priced.
For a half-day trip, I thought it offered excellent value.

Final thoughts

The biggest advantages of island hopping from Kota Kinabalu are how easy and affordable it is.
The move to the new Jesselton Point terminal can make the information online a little confusing, so make sure you head to the current location.
Manukan Island has better facilities and works well as a lunch stop, while Sapi Island is the stronger choice for snorkelling and enjoying the clear water.
You can comfortably visit both in half a day, making this an easy addition to a stay in Kota Kinabalu.

On the way back, I stopped at Suria Sabah, a shopping mall near Jesselton Point, and picked up a Ceylon tea from CHAGEE.
Island hopping always deserves a CHAGEE afterward. Or so I have decided.