Kota Kinabalu Island Hopping 2026: Jesselton Point Local Booking Guide

Kota Kinabalu Trip

Jesselton Point Bargaining & Local Booking Review

(Mamutik Island / Sapi Island)

Enjoy for half the price of Korean agencies –

Jesselton Point local booking,

and a complete guide to Mamutik Island & Sapi Island hopping tours!

If you're thinking of an island hopping tour in Kota Kinabalu,

it's a good idea to do a little "homework" beforehand.

Which island to visit, what activities

to enjoy – it's smoother if you decide with your travel companions in advance!

🏝️ Mamutik Island

The island is small but has a relatively quiet and relaxed atmosphere.

The white sand beach is even, and there are plenty of shaded spots, making it great for relaxing.

You can see many fish even near the shore,

making it optimal for beginner snorkeling.

🏝️ Sapi Island

One of the most popular islands in Kota Kinabalu,

it's well-equipped with amenities.

Its rich underwater ecosystem makes it an excellent snorkeling spot,

but because it attracts many visitors,

it's recommended to go early in the morning.

🏝️ Manukan Island

Among the three islands, it's the largest and a representative island

with perfectly equipped amenities.

With resorts, large restaurants, and long walking trails,

it's ideal for family travelers with children or elderly parents.

The white sand beach is long and wide, and with good shading and benches,

it's the best place to relax.

Jesselton Point Island Hopping Tour - Which Islands to Choose?

Since Kota Kinabalu has a variety of islands,

how should you choose which ones to visit?

Here's a quick summary.

Even visiting just one spot for true healing is perfectly fine!

If you find it bothersome to search for various options and don't want to

feel drained once you're there,

then it's also possible to conveniently book an island hopping tour.

⬇️⬇️⬇️

Mamutik + Manukan Island Hopping Tour

Kota Kinabalu Mamutik & Manukan Island Snorkeling Adventure - Klook3ha.in

⬇️⬇️⬇️

Sapi + Manukan Island Hopping Tour

Sapi & Manukan Island Snorkeling & Island Hopping Tour (Departing from Kota Kinabalu) - Klook3ha.in

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Bargaining at Jesselton Point - Local Booking

Clearly giving off a strong harbor vibe,

Jesselton Point

Since there are always many people here,

I visited the day before the island hopping tour to book in advance.

If you want to do the tour at your desired time,

booking the day before is essential.

(It's hard to get the right time on the day itself.)

If you enter the ticketing hall, you'll find ticket counters.

How many islands you want to visit

What kind of life vests or equipment you'll need

The price range you're comfortable negotiating within

Make sure to think about these things before you arrive ⭐

Once you step inside, you'll find people eager to approach you and negotiate prices.

Just negotiate to match the price range you have in mind.

(Too pricey? Then just politely walk away!)

The vendors around, if they think they can offer something that matches the price you mentioned,

might even come over to chat with you first!

They matched all the items I wanted, even the price, at

✅ Counter 10

It seemed like they've done this so many times, they immediately gave me the price I wanted without any fuss! 🤣

They even spoke good Korean, so there were absolutely no communication issues.

You can also choose the activities you prefer!

Keep in mind that if you bundle 2-3 islands or activities together,

your negotiation power will be much greater!

Here's what I chose:

Mamutik Island, Sapi Island (2 locations)

Snorkeling guide for 2 people

Parasailing for 2 people

Fins for 2 people

Life vests for 2 people

✅ 280 Ringgit

I made sure to confirm with the staff if the terminal fee was included in the 280 Ringgit ⭐

(Don't forget to ask: "Is the terminal fee included?")

Always double-check the details on your receipt too!​

You'll need to keep the receipt they give you safe and sound

in a waterproof pouch!

Since you'll need this until you return,

✅ having a waterproof bag is an absolute must​

Jesselton Point ➡️ Mamutik Island ➡️ Sapi Island

This is the one-day course we followed!

The next day, we arrived at the jetty and headed straight inside.

There are also restaurants and shops lined up along the way,

so if you need anything, you can easily pick it up here.

We went to our designated booth, showed our receipt,

grabbed our life vests and fins, and hopped onto the boat!

Mamutik Island - Our Snorkeling Experience

After a short ride, we quickly arrived at Mamutik Island​

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As expected from a popular tourist spot, there are some really picturesque areas.

The Malaysian flag looks fantastic with the island scenery 🤣

Just remember, the admission fee to the island is separate!

You only pay this once, at the first island you visit.

(So keep that receipt handy!)

✅ Adults 25 Ringgit

✅Payment is possible with cash or card at the ticket booth.

There were so many fish even right where our boat docked 😯

The water was incredibly clear, so you could see everything!

The moment I first laid eyes on Mamutik Island, I felt such a healing sensation!

The sand was so fine, and the sea was crystal clear!

As soon as we arrived at Mamutik Island, we showed our receipts to the guide and started snorkeling.

We even rented a GoPro for a certain local fee and had a blast snorkeling!

We even saw adorable Nemo! (So glad we rented the GoPro ㅠㅠ)

Even though there were a lot of people,

isn't this visibility just amazing?!

There were so many fish, snorkeling here was absolutely the right choice!

After a fantastic snorkeling session at Mamutik Island,

hunger strikes immediately, of course! 😂😂😂

Mamutik Island has a restaurant that also doubles as a convenience store,

where you can enjoy the ultimate post-swim ritual: cup noodles!

Of course, for top Korean favorites like Yukgaejang or Kimchi Ramyun,

you'll need to bring them from Korea in advance.

You just need to buy hot water from the store and enjoy your meal at your spot.

✅ Recommended to prepare your cup noodles beforehand

✅ Hot water: 2 Ringgit (Cash only)

As expected, ramen after swimming is the absolute best!

After enjoying everything Mamutik Island has to offer,

even if it's not the designated time to return to the next island,

boats continuously arrive, so you can just show your receipt and hop on the next one!

Sapi Island - Snorkeling Review

Our next stop: Sapi Island!

Sapi Island's water quality wasn't quite as good as Mamutik's.

However, the water wasn't very deep, and with lifeguards constantly keeping an eye on things to prevent people from going too far,

it was a great spot for even young children to enjoy together.

When I ventured a little too far from the sandy beach,

a lifeguard blew their whistle and directed me to snorkel within the safe zone 😅

Although the visibility wasn't perfect,

I could still clearly see the fish moving around!

Doing water activities twice in one day was quite tiring 🤣🤣🤣

✅ When coming for a hopping tour, definitely bring a mat to sit on!

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Everyone else was spreading out their mats, leaving their belongings, and relaxing.

Just unwinding and gazing at the ocean itself is so healing.

Lying back, relaxing, and mindfully gazing at the beautiful sea – pure bliss!

Parasailing

Parasailing takes place either at the first island or between the two islands, depending on the situation.

They check your receipt to see how many people are in your group.

It's conducted safely according to the number of participants, so no worries!

If you want to capture photos or videos,

you can ask a staff member or the next person in line for the activity.

(We ended up taking photos for each other, haha!)

It was even more fun riding together as a pair!!!

TMI: Take off your aqua shoes when parasailing!

(One of mine flew off during the ride 🤣🤣🤣)

Kota Kinabalu Island Hopping Tour Review

When you think of Kota Kinabalu, island hopping is the most memorable experience,

and it truly was an incredible time! 😎

If you're planning a trip to Kota Kinabalu,

I highly recommend the island hopping tour!!!!

Whether you prefer the tranquil and picturesque Mamutik Island,

or Sapi Island, a paradise for snorkeling and activities,

or even Manukan Island, I strongly recommend choosing the island that best suits your travel style!

Kota Kinabalu Island Hopping Tour Essentials

Mat to sit on

Waterproof pouch

Beach towel

Aqua shoes

Cash (for restaurants, admission fees, etc.)

GoPro (if you have one)

Cup noodles, chopsticks

Water

Toilet paper, wet wipes