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Planning a Sapi Island hopping tour in Kota Kinabalu? Discover the pros and cons of on-site versus online booking, compare prices for 2026, and find out which option is best for your adventure.
Kota Kinabalu Tours
Sapi Island Island Hopping Tour
Hello, Global Explorers! This is Durimap.
Kota Kinabalu offers such a fantastic array of activities, but I highly recommend experiencing an island hopping tour to Sapi Island, Manukan Island, Mamutik Island, and more.
From the city jetty, it's just a quick 15-20 minute boat ride to reach the stunning emerald waters, so you won't lose much precious time getting there.
I decided against booking a tour in advance. Instead, I checked the weather, then booked my Sapi Island trip on the spot. I'll share the pros and cons of booking on-site versus online, recommend some tours, and give you my firsthand review!
📍 Sapi Island
sapi island, K.K, Kota Kinabalu, 88000, Sabah, Malaysia
Pros and Cons: On-Site Booking vs. Tour Package |
You can book island hopping tours to Sapi Island, Gaya Island, Manukan Island, and Mamutik Island either on-site or through a pre-booked tour.
I personally chose Sapi Island because of its smaller size and incredibly beautiful water color. There are also tours that visit two islands, so you have plenty of options!
I went to Jesselton Point and booked on the spot, for two main reasons: weather and price.
If you book in advance and it turns out to be cloudy or rainy, your photos won't be as stunning! Of course, if it's canceled due to heavy rain, you'd get a refund. But often, if the weather is just 'so-so', the tour still goes ahead, so I decided to check the sky on the day itself. 😂
While buying directly from local vendors can be cheaper, I found the haggling process surprisingly tiring. With vendors calling out everywhere, debating discounts, inclusions, and exclusions, I was quite exhausted by the end of it, haha!
Category | On-Site Booking | Online Tour Package |
Price | Approximately 70 MYR (for 1 island) | From ~$35-41 |
Pros | Cheaper, decide based on weather | Includes pick-up/drop-off, meals, equipment, etc. |
Cons | Direct purchase & haggling, significant unincluded costs (e.g., equipment, island entry fee) | Higher price point |
✔️ If you're like me and prefer the flexibility to decide based on the weather and want a more budget-friendly tour, then on-site booking is your go-to.
✔️ For a family trip, where you might be busy and prefer to avoid haggling, pre-booking a tour is much more convenient.
Next time, I think I'll definitely book a tour in advance, haha!
Currently, the original Jesselton Point jetty is under renovation, so tour operators have temporarily moved to a place called South Jetty.
They are running a small 'elephant train' shuttle from the old jetty.
📍 South Jetty, Kota Kinabalu Port
Malaysia 88000 Sabah Kota Kinabalu, X3VH+79
📍 Jesselton Point Jetty
Jesselton Point Ferry Terminal - South Jetty Jalan Haji Saman, Kota Kinabalu Port, Pusat Bandar Kota Kinabalu, 88400 Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia
If you're booking a tour, your boat departure point might be South Jetty, DBKK Jetty, or even Star Marina within Tanjung Aru Resort.
Make sure to check the detailed page of your chosen tour operator for precise information!
Recommended Tours |
KKDAY offers a wide array of activities and tour packages you can experience in Kota Kinabalu.
Most island hopping tours not only offer activity options like snorkeling, parasailing, and sea walking, but some even include a post-tour massage option!
The Sapi Island tour typically takes about 6 hours. Pick-up service starts around 8:30 AM (varying by hotel location), and it includes the boat ride to the island, lunch on the island, with the tour concluding around 2:30 PM and drop-off at city hotels.
The Sapi Island + Mamutik Island tour usually lasts about 7 hours. Similarly, pick-up starts around 8:30 AM, lunch is included, and the tour wraps up between 2:30 PM and 3:00 PM with drop-off at city hotels.
Type | Price | Booking Link |
|---|---|---|
| ~$43~ | |
| ~$61~ |
Most tours include snorkeling equipment for adults and elementary school-aged children (fins are usually an additional charge).
To spot tropical fish, you'll need to venture into slightly deeper waters, and your guide will be there to lead the way!
Sapi Island Tour Review |
Sapi Island, along with Gaya Island, Manukan Island, Mamutik Island, and others, is one of the islands belonging to Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park.
To think such a beautiful water color can be found so close to Kota Kinabalu city!
The guide even took photos for us, haha!
The emerald ocean color was so beautiful, it left me utterly captivated. You can see the fish clearly.
Finally arrived at the beach from the pier!
I didn't go for deeper snorkeling activities like 'Nemo snorkeling' and only played near the beach, so I didn't see many fish, but the water was so clear and the visibility so good that it was more than enough for swimming and snorkeling.
Lunch and What to Bring
We had lunch at the restaurant on the beach, and the food was... well, just okay, haha.
Sapi Island is small, so there's only one restaurant here, meaning all tour companies offer the same meal.
If you pay an additional 2 Ringgit for hot water, you can also have ramen, so bringing your own ramen is also an option.
For what to bring, it's convenient to pack a hat, sunglasses, sunscreen, a towel, a change of clothes, aqua shoes, and a waterproof bag. If you plan on doing activities, you should also bring cash.
Although there are changing rooms, I went wearing my swimsuit and just took off my cover-up before putting it back on.
The changing rooms, restrooms, and simple shower facilities were all well-equipped.
Overall Review |
Following the firefly tour, I've now introduced the island hopping tour in Kota Kinabalu, and I truly can't recommend this enough, haha!
To truly make your Kota Kinabalu trip a success, you *must* witness the sunset in Kota Kinabalu city or on the firefly tour, and then enjoy snorkeling yourself in the emerald islands during the day!!♥️
#KotaKinabaluTravel #KotaKinabaluIslandHopping #SapiIsland #SapiIslandTour #KotaKinabaluSapiIsland #KotaKinabaluActivities #JesseltonPoint #KotaKinabaluSnorkeling #ManukanIsland #KotaKinabaluSelfGuidedTour
The original Jesselton Jetty is under construction, so tour operators have moved to South Jetty. A small elephant train shuttle operates from the original jetty to South Jetty.
On-site booking for a single Sapi Island tour is approximately 70 Ringgit. Additional costs such as equipment rental and island entry fees may apply.
The Sapi Island solo tour takes approximately 6 hours, and the tour combining Sapi Island and Mamutik Island takes approximately 7 hours. Pick-up for both tours starts at 8:30 AM.
There is one restaurant on Sapi Island, and lunch is usually provided. You can eat ramen if you pay an additional 2 Ringgit for hot water, so it's a good idea to bring your own ramen.
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