Kota Kinabalu city plus the park islands

Kota Kinabalu is unusual because the park islands sit only a short boat ride from the city. That means you can keep one city base and visit the islands by day, rather than moving house. Two island days is enough for most first visits.

Our Tunku Abdul Rahman Park guide describes the islands. Read how to get from Kota Kinabalu to Jesselton Point for the first step.

How close are the islands?

Sabah Parks describes five islands about 3 km offshore from the city ^[1]. Gaya is the largest. Manukan is the most developed and has the park headquarters.

Mamutik is the smallest and nearest the mainland. Sapi is linked to Gaya by a sandbank that you can walk across at low tide, with about 5 km of trails. Sulug is the most remote ^[1].

Because they are close, the transfer cost is mostly the time you spend at the jetty and on the boat. You do not need a long recovery day around it. Boats leave from Jesselton Point, and our guide on boat basics to Manukan, Mamutik and Sapi explains the pattern.

How should you split city and island days?

Here are three samples, assuming you sleep in the city:

Nights	City	Islands
Three	Two days	One island day
Four	Two days	Two island days, one spare
Five	Two to three days	Two island days plus a spare day for weather

Put the island day mid-stay, not on arrival or departure day. If the sea is rough on the day, you can swap it with a city day. This is the main reason to keep a spare day.

What are the park fees?

Sabah Parks lists an entrance fee per person, per day ^[2]:

• Malaysian adults aged 18 and above: RM8 ^[2].
• Malaysians aged 13 to 17: RM5 ^[2].
• Malaysians aged 12 and below, 60 and above, and disabled visitors: free ^[2].
• International adults aged 18 and above: RM25 ^[2].
• International visitors aged 17 and below, or 60 and above: RM20 ^[2].

Fees can change, so confirm them before you go. Ask whether your boat ticket covers the fee, or if you pay it separately. Our guide on the island-hopping day covers how a multi-island day works.

What does a good island day look like?

Choose one island for a calm day and two for a fuller one. Mamutik, as the nearest, is simple for a short visit.

Sapi and Gaya fit a walk and a longer day. Our sample day plan sets out the hours.

Bring water, sun protection and a change of clothes. Ask the operator about return boat times, because you need to be at the jetty for the last one.

A better fit if…

City plus islands is a better fit if:

• you have three to five nights and want variety.
• you are travelling with older parents or young children and prefer short boat rides.
• you would rather sleep in a hotel than on an island.

A single-island stay may be a better fit if you want overnight island time, which is a different trip. Read our Tunku Abdul Rahman Park versus Mantanani comparison.

What should you ask before booking?

• Which island and which boat time is included in my ticket?
• Is the park fee included, or do I pay it at the jetty?
• What is the last boat back, and what happens if the sea is rough?