Kota Kinabalu to Jesselton Point and the islands
You are in Kota Kinabalu and want to reach the jetty for the park islands without fuss.
Reaching the park islands from Kota Kinabalu is a short trip: a ride to the jetty, a counter and a boat. The islands lie about 3 km offshore [1]. The details to settle are the jetty, the boat times and what the park fee covers.
Our Tunku Abdul Rahman Park guide introduces the five islands. This page covers the first leg, from your hotel to the water.
What is the journey, step by step?
The trip has four links. Each takes less time than a long ferry day but still needs a buffer.
- Hotel or airport to the jetty by taxi or e-hailing.
- Counter: boat ticket, park fee and any island choice.
- Boat across to the island you picked.
- The return boat time, which is the one that matters.
Jesselton Point is the jetty we use in our planning, but Sabah Parks gives no jetty details, so confirm it with your operator [3].
How does the park fee work?
The fee is charged per person per day. Published rates are Malaysians aged 18 and over RM8, Malaysians 13 to 17 RM5, and Malaysian children 12 and under, seniors 60 and over and disabled visitors free [2]. International visitors pay more, at RM25 for adults [2].
For a Malaysian family of two adults, one 15-year-old and a six-year-old, the day’s fee would be RM8 plus RM8 plus RM5, so RM21, with the six-year-old free [2]. Confirm the rate at the counter, and ask whether your tour includes it.
Which island should you pick?
The park has five islands. Gaya is the largest and Manukan the most developed. Mamutik is the smallest and nearest the mainland, Sapi links to Gaya by a sandbank walkable at low tide, and Sulug is the most remote [1].
For a first visit, our beaches guide and the island-hopping guide help you choose. Read boat basics for the questions to ask.
What should you ask at the counter?
- Which island does my ticket cover, and can I add another?
- What time is the last boat back, and is there a fixed return time?
- Is the park fee in the price, or paid separately?
- Where do I wait, and is there shade?
- What happens if the sea is too rough?
- Are life jackets available for children?
Keep the answers in a message or a photo of the receipt.
A better fit if…
A day trip to the park islands may suit you if:
- you want a short break from the city with minimal travel.
- your group wants a beach, a swim and an easy return.
- you have a half or full day free.
Another plan may suit you better if:
- you want to stay overnight on an island. See Mantanani.
- you want a long snorkelling trip. See Semporna.
- you have a flight soon after. See KK airport to Jesselton Point.
What to do next
Write down your hotel area, the island and the return boat time. Then ask your operator or agent to confirm the jetty and the fee in writing.
Common questions
Where do boats to the park islands leave from?
Jesselton Point in Kota Kinabalu is the jetty we use in our planning, but the Sabah Parks page gives no jetty details, so we have not verified it from that source. Ask your operator or agent which jetty and which counter your booking uses.
How far are the islands from the city?
The park islands lie about 3 km offshore from Kota Kinabalu, according to Sabah Parks. We have not confirmed boat times, so ask the boat operator for the crossing time and the first and last sailings on your date.
What is the park fee for a Malaysian family?
The published schedule lists Malaysians aged 18 and over at RM8 per day, those aged 13 to 17 at RM5, and children 12 and under, seniors 60 and over and disabled visitors free. Confirm the current rate at the counter.
Do I need a tour, or can I go on my own?
Both are common. A tour bundles the boat, the fee and sometimes lunch. Going on your own is more flexible but needs you to ask about boat tickets, return times and what is included. Compare the written terms.
Sources
- Sabah Parks (accessed 2026-10-16)
- Sabah Parks (accessed 2026-10-16)
- Sabah Parks (accessed 2026-10-16)