Tunku Abdul Rahman Park: five islands compared

Tunku Abdul Rahman Park has five islands about three kilometres off Kota Kinabalu: Gaya, Manukan, Mamutik, Sapi and Sulug ^[1]. Manukan is the most developed, Mamutik is the smallest and nearest the mainland, Sapi is a walk from Gaya at low tide, and Sulug is the most remote.

That is the whole confirmed picture from Sabah Parks. Facilities such as showers, toilets and shade are not listed for each island, so this page turns them into questions. Use it with the park island guide and the page on the Jesselton Point jetty.

How do the five islands compare?

Island	What Sabah Parks confirms [1]	Ask about
Gaya	The largest island	Which side the boat lands, and food
Manukan	The most developed, where Sabah Parks has its headquarters	Showers, toilets, food and shade
Mamutik	The smallest, nearest the mainland	Facilities and crowd on weekends
Sapi	Linked to Gaya by a sandbank walkable at low tide, with about five kilometres of trails	Tide times and shade on the walk
Sulug	The most remote	Whether boats go at all, and what is there

Where the right column says ask, there is no confirmed detail. Send the same questions about each island you are considering.

What does it cost to enter?

The entrance fee is per person per day. For Malaysians it is listed as RM8 for adults aged 18 and above and RM5 for ages 13 to 17 ^[2].

Children aged 12 and below, seniors aged 60 and above and disabled visitors are free ^[2]. Foreign visitors pay more. Confirm the current amount with Sabah Parks or your boat operator.

A worked example: two Malaysian adults, a ten-year-old, a fifteen-year-old and a grandparent aged 65. That is RM8 plus RM8 plus nothing plus RM5 plus nothing, so RM21 for the day ^[2]. Add the boat, which is separate.

Which island should you ask about first?

Ask first about the one that fits your group:

• Families with toddlers: Manukan or Mamutik, then ask about shade, showers and toilets.
• Quiet-seekers: Sulug or Sapi, then ask about boats and facilities.
• Walkers: Gaya with Sapi, then ask about tide times.
• First-timers on a budget: whichever island the shared boat visits, then ask what a ticket includes.

For facilities in more detail, read island beach facilities, showers, toilets, shade and rinse showers and changing rooms on day-trip islands.

What should you ask the boat operator?

• Which islands does my ticket include, and can I choose?
• When does the last boat return from each island?
• Is the entrance fee in the ticket or paid separately?
• Is gear for snorkelling included or rented?
• Are life jackets available in child sizes?

For the boat itself, see Kota Kinabalu to Manukan, Mamutik and Sapi, boat basics and our day plan from Kota Kinabalu.

A better fit if…

Manukan or Mamutik may be a better fit if you want a simple day with predictable facilities and are comfortable with a busier beach.

Sapi, Gaya or Sulug may be a better fit if you want space and trails and do not mind fewer conveniences. The island trip cost calculator adds up the boat, fee and food for your group.