Gaya Island Resort: what to confirm
You are weighing a stay inside Tunku Abdul Rahman Park and want the confirmed facts first.
Gaya Island Resort is at Malohom Bay on Gaya island, inside Tunku Abdul Rahman Park off Kota Kinabalu in Sabah. Its official site is the best source we have. It confirms the villa names, the boat from Jesselton Point and how rates are shown.
Use this page with the Tunku Abdul Rahman Park island guide and the resort inclusion comparator.
What does the official site confirm?
The resort lists Bayu, Canopy and Kinabalu villas and the Suria Suite, and places itself at Malohom Bay on Gaya island [1]. The page shows rates with breakfast, and an all-inclusive Residents’ Package [3].
No kids club is described on the page. Any detail beyond this, such as villa size, facilities and season, is a question for the resort.
How do you get there?
Guests take a speedboat from Gaya Lounge at Jesselton Point Ferry Terminal in Kota Kinabalu, and the site offers a Book Your Transfer option [2]. Our Jesselton Point guide explains the terminal.
Ask what time the boat leaves, how long the crossing is, and whether it runs on arrival day at your flight time. Build your day backwards from the boat.
Is the park fee part of the room rate?
Tunku Abdul Rahman Park charges an entrance fee per person per day. For Malaysians aged 18 and over it is RM8, and RM5 for ages 13 to 17 [4].
Malaysian children aged 12 and under, seniors aged 60 and over and disabled visitors are free [4]. International visitors aged 18 and over pay RM25, and RM20 for ages 17 and under or 60 and over [4].
The resort price may or may not include this. Ask for the park fee as its own line, so you know what you are paying.
Who might it suit?
It may suit you if you want a stay on an island close to Kota Kinabalu, with a boat from the city. Couples and families who value a short transfer may look at it.
A budget stay is a better fit if cost is the main concern, since resort rates differ from simple chalets. We have not stayed here, so the experience is a question for the resort.
Details to confirm before booking
- Which villa type suits my group, and what is its occupancy?
- Which meals are in the rate, and what do extra meals cost?
- Is the Jesselton Point transfer included, and when does it leave?
- Is the park entrance fee included for each person?
- What are the child, infant and senior rules and rates?
- What is the cancellation rule if the boat cannot sail?
How should you compare it with neighbours?
Compare it with the quieter Sutera at Mantanani, and read Tunku Abdul Rahman Park versus Mantanani to see how the islands differ.
Use the cost calculator to place the quotation on the same lines.
Common questions
How do I get to Gaya Island Resort?
The official site describes a speedboat from Gaya Lounge at Jesselton Point Ferry Terminal in Kota Kinabalu, with a Book Your Transfer option. Ask what time the boat leaves, how long it takes, and whether the transfer is in your rate or booked separately.
Are meals included in the rates?
The site shows rates with breakfast and lists an all-inclusive Residents' Package. Other meal arrangements are not described on the page, so ask what is included on arrival and departure days, whether drinks count, and what extra meals cost. Details change by date and operator, so confirm before you pay.
Does the resort have a kids club?
No kids club is described on the page we saw. If children are travelling, ask what activities, child rules and safety arrangements apply, and whether child rates differ. Confirm the answers in writing before you book. Keep the reply with your booking so everyone in your group sees the same facts.
Sources
- Gaya Island Resort (official site) (accessed 2026-10-16)
- Gaya Island Resort (official site) (accessed 2026-10-16)
- Gaya Island Resort (official site) (accessed 2026-10-16)
- Sabah Parks (accessed 2026-10-16)