9 Best Islands in Sabah You’ll Keep Thinking About
Sabah island planning can trick you at first.
You search for the best islands in Sabah, save a few nice photos, then the names start piling up. Manukan. Gaya. Sipadan. Mabul. Selingan. They all sound like they belong in one easy island-hopping trip.
Once you check the map properly, they do not.
The Kota Kinabalu islands are the simpler ones. Manukan and Gaya are the names to look at when you want a beach day or a resort stay without moving too far from the west coast side.
Semporna is a different plan. That is where Mabul, Kapalai, Mataking and Sipadan start to make sense. The trip usually needs more time, more money and more checking before you go. Sipadan especially needs proper planning because of the permit rules.
Sandakan has its own island route too. Selingan is for the turtle experience. Lankayan is for a quieter island stay when you are already giving that side of Sabah enough time.
So before choosing the island, do the boring but useful thing first. Check where you will actually be staying in Sabah.
That one detail will cut the list down very quickly. Once that part is clear, the island choice becomes much easier.
Find beautiful beach escapes around Malaysia, from island coves and clear water to easy coastal spots for a slower holiday.
1. Manukan Island
Manukan is the island most first-timers should understand first.
Not because it is the wildest island in Sabah. It is not. Not because it feels empty. It does not always feel that way either.
Manukan works because it is easy.
You are already in Kota Kinabalu. You want a beach day. You do not want to lose half the trip figuring out transfers. This is the kind of island that can fit into a normal city-based itinerary.
The boat ride is short compared with the bigger Sabah island trips, and that makes it less tiring for families. You can go out, spend time by the beach, try snorkelling if conditions are good, then return to the city later.
That is the real appeal.
Manukan is not the island for someone trying to disappear completely. It is more of a safe first island. Easy to plan. Easy to explain to the group. Easy to add when your Sabah trip already has other things packed into it.
For many visitors, that is enough.
2. Gaya Island
Gaya is close to Kota Kinabalu too, but it does not feel like the same kind of plan as Manukan.
Manukan is easier as a day trip. Gaya makes more sense when you want the island to become part of the stay.
There are resort-style options here, and that changes how you experience the island. You are not just rushing over for a few hours and rushing back before dinner. You slow down more. The boat ride becomes the beginning of the stay, not just transport.
Gaya also has a more forested feel compared with a simple beach stop. It suits travellers who want sea views but still want to stay near Kota Kinabalu.
That is the useful middle ground.
You get an island break without needing to fly towards Tawau or plan around Semporna. It will usually cost more than a basic island-hopping day, so the decision depends on your budget.
Choose Gaya if you want comfort and convenience together.
Skip it if all you need is a quick beach day.
3. Mantanani Island
Mantanani looks tempting because of the water.
On a good day, the blue can look exactly like the kind of Sabah island people imagine before the trip. Clear sea, slower pace, softer beach feeling.
The catch is the journey.
Mantanani is not as simple as the islands just off Kota Kinabalu. Sabah Tourism notes that the route starts with a drive to Kampung Kuala Abai jetty in Kota Belud, followed by a speedboat ride to the island.
That makes the visit feel more like a proper day out.
You need to leave time for the road journey. You need to think about the boat. You need to accept that sea conditions can affect the trip.
So Mantanani is better when the beach is the main plan for the day.
Do not squeeze it between too many other stops. That is how the day becomes tiring instead of relaxing.
If you want something prettier and less city-adjacent than Manukan, Mantanani can make sense. Just respect the travel time.
4. Sipadan Island
Sipadan is the island people talk about before they even understand Sabah’s map.
The name is famous for diving. That fame is fair. But it also creates a problem because some travellers treat Sipadan like a normal island they can casually add to a trip.
It is not that kind of island.
Sipadan requires a permit to dive, with a daily quota of 252 permits. Sabah Tourism also notes that permits are arranged through licensed tour operators registered with Sabah Parks.
That means you plan Sipadan early.
You do not arrive in Semporna and casually hope everything works out. Maybe it does. Maybe it does not. For a trip built around diving, that is too risky.
There is another thing to know. Sipadan is closed to tourists every December for marine recovery, according to Sabah Tourism.
So check the timing before dreaming too far.
For divers, Sipadan may be the whole reason to go to Sabah.
For non-divers, it may not be the right island to chase. The effort is higher, and the experience is not built around a normal beach picnic.
Sipadan is special. It is also controlled. Both things are true.
5. Mabul Island
Mabul feels more real than polished.
That is not an insult. It is actually what makes the island different. Mabul is not only resorts and dive centres.
You also get village areas, working boats, dive gear being carried around and people going about normal island life. So it does not feel like a small private island built for one type of guest.
That can surprise people who only looked at resort photos before booking.
Mabul is on the Semporna side, so it usually comes up when people are planning around Sipadan, Kapalai or Mataking. A lot of visitors use this area as a base for diving and snorkelling trips.
The stay options are quite mixed too. You can find simpler places, dive lodges and more comfortable resorts, depending on budget.
So the Mabul experience can change a lot based on where you book. One person may get a quiet resort stay. Another may feel the island is busier and more lived-in than expected.
Some visitors will love the mix. Some may expect a clean, quiet resort island and feel surprised by how active parts of the island can be.
So Mabul is better when you arrive with open eyes. Sea, diving, village life, boats, resorts, all in one place.
Not perfect. Still memorable.
6. Kapalai Island
Kapalai is a good choice when you want the sea to be right there almost the whole time.
It does not feel like the kind of island where you walk around looking for cafés, shops or a small town. The appeal is much simpler than that. Water, decks, boats, snorkelling, diving and long quiet stretches between meals.
That sounds perfect for some people.
For others, it may feel too still after one night.
So think about your travel style before booking. If you enjoy slow mornings, sea views and staying close to the resort, Kapalai can feel special. If you like wandering around, trying different food places or having random things to do nearby, it may feel a bit limited.
This is the kind of place where the resort becomes most of the trip.
That is not a bad thing. It just means Kapalai works best when you are happy letting the sea take up most of the day.
Plan a better Tioman trip with tips on beaches, villages, ferry travel, snorkelling spots and what to expect before you go.
7. Mataking Island
Mataking is not the kind of island to squeeze in just because the photos look nice.
It works better when you are already planning a proper island stay. Usually that means checking the resort, boat transfer, meals and activity package before you decide. So the decision is not only about the beach. It is also about whether you are ready to spend a bit more and stay put for a while.
That is where Mataking makes sense.
Arrive, leave the bags, go down to the beach, swim, rest, eat, and let the day stay simple. No rushing back to town. No changing boats again and again.
Mataking is better for travellers who do not mind staying in one place for a while.
A couple might enjoy the quiet. A family might like having the room, beach and meals tied to one base instead of dragging bags through another jetty the next day.
The price needs a proper look, though.
Beach photos can make the trip look simple. In real booking terms, the total may depend on the room type, boat transfer, meals, activity add-ons and what the resort actually includes in the package.
Do not assume everything is covered just because the page looks like a full island stay.
Read the package line by line before paying. If something is unclear, ask the resort first.
8. Lankayan Island
Lankayan sits on the Sandakan side, so do not treat it like a small add-on after Kota Kinabalu.
The journey starts from Sandakan, followed by a scheduled boat transfer to the island. The boat ride is roughly two hours, so this is not the same as a quick island hop from Kota Kinabalu.
The trip already takes a bit of effort before you even reach the island. You have to be in Sandakan first, then continue by boat. By that point, Lankayan is no longer a “maybe we can fit it in” kind of stop.
It becomes part of the main plan.
That is probably why people who go there usually want something quieter. Less running around. More sea, diving, beach time and staying put for a while. It is the kind of island where the day naturally slows down because there is not much reason to keep moving.
That can be a good thing.
But only if your schedule has space for it.
If your Sabah trip is already tight, Lankayan may feel like too much effort for too little time on the island. It makes more sense when Sandakan is already in your route and you are happy to give this part of the trip proper breathing room.
9. Selingan Island
Selingan is the island to choose for turtles, not for a normal beach holiday.
It is part of Turtle Islands Park, which Sabah Parks says lies about 40 km north of Sandakan. The park includes Selingan, Gulisan and Bakungan Kechil.
The visit has a different rhythm from the other islands on this list.
You are not going for beach clubs or a flexible day of random swimming and eating. The main highlight is the turtle programme at night, including turtle egg laying and hatchling release.
That means the trip feels more controlled.
You wait. You follow instructions. You let the conservation work come first.
For some travellers, that may sound too restricted. For others, it is exactly why Selingan is special.
Families with older children may find it meaningful because it gives the island a purpose beyond scenery. It is not just “look at the beach”. It is a chance to understand why turtle protection matters.
Just do not sell it to kids like a normal fun island day.
Sell it as a turtle experience.
That is the better expectation.
Which Sabah island fits your trip?
If your hotel is in Kota Kinabalu, Manukan is usually the least stressful island to pick first.
It is the kind of beach day you can fit into the trip without changing everything else. Go out in the morning, spend a few hours by the water, then return to the city for dinner.
Gaya is nearby, but it is not quite the same choice. It makes more sense when you are booking an island stay and want the resort side of Sabah, not just a short swim before heading back.
Once diving becomes the main reason for the trip, Kota Kinabalu is usually not where the plan stays.
That is when Semporna becomes more important. Mabul, Kapalai, Mataking and Sipadan are all tied to that side of Sabah, so the planning feels different from a simple west coast island day.
Mabul has more places to stay and a busier island feel. Kapalai is more about being close to the water. Mataking feels more private. Sipadan is the big diving name, but permits and operators need to be sorted properly before you go.
Sandakan is another route altogether.
Lankayan is better for a quieter island escape. Selingan is the one to look at if you want the turtle conservation experience.
Mantanani sits in its own category. It is not as quick as Manukan, but it is still possible from the Kota Belud side if you are willing to give the trip a full day.
So the easier question is not “which island is the best?”
It is: where are you already going in Sabah?
Kota Kinabalu gives you the easier island trips. Semporna is better for diving and island resorts. Sandakan works better for turtles and quieter nature-focused stays.
Best time to plan an island trip
For Sabah islands, the boat matters as much as the beach.
A beautiful island can still become tiring if the transfer is rushed, the sea is rough or the plan is packed too tightly.
Start early when possible. Morning trips usually give you more breathing room, especially for the Kota Kinabalu islands. You get more time on the island and less pressure to rush back.
For Semporna and Sandakan-side islands, add buffer time.
Do not land, transfer, boat and expect everything to run perfectly with no delay. It might, but it is better not to build the whole trip on that hope.
For Sipadan, check permits before getting too attached to dates.
For Selingan, remember that the turtle programme happens at night, so the trip will not feel like a normal beach outing.
The safest mindset is simple.
Plan the island first, then build the rest of the day around it.
What can disappoint people
Sabah islands are beautiful, but the wrong island choice can still spoil the trip.
Manukan may feel too busy if you expected a hidden private beach.
Gaya may feel expensive if you only wanted a quick swim.
Mantanani may feel far if you thought it was just another short boat ride from Kota Kinabalu.
Sipadan can frustrate people who did not understand the permit system.
Mabul may surprise travellers who expected everything to look like a luxury resort brochure.
Kapalai can feel too quiet if you need shops and movement.
Mataking can stretch the budget.
Lankayan needs time.
Selingan is not built around casual beach fun.
None of that means these islands are bad.
It just means Sabah rewards better planning.
What to pair nearby
If your island plan starts in Kota Kinabalu, keep the rest of the day simple.
After Manukan or Gaya, you can return to the city for dinner, the waterfront, Gaya Street area or Tanjung Aru if timing works. Do not force too many extra stops after a hot island day.
For Semporna, let the sea be the main plan.
Mabul, Kapalai, Mataking and Sipadan are not small side trips from Kota Kinabalu. Build proper days around them, especially if diving or snorkelling is involved.
For Sandakan, pair Selingan or Lankayan with nature-focused stops.
Sepilok, wildlife centres and river or rainforest activities fit better with this side of Sabah than trying to rush between distant island areas.
That is usually where Sabah trips become smoother.
Less jumping around.
More staying on the right side of the map.
Small things to know before choosing
Which Sabah island is easiest for first-timers?
Manukan Island is usually the easiest because it is close to Kota Kinabalu and works well as a day trip.
Which Sabah island is best for diving?
Sipadan is the famous one, but it needs a permit. Mabul, Kapalai and Mataking are also common names for Semporna-side diving and snorkelling trips.
Can you stay on Sipadan Island?
Most travellers visit Sipadan through licensed operators and stay around nearby islands or Semporna instead.
Which island is best for families?
Manukan is the simplest family choice. Gaya can work well if you want a more comfortable resort stay near Kota Kinabalu.
Which island is best for turtles?
Selingan Island is the main one to know because it is part of Turtle Islands Park near Sandakan.
Is Mantanani easy from Kota Kinabalu?
It is possible, but it takes more planning than Manukan or Gaya. There is a road transfer towards Kota Belud before the boat ride.
Should I choose Kota Kinabalu or Semporna for islands?
Choose Kota Kinabalu for easier island trips. Choose Semporna if diving, snorkelling and east coast island stays are the main reason for your Sabah trip.
Is Sabah good for island hopping?
Yes, but not in one single area. Kota Kinabalu island hopping is very different from Semporna or Sandakan island planning.
Find Penang beaches for easy sea views, sunset walks, quiet corners and island stops beyond the usual food trail.