Malaysia · ISLAND HOPPING TOURS
A speedboat, three stops and a lunch, off Langkawi or off Kota Kinabalu. These 15 are compared on how many islands you actually land on, group size, what the price includes and how early the boat leaves.
Join an English-speaking guide for a fast half-day boat trip from Teluk Baru. Visit Dayang Bunting Lake, watch eagles feed, stop at Pulau Singa Besar, and swim at Beras Basah Beach. Hotel pickup is available in Pantai Cenang and Pantai Tengah, or meet at McDonald’s Underwater World.
“Really enjoyed but cut short because of the weather…. Obvs not the company’s fault and would use again”
Sail from Langkawi to Dayang Bunting, Singa Besar, and Beras Basah on a 210-minute tour with hotel pickup, eagle watching, lake time, and beach stops. You can swim, relax, or add optional activities at your own cost. The English-speaking boat crew handles the route, but commentary may be limited.
“The islands where stunning with breathtaking views and wildlife to spot. The "guide"/boat captain didn't give much information though, barely spoke to his guests and acted more as a driver than a guide. Nevertheless we had a great day”
Leave Kota Kinabalu at 8:30 a.m. for a 20-minute boat ride to Sapi Island, where you can swim, snorkel, sunbathe, and eat lunch by the beach. A speedboat then takes you to Manukan Island before returning to the city. Snorkel gear, transfers, a guide, and lunch are included, but fins and water sports cost extra.
“The tour guide was helpful; she watched our bags while we swam. However, it would have been more enjoyable if the tour guide or someone on the boat had some historical background on the various islands we visited.”
Spend a full day touring Sapi and Manukan islands from Kota Kinabalu. You’ll get hotel pickup, boat transfers, snorkeling gear, a guide, lunch, and beach time. Sapi offers easy shore snorkeling and optional water sports, while larger Manukan gives you more room to swim, stroll, and relax.
“Tour guide was friendly and positive, spent over three hours on the first island (sapi) and an hour on the second (Manukan) which was nicer of the two. Felt like the long stay on sapi was mainly to pressure you into paying for the additional activities. Lunch wasn’t bad but quite greasy and not worth the price”
Meet your multilingual English, Chinese, or Malay-speaking crew at Semporna Jetty for a full day around Timba Timba, Mataking, and Pandanan. You can choose three snorkeling sessions or two 20-minute introductory scuba sessions plus snorkeling. Expect long speedboat rides, simple local lunch, reef time, and extra cash fees for two islands.
“wunderschöne tour auf die drei Inseln,viel snoorkeln,einfach Traum”
This 3 to 4 hour shared boat trip from Langkawi visits the Pregnant Maiden Island viewpoint, Singa Besar for eagle watching, and Beras Basah for beach time. Hotel pickup is offered from Pantai Tengah, Pantai Cenang, or Kuah. The $59 price includes transport and boat travel, but not the entrance fee to the Pregnant Maiden attraction or lunch.
“Boat ride was fast and enjoyable. The captain was fab and we felt safe throughout. We had six people on our boat which was such a nice number and would love to do it again. Enjoyed the beach, sea eagle feeding and pregnant lady views more than the fresh water lake activity.”
You’ll ride with an English or Malay-speaking instructor from Mega Water Sports Beach Hut, stopping at Singa Besar for eagle watching, Beras Basah for beach time, and Intan Kecil for swimming. The small-group tour lasts two hours, includes safety gear and insurance, and suits confident swimmers with limited time.
“Polecam gorąco tą atrakcję, nam sprawiła ogromną frajdę, piękne widoki super przewodnik😎 super super”
Spend about four hours touring Langkawi’s island trio by shared boat. You’ll watch sea eagles snatch chicken from the water, visit Dayang Bunting’s freshwater lake, and relax at Beras Basah. Hotel or cruise terminal transfers, an English-speaking driver, and an air-conditioned vehicle are included. Lake entry, food, and beach activities cost extra.
“It was a great experience. The driver of the boat was really friendly and we had a great time seeing the islands”
Set out from Kota Kinabalu at 8:30 am for a six-hour island trip in Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park. You’ll visit two islands, snorkel in warm water, enjoy lunch, and have time to walk or rest. Guides may include Roy, Tan, or Hashim, and groups are limited to 15 people.
“I had such a good day! The trip was the perfect length, the guide was wonderfully helpful and patient, and I really enjoyed walking around Sapi.”
Spend a full day island-hopping from Jesselton Point to Manukan and Sapi islands. You’ll get boat transfers, entrance fees, snorkeling equipment excluding fins, beach time, and a simple buffet lunch. This is an independent snorkeling day rather than a guided marine tour, so it suits confident swimmers who value flexibility over instruction.
“Es war total schlecht organisiert. Ich habe im Vorfeld Anweisungen bekommen, die ich genau befolgt habe, allerdings wurde man gefühlt immer hin und her geschickt, wobei keiner genaue Informationen hatte. Auf den Inseln war der Strand wirklich schön, aber dieser Eindruck wurde gleich von vielen Touristen zerstört, die sich teilweise wie die Axt im Walde benommen haben. Das hat man beispielsweise an den vielen toten Korallenriffen bemerkt. Einige haben sich einen Spaß daraus gemacht die kleinen Komodowarane zu jagen. Bei der Wartezeit am Strand war es super chaotisch, weil es viele verschiedene Anbieter gibt, die jeweils nur ihre Gäste mitnehmen, was zu langen Wartezeiten und überfüllten Stege...”
Join a shared speedboat from Kota Kinabalu to Sapi and Manukan Islands for six hours of beach time, snorkeling, and a BBQ lunch. City hotel pickup, island fees, terminal fees, and snorkel gear are included. The group can reach 20 people, and the route may change if weather turns rough.
“The operators knew about the bad weather and the storm and they still sent us anyway. So I paid to go to the first Island on a 15 minute boat ride with a reckless driver just to sit for a while, have a very bad meal and get back. And all we got is Read more”
Spend 3 to 4 hours exploring Langkawi by boat, with hotel pickup, a stop at Dayang Bunting’s Pregnant Maiden Lake, views of Singa Besar, and beach time at Beras Basah. Choose a shared or private boat. Bring swimwear, a towel, and cash for entry fees, snacks, and optional equipment.
“Such a beautiful island, so nice color of the water. Love the swings and the water is also clean. There are too many monkeys so please be aware of the bags.”
You’ll visit Pulau Beras Basah, Pulau Dayang Bunting, and Pulau Singa Besar on a four-hour shared or private boat trip. Expect beach time, a freshwater lake, eagle feeding, and commentary on Langkawi’s culture and ecology. The $11 starting price is attractive, but short stops and crowds can affect the experience.
“Really perfect, inexpensive considering what was included (meal, tour, etc.). We even got to see dolphins thanks to our guide.”
Spend four hours exploring Langkawi by jet ski with an English or Malay-speaking guide. The route covers Pregnant Maiden Lake, Beras Basah Island, Diamond Island, limestone cliffs, eagle-feeding areas, and the Fjord Eco Marine Park. Hotel transfers, safety gear, snorkeling masks, and a complimentary drone video are included.
“Prachtige eilanden en de dronefoto’s en -video’s zijn ook echt prachtig! Alles was super geregeld. Let wel op: ze proberen soms extra geld te vragen voor de drone, terwijl dit al in het pakket zit 😁 Verder absoluut een aanrader!”
Spend a full day among three Semporna islands. Hike Bohey Dulang for its turquoise lagoon views, snorkel Mantabuan’s coral gardens, then swim or rest on Sibuan’s white sand. A shared Malay-English guide, boat transfers, lunch, equipment, hiking permit, and Marine Park entry are included.
“Stay away! Although the organizers knew that it was impossible to visit one of the islands due to the tide, we were only warned during the excursion. Inedible packed lunch. Untrained staff driving the vehicle. Two moorings where in one it hit the coral reef, in the other an adjacent boat. Improvised. During the return trip the bench where we were sitting collapsed. The price is far higher than local organizations”
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