Manukan Island Guide: Getting There, Costs and Tips

Featured image: Dcubillas, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

Manukan Island at a Glance

Manukan sits inside Tunku Abdul Rahman Park, which lies in Gaya Bay, 3 kilometers offshore from Kota Kinabalu. Sabah Parks manages the park, and its official page lists the entry fees and hours used below. Visitors usually pick Manukan for snorkelling and for its on-island facilities. Its beach is less impressive than Sapi's, so this is a trade-off between reef and facilities on one side and sand on the other.

• Departure: Jesselton Point ferry terminal, currently operating from South Jetty
• Park hours: 8.00am to 5.00pm, Monday to Sunday
• Best for: snorkelling, families, easy half-days
• Not for: camping, since Manukan has no campsite

How to Get to Manukan Island from Kota Kinabalu

Boats leave from Jesselton Point. Its original terminal is being upgraded, so operations have moved temporarily to South Jetty, KK Port, on Jalan Tun Fuad Stephens. The terminal runs daily from 7:30 AM to 5:00 PM, and ferry services continue as normal. Sabah Parks lists about 15 minutes by fast boat from Jesselton Point to the park islands. Walk-ins are welcome and no booking is required. Pre-booking online through Easybook lets you skip the queue.

• On foot: 15-20 minutes from Gaya Street and central KK hotels
• By car: about 15 minutes from KK Airport (BKI) by taxi or Grab
• Parking: JQ Central levels 4, 5 and 6, cashless payment, via Retail Lift 2 to Ground floor
• No on-site parking at the terminal; South Jetty is closer to JQ Central

Manukan Island Costs, Fees and Opening Times

Prices and hours checked November 2026. Every visitor pays the park entrance fee per person per day, set by Sabah Parks for Tunku Abdul Rahman Park. International adults aged 18 and above pay RM 25. International visitors aged 60 and above pay RM 20, and international visitors aged 17 and below also pay RM 20. Malaysian adults pay RM 8. Boat fares are sold separately at the terminal counters or on Easybook, and the amount is not listed here, so ask when you buy. Visiting hours and access can differ by facility, activity and weather.

Best Things to Do on Manukan Island

Snorkelling is the main draw, with fringing coral reef just off the beach. An activity centre on the island rents kayaks, snorkelling gear and life jackets, and a small café and public bathrooms sit nearby. Swimming, kayaking and walking the shaded beach fill a relaxed morning. Scuba diving fees in the park are listed per person on the Sabah Parks page, but the park flags them for confirmation. Contact the park before planning a dive.

How Long to Spend on Manukan Island

A half-day suits most visitors. Take an early boat after the terminal opens at 7:30 AM, snorkel before midday, and return after lunch. A full day gives time for kayaking and a long beach stop. Park hours end at 5:00 PM, and the terminal closes at the same time, so book your return boat with a generous margin. Weekends bring bigger crowds, so go on a weekday morning if you can. Weather also shapes the day. If boats are cancelled for unsafe conditions, tickets are fully refunded or rescheduled at no extra cost.

Manukan vs Sapi, Mamutik and Gaya: Which Island to Pick

Choose Manukan for facilities and snorkelling. For a better beach, look at Sapi Island (Pulau Sapi) Guide: Getting There, Costs & Tips. Prefer something nearby with a different feel? Try Mamutik Island Guide: Boats, Fees & Day Trip Tips. Gaya Island Guide: How to Visit From Kota Kinabalu suits a longer day, and a sand bank links it to Sapi, so you can wade between them at low tide. Mantanani is a separate, more remote trip, covered in our Mantanani Island Guide: Getting There, Day Trip vs Overnight guide, and it is not part of the same park boat run.

Where to Stay and Eat on Manukan Island

Manukan Island Resort offers chalet-style accommodation, and day visitors can eat at the small café on the beach. Sutra Sanctuary Lodges has been named as its operator, so ask the resort about current rooms and pool access. Camping is not available on Manukan or Sulug, though the park's other islands allow it. Bring cash for the café and gear rental, since card payment on the island is not guaranteed.

Tips, Rules and What to Avoid

Wear sun protection and carry water, as shade on the beach is limited at midday. Reef-safe habits matter in a marine park, so do not stand on coral or take shells. Pick a morning boat, avoid missing the 5:00 PM close, and keep to the park's BBQ pits, shelters and restrooms. The park map is not a navigation aid for boating, so do not rely on it at sea. More planning help is on the Sabah Tourism Board site.