Improve this listing Tours & experiences Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park (Kota Kinabalu) - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go. The beautiful Manukan Island is the second largest island in Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park and isthe most popular island in the park among locals. Surau were available for Muslim visitor. Please note that this tour will do only 2 Islands Hopping, after Manukan Island, we will go to either Mamutik or Sapi Island, decided by the boat captain based on the weather & wave condition. Inits southern coastline, travellers will find great stretches of various beaches which are both eye candies and great areas for exploring and enjoying. Pick Up/Drop Off at Hotel To get to the islands you'll need to head to the Jettson pier bright and early the day you wish to go. We went to Sapi island next, and this island seems to be bigger than Mamutik. But for 15 RM only it was certainly a great experience! To my knowledge there is the one hour tour only. Stay safe! The success of this event serves as a testament to the immense impact that collective action can achieve, she said. Package rates seem to be same for all though, i.e. Tunku Abdul Rahman National Park is the neares place to go snorkeling in Kota Kinabalu, The islands of the park are an excellent venue for all kinds of water sports, You can find a hiking trail on Gaya Island. There were a lot of people as well. I saw lots of Nemo's and Doris! You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park, only 20 minutes by boat from Kota Kinabalu, gets crowded with day-trippers who splash around on the surface, but divers can escape below. However, about one million years ago, the melting ice brought about changes in the sea level and parts of the mainland were cut off by the sea to form the islands of Gaya, Sapi, Manukan, Mamutik and Sulug. The islands above the waves are beautiful. Good reef patches lie along the southern end of the island. Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park (or TAR Marine Park) is a park off the coast of the island of Borneo in Malaysia made up of five islands: 5 islands: Gaya, Manukan, Sapi, Sulug and Mamutik. Tunku Abdul Rahman Park is a state park located in Gaya Bay, 3 kilometers offshore from Kota Kinabalu. The best coral reef is between Gaya Island and Sapi Island. Just off the coast of Kota Kinabalu 5 islands make up the Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park (TAR Park). Taman Tunku Abdul Rahman Parks are known for it's water sports activities such as scuba dive, snorkeling and etc. Choose which island you want to go to, you can also tell them if you want to rent snorkel gear, life-jacket, beach mats etc. On the bright side, the Tunku Abdul Rahman National Park is super close to the main city area and is a great day trip! The islands can be quite crowded during weekends. Fishes are the most apparent of the reef's inhabitants. Conditions in the park are perfect for learning to dive or brushing up on your scuba skills. The 10 Best Places to Scuba Dive in Borneo - TripSavvy Plus, when we landed, we saw two men snorkeling by the side of the dock. They are very accommodating. Another resort is being constructed on what used to be Hornbill Bay near Gayana Eco Resort. Tunku Abdul Rahman Island Visit & Boat Snorkeling Experience - Klook Travel The forest is inhabited by macaques. 60 Minutes Helicopter Tour All islands have stunning beaches (though some are more crowded than others, especially during weekends) and all are surrounded by nice dive sites and snorkeling sites. This number is based on the percentage of all Tripadvisor reviews for this product that have a bubble rating of 4 or higher. There's also an additional port/terminal fee. Sabah, Malaysia. Is there no proper park rangers responsible for the safety of the animals in a so called "nature resort". It is an experience I would highly recommend to everyone. Named after Malaysias first Prime Minister, Tunku Abdul Rahman, it was gazetted in 1974 as Sabahs second national park. To our shock, there was a super thick school of fish swimming below! Before the Ice age, it formed part of the Crocker Range mass of sandstone and sedimentary rock on the mainland. A dedicated hilltop spa, with exotic private spa pavilions, blends the very finest of Traditional Asian and Western treatments which capture restorative powers of indigenous plants and oils. Jetty were available at all islands and also at Pantai Point, Police Beach and Teluk Malohom. ECHINODERMS Infrastructural facilities include support-water, electricity, desalination plant, sewerage system, and even a solar public telephone. There are 20 km of marked trails including a plank-walk across a mangrove swamp. Tour Highlights Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park Dive in the crystal-clear water of Tunku Abdul Rahman Park Witness the abundance of marine life in the underwater world Includes Experienced Pilot In 1979, the park was increased to 12,185 acres (49.31km2) with the inclusion of the three nearby islands of Manukan, Mamutik and Sulug. It could accommodate 20-30 people. All the island hopping packages include BBQ lunch on the beach. The most popular ones are Manukan, Sapi and Mamutik islands. I first went 20 years ago and whilst its still very pretty the predictable explosion of silly tourist stuff has occurred since - zip line, sea walking, inflatable course etc. Home - The Official Sabah Parks Website We are usually competent able divers but the visibility here was so bad we didn't feel safe diving with our teenagers so we cancelled our second dive. Some of the resorts have their own dive center where you can make the necessary arrangements (preferably beforehand). Not so underneath. The most popular ones are Manukan, Sapi and Mamutik islands. , There are seven phyla of marine worms comprising over 20,000 different species. I recently visited Manukan Island as the second island of a 2 island trip. These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. If you ha e time you can do one island each day or combine them however you wish. The Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park in Sabah, Malaysia, is a cluster of 5 tropical islands; Pulau Gaya, Pulau Sapi, Pulau Manukan, Pulau Mamutik and Pulau Sulug. First boats to the islands depart at 7.30am, last one at 4.30pm. On its eastern corner is a village which lies outside the park. The park was named after Tunku Abdul Rahman, Malaysia's first Prime Minister. We picked up bag after bag of trash from the beaches on Sapi, Mamutik and Manukan right under the noses of the lifeguards who were pretending not to notice they clearly think that doing this is below them. The most interesting part of the island is at its northeast tip where guests may find beautiful coral reefs. In 1974, the major part of Gaya and Sapi islands was gazetted as Tunku Abdul Rahman Park, covering an area of 8,990 acres (36.4km2). Theres a charge to visit this islands and it makes me think where that money is going? 2007-2023 wonderfulmalaysia.com There is a soccer field on Tunku Abdul Rahman Park and court games (sepak takraw and volleyball) which is regularly used by Sabah Parks staffs. The Mamutik is a tiny tropical island paradise. Diving and snorkeling are the most popular activities; besides sun bathing along the many public beaches that can be found on all of the 5 islands that make up the marine park. The coral is significantly bleached or dead. This is a disgrace of a national park. We priced tours and best we could find was 200MR per person for a one day tour. A sand bank links it to Gaya. Other activities include kayaking, sailing, picnicking, BBQing and beach sports. Scuba diving in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah | ZuBlu Due to their tiny size and cryptic habits, they are not always evident. If youre lucky, you will stumble upon the bigger species such as red grouper, barracuda, and catfish. Tunku Abdul Rahman Park is really near to Kota Kinabalu City The islands of the park are approximately 10-20 minutes away from Kota Kinabalu by speedboat. To go here, one has to go Jesselton Port which is the port area of KK. Resorts and basic accommodation can be found at Gaya, Manukan and Mamutik. The corals to the north-eastern tip of the island are quite interesting. We rank these restaurants and attractions by balancing reviews from our members with how close they are to this location. SCUBA DIVE AND SNORKELING 100% of travelers recommend this experience. The island is covered with a lush primary rainforest, Sapi and Gaya Island, Tunku Adbul Rahaman Marine Park, Island Tunku Adbul Rahman Marine Park Sabah Malaysia, Manukan Island Tunku Adbul Rahman Marine Park Sabah Malaysia, Marine fauna Tunku Adbul Rahman Marine Park Sabah Malaysia, Sapi sland Tunku Adbul Rahman Marine Park Sabah Malaysia, Sugud island Tunku Adbul Rahman Marine Park Sabah Malaysia. This is the version of our website addressed to speakers of English in the United States. We eagerly anticipate the return of the enthusiastic volunteers who took part in this clean-up and also new volunteers from more local agencies and organisations to clean up the reefs of the Tunku Abdul Rahman Park. Many of the soft fleshy forms belong to the family Alycyoniidae. A short boat ride from KK, the five islands of Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park offer squeaky white sands, azure waters and hiking trails though areas of old growth forest and mangroves, with an abundance of wildlife both below and above the waters. Tunku Abdul Rahman: Founding Father, Independence Fighter We extend our heartfelt thanks to Sabah Parks for its invaluable support and the participation of its own diving team, SParks, Chang added. We stayed at the Sutera Resort from where you look out at the islands which are only a 20 minute boat ride away. Along the southern end of the island, you may find great reef patches lying which may give you enjoyment in taking photos. There are multiple operators, but all charge the same fixed fee for a return ticket (RM23) to any of the islands within the marine park (excluding a RM7.20 tariff fee per person). Between 10am and 4pm the island gets quite busy with foreign tourists but after the last ferry leaves it becomes a tranquil island with only those staying overnight. It also has a longer coastline than Mamutik (compared to the coast we stayed at in Mamutik). Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park 2 Islands Hopping Tour from - Viator Below you can see the exact location of Tunku Abdul Rahman National Park on the interactive map (in the middle). Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park - Tripadvisor just to experience a heli ride~? Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park (TARP) - Naturalis Tour Operator Thanks in advance for the answer. Sabah Plastic rubbish can also be a problem on some of the five islands. Both have a few trails for those that like walking through the jungles. This is a first class destination for trekking as well as swimming, and here you can find one of the most romantic and beautiful beaches in the area, Police Beach also called Bulijong Bay. Manukan is the most developed of the island in the Marine Park and offers several small beaches. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. Best of all, it's almost within city center (the port area is at the least). This number is based on the percentage of all Tripadvisor reviews for this product that have a bubble rating of 4 or higher. Coral reefs surround the forested island and is ideal for snorkelling and diving. Amazing. - Tunku Abdul Rahman. Boats depart every hour from Jesselton Point Ferry Terminal in Kota Kinabalu to the islands within the Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park. Another major group, gorgonians or "sea fans " comprise several families and contain the largest growth forms. Enjoy a cup of tea and a freshly baked scone at the plantation restaurant, while enjoying magnificent panoramas. The reef ishome to different kinds of fish, like butterfly fish, parrot fish, clown fish and dragon fish. If you are visiting the marine park in the weekend, make sure you do not take the last boats back to Kota Kinabalu as they can be very crowded! During the removal, three batfish trapped within the illicit apparatus were released back into the ocean, MRF conservation officer Brittany Chang said on Thursday (July 20). But, there's plenty to see here for advanced divers, as well. , If you are a resident of another country or region, please select the appropriate version of Tripadvisor for your country or region in the drop-down menu. The Sapi Island which literally means Cow Island in English is located just off the south-western tip of Gaya Island. Book your tickets online for Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park, Kota Kinabalu: See 816 reviews, articles, and 600 photos of Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park, ranked No.10 on Tripadvisor among 85 attractions in Kota Kinabalu. Besides the more upmarket choices you can also stay at budget accommodaton (or camp sites) at most of the islands. Highlights consists of jungle hikes, a canopy walk, night safari's and river cruises. Each of these offers diving and snorkeling possibilities. Danum Valley is considered the most beautiful primary rainforest in Borneo. Learn all there is to know about Malaysia with our Wonderful Malaysia Top 100 Tips eBook! The sea is home to a large number of corals and marine life. The islands are underlaid by folded sandstone and sedimentary rock, are part of the Crocker Range rock formation of the western coast of Sabah. Spacious, tactile and modern yet respectful of local Sabahan elements, each villa uses local materials that blend harmoniously with the natural environment. Please type in the keyword to start searching, Opening Hours : 8.00am - 5.00pm (Monday to Sunday), Kinabalu Park - World Heritage Site (WHS), Turtle Islands Heritage Protected Area (TIHPA), International aged 18 years old and above, International aged 17 years old and below, International aged 60 years old and above, Malaysian aged 12 years old and below, 60 years old Gaya Island - great snorkelling, diving and trekking! Sponges have existed since Precambrian times, some 600 -700 milion years ago. We arrived at Mamutik around 10 in the morning. Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park - Tripadvisor Still there is some decent diving around the marine park, especially because it is has not been 'discovered' yet as a premier diving destination in Malaysia. Shaped like a crescent, it is one and a half kilometres long and a third of a kilometre wide in the middle. Chief Minister Y.A.B Datuk Musa Haji Aman.