2025 Gaya Island Travel Guide: Must-see attractions, popular food, hotels, transportation routes (updated in April)

#Southeast Asia Travel Kota Kinabalu is considered one of the top 3 sunset spots in the world, and the moment you see the red sky at **Tanjung Aru Beach** is an unforgettable memory🌅🏖️ 🏄♂️If you want to enjoy surfing, try the gentle waves at Truman Beach or Sutera Harbour Resort. 🌊If you want to feel the ocean up close, we recommend heading to Manukan Island and Sapi Island to enjoy snorkeling and diving! 🍽️The local food you must try is **Saba seafood cuisine and Laksa**.

Discover Gaya Island, Malaysia: A Dreamy Island Getaway Pre-trip Preparations - Visa: Apply for a Malaysian eVISA or ENTRI visa waiver program. Prepare the required materials based on your situation and apply online. Pay attention to the validity period and length of stay. - Flights: Fly to Kota Kinabalu International Airport (BKI). Booking flights in advance can often secure better prices. - Luggage: Pack light, breathable clothing, swimwear, sunscreen, mosquito repellent, any necessary medications, and other essentials. Getting to the Island Take a boat from Jesselton Point Ferry Terminal in Kota Kinabalu to Gaya Island. The boat ride takes about 15–20 mins. You can contact your hotel in advance to book a boat transfer. Be mindful of the departure times to avoid delays. Accommodation Recommendations - Gaya Island Resort: Offers beachfront and rainforest villas, each with a private balcony. The resort has excellent facilities, including restaurants, a spa, an infinity pool, and a variety of water sports activities. - Gaya Island Homestays: Located near the island's villages, homestays offer a more affordable option and a chance to experience local life. Some homestay owners also provide local cuisine and island tour suggestions. Things to Do - Snorkeling and Diving: The waters around Gaya Island are crystal clear, teeming with coral reefs and marine life. Sign up at the resort's dive center for guided dives with professional instructors. Explore the underwater world and see clownfish, sea turtles, and other fascinating creatures. - Rainforest Hiking: The island has a large expanse of pristine rainforest. Hike along the trails to discover various rare plants and birds. With a bit of luck, you might even spot proboscis monkeys. Consider joining a guided tour for expert insights. - Beach Relaxation: Bask in the sun on the white sandy beaches, play in the sand, and enjoy breathtaking sunsets in the evening. Embrace the leisurely island life. Food and Dining - Seafood Feast: Savor fresh seafood like tiger prawns, grouper, and crabs at seaside restaurants. We recommend the butter prawns and steamed grouper for their exquisite flavors. - Malaysian Specialties: Try Nasi Lemak, coconut rice served with fried chicken, peanuts, egg, and cucumber. Also, sample Satay, succulent skewers of grilled meat served with a rich peanut sauce. Important Reminders - Respect local religions and customs. Dress modestly when visiting religious sites such as mosques. - Island weather can be unpredictable, so bring an umbrella or raincoat. - Water activities carry inherent risks. Always follow the instructor's guidance and take necessary safety precautions.

My stay at Gaya Island Resort was a perfect retreat. Being a local, it’s truly a 360 different aspect of Kota Kinabalu for me. The quiet beaches and stunning views provided a much-needed break, while the natural surroundings made each day calming and peaceful ❤️ This is a place where i would often think about and would want to go back. A perfect place to rewind and relax and a memorable experience that's truly worth sharing. #kotakinabalu #gayaisland

It's a really wonderful place. We are so happy to be able to spend time here and wish we had booked a longer stay. After a tropical jungle tour and a long journey by land, we wanted some time to rest. Gaya Island is the perfect place for this. First of all, a big thank you to Rozi, Terence, and the team. They couldn't have been more helpful. I requested a room near the amenities so we wouldn't have to climb the hill too far. Initially, we were given a good way to climb. However, we were offered another room and were able to move the next morning. There was no additional charge for what was essentially an upgrade. As always, it's the little things, the attention to important details, and the staff have a great understanding of what service looks like. I couldn't fault them. They struck a line that was not too friendly but very pleasant and efficient. We didn't dine at the main restaurant, but Rozi was able to open the pool bar for us when we arrived. The food here was delicious. The highlight of the entire trip was a wonderful meal at Fisherman's Cove. Delicious and high-quality cuisine. Don't miss it. Another great meal was the barbecue. It was a good opportunity to see the staff having a good time and once again the food was excellent. Our short stay meant that we didn't take advantage of any of the activities offered. We hope to stay longer next time. Thank you, Gaya Island. You have set the bar very high. I hope the other hotels we stay at in the future are good.

This time, the trip to Malaysia is not long, I decided to take a vacation in Sabah✨, Highly recommend island hopping, not too many people and the water is clear. It fulfilled all my fantasies about the islands😝. Staring at the sea, walking on the beach and building sandcastles⛪, Snorkeling to see fish🐠, and playing some water activities, It's so cool, so relaxing!🎈 As a trip that requires a lot of self-selection, I suggest you take a look at this guide🌟, save money and avoid pitfalls. 👉About Island Hopping: ①There are 5 islands around Sabah, the most popular are Sapi Island, Manukan Island, Mamutik Island, I chose the first two. The speedboat will take you to the island for free activities, if there are water activities or island hopping, there will be guides to call. 🏝Sapi Island: Highly recommended here👍The sand is fine, the water is clear and there are many fish. The fish are mainly concentrated near the green buoy a little far from the shore. I played parasailing here. 🏝Manukan Island: There are more people, and there are fewer types of fish than Sapi Island. It is recommended to snorkel under the pier, where there are many fish. I played banana boat and flying fish here. 🏝Mamutik Island: The island is very small and only half of it has been developed, and there are not many people and there are restaurants. If you have time, you can go here another day. ②Island hopping is really not the more islands you go to in one day, the better‼️ Don't get up early, arrive at "Jesselton Point Ferry Terminal" at 10:30 (buy tickets and leave immediately when there are enough people), and take the last boat back at 16:00. It is recommended to choose 2 islands or it is also very good to play slowly on one island, otherwise it is always in transit🚤. 👉Window selection & bargaining Windows 1-3 are a family, I booked here. It is said that window 7 can speak Chinese, but some friends feedback that the service is not good: before playing the banana boat, there is no prompt to change clothes and the boat will turn over, just throw people into the sea🙈. 💰Each window has a uniform price, and cannot be bargained: ①The boat fare is 35RM for one island, and 10RM is added for each additional island. You can add it if you want to book one first. ②The island fee is 25RM/person, no matter how many islands you go to, you only need to pay once, and you must keep the ticket. ③Parasailing full-course Gopro video + photo 65RM/person, no matter how you bargain, it won't work. After watching the film, it was really well recorded, so I bought it.💡It is recommended to download the material locally! 💰Can be bargained: water activities. I said I wanted to play parasailing + banana boat after I arrived on the island, the original 161RM, talked to 100, it is said that there seems to be a deal of 85. 💰Don't rent: life jacket. Whether you can swim or not, ask you if you want it, just say no. Because you must wear a life jacket when taking a speedboat, you can take it to the island to play, and return it when you come back. If you rent it, you will spend more money. 🎒Suggest to bring: Sunscreen/mud, hat, sunglasses, mobile phone waterproof bag, swimsuit, slippers, towel, simple lunch, drinking water.

#timetotravel Recommended to do visit Sabah, as they have a beauty scenery in nature, clean river, seafood market, beauty beach and clear water to swim/aqua activities/mountain/ pasar tamu... KOTA Kinabalu CITY- Activities for seafood hunting, delicious food, souvenirs, muzium attractions, water sports activities at Sapi island/mamutik/Tunku Abdul Rahman park KOTA belud-melangkap campsite, pasar tamu KUNDASANG-Kinabalu mountain for hiking, desa cattle dairy farm Ranau-Tagal luanti fish spa..

Last minute plans with the family led to some contemplation about where to go for a short vacation and relaxing journey. In the end, we decided to stay at Gayana Marine Resort located in Gaya Island, just about 20 minutes boat ride from the mainland. All the accommodations here are above water and you can clearly hear the soothing sound of the sea waves. Rooms are spacious come with a private balcony (be careful that there are monkeys everywhere). The staff are incredibly friendly, food at the restaurant is delicious. Free activities such as snorkeling, kayaking, paddleboarding, fish feeding, etc. However, to be honest the resort needs a lot of updating especially the bar on the 1st floor (it was closed during our visit), enhancing the bar would allow the place to offer even more to its visitors. We initially planned to depart with the scheduled morning boat on the second day, but we ended up charter a private boat in the evening to extend our time together on the island. Overall, the vacation was enjoyable and pleasant. #trip #vacation #island #staycation #kotakinabalu

#Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand City Attractions #Sabah #Malaysia Tunku Abdul Rahman National Park is the first marine national park in Malaysia. It consists of five islands: Gaya, Sapi, Mamutik, Manukan and Sulug. Snorkeling in Sapi and Mamutik is recommended. To get to these islands, you can join a one-day or half-day island hopping tour from Jesselton Point Pier in Kota Kinabalu. If you want to stay on an island and slowly enjoy the beaches of the outer islands of Kota Kinabalu, there are also hotels to choose from on Manukan Island. Although the sea water is definitely not as clear as that of the outer islands farther away, such as Pulau Mantanani and Pulau Mermaid, it is close to the city. You can see tropical fish and corals in the shallow waters not too far from the shore on the island, so it is also a good place for snorkeling with your children. ✅Ferry address: Jesselton Point Ferry Terminal, Jln Haji Saman, 88000 Kota Kinabalu, Sabah

About 20 minutes speed boat ride from Jesselton Point Jetty to reach this tropical island. I'm drawn to this beautiful island because of the atmosphere of peace and not so crowded like the other destinations. The quality of service provided by the crew members creating a welcome and enjoyable environment for everyone. Breakfast, lunch & dinner offered and the way they are served are truly delightful. Overall its and absolute perfect escape for relaxation. #island #vacation

📍Kota Kinabalu Manukan Island & Sapi Island Kota Kinabalu Malaysia This is the hopping tour we went on the second day of our Kota Kinabalu trip! 🌊(Please refer to the blog for tour reservations!👆) We went to Manukan Island and Sapi Island!🏝 The reason we chose this island was because of the activities!😆 You can enjoy various water sports such as banana boats and jet skis at Manukan Island, but we went parasailing and sea walking! 🪂🐠 It was amazing to experience the thrill of flying in the sky and see the fish in the sea right in front of you 😲 (I saw Nemo too!!) ​​The snow cooling at Sapi Island was really good because the water was clear and there were a lot of fish 🐟🐡🐠 You should definitely go there too!! ✔️Book cheaply at Jesselton Point! ✔️You can rent equipment!🥽 ✔️If you bring a cup of ramen, you can get hot water at the store while playing in the water (for a fee!)🍜 #Travel destination introduction #kotakinabalu #Kota Kinabalu travel #Kota Kinabalu #April travel destination recommendation #May travel destination recommendation #Travel destination recommendation #Overseas travel #Sapi Island #Manukan Island #Hopping tour #Sea walking #Parasailing #Beach

Transportation Tips - Charter & Grab Local attractions - mari mari culture village tanjung aru beach , tunku abdul rahman park manukan & sapi lsland, kundasang Hotel - monocolo boutique hotel, mountain village resort kundasang Food and restaurants - welcome seafood restaurant, Fatt Kee Seafood, Jinshayuan Raw Meat Noodles, Sinalau Bakas Himbaan Bongol Shopping Guide - #Good Places for Families #Local Tours #travel #Food #

Great gateway from the mainland..The place was really nice and clean! And the staff....They are very nice and friendly. Everyone was really courteous, always greets you with a smile and very accommodating. One other thing I liked about the resort is it encourages people to walk as a form of exercise and does not really offer transportation. For those who don't really like walking, I suggest you take the villas nearest to the resort, but the view is not that great. Get the Canopy villa seaview and you will get to see the best sunrise ever! I was really awed and emotional when I saw it. Really, really nice! people let us enjoy our journey..Overall, I love this resort and would like to recommend it to everyone.

Address: MALOHOM BAY, GAYA ISLAND, TUNKU ABDUL RAHMAN PARK, KOTA KINABALU, SABAH Environment/Facilities: A 15-minute speedboat ride will take you to Kota Kinabalu, the coastal capital of Sabah, Malaysia. Distance from Kota Kinabalu International Airport: 15 minutes away. There is no Wi-Fi in the rooms, only in public places such as the lobby restaurant, so if you plan to stay, it is best to buy a phone card in advance. Features - snorkeling in the island's own waters, mangrove canoe eco-tourism, fishing, jungle travel, etc. Price - Consumption is mainly on the island, so consumption will be paid at check-out. Restaurant food ranges from about RM30-70. Rating - 4.8/5 #外游 #沙巴 #gayanamarineresort#gayana#malaysia

Name of Place: Sapi Island/ Pulau Sapi Location :K.K, sapi island, Kota Kinabalu, 88000, Sabah, Malaysia operating hours : First Ferry reaches here at 830am, last ferry departs at 5pm. My little speedboat departed from Jesselton Point Ferry Terminal at 9am and by 925am I have already reached Sapi Island. Sapi Island is the smallest island out of the 3 nearby islands to Kota Kinabalu, I selected to spend my morning here because I have read that this is the island with the clearest water and cleanest beach amongst all 3 islands. True to what I have read, the waters of Sapi Island at a very beautiful colour to it,from far it looked like it was a little emerald lagoon but as you get nearer to the beach then you will see that the waters are pretty clear. When I was there on a Saturday morning , together with me there was only about 6 other local families and we literally had the whole island to ourselves. It was super beautiful.

Sapi island is one of the islands of the Tunku Abdul Rahman National Park. We spent about 50 minutes on Sapi Island and believe me, that was quite enough. The island is small, there is only one beach, nowhere to go. The water on Sapi is greenish-blue, with tints. There are fewer fish than on Manukan, but the bottom is cleaner here. You can go to Sapi from Kota Kinabalu for an hour to explore the Abdul Rahman Marine Reserve. It is probably not worth taking a full-day tour only to this island. Sapi is just a minute away from Gaya Island, it would be logical to visit both of these islands. #bucketlistreboot #malaysia

🤩With views stretching across the South China Sea, and where the silhouette of Mount Kinabalu can be seen on a clear day, this place was just awesome and far exceeded my expectations! It was quiet, secluded and felt like paradise - oh take me back! ⛵️The resort has it’s own jetty providing the speed boat transfer from the main island to Gaya island. And if the weather is good, you will have a wonderful 10 minute ride across the sea. The water is fresh, clean and so clear you can really see the local fish swimming free - so it’s great for snorkelling off the beach! 📍Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia 💰It’s a little pricey per night but so worth it 🍔 There is ample food and restaurants from the hotel, you can also go back to the mainland if you wish! 😂 Tips: Check your room and view, you won’t be disappointed with the calm tranquility of the sea and sunset #passionpassport #traveltheotherside #theotherside #travelwithme #foodie #sabah #malaysia

1. Address - Sapi Island, Kota Kinabalu Highlights - Snorkeling & Island activities Rating - 5/5 Put down all your worries, enjoy the time, the wind, the sea, the sea life, quietness of the island doesn’t sound good for the economic, but as a tourist, you will really fall in love with this power of natural,

This is Kota Kinabalu's 'Sapi Island'! It is said that many people visit this island because the water is clear and there are many fish! I especially recommend the hopping tour that you can enjoy here. You can enjoy sea walking, parasailing, snorkeling, etc. ㅎㅎ I went parasailing and snorkeling here and it was really fun and left me with happy memories 👍🏻 #Kota KinabaluTravel #Kota KinabaluIslandTour #MalaysiaTravel #Beach #Sea #Parasailing #HoppingTour #Snorkeling

If you want to stay in a nice villa by the sea, you don’t have to go to Maldives. I stayed at Gaya Island resort in Sabah for 3 nights, and my husband and I agreed to come back! To get to Gaya Island Resort, you must first take a boat from Sutera Harbour Marina to enter the island. Then take a beautiful yacht to enter the island. The boat ride takes about 15-20 minutes! The villa is very big and beautiful, but the most attractive thing is the private beach which is only 5 minutes away by boat. Oh, I miss the days of traveling so much. #国外游# I miss you so much

#triplocal Head to Tuanku Abdul Rahman marine park to experience Coral Flyer, the longest island-to-island zipline (aka flying fox) in the WORLD. 5-10 mins boat ride to reach Sapi/Manukan islands. New way to enjoy adrenaline rush caused by strong G-force. No age barrier, even my 65 years old dad accomplished this mission.

Can you think of an island that is only a ten-minute speedboat ride from the bustling city, will the sea be so pure and beautiful? Sabi Island is a very popular island in Sabah. In addition to playing with water and sand, snorkeling and deep diving, there are also a variety of marine entertainment projects, such as parasols, flying fish, underwater walks, sea sheep, etc. Wait, the most special and exciting is the volley, and the slamming has completed the leap between the two islands, the friends have played

Sabi Island is the cleanest and most elegant island in the Tunku Abdul Rahman Island Park. The island's southeastern end has a better coral reef, close to the coast, suitable for diving. The facilities in the scenic area are perfect, with locker rooms and washrooms. Beach BBQ, diving and camping gear rentals are also available. Here you can take a stroll on the sea, just wear a special helmet without any professional training. Transportation: Travel to Shabbi Island and rent a boat from Kota Kinabalu City for approximately 15-20 minutes. Tickets: Free On Island Free, Island entertainment is subject to a charge. Opening time: all day

Here's a travel guide to Kota Kinabalu: Recommended Attractions - Tanjung Aru Beach: Only 15 minutes from downtown, featuring one of the world's top three most beautiful sunsets. Take a stroll along the beach, chat while enjoying the breeze, order a three-color juice, and watch the sunset transform from bright red to orange as it stretches across the horizon. If you're lucky, you might see fiery clouds. - Manukan Island: Limited to 85 visitors daily, it offers pristine beaches with clear water and white sand. The underwater coral reefs are colorful, with visibility up to 40 meters when snorkeling in surrounding waters. You might even encounter blue tears (bioluminescent plankton) and spectacular sunsets. - Sapi Island: Named for its circular shape, this private island has crystal-clear waters and abundant living coral, making it a snorkeling paradise. The island features 13 South Pacific-style wooden cabins and activities like banana boat rides and jet skiing. - Kota Kinabalu City Floating Mosque: Extraordinarily magnificent at sunset, with white buildings reflected in the water against the blue sky—truly breathtaking. - Sabah Mangrove Forests: One of Sabah's iconic features with four famous mangrove areas: Kawa, Weston, Klias, and Firefly River. Experience the romance of being surrounded by fireflies and spot proboscis monkeys. Food Recommendations - Seafood: Try the salted egg yolk soft-shell crab and creamy tiger prawns at Sasa Seafood Restaurant, or the creamy prawns and black pepper crab at Welcome Seafood Restaurant. - Vegetarian: Friendly Vegetarian Restaurant offers dishes like Dongpo pork, char siu, and curry lamb—all made from vegetables but tasting like "chicken, duck, fish, and meat." - Local stir-fry: Hong Kim Boi Restaurant serves affordable oyster sauce chicken wings, ginger and scallion beef, and minced meat with tofu, suitable for those who prefer Jiangzhe flavors. - Hainanese Chicken Rice: Wei Yea Hainanese Chicken Rice offers tender chicken and excellent roast pork. - Hakka Noodles: Kah Soon Coffee Shop serves Hakka noodles paired with iced pulled tea for just a few Malaysian Ringgit per person. Accommodation Options - Kota Kinabalu City Center: Options include Hilton Kota Kinabalu and Le Méridien Resort, offering convenience for dining and weekend market visits. - Tanjung Aru Beach Area: Places like Aru Suite Hotel offer beautiful sunset views with a nearby twilight market. - Gaya Island: Gaya Island Resort offers an island living experience with swimming and snorkeling available anytime. Entertainment Experiences - Water Activities: Experience snorkeling and scuba diving at Manukan Island and Sapi Island, swimming with fish and admiring beautiful coral reefs. - Adventure Sports: Try paragliding at Kinabalu Park, soaring 2,200 feet above Sabah's pristine landscape. You can also go rafting on the Kiulu or Padas rivers, or enjoy jungle ATV rides along the Kiulu riverbank or at Mount Kinabalu. - Special Experiences: Visit Dinawan Island for a natural volcanic mud spa treatment for beauty and skin care.

✨This is "where God spilled his palette of colors," with both the blues of the Maldives and the vibrant atmosphere of Southeast Asia. Visa-free for Chinese citizens, with friendly airfares✈️ and prices, Working professionals' weekends should be spent in Kota Kinabalu, doing nothing but feeling the summer sea breeze🌊 · 🌅Tanjung Aru Beach Sunset Coming to Kota Kinabalu without seeing the Tanjung Aru Beach sunset is like not coming at all! The world's Top 3 sunset truly lives up to its reputation🌇 Standing on the open beach, gazing at where the sea meets the sky, as the sun slowly sets, the sky turns orange-red, the sea surface ripples with golden light, the clouds are dyed in gradient pink and purple, and the sunset glow reflects on the sea like a spilled palette. Arrive 1 hour before sunset to avoid the crowds · 🚣‍♂️Island Hopping Take a taxi to Jesselton Port and choose two out of three islands - recommended are Manukan Island (Manutik) and Sapi Island. · Manukan Island (Manutik) offers various water activities, Banana boat🍌 is a must-try! The moment you're thrown into the sea is thrilling! For snorkeling, the underwater scene has a green tone, and you can see schools of clownfish! It's a clarity that phones simply can't capture · Sapi Island Absolutely jelly-like sea! Excellent water visibility! Recommend wearing non-slip shoes, and download offline maps as the signal is weak Lying on the beach listening to the soothing sound of waves is like natural ASMR · 🏖️Mantanani Island and Mermaid Island A bit further away, the boat ride to Mantanani Island takes about 1.5 hours one way. Both Mantanani Island and Mermaid Island are popular destinations near Kota Kinabalu, featuring blue seas and white sandy beaches, perfect for snorkeling. Mantanani Island has crystal-clear water where you can see various small fish and coral, making it a paradise for snorkeling enthusiasts. Mermaid Island is more pristine, with fine white sand and transparent water, where you can also spot sea turtles and other marine life · 🌴Mangrove Adventure Take a boat to search for proboscis monkeys - it's like opening a mystery box! Bring binoculars to see the monkeys clearly🐒 At night, the jungle lights up with tiny green dots, like entering the world of Avatar (recommend Kawa Mangrove, where fireflies are super dense) · PS. If you have extra time, visit Universiti Malaysia Sabah and check out the Pink Mosque · 💡Travel Tips 1. Arrival card: Fill it out in advance! Customs may check randomly! Filling it out incorrectly in a rush will get you stopped 2. Transportation: Use Grab! It's cheaper than taxis 3. Sun protection: Kota Kinabalu has strong sunlight, so be sure to bring sunscreen, hats, sunglasses, etc. 4. Night market and morning market: Kota Kinabalu's night market only opens on Friday and Saturday nights, while the morning market is only on Sunday mornings 5. Accommodation: Stay near Gaya Street, which is in the city center, convenient for food, accommodation, and transportation, with excellent value for money 6. Charging: Bring UK standard adapters, and fully charge your phone before sunset photography

#kotakinabalutrip Sapi Island is a small but stunning paradise located in the Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park. Known for its crystal-clear waters and healthy coral reefs, it’s a favorite spot for snorkeling, diving, and swimming. The beach is postcard-worthy, with powdery sand and swaying trees providing shade. The island’s most thrilling highlight is the Coral Flyer Zipline, which lets you fly across to nearby Gaya Island over the ocean. It can get crowded on weekends, but the beauty is worth it. Arrive early for the best spot! #KotaKinabaluTrip #SapiIsland

#kotakinabalutrip Gaya Island is the largest and one of the most luxurious islands off Kota Kinabalu. It’s home to several high-end resorts and eco-lodges, offering a mix of indulgence and natural beauty. The island features dense rainforest trails, pristine beaches, and rich marine life. Activities range from snorkeling and kayaking to jungle trekking. A highlight is the Coral Flyer Zipline connecting Gaya and Sapi Island—an adrenaline rush with incredible views. Perfect for both relaxation and adventure, Gaya Island is ideal for couples or families wanting a deluxe island getaway. #KotaKinabaluTrip #GayaIsland

#kotakinabalutrip If you’re looking for a **postcard-perfect beach** with **zero crowds**, **Tavajun Bay** near Semporna is your answer. Imagine: **powdery white sand**, **water so clear it looks fake**, and **palm trees leaning like they’re posing for a travel magazine**. This hidden gem is the kind of place you’ll want to keep secret—but also brag about forever. ### **First Impressions: “Is This Even Real?!”** - **The sand:** Like walking on **powdered sugar**—soft, white, and squeaky underfoot. - **The water:** A **gradient of blues**—from pale turquoise to deep sapphire—so clear you can see your shadow on the seabed. - **The vibe:** So peaceful, the loudest noise is the **rustling palm fronds** and the occasional **splash of a fish**. ### **The “Pinch Me” Moment: Snorkeling in the House Reef** Just **10 steps** into the water, you’ll find: 🐠 **Clownfish** darting through anemones (Nemo vibes!) 🐢 **Turtles** gliding past like they own the place (they kinda do) 💎 **Coral bommies** covered in neon-colored fish ### **Hidden Gem: The Secret Sandbar** At low tide, a **hidden sandbar** emerges, connecting Tavajun to a tiny islet. Walk across and you’ll feel like you’re **standing in the middle of the ocean**—surrounded by nothing but water and sky. ### **Unexpected Encounter: The Friendliest Local Fishermen** A group of **Bajau fishermen** offered us **fresh coconuts** (hacked open with a machete, because drama) and told us where to spot **eagle rays**. They even let us **help pull in their nets**—full of tiny, glittering fish. ### **Must-Try: Beachfront BBQ** If you’re lucky, the local caretakers might grill up: 🔥 **Fresh squid** with spicy sambal 🦐 **Butter garlic prawns** that’ll make you lick the foil 🍍 **Pineapple slices** sprinkled with chili salt (trust us) ### **Chill-Only Itinerary** 🕘 **9AM** – Speedboat from Semporna (45 mins) 🤿 **10AM** – Snorkel the house reef 🏝️ **12PM** – Picnic under the palms 🚶♂️ **2PM** – Sandbar adventure at low tide 🌅 **5PM** – Sunset kayaking 🌙 **7PM** – Stargazing on the beach (zero light pollution!) ### **Local Tips:** - **Pack everything you need** (no shops here!) - **Reef-safe sunscreen only** (let’s protect this paradise) - **Time your visit with low tide** for the sandbar magic **Verdict:** 100/10—this is the **definition of paradise found**. **Who else has been? Did you find the sandbar too? Share your stories below! 👇** *(P.S. If you see a **turtle named Kevin**, tell him we say hi.)* 🐢💙

#kotakinabalutrip Tucked away on Gaya Island’s secluded Polish Bay, Bunga Raya Resort is a hidden paradise surrounded by jungle and white sand. Villas are thoughtfully designed with native wood, vaulted ceilings, and private balconies—some with plunge pools. It’s peaceful, intimate, and perfect for those wanting privacy and romance. The infinity pool overlooks the bay, and the beachside restaurant serves fresh seafood and local delicacies. The spa is set in the forest, adding a magical, secluded feel to your treatment. Ideal for couples or solo travelers looking to unwind completely, this is a dreamy stop on your #kotakinabalutrip.