Best of · MALAYSIA ISLAND HOPPING TOURS
Good malaysia island hopping tours sell out weeks ahead in high season and the early departures go first. Below: the 15 to book now, what each includes and how they differ.
Take a fast shared boat from Teluk Baru to Dayang Bunting, Pulau Singa Besar, and a quiet beach stop. Expect a steep lake walk, eagle and fish feeding, swimming time, English service, and optional hotel pickup from Pantai Cenang or Pantai Tengah.
“Saw the main sights, some lovely nature spots. It was really quiet and it was a very good price”
Spend a half-day cruising Langkawi’s island chain, with stops at Dayang Bunting’s freshwater lake, Singa Besar’s wildlife area, and Beras Basah Beach. Hotel pickup, boat transport, life jacket, and island visits are included. Bring water, sunscreen, swimwear, and a towel.
“The activity could add some sport activities which will make this activity value for money.”
Join a small group from Kota Kinabalu at 8:30 am for a 20-minute boat ride to Sapi Island, beach lunch, swimming, and snorkeling. Then speedboat to Manukan Island before returning by shared transfer. Gear is included, but fins and water sports cost extra.
“This tour is over priced and not worth the price at all. At the pier you can literally purchase this tour for 35$ pp with the gear. They also do not disclose the fact will will be island hopping on a speedboat. The drivers are reckless and inconsiderate. If you get sea sick easily do not book this tour. The tour guide was nice but the over all tour was not.”
Spend a full day in Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park, snorkeling from Sapi and Manukan, eating a buffet lunch, and riding between islands by speedboat. Hotel pickup, gear, guides, and optional water sports are included or available for extra cost, depending on your chosen package.
“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”
You’ll ride a speedboat from Semporna to Bohey Dulang for a 600-meter hike, then swim or snorkel at Mantabuan and Sibuan. Scuba beginners can choose two supervised 20-minute sessions with an instructor such as Din. Lunch, equipment, water, and multilingual support are included.
“we had an amazing day island hopping and diving!! the guides were very attentive, fun, and helpful every step of the way. Din was a great dive master who is wonderful with first time divers. would highly recommend this tour!”
Spend seven hours by speedboat from Semporna, with stops around Timba Timba, Mataking, and Pandanan. Choose three snorkeling sessions or two 20-minute introductory scuba sessions plus snorkeling. A multilingual instructor handles the briefing, gear, and shallow-water practice, with lunch and water included.
“Una auténtica maravilla los chicos son encantadores muy graciosos y muy profesionales la pasamos en grande nos reímos un montón, nos encantó ir y conocer las islas el paseo en lancha rápida esa sensación es increíble el buceo y el snorkel increíble los peses que hay el agua tan clara, recomendable 10/10”
Join a PADI-certified snorkeling crew from Sutera Harbour for two water stops in Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park, then eat lunch and relax on Pulau Gaya. The approximately eight-hour trip includes city hotel pickup, boat transfers, park fees, and an onboard refreshment.
“Recomendado. Muy bonita experiencia de snorkeling, muy atentos y amables. Lo más bonito de Kk fue hacer este tour.”
You’ll ride with a professional instructor from Mega Water Sports, stopping near Singa Besar for eagle viewing, Beras Basah for its white beach, and Intan Kecil for swimming. Guides may include Hussein, One, or Amer. Bring swimwear, sunscreen, water, and valid ID.
“Polecam gorąco tą atrakcję, nam sprawiła ogromną frajdę, piękne widoki super przewodnik😎 super super”
Take a private three-hour speedboat from Kilim Jetty to Dangli Island for fish feeding and snorkeling, then swim at Pantai Pasir Panjang. Your English-speaking skipper handles the boat and safety briefing. Bring bread, swimwear, dry clothes, and goggles, or rent goggles for RM15.
“Pas de guide Pas d’aide pour l’apnée tu es livré et te débrouille tout seul Pas de plage pour la beignade des minuscules îles parfois pas propre”
Cruise Langkawi’s Kilim River with Sevensea Adventure for about two hours, stopping at Magic Island, Pantai Talam Dua Muka, Bat Cave, fish farms, and eagle-feeding sites. You’ll meet staff at Checkpoint 2, then return to the same jetty area.
Spend a full day from Jesselton Point visiting Manukan and Sapi islands in Tunku Abdul Rahman Park. You get boat transfers, snorkel gear excluding fins, entrance fees, and a simple buffet lunch. This is an unguided beach-and-water outing, not a coached snorkeling tour.
“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...”
You’ll visit Pulau Beras Basah, Pulau Dayang Bunting, and Pulau Singa Besar by shared or private boat. Expect beach time, a freshwater lake, eagle feeding, life jackets, and a four-hour route. Guides provide local context, but stops can be brief and crowded.
“Really perfect, inexpensive considering what was included (meal, tour, etc.). We even got to see dolphins thanks to our guide.”
You’ll ride with an English- or Malay-speaking guide on a four-hour, small-group jet ski trip from Langkawi. Stops include Pregnant Maiden Lake, Beras Basah Island, a private beach, eagle-viewing waters, limestone formations, and a swim at Fjord Eco Marine Park. Hotel transfers, safety gear, and drone footage are included.
“De tour was fantastisch, het hoogtepunt van onze vakantie! De communicatie vooraf had beter gemogen. En zij gaven aan dat de drone video niet in ons pakket zat..”
Spend a full day from Semporna visiting three Tun Sakaran Marine Park islands. Hike Bohey Dulang to a wide lagoon view, snorkel Mantabuan’s coral gardens, and relax on Sibuan’s white sand. Shared Malay-English guides, boat transport, lunch, equipment, permits, and park fees 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”
Take control of a jet ski on a four-hour island-hopping trip from Langkawi. With an English-speaking guide, you’ll visit Dayang Bunting, swim in Malaysia’s biggest freshwater lake, see monkeys, and stop at Beras Basah Island. Kayaking and a forest walk are also possible.
“Atrakcja była w porządku, jednak oczekiwanie na rozpoczęcie i start 1,5h po czasie, bo zbierali innych ludzi co powoduje, że nie zasługuje na więcej niż 2 gwiazdki. O opóźnieniu nie poinformował nikt z firmy a jak na miejscu mieliśmy się pojawić o 9:15, to oni byli o 9:30 [wtedy miała rozpocząć się atrakcja] i dopiero rozpoczęli zwozić i przygotowywać sprzęt. Dla osób, które szanują swój czas odradzam tą firmę.”
By hull, by landing, by how long you want to be out.
