Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park

Five islands sit within sight of Kota Kinabalu: Gaya, the largest and most forested, and the smaller Sapi, Manukan, Mamutik and Sulug. Boats leave through the morning from the city jetty and take twenty minutes or less, which makes this the easiest island trip in Sabah and also the busiest. Manukan and Sapi have the developed beaches, changing rooms and food stalls; Sulug has almost nothing and correspondingly few people. Snorkelling is shallow and easy, with parrotfish and clownfish close in, though coral near the jetties has taken a beating. A zip line strung between Gaya and Sapi adds the theme-park layer that some visitors want and others avoid.

What you actually see

• Manukan and Sapi - the two developed beaches with facilities and most of the boat traffic.
• Sulug island - the quietest of the five, with no facilities at all.
• Shallow snorkelling - reef fish a few metres off the sand, gear rented at the jetty.
• The Gaya to Sapi zip line - the cable strung across the channel between the islands.

When to go

March to September brings the calmest sea and best visibility. Boats run from early morning, and taking the first departure buys an hour or two before the crowds land. Weekends and Malaysian school holidays are heavy, with beaches full by mid-morning. Last boats back leave in the late afternoon and are strictly timed.

Honest expectations

This is a day trip from a city, not a wilderness: expect litter at busy times, crowded sand and coral that is visibly damaged around the jetties. Fees stack up in small increments, with separate charges for the boat, the park, the jetty and every activity. Boats can be overloaded and departures chaotic, and the return schedule is inflexible.

Nearby

The Kota Kinabalu waterfront is minutes away; Mount Kinabalu is a two-hour drive inland.