Guide No. 18 · Stay 4 of 4
Stay · Pulau Gaya
Gayana Marine Resort
Listed · No. 4 of 4 on Pulau Gaya
Over the water on Malohom Bay, Pulau Gaya, south of Gaya Island Resort.
Position
- Tier
- ListedNo. 4 of 4
- Beach
- Malohom BayOver the water, south of Gaya Island Resort
- Open
- All yearRougher seas Nov–Feb
- Boat
- Free once each wayOtherwise a RM360 charter
Verdict
Gayana Marine Resort has 45 villas built over the water on Malohom Bay, Pulau Gaya, inside Tunku Abdul Rahman Park. Echo Resorts runs it, along with Bunga Raya on the same island.
Check-in is from 15:00 and check-out by 11:00; a late check-out costs 50% of the room rate. Trip.com guests rate it 7.3 from 173 reviews, with 7.2 for cleanliness and 6.9 for amenities.
The catch is upkeep. Trip.com’s summary of reviews names cleanliness, water quality, insects and rodents, and the complaints run from February to October 2026. One scheduled boat each way is free; any other crossing is a private boat at RM360 one way, or RM510 at night.
Good for
Travellers who want an overwater villa close to Kota Kinabalu and can accept uneven upkeep.
Not for
Anyone who wants a well-kept room: cleanliness and water quality are the repeated 2026 complaints.
Particulars
- Type
- Resort
- Rooms
- 45 overwater villas
- Board
- Room with breakfast
- Transfer
- Resort boat from the Jesselton Point terminal, now at South Jetty, KK Port; one free boat each way at set times
- Season
- Open all year; rougher seas Nov–Feb
- Check-in
- 15:00Check-out 11:00
- Website
- echoresorts.com
Getting there
The free resort boat leaves from the Jesselton Point terminal, now at South Jetty, KK Port, at 12:00. Confirm the pick-up point and the return boat time when booking. All routes to Pulau Gaya.
Other stays on Gaya
| No. | Stay | Tier | Beach |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Gaya Island Resort | Pick | Malohom Bay |
| 2 | Sutera Sanctuary at Manukan Island | Pick | Manukan |
| 3 | Bunga Raya Island Resort & Spa | Good | Polish Bay |