PULAUMY

Guide No. 15 · Getting there

Route · Pulau Mantanani

How to get to Pulau Mantanani

Take your resort's speedboat from Rampayan jetty in Kota Belud, about 45 minutes to an hour. Rampayan is about 2 hours by road from Kota Kinabalu; there is no public ferry.

I

The journey

  1. Kuala LumpurFly to Kota Kinabalu, about 2 h 40 nonstop.
  2. Kota KinabaluResort shuttle, tour van, taxi or car to Kota Belud, about 90 km. Allow 2 h.
  3. Rampayan jetty, Kota BeludResort speedboat, 45 min to 1 h. No public ferry.
  4. Pulau MantananiMantanani Besar, about 30–40 km off the coast.

From Kuala Lumpur, allow most of a day; the resort boats leave Rampayan in the afternoon. Facts checked 9 November 2026 against operators.

II

Ways across

FromModeTimeFare
Rampayan jetty, Kota BeludResort boats, all three staysSpeedboat45–60 min–
Kuala Abai jetty, Kota BeludSome day toursSpeedboat1 h–

There is no public fare: the boat comes with your room or your day trip, so the table shows a dash. Crossing times are from the resorts and Sabah Tourism.

III

Public boats

Sutera@Mantanani resort boat, daily, for its guests
Rampayan to Mantanani
  • 14:30
Mantanani to Rampayan
  • 13:00

Times are from the Sutera@Mantanani FAQ; a Sabah Tourism itinerary shows the boat out at 14:15. GreenHouse EcoLodge's boat boards at 09:00 and usually comes back at 14:30. JSK sails in the afternoon and returns around midday; confirm its times with the resort. Boats may be delayed or cancelled in rough seas.

IV

Step by step

  1. Fly to Kota Kinabalu

    Mantanani is off Sabah's west coast, so fly to Kota Kinabalu, not Sandakan or Tawau. Nonstop flights from Kuala Lumpur take about 2 h 40.

    KL–Kota Kinabalu about 2 h 40

  2. Book the boat with your room or day trip

    There is no public ferry. Each resort arranges its own boat from Rampayan, and day tours include theirs. Sutera@Mantanani packages include the land and boat transfers; GreenHouse EcoLodge quotes its transfers separately on request; ask JSK whether its Kota Kinabalu transfer is included.

  3. Drive to Kota Belud

    Rampayan is about 90 km from Kota Kinabalu airport and Kuala Abai about 80 km, roughly 1 h 30 in clear traffic. Real shuttles allow about 2 hours. Sutera's shuttle leaves The Magellan Sutera lobby at 11:30 and reaches Rampayan at 14:00; its return land transfer is RM82 per person if your package does not include it. Sutera guests who drive can park free at Rampayan.

    About 90 km · allow 2 h

  4. Cross to the island

    The Sutera boat leaves Rampayan at 14:30 and lands at about 15:20, about 45 minutes. JSK's boat takes 45 minutes to an hour, GreenHouse's about 50 minutes, and boats from Kuala Abai about an hour. Wear the life jacket.

    45 min–1 h

V

Questions

How do I get to Pulau Mantanani?

Fly to Kota Kinabalu, about 2 h 40 from Kuala Lumpur. Allow about 2 hours by road to Kota Belud, then take your resort's or tour's speedboat: about 45 minutes from Rampayan or about an hour from Kuala Abai. There is no public ferry.

Can I visit Pulau Mantanani as a day trip?

Yes. Majestic Leisure & Tours charges RM305 per adult on a shared tour from Kota Kinabalu hotels, or RM210 if you make your own way to the jetty, with the boat and lunch included (2026 rates, valid to 31 December 2026).

Is there a park fee on Pulau Mantanani?

No. Mantanani is not a marine park, though one has been proposed. Resorts charge non-Malaysians tourism tax of RM10 per room per night.

Is Pulau Mantanani safe?

It is off Sabah's west coast. UK travel advice warns against all but essential travel to the eastern Sabah islands from Sandakan to Tawau, not Kota Belud. Wear the life jacket on the crossing, and expect rough seas from November to February.

NextWhere to stay on Pulau Mantanani