Guide No. 15 · Stay 1 of 3
Stay · Pulau Mantanani
Sutera@Mantanani Island Resort & Spa
Pick · No. 1 of 3 on Pulau Mantanani
On its own beach at the east end of Mantanani Besar.
Position
- Tier
- PickNo. 1 of 3
- Beach
- Mantanani BesarEast end, own beach
- Open
- All yearRough crossings possible Nov–Feb
- Boat
- About 45 minResort boat from Rampayan, Kota Belud
Verdict
Sutera@Mantanani Island Resort & Spa is run by Sutera Harbour, the Kota Kinabalu resort group, and sits on its own beach at the east end of Mantanani Besar.
It has 70 rooms, from deluxe rooms to sea-view chalets and two-bedroom villas, all with a balcony and air-con. Breakfast is in the rate, and packages include the shuttle from Kota Kinabalu and the boat. Snorkelling, kayaking, beach volleyball and beach soccer are free; the sunset cruise, ATV rides and diving cost extra and should be booked ahead. Guest reviews in 2026 often praise the beach, the water, the free snorkel trip and the staff.
The catch is the building and the extras. Guest reviews often mention old rooms and fittings, from air-con to water pressure, and a few mention a rubbish smell near some rooms. There is one restaurant, White Sand, and one review put a noodle dish at about RM45. Wi-Fi works in the lobby only, there is no pool, and there is no ATM on the island.
Good for
First-time visitors, couples and families who want the transfers, breakfast and snorkelling sorted in one booking.
Not for
Anyone who needs Wi-Fi in the room, a pool, a choice of restaurants or new fittings.
Particulars
- Type
- Resort
- Rooms
- 70 rooms, chalets and villas
- Board
- Breakfast included; packages with transfers
- Transfer
- Resort boat from Rampayan, Kota Belud, about 45 min; leaves 14:30
- Season
- Open all year; the crossing can be rough Nov–Feb
- Check-in
- 15:00Check-out 11:00
- Website
- suteraharbour.com
Getting there
The resort shuttle leaves The Magellan Sutera in Kota Kinabalu at 11:30 for Rampayan jetty, and the boat leaves at 14:30, landing at about 15:20. The boat back leaves the island at 13:00. All routes to Pulau Mantanani.
Other stays on Mantanani
| No. | Stay | Tier | Beach |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | GreenHouse EcoLodge | Good | Mantanani Besar |
| 3 | JSK Mantanani Island Resorts Trademark by Wyndham | Good | Mantanani Besar |