How a Semporna trip works
Almost every trip starts at a jetty in town. The listed day tours leave from the public jetty on Jalan Bangau-Bangau or from the Seafest Jetty, and the boat to the Tun Sakaran Marine Park takes about 1 hour. A trip combines islands, reefs and a lunch stop. What differs is the length, the number of stops, whether you snorkel or dive, and which fees are inside the price.
The examples below are single listings from October 2026. They show what one product costs, not a market range, and a listed "from" price is not a final price for your date. Sipadan is a separate case: its park fees and day permit are handled by a licensed operator, and none of the listed day tours below shows a Sipadan permit. Read the Sipadan page for that.
Day tours compared
Listed "from" prices per person in US dollars, October 2026. Each row is one product.
| Trip | Length | From | Not included |
|---|---|---|---|
| Three-island tour with hike, snorkel or introductory dive (Bohey Dulang) | 7 to 7.5 hours | $50 | Hotel transfer, marine park RM 30, hike permit RM 50, extra dive fee RM 150 (RM 100 for Malaysians) |
| Three-island tour, snorkel or dive, with lunch | 7 hours | $54 | Hotel transfer, Pandanan RM 15 and Mataking RM 10 in cash |
| Mabul and Kapalai, snorkel or dive, with lunch | 6.5 hours | $55 | Hotel transfer, Mabul Island Resort RM 50 in cash |
| Introductory scuba day trip, no certificate needed | 8 hours | $100 | A dive certification; it is a trial dive only |
| Three-dive day for certified divers | 7 hours | $113 | Hotel pickup; a certificate is required and no Sipadan permit is shown |
| Two-day snorkel package, Tun Sakaran islands | 2 days | $108 | Bohey hiking fee RM 50 |
| Three-day volcanic peaks and reefs tour | 3 days | $179 | Hotel transfer; fee details are listed in two ways, so clarify them |
| Private Sibuan and Maiga boat tour, per group of up to 8 | 6 hours | $590 | Maiga RM 25 per person, Sibuan entry if applicable |
| Mangrove cruise with fireflies and dinner | 5 hours | $65 | Personal expenses; hotel transfer is included |
| Sunset catamaran cruise with paddle boards and fishing | 3.5 hours | $101 | Park fees are not mentioned |
| Half-day fishing trip with equipment | 3.5 hours | $79 | Meals, insurance, snorkel gear |
The introductory and certified dives are different products. The first needs no certificate, the second does. Neither includes a Sipadan day permit.
Our picks: tours compared
An island hike, a first dive and an evening on the water.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide. Prices are indicative starting prices in US dollars (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
Sunset catamaran cruise with paddleboarding and fishing
A yacht ride with an instructor, paddleboards, fishing gear, life jackets, afternoon tea and the jetty tax. No exclusions are listed, and further park fees are not mentioned.
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Discover scuba day trip for beginners
All dive equipment, an instructor, the marine jetty fee and lunch are included. It is an introductory dive only and does not lead to a certification.
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Bohey Dulang day trip: hike, snorkel or try diving
An instructor, gear, life jacket, water, lunchbox and port fees are included, with two snorkel stops or two 20-minute intro dives depending on the option. Marine park entry, the Bohey hiking permit and any extra dive fee are paid on top.
Check availability →Semporna trips and day tours
Island hopping, snorkeling, dive days and cruises from Semporna, with live prices and availability.
What to compare before you book
Two trips at the same price often include different things.
Nationality and age
Park fees differ for Malaysians and international visitors, and by age. At the Tun Sakaran Marine Park an international adult pays RM 20 per day and a visitor up to 17 years RM 12 (2026).
Equipment and boat
Ask whether mask, fins, vest and a wetsuit are in the price. One listing names a wetsuit as included and excluded at the same time, so confirm it. Ask whether the boat is shared or private.
Food and water
Most listings include a packed lunch and water. A half-day fishing trip lists no meals.
Park entry and hike permit
Entry fees and the Bohey Dulang hike permit are often charged separately and in cash. The hike permit is RM 50 for an international adult and RM 30 up to 17 years, and a guide is RM 50 per ascent for up to 6 people.
Landing and guide
A route does not mean you land on every island. Maiga is a park island, but it is not a stop on every tour. Ask which stops include a landing and a guide.
Jetty fee and cancellation
One dive operator lists a Semporna jetty fee from 1 January 2026: RM 10 for an international adult, RM 5 for a child under 11. Check the cancellation terms of each offer.
Semporna packages and price examples
Resort stays and multi-day trips are priced differently from day tours.
| Package | Example | Valid |
|---|---|---|
| Kapalai dive package, 3 days and 2 nights | From RM 2,460 with chalet, full board, land and boat transfer and house reef snorkeling | Until 31 December 2026 |
| Mataking resort packages (international rates) | Non-diver packages include beach snorkeling; equipment is not included | 1 April 2026 to 31 March 2027 |
| Danum Valley rainforest package with a deluxe chalet | RM 6,300 as an example package price, not an entrance fee | Until March 2027 |
| Mabul resort surcharge in high season | Dorm RM 50, private room RM 100 per person per night | 15 December 2026 to 5 January 2027 |
The Kapalai figure comes from an agent's offer and is not a guaranteed final price for every nationality. A Sipadan permit costs extra. For a Mabul resort the tourism levy of RM 10 per room per night is listed separately, with dorms excluded.
For day trips, one operator listed the following prices in October 2026: a snorkeling day outside the marine parks for RM 220, snorkeling in the Tun Sakaran Marine Park with a hike for RM 270 and a three-dive day for RM 395, each with gear, a guide, lunch and fees. Another listed the Mataking, Timba Timba and Pandanan route at RM 270 per person, leaving at 08:00 and returning from the island at 16:00. Confirm the minimum group size, which the listing gives as 4 in one place and 2 in another.
See the pages for island hopping, diving, where to stay and things to do for more detail. The UK FCDO (19 March 2026) advises against all but essential travel to the islands off eastern Sabah. Read the safety page and check your insurance first.
If a reef day is what you want, Semporna snorkeling trips compares the five day tours that include snorkeling.
If you would rather spend the day with a rod, Semporna fishing trips compares a half day, a full day and an archipelago trip.
Semporna trips: frequently asked questions
How much does a day trip from Semporna cost?
The examples above start at $50 for a shared three-island day tour and reach $590 for a private boat for up to 8 people. These are single listings from October 2026. Park fees, hike permits and transfers can add to the total.
Does a day tour include Sipadan?
None of the day tours in the table shows a Sipadan permit. Sipadan needs a day permit through a licensed operator, with park fees of RM 100 plus RM 350 for international divers in 2026. See the Sipadan page.
Do I need to book in advance?
Some resorts do not accept visitors who have not booked, and a published offer does not show free seats on your day. Book boat and resort ahead and check availability for your date.
Can I join a tour if I do not dive?
Yes. Many of the listed tours offer a snorkeling option. Snorkeling in the Tun Sakaran Marine Park does not need a dive certificate, but the park management must be told.
How does the sea curfew affect tours?
The German foreign office reports a ban on night boat traffic from 18:00 to 06:00 in coastal waters up to 3 nautical miles. Plan to be back before dark, and ask your operator which rules apply to your trip.