Town or island: the basic choice
You can sleep in Semporna town or at a resort on an island. A town base is near the jetties where day tours and dive trips start. An island base puts you at the resort's own pier, with boats, meals and dive trips run by the resort. Sipadan itself has no accommodation for visitors. Sabah Parks lists stays outside the island, so old resort addresses on Sipadan are not bookable hotels.
This is an independent guide. It is not run by a hotel, a resort or a booking site, and it does not rank them. The resort examples come from the resorts' own published 2026 information, and they are examples, not a full list of what exists. This page does not name individual town hotels.
Compare hotel prices in Semporna for your dates on Trip.com.
Semporna resort and hotel bases compared
What each kind of base means for transfers, activities and cost.
| Base | Best for | Getting there | Good to know |
|---|---|---|---|
| Semporna town | Day tours, flexible plans | Public jetty and Seafest Jetty | Pick a place near the jetty your operator names |
| Mabul | Muck diving, Sipadan packages, village life | Operator boats from Semporna | Dorms and private rooms at one resort |
| Mataking | A resort stay with beach snorkeling | Shared boat transfer on check-in day | Packages valid 1 Apr 2026 to 31 Mar 2027 |
| Kapalai | Divers who want a resort near Sipadan | Boat transfer included in packages | A resort on stilts over a shallow sandbank |
| Pom Pom | Turtles and a quiet beach | Arranged with the resort | The resort limits outside tours during your stay |
Not every place uses the public jetty, and some resorts need advance booking for the boat. Sabah Tourism advises booking resort and boat ahead. See getting to Semporna for the transfer chain.
Our picks: a stay for divers
A base at sea instead of in town, with a private room, meals and house-reef diving.
Hand-picked tours, booked through Viator. 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.
Tours from Semporna
Island hopping, snorkeling and dive trips from Semporna, with live prices and availability.
Semporna resort stays on Mabul, Mataking and Kapalai
Mabul. A dive operator runs Mabul Beach Resort with dorms and private rooms. Its published prices are valid until 31 December 2026 and are per person with two or three sharing a room. They are not a room price for a whole family. The resort lists a season surcharge of RM 50 for a dorm bed and RM 100 for a private room, per person and night. The next high season it names runs from 15 December 2026 to 5 January 2027. That is one resort's rule, not an island-wide surcharge.
The same operator offers Sipadan permits as part of Mabul packages from 3 days and 2 nights. That shows one booking route, not a legal minimum stay. See Sipadan for permits and fees, and Mabul Island for the island itself.
Mataking. The resort lists international packages valid from 1 April 2026 to 31 March 2027. Non-diver packages include snorkeling from the beach, but not the equipment. Dive packages name Mataking, Timba Timba, Pandanan and nearby reefs. A shared boat transfer is included on your real check-in and check-out day. Read more on Mataking Island.
Kapalai. According to 2026 listings, Kapalai offers stays in chalets on stilts above a shallow sandbank. It is a resort, not an island with a village, and unannounced day visits are not something to plan on. An offer on the Tourism Malaysia portal from a travel agent runs until 31 December 2026: 3 days and 2 nights from RM 2,460, with a chalet, full board, land and boat transfer and snorkeling at the house reef. It is not a final price for every nationality. A resort brochure for Malaysian residents and expatriates with a work permit lists RM 2,484 for two nights for divers and RM 2,019.60 for non-divers, including 8 percent SST, with transfer and full board, and the Sipadan permit extra. Do not apply that rate to international guests. Rules for night activities at sea are summarized on the safety page. See also Kapalai.
Pom Pom. A 2026 notice from Pom Pom Resort says guests may not join externally organized tours or activities during their stay once checked in. The date it took effect is not given, and the rule applies to that resort only. Ask before you book activities elsewhere. More on Pom Pom Island.
Semporna homestay and tourism tax
Costs that sit outside the room rate.
Tourism tax
Mabul Beach Resort shows a tax of RM 10 per room and night separately, with dorms excluded. A customs guide from April 2023 also lists RM 10 per room and night, so confirm the current rate with your host. The rule of one resort does not tell you what applies elsewhere.
Homestays and guesthouses
Ask a homestay host whether the tax applies, what is included and how you reach the jetty. Do not assume that a homestay is exempt because one resort excludes its dorms. If your stay is in a village, ask before you take photos and keep to places where you are welcome. See the Bajau Laut for respectful visits.
Park chalet
Sabah Parks mentions a chalet for six people in the Tun Sakaran park complex. Where it is and whether it can be booked are not clear, so ask the park or your operator before you rely on it.
Cancellation and children
Rules for cancellation and for children differ by property. Read them before you pay.
Before you book a stay
Check the travel advice for the islands. The UK Foreign Office advises against all but essential travel to the islands and dive areas off east Sabah, in an update of 19 March 2026, and other governments word their advice differently. The details are on the safety page. Ask your insurer whether it covers your plans.
Match your base to your plans. Divers who want Sipadan usually book a package through a resort or dive operator. Snorkelers and day-trippers can stay in town and join island hopping tours. The weather page covers the busy and quiet months, including the November break at Sipadan.
Find your hotel in Semporna
Plan your trip
More pages for choosing a base.
Where to stay in Semporna: frequently asked questions
Can I stay overnight on Sipadan?
No. Sabah Parks lists accommodation outside the island, on places such as Mabul and Kapalai. Sipadan is visited with a day permit through licensed operators.
Is it better to stay in Semporna town or on an island?
It depends on your plans. A town base suits day tours from the jetties. An island resort suits divers and anyone who wants boats and meals organized by the resort. Check which jetty your accommodation uses.
How much does a Mabul resort cost?
One resort quotes its prices per person with two or three sharing, valid until 31 December 2026, plus a seasonal surcharge of RM 50 for a dorm and RM 100 for a private room per person and night, and RM 10 tourism tax per room and night for private rooms. Check the current prices with the resort.
Is there a tourism tax in Semporna?
One Mabul resort adds RM 10 per room and night, dorms excluded, and a customs guide from April 2023 lists the same figure. Ask your host what applies to your stay, also at a homestay.
Can I visit Kapalai or Mataking for a day without a booking?
Do not plan on it. Some resorts do not accept visitors who have not booked, and day access to resort facilities should be confirmed with the resort and your boat operator.
Is it safe to stay on the islands?
Governments advise differently. The UK advises against all but essential travel to the islands and dive areas off east Sabah as of 19 March 2026. See the safety page and ask your insurer.