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Manukan Island or Pulau Manukan is a 20 minute boat ride from Kota Kinabalu, Sabah. It's one of the more popular islands in Sabah due to the attraction of its white sandy beaches and rich hued waters teeming with marine life. The abundance of corals and availability of water sports makes this a premier destination for island hopping in Sabah.
Manukan Island is part of the chain of islands that makes up Tunku Abdul Rahman Park in Sabah, Malaysia. The island can be reached by the jetty at Kota Kinabalu city. The boat ride costs RM 15 and can accommodate 10 people, so if you're in a group that's less than the quorum, be prepared to wait a while until 10 people sign up.
The boat that takes you to the island is a modern speed boat and it easily navigates through the clear waters towards the island of your choice. The boat had a mixture of travelers from all over the world and the early morning skies were perfect as we headed towards Pulau Manukan. Snorkels can be rented from the boat operator at RM 10.
The boats that are allowed to dock at Pulau Manukan has to be registered with Sabah Parks and it's required to meet safety requirements e.g. life jackets must be worn during the journey. The waterfront of Kota Kinabalu zips by as the boat departs and there is a constant wind from the speed of the boat billowing at you. The boat occasionally runs into waves so splashes of water into the boat are pretty common.
The lush green island soon comes into view as the boat slows down to dock at the Pulau Manukan island. The natural beauty of the island is apparent - calm, green waters with a diverse amount of fishes swimming around and white, sandy beaches at the fringe with deep green lush trees lining the island.
The rich marine life on Manukan Island is apparent as we disembarked from the boat - the high tide submerges the lower part of the jetty and people can be seen feeding the fishes with pieces of bread. The island is a protected zone so no fishing or harming of the marine life is permitted. This makes the fish breed with abundance and they're quite friendly and unafraid of human contact.
Pulau Manukan has chalets for overnight stays but most people come here just to relax and enjoy the natural offerings of the island on a day trip. The red buoys bobbing around the perimeter extending 100 meters out from the beach are designated swimming areas. There is a lot of boat traffic outside that demarcation and the speed boats carrying island visitors frequently passes very close to the line so it's a good idea to keep inside the perimeter.
The Manukan Island pier is a wooden catwalk hovering over the vibrant green waters and the natural tranquility of the island is palpable as you walk towards the beach...
...and all too soon, it was time to depart the island. Pulau Manukan in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah is a great place to relax and unwind. It's a great island...
Accommodation
There are 20 units of wooden chalets, situated on the lush green slope overlooking the sea. Set within a garden of swaying palms and vivid tropical blooms, they provide the perfect hide-away for overnight stays or leisurely weekends. | 
