Affordable Kota Kinabalu Island Hopping Adventure: 200+ RMB Per Person 🏝️

The top destination for budget travelers with visa-free access: Sabah Kota Kinabalu, also known as Kota Kinabalu (Malay: Kota Kinabalu). Here comes a high-value island hopping guide 🏝️ at around 200+ per person, including snorkeling | paragliding | banana boat. Enjoy the breeze and the beautiful coastline of Kota Kinabalu, and explore the mysterious underwater scenes of Southeast Asia, which feels very magical.

【SIM Card ☎️】
It is recommended to go directly to the yellow shop {Digi} on the left ⬅️ after exiting the arrival hall at Kota Kinabalu Airport. There are two packages to choose from. For a stay of five days or less, it’s suggested to go for the 40G affordable package without hesitation. Digi has good signal and value for money, and even on the islands, the signal remains stable 📶.

【Time ⏱️】
Arrive at Jesselton Point around 11:00 AM ⛵. Due to unstable weather and heavy rain warnings, we chose to do island hopping near the shore 🏊.

【Flipper 🩴】
The most popular beach shoe store in Sabah 🏬 Flipper, with prices ranging from 19.9 to 59.9 MYR. During promotional periods, there are also deals for 9.9 MYR. The shoes are soft and comfortable, with many styles available. Do not buy cheap 3.9 MYR flip-flops from One Store on the street; they are uncomfortable and hard.

【Price 💰】
After comparing more than ten counters, I strongly recommend the lady at counter 10 🧍‍♀️. She is very good at negotiating, and the water activities offered are diverse. In the end, our two-island tour + snorkeling 🤿 (including GoPro) + banana boat + paragliding 🪂 cost 150 MYR per person, plus 25 MYR for the boat ride to and from the islands. Other counters generally charge over 200 MYR for the same activities, and the service was also excellent!

【Island Hopping 🏝️】
1️⃣ Sapi Island is better suited for snorkeling 🤿 and does not have other activities. It is the closest to the dock, with a good environment, making it the best for taking photos!
2️⃣ The other two islands offer similar activities, but Manukan is more developed, with a better artificial environment. However, Mamutik is prettier for photography.

【Snorkeling 🤿】
The hardest part of snorkeling 🤿 is mastering the breathing rhythm 🎶 at the beginning. The technique is: inhale slowly, exhale quickly 🫁. This effectively prevents the mouthpiece from loosening and causing water to enter. Besides, you can also experience the fun of feeding clownfish!

【Banana Boat & Paragliding 🪂】
Paragliding 🪂 and the banana boat are safe and comfortable, but make sure to communicate with the captain 🚢 about whether you want to get into the water, otherwise, you might suddenly capsize and be thrown into the water 💣. But both are very safe.

【Tips 📑】
1️⃣ Be sure to apply sunscreen‼️ Check the weather in advance before deciding whether to go to the nearby islands or the further Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park.
2️⃣ The islands start clearing out visitors at 4:00 PM, so plan your time accordingly.