Tunku Abdul Rahman marine Park Archives

Twin Island hopping Sabah, we did everything, well almost every sports available on the menu 🙂

There are 5 islands at Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park. Manukan, Manutik and Sapi (map) are the three more popular islands, and your operator will decide which islands to go on the actual day. All three offer decent water clarity (ie can see fishes) but take note bread-feeding is discouraged.

Ready to board our speedboat, Marine Park is only a 20min boat ride away.

During our Twin Island hopping Sabah, you will spot clear water everywhere.

You know a beach is good when you can spot shoals of fishes around the jetty! Kids will be squealing in delight, and we wish we could jump from the jetty!

Parasailing was new to me. I paired up with Boon Xin, and Boon Wee with Boon Yee (No1 and No 3). The anticipation is strongest before we launch, but once we are up in the air, absolute freedom as we enjoy the sea wind. Wave to your family and friends, look far ahead over the horizon 🙂

Parasailng RM 180 (per pair, about 8 minutes) and Banana Boat RM 40 (per person). Banana boat allows our family to grab each other for dear life as we bump up and down over the waves, if we fall off, just float and wait for rescue (first photo above)

After lunch, we were eager to try more adventures. Meanwhile, Boon Xin enjoying some selfie moment with my GoPro.

Flying Fox! Coral zip experience was too cool, imagine zipping between two islands, Gaya and Sapi (RM 80 per person)

No time to shout, the zipline is too short to feel any tension or fear, just Jump and enjoy the pristine water below. Everyone had to jump, some hesitated but everyone made it across! (Tip: Wear footwear as there is a 10min uphill small hike and pavement is full of pebbles ouch!)

Video (link) : Check out the water activities thrills from Day 3 !

Video 2 (link) : Clear water Sabah snorkeling

Water babies

Clear water, rich corals behind Sapi island. Fun snorkeling experience but those above 1.7m might accidentally step on the sharp corals, be careful. We spend almost 45 minutes in the cool water.

Relaxing in the calm waters, while awaiting our return ferry.

One of the best guides ever, friendly with kids, always smiling, Kor Kor (brother) Kunik frm Amazing Borneo 🙂

Twin Island hoping Sabah experience went beyond our expectation, the most impressive thing was everyone was so game and adventurous! Family Fun together, we challenged our limits today.

Boon Yee : Are we ready going to Fly between the islands!

Do pop by our Sabah itinerary and photos below.
– Sabah 8D7N itinerary
– Sabah Day 1 – Street food discovery
– Sabah Day 2 – White Water Rafting!
– Sabah Day 3 – Twin Islands Hopping Sabah
– Sabah Day 4 AM – Desa Cow Farm
– Day 4 PM – Kinabalu Park
– Day 5 – Poring Hot Spring + Waterfall + Canopy walk
– Day 6 – Gaya Island Resort – Luxury Villa
– Day 7 – Gaya Island Resort Family Activities

More photos have been uploaded on our Fanpage album :
– Day 1 and 2 – Klagan hotel, White Water rafting
– Day 3 – Water sports, Island hopping
– Day 4 – Desa Cow Farm and Kinabalu Park
– Day 5 – Poring Hot Spring and vicinity
– Day 6 – Gaya Island Resort
– Day 7 – Snorkeling and private beach
– Day 8 – Hiking, Home sweet home

Presenting our Sabah family itinerary. To be honest, Sabah never crossed our minds when we were planning for seaside vacations. Philippines (Cebu and Boracay), Indonesia (Bali) and Thailand (Krabi) are the more popular options.

As our kids are now older and more active, we wanted a sporty and adventurous itinerary for them.

Under the sea, high up in the mountains. Island hopping, snorkeling, hiking, white water rafting and even flying fox. These activities are all available within 2 hours from Kota Kinabalu city center. We were sold at a Tourism Malaysia exhibition 🙂

…… ……Sabah family itinerary 8D7N, A trip of many firsts.

Island Hopping with kids. Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park consists of 5 islands, all 20 minutes from Kota Kinabalu city.

Parasailing, Banana boat and snorkeling. I had always wanted my family to be adventurous 🙂

We even did a flying fox between two islands Gaya and Sapi! (Coral zipline).

Exploring Kota Kinabalu city on foot.

Food, glorious Food. Seafood in East Malaysia is even cheaper and fresher than West Malaysia. Generally, we still prefer street food from West Malaysia and Singapore, but we still had fun hunting down some of the famous food in Sabah (生肉面 pork noodle, pineapple bun etc).

White water rafting is one of the highlights for us. Rapid along Kiulu is milder, and harder to topple the boat. Nevertheless, it offers thrills and spills for my family 🙂

Enough of water activities, we headed up the hills. Majestic view of Mount Kinabalu.

Summary of locations in West Sabah. (A-City KK, Island hopping), (B- White Water rafting near Tamparuli), (C- Kinabalu Park, Desa Cow Farm), (D- Poring Hot spring, Canopy walk, waterfall)

Desa Cow Farm is up in the mountains. From certain angles, and with the low lying clouds, we might believe this is a valley somewhere in New Zealand. Kids were eager to feed the hungry animals or taste some fresh ice cream.

Garden Lodge is our bungalow at Kinabalu Park. This lodge is huge, enough for 3 families and it even come with a fireplace! (pricey tag of RM 3000 per night!)

After a refreshing night (where temperature drops to 15 degrees, we drove to Poring Hot Spring vicinity.
Over 3 hours, we did a mini hike, cross a tree-top canopy and enjoy some fish spa at the waterfall. We did not soak ourselves in the hot spring but kids did enjoy some swimming at the pool (non hot spring).

The last two nights of our vacation is spend on luxurious Gaya Island Resort. From our boats, we could only marvel at the magnificent villas constructed on hillside.

Every meal on Gaya island offered us a glimpse of South China Sea. We just need to take our time to enjoy our cuisine 🙂

Guests will enjoy Gaya Island’s swimming pool or snorkeling at their house reef. We love both!

After all the hiking and walking from the earlier part of our itinerary, Gaya Island Resort offers an opportunity to relax and enjoy some slow moments. Massage and spa indulgence for Mummy at Spa Village.

Disclaimer.
1) All expenses on Gaya Island Resort had been sponsored.
2) Amazing Borneo Tours provided some discounts for our itinerary.

Do pop by our Sabah itinerary and photos below.
– Sabah Family Itinerary 8D7N
– Sabah Day 1 – Street food discovery
– Sabah Day 2 – White Water Rafting!
– Sabah Day 3 – Twin Islands Hopping
– Sabah Day 4 AM – Desa Cow Farm
– Day 4 PM – Kinabalu Park
– Day 5 – Poring Hot Spring + Waterfall + Canopy walk
– Day 6 – Gaya Island Resort – Luxury Villa
– Day 7 Gaya Island Resort Family Activities

I hope to climb Mount Kinabalu with Boon Wee (perhaps with Boon Kang too) in a few years time 🙂