Malaysia · ISLAND HOPPING TRIPS

The 14 Best Island Hopping Trips in Malaysia

14 tours  ·  from $11 a head

Two seas and two very different archipelagos: limestone islets off Langkawi, coral parks off Kota Kinabalu. The 14 below are compared on boat size, how many islands you actually land on and what the snorkelling gear costs.

Langkawi: Island Hopping Shared Boat Tour - Meeting at Teluk Baru and getting on the water
Island Hopping Trips, Island Hopping Trips in Langkawi, Langkawi Tours, Malaysia Tours, Tour Reviews

Langkawi: Island Hopping Shared Boat Tour

1.Island Hopping Shared Boat Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.3 · 291 reviews · 1 day · from $12Our pick

Join a shared speedboat from Teluk Baru for a half-day circuit through Langkawi’s island country. You’ll visit Dayang Bunting, watch eagles being fed, stop at Pulau Singa Besar, and swim at Beras Basah. Hotel pickup is available around Pantai Cenang and Pantai Tengah. Guides speak English, and some departures are led by guides such as Sham.

“Such a great experience! Me and my husband really enjoyed ourselves. The only thing we thought would be better is with the first island if we could have gotten more time to explore as most of it requires walking uphill and downhill and waiting in the queue to purchase admission tickets. The rest of the journey was amazing. Feeding fishes watching eagles get fed. Be careful with the second island as there are monkeys that don’t hesitate to snatch your food (we saw a few couples experience this) Would highly recommended!”

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Langkawi: Island Hopping Tour - The morning starts with a practical hotel pickup
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Langkawi: Island Hopping Tour

2.Island Hopping Tour

★★★★★★★★★★3.7 · 228 reviews · 3h 30m · from $30

Join Asni Tours for a 210-minute boat trip from Langkawi to Dayang Bunting, Singa Besar, and Beras Basah. You will watch sea eagles swoop for food, swim at a freshwater lake, visit a wildlife sanctuary, and relax on a sandy beach. Hotel pickup, boat transport, and life jackets are included, but lake entry, food, and optional water sports cost extra.

“Well organized - totally recommend it to everyone who is interested in some fascinating spots around Langkawi.”

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Island Hopping - Sapi Island: swimming, coral, and lunch on the beach
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Island Hopping

3.Island Hopping

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 99 reviews · from $125

Start with a 20-minute boat ride from Kota Kinabalu to Sapi Island for swimming, snorkeling, beach time, and lunch. Then speedboat to Manukan Island before returning to the city. Snorkel gear, lunch, guide, and shared hotel transfers are included. Groups are limited to 12, though fins cost extra.

“The islands were beautiful. I especially enjoyed Sapan. Nural really took good care of me since I am handicapped.”

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Kota Kinabalu: Snorkeling & Island Hopping Sapi & Manukan - The morning transfer from Kota Kinabalu
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Kota Kinabalu: Snorkeling & Island Hopping Sapi & Manukan

4.Snorkeling & Island Hopping Sapi & Manukan

★★★★★★★★★★3.9 · 97 reviews · 1 day · from $67

Spend a full day in Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park with hotel pickup, boat rides, snorkeling gear, a buffet lunch, and time on Sapi and Manukan islands. Sapi is smaller and busier, while Manukan offers more room and facilities. Optional parasailing, sea walking, jet skiing, and banana boat rides cost extra.

“Tour guide was friendly and positive, spent over three hours on the first island (sapi) and an hour on the second (Manukan) which was nicer of the two. Felt like the long stay on sapi was mainly to pressure you into paying for the additional activities. Lunch wasn’t bad but quite greasy and not worth the price”

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Langkawi: Fun Island Hopping by Jet Ski - The first ride: speed with the islands ahead
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Langkawi: Fun Island Hopping by Jet Ski

5.Fun Island Hopping by Jet Ski

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 25 reviews · 2 hours

You ride with an English- or Malay-speaking instructor from Mega Water Sports, stopping at Singa Besar, Beras Basah, and Intan Kecil. The two-hour trip combines fast open-water riding, eagle watching, white sand, and swimming. Guides named Hussein, One, and Amer have led recent departures.

“No need to change anything, we had a great time with Hussein and One.... very knowledgeable and great fun!!”

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Langkawi Island Hopping Boat Tour with Return Transfer - Beras Basah for shade, sand, and sea air
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Langkawi Island Hopping Boat Tour with Return Transfer

6.Langkawi Island Hopping Boat Tour with Return Transfer

★★★★★★★★★★3.5 · 13 reviews · from $25

Spend four hours boating between Langkawi’s islands, watching eagles snatch food from the sea, visiting Dayang Bunting’s freshwater lake, and resting at Beras Basah. Shared boat transport, an English-speaking driver, and hotel or cruise-terminal transfers are included. Bring water, sunscreen, and money for the lake entrance fee.

“The sea eagles experience is awesome. The pristine beaches are also a delight. Good afternoon on a speed boat”

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Island Hopping Tour (2 Island) From Kota Kinabalu - The boat ride into Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park
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Island Hopping Tour (2 Island) From Kota Kinabalu

7.Island Hopping Tour (2 Island) From Kota Kinabalu

★★★★★★★★★★3.0 · 12 reviews · from $99

Set out from Kota Kinabalu at 8:30 am for a six-hour island day in Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park. You’ll ride by boat, snorkel around two park islands, enjoy lunch, and have time to walk or rest. Guides may include Roy, Tan, or Hashim, and groups are limited to 15 people.

“I had such a good day! The trip was the perfect length, the guide was wonderfully helpful and patient, and I really enjoyed walking around Sapi.”

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Kota Kinabalu: Island Hopping with Snorkeling & Meal - The 20-Minute Ride to Manukan Island
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Kota Kinabalu: Island Hopping with Snorkeling & Meal

8.Island Hopping with Snorkeling & Meal

★★★★★★★★★★4.3 · 9 reviews · 1 day · from $63

Spend a full day island hopping from Jesselton Point to Manukan and Sapi in Tunku Abdul Rahman Park. You get boat rides, entrance fees, snorkeling gear, and a simple buffet lunch. This is an unguided beach and water outing, so non-swimmers and anyone seeking structured marine-life instruction should choose carefully.

“A day full of fun on and in the water. Most recommended!”

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Island Hopping ( Manukan & Sapi Island ) From Kota Kinabalu - Three hours on Sapi Island
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Island Hopping ( Manukan & Sapi Island ) From Kota Kinabalu

9.Island Hopping ( Manukan & Sapi Island ) From Kota Kinabalu

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 9 reviews · from $90

Spend six hours boating from Kota Kinabalu to Sapi and Manukan islands. Your shared tour includes hotel pickup in the city, island fees, snorkeling gear without fins, and a BBQ lunch on Sapi. Expect a group of up to 20, a 15-minute boat ride, beach time, and weather-dependent plans.

“The operators knew about the bad weather and the storm and they still sent us anyway. So I paid to go to the first Island on a 15 minute boat ride with a reckless driver just to sit for a while, have a very bad meal and get back. And all we got is Read more”

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Langkawi Island Hopping Boat Tour - Beach time at Beras Basah Island
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Langkawi Island Hopping Boat Tour

10.Langkawi Island Hopping Boat Tour

★★★★★★★★★★3.5 · 8 reviews · from $35

You’ll spend three to four hours exploring Langkawi by shared or private boat, with hotel pickup, life jackets, and an English-speaking driver. The route includes Dayang Bunting Island and its famous lake, a wildlife stop at Pulau Singa Besar, and beach time at Beras Basah. Bring swimwear, cash for entry, and your own snorkeling gear.

“The trip itself is ok. There is a lack of information during the trip. There are no explanations it is only hop on hop off.If you want just to use the boat only on travel purposes is fine to book this trip. If you expect more find something different.”

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Langkawi: Island Hopping Shared or Private Boat Options - Pulau Beras Basah and the beach break
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Langkawi: Island Hopping Shared or Private Boat Options

11.Island Hopping Shared or Private Boat Options

★★★★★★★★★★3.7 · 6 reviews · from $11Best value

Spend four hours visiting Pulau Beras Basah, Pulau Dayang Bunting, and Pulau Singa Besar by shared or private boat. You’ll swim, see the Pregnant Maiden Lake, watch eagles swoop for chicken pieces, and learn about Langkawi’s culture and ecology. The $11 shared option is affordable, but stops can feel brief and crowded.

“Really perfect, inexpensive considering what was included (meal, tour, etc.). We even got to see dolphins thanks to our guide.”

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The Best Packages Jet Ski Island Hopping Langkawi - Pregnant Maiden Lake: The Main Land Stop
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The Best Packages Jet Ski Island Hopping Langkawi

12.The Best Packages Jet Ski Island Hopping Langkawi

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 6 reviews · 4 hours Top rated

You’ll follow an English or Malay-speaking guide on a four-hour, 50-kilometer jet ski route around Langkawi. The trip includes hotel pickup, safety gear, Pregnant Maiden Lake, Beras Basah Island, eagle watching, swimming, a small-group setting, and a complimentary drone video. Bring cash for the lake entry fee.

“Prachtige eilanden en de dronefoto’s en -video’s zijn ook echt prachtig! Alles was super geregeld. Let wel op: ze proberen soms extra geld te vragen voor de drone, terwijl dit al in het pakket zit 😁 Verder absoluut een aanrader!”

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Semporna : Island Hopping Semporna Adventure - Mantabuan’s coral gardens and clear water
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Semporna : Island Hopping Semporna Adventure

13.Semporna : Island Hopping Semporna Adventure

★★★★★★★★★★3.2 · 5 reviews · from $100

Spend a full day among three Semporna islands. Hike about 40 minutes to Bohey Dulang’s lookout, snorkel Mantabuan’s coral gardens, and rest on Sibuan’s white sand. A Malay-English-speaking guide, shared boat, lunch, equipment, hiking permit, and Marine Park entry are included.

“Stay away! Although the organizers knew that it was impossible to visit one of the islands due to the tide, we were only warned during the excursion. Inedible packed lunch. Untrained staff driving the vehicle. Two moorings where in one it hit the coral reef, in the other an adjacent boat. Improvised. During the return trip the bench where we were sitting collapsed. The price is far higher than local organizations”

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Langkawi: Jet Ski Tour Island Hopping Dayang Bunting - Pregnant Maiden Lake and its unusual shape
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Langkawi: Jet Ski Tour Island Hopping Dayang Bunting

14.Jet Ski Tour Island Hopping Dayang Bunting

★★★★★★★★★★3.6 · 4 reviews · 4 hours

You’ll ride a jet ski with an English-speaking guide through Dayang Bunting’s island group, stopping at Pregnant Maiden Lake and Beras Basah Island. The four-hour route includes time for swimming, a forest walk, or kayaking. Equipment, wet shoes, life jackets, and Chenang-area pickup are included, but lunch and hotel drop-off are not.

“Het is leuk om te doen, langs alle eilanden te gaan met de jetski. De communicatie kan iets beter. Wij zouden om half 10 opgehaald worden, dat werd verlaat. Doordat de mensen uit onze groep te laat waren hebben we op het punt zelf ook nog een uur gewacht. De start was dus niet optimaal maar daarna was het leuk! Leuke foto’s ontvangen van ons op de jetski, mooie eilanden gezien, leuke dag! Om half 4 waren we terug, dus ze hebben de tijd ook goed gemaakt!”

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