The 14 Best Island Hopping Tours in Malaysia

1.Island Hopping Shared Boat Tour

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

Join an English-speaking shared speedboat from Langkawi’s main hotel areas for a lively half-day loop through Dayang Bunting, Pulau Singa Besar, and Beras Basah. Expect fast crossings, steep steps, swimming stops, eagle and fish feeding, and a low-cost way to see the islands.

“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!”

Check availability →Read our full review

2.Island Hopping Tour

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

Spend roughly three and a half to four hours cruising Langkawi’s islands with an English-speaking boat crew. Watch sea eagles feed, swim at Lake of the Pregnant Maiden, spot wildlife on Singa Besar, and relax at Beras Basah. Hotel pickup, boat transport, and life jackets are included.

“The islands where stunning with breathtaking views and wildlife to spot. The "guide"/boat captain didn't give much information though, barely spoke to his guests and acted more as a driver than a guide. Nevertheless we had a great day”

Check availability →Read our full review

3.Island Hopping

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

Leave Kota Kinabalu at 8:30 a.m. for Sapi Island, where you can swim, snorkel, and eat lunch on the beach, then continue by speedboat to Manukan. Shared hotel transfers, a guide, air-conditioned transport, and snorkel gear are included, but fins and water sports cost extra.

“Nice islands, and very insightful guide, had lunch and much time at disposal on islands, thank you much”

Check availability →Read our full review

4.Snorkeling & Island Hopping Sapi & Manukan

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

Spend a full day in Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park, traveling by speedboat from Kota Kinabalu to Sapi and Manukan. You get hotel transfers, a guide, snorkeling gear, lunch, beaches, and time for swimming. 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”

Check availability →Read our full review

5.Fun Island Hopping by Jet Ski

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 25 reviews · 2 hours

You’ll ride with an English or Malay-speaking instructor from Mega Water Sports Beach Hut to Langkawi’s nearby islands. Expect eagle watching at Singa Besar, beach time at Beras Basah, and swimming near Intan Kecil. Guides including Hussein, One, and Amer have led recent departures.

“To był mój pierwszy raz na skuterze wodnym i jestem zachwycony , a do tego piękne widoki, plaże , wyspy , i kolor wody jakiej nie zobaczysz przy hotelu. Polecam z całego serca 😍”

Check availability →Read our full review

6.Langkawi Island Hopping Boat Tour with Return Transfer

★★★★★★★★★★3.5 · 13 reviews · from $25

You’ll ride a shared boat to Langkawi’s eagle-feeding waters, Dayang Bunting Island, and Beras Basah Island, with hotel or cruise-terminal transfers. The freshwater lake requires a walk on steep, uneven steps, and entry is paid separately. Bring water, sunscreen, and modest beachwear.

“It was a great experience. The driver of the boat was really friendly and we had a great time seeing the islands”

Check availability →Read our full review

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-hopping trip in Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park. You’ll visit two islands, snorkel in warm clear water, enjoy lunch, and have an English-speaking guide. Routes may include Manukan, Mamutik, or Sapi.

“Great day out on the water whilst in Kota Kinabalu. The water was so warm and the water sports were great fun. All with a tasty lunch. Our guide Roy was brilliant and helpful.”

Check availability →Read our full review

8.Island Hopping with Snorkeling & Meal

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

Spend a full day from Jesselton Point visiting Manukan and Sapi Islands. You get boat transfers, entrance fees, snorkel equipment without fins, and a simple buffet lunch. This is independent beach and snorkeling time, not a guided snorkeling tour.

“Es war total schlecht organisiert. Ich habe im Vorfeld Anweisungen bekommen, die ich genau befolgt habe, allerdings wurde man gefühlt immer hin und her geschickt, wobei keiner genaue Informationen hatte. Auf den Inseln war der Strand wirklich schön, aber dieser Eindruck wurde gleich von vielen Touristen zerstört, die sich teilweise wie die Axt im Walde benommen haben. Das hat man beispielsweise an den vielen toten Korallenriffen bemerkt. Einige haben sich einen Spaß daraus gemacht die kleinen Komodowarane zu jagen. Bei der Wartezeit am Strand war es super chaotisch, weil es viele verschiedene Anbieter gibt, die jeweils nur ihre Gäste mitnehmen, was zu langen Wartezeiten und überfüllten Stege...”

Check availability →Read our full review

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

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 9 reviews · from $90

Spend six hours island-hopping from Kota Kinabalu to Sapi and Manukan. Your shared boat carries up to 20 people, with snorkeling gear, a BBQ lunch, island fees, and city-hotel transfers included. Expect sandy beaches, clear water, a 15-minute boat ride, and a weather-dependent schedule.

“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”

Check availability →Read our full review

10.Langkawi Island Hopping Boat Tour

★★★★★★★★★★3.5 · 8 reviews · from $35

Take a shared or private boat from Langkawi to Dayang Bunting, the Pregnant Maiden Island, then see Pulau Singa Besar and relax at Beras Basah. Hotel transfers, an English-speaking driver, and life jackets are included. Bring swimwear, money for entry, and your own snorkeling gear.

“Basically a boat ride to 2 islands. The pick up was 1/2 hour late and then we still had to wait at the collection point. Left the dock just after 10:00 am and the boat ride was OK (you get wet but that’s ok) - to an island that has a PAID ENTRY FRead more”

Check availability →Read our full review

11.Island Hopping Shared or Private Boat Options

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

Spend four hours by boat visiting Pulau Beras Basah, Pulau Dayang Bunting, and Pulau Singa Besar. You can choose a shared or private boat, swim at the lake and beach, and watch eagles swoop for chicken pieces. Lunch and the Dayang Bunting entrance fee cost extra.

“It was cheap but honestly I wouldn’t necessarily say this tour is worth doing. The sights aren’t very impressive. The freshwater lake was okay but it gets very crowded and so difficult to actually enjoy yourself swimming in it. The tour mentions eagle feeding but we didn’t actually get to do this and only spent a few minutes there. Then the final beach was very dirty, nothing to do there and the water was not clean at all.”

Check availability →Read our full review

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 from Langkawi. Expect Pregnant Maiden Lake, Beras Basah Island, private beach stops, eagle feeding, limestone scenery, swimming, hotel transfers, and a complimentary drone video.

“De tour was fantastisch, het hoogtepunt van onze vakantie! De communicatie vooraf had beter gemogen. En zij gaven aan dat de drone video niet in ons pakket zat..”

Check availability →Read our full review

13.Island Hopping Semporna Adventure

★★★★★★★★★★3.2 · 5 reviews · from $100

Spend one day island hopping from Semporna to Bohey Dulang, Mantabuan, and Sibuan. You will hike to a lagoon viewpoint, snorkel over coral gardens, and rest on a white-sand beach. A shared Malay-English guide, boat, lunch, safety jacket, permits, and snorkeling gear 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”

Check availability →Read our full review

14.Jet Ski Tour Island Hopping Dayang Bunting

★★★★★★★★★★3.6 · 4 reviews · 4 hours

Take control of a jet ski with an English-speaking instructor and cruise around Dayang Bunting’s eight islands. Stop at Pregnant Maiden Lake, swim in Malaysia’s largest freshwater lake, then visit Beras Basah Island. Kayaking and a short forest walk add variety, while small groups keep the outing manageable.

“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!”

Check availability →Read our full review