How to go to Semporna in Malaysia, Sabah? The Maldives of Malaysia
Have you heard of Semporna, Sabah’s well-kept hidden gem by the locals? Even the Malaysians may not have been to Semporna before. Semporna is known for its incredible diving spots, crystal-clear turquoise waters and tropical islands.
Planning a trip to the most beautiful beaches in Malaysia is definitely not easy to reach but it is definitely worth all your effort! Are you wondering about how to go to Semporna so you can strike off Semporna on your bucket list too? Read on!
How to go to Semporna from Singapore?
To travel to Semporna from Singapore, you can either choose to fly from Singapore to Kuala Lumpur airport or Singapore to Kota Kinabalu airport.
We chose to fly from Singapore to Kota Kinabalu. Since we haven’t traveled to Kota Kinabalu before so we decided to travel around Kota Kinabalu too. We stayed at Kota Kinabalu for a night before taking another domestic flight from Kota Kinabalu to Tawau airport the next morning.
How to decide to fly to Kota Kinabalu or Kuala lumpur?
How to decide whether you should fly to Tawau airport from Kota Kinabalu or Kuala Lumpur? The flight duration from Kota Kinabalu to Tawau airport takes only about 55 minutes. While the flight duration from Kuala Lumpur to Tawau airport is approximately 3hrs.
Discovering both Semporna and Kota Kinabalu is one of the best ways to discover Sabah in Malaysia.
✦Travelereve pro tip: When deciding which airport to fly to, you can consider the flight duration
Important things to consider when you are planning your Semporna Sabah trip
Planning a trip to Semporna can be tricky because of the various transportation timing to consider before booking the flight.
The transportation that you need to consider are two flight timings, a land transfer and a boat transfer before reaching Mataking island resort. If you do not plan to spend a night at a hotel near Semporna Jetty, it’s highly advisable to check your domestic flight with Mataking island resort’s staff before booking your flight. This is to avoid missing the last boat to Mataking island resort.
The easier option is to stay a night near Semporna jetty. There are various accommodations near Semporna jetty and on the next morning you can take the first boat to Mataking island resort.
How to go to Semporna: Tawau Airport to Semporna
Flying from Kota Kinabalu airport to Tawau airport, you can book a flight on Airasia or Malaysia Airlines.
After reaching Tawau airport, you have to take a land transfer from Tawau airport to Semporna for 70 mins before reaching Semporna jetty. At Semporna jetty, hop onto the boat and you will reach Mataking island resort in another 60 minutes.
We speed across the ocean as we cruise to Mataking reef dive resort. The seawater turns turquoise as we get closer to our destination. It was amazingly good!
Best time to visit Semporna
The best time to visit Semporna is from January to March. November is the most humid month in Semporna. Rainy season is from June to December, but there is no monsoon season. Nevertheless, I have also heard that anytime throughout the year is also a good time to visit Semporna too.
During my Semporna trip last year, we traveled there in November. Thankfully, we were blessed with good weather so it makes our trip worthwhile even though it’s really sunny and humid. sure to bring along a stylish sunglass to beat the sun!
Where to stay in Semporna?
At Semporna island, there are various famous water resorts for you to choose for your Semporna trip! Each of the water resorts have their own highlights so you are definitely spoilt for choices. We have booked a 3D2N stay at Mataking island because we were allured by its exclusive private sandbar that can only be found in Mataking island resort.
✦Travelereve pro tip: Research the highlights of each water resort before choosing your preferred Semporna accommodation
What are the things to do in Semporna?
There are plenty of things to do in Semporna island from unwinding yourself on a private island to hiking trips at Bohey Dulang for the most breathtaking coral reef fringe view from the peak and much more activities. Semporna island is also a diving paradise for scuba diving enthusiasts. Sipadan island offers several diving sites where you can experience an extraordinary diving experience while swimming with massive swirling schools of marine life.
To arrange a diving trip to Sipadan island, you must get a Sipadan diving permit. Due to the tight competition, there is a possibility that you won’t be able to apply for a Sipdan permit. Other options are available, you can still arrange for three island hopping scuba diving trips to Timba-Timba, Mataking and Pom Pom island to chance upon the sea turtle.
Is Semporna Safe to travel?
Semporna is relatively safe to travel despite there were past kidnapping cases along the east coast of Sabah. Since then, the Eastern Sabah Security Command has been patrolling along the coastline and fewer cases have happened.
Over at Mataking island, it is strictly no night activity to ensure the safety of the guest and the resort also claimed that they have armed guard patrolling on the private island.
If you are planning for a beach vacation soon, Semporna island in Sabah should definitely be your choice. Spend a tranquil time discovering the beauty of east coast Sabah.
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Travelereve to inspire those “Smart Budget-conscious” or “Seeking-A-Occasional-Luxurious” millennials a unique, comfortable and once-in-a-lifetime travel experiences! Come on an adventure with me~
