Sunday, 20 March 2022

5D4N Semporna Travel Guide









Executive Summary

(5D4N Semporna, Sabah for RM2100 All Inclusive)




Refer to below links for more Semporna trip blogs:

1. Executive Summary: This Blog
2. Day 1 (Semporna): Day 1 (Semporna) Blog
3. Day 2 (Timba Timba, Mataking, Pom Pom Island):  Day 2 (Timba Timba, Mataking, Pom Pom Island)
4. Day 3-5 (Kapalai): Day 3-5 (Kapalai) Blog

 
Missing sea, sun, sand? Love to visit Maldives but too costly? Some heaven in paradise in Malaysia? Well, Semporna is calling 💓! It is located in Sabah and the nearest airport is Tawau airport. It is a bit of traveling in order to reach here (3 transportation modes: flight-shuttle van-boat) but it is super worth it, you will know once you see the view 👍! We have bought drone prior to the trip and I am absolutely in love with the beautiful videos and photos taken with DJI drone, stay tuned for more by following me 😊!

I am just back from recent trip to Semporna, Sabah as part of the Valentine's trip celebration with my hubby 😎. It was a fun and memorable trip. Semporna is very beautiful, especially in love with the stay in Sipadan Kapalai Dive Resort, which is an overwater villa, much like Maldives concept 😍! We were on a 5D4N trip, traveled from 13 February to 17 February 2022. Please refer below for more summary and details of the trip, there will be more blogs on the daily activities and tons of beautiful photos to share with you guys, make sure to keep an eye on the page, follow my Facebook community to get the most recent updates 😃!


Top 4 Reasons to Visit Semporna NOW!


①Explore this beautiful paradise on earth when it has done recuperating for 2 years during Covid pandemic
👉 the water is cleaner, clearer & marine life is at the best state NOW!

②The private island resort which is well know for being the most expensive overwater resort in Semporna is having a discounted price for Malaysians NOW! 
👉 Those who eye for "Maldivian" kind of hotel stay, but would like a more affordable option, come visit Semporna, as they offer many overwater resorts in respective islands. 
👉 The 2 most expensive and famous overwater resort are located in Kapalai Island (private island only for customers who stay in the resort) and Mabul Island (day trippers can visit by paying a small entrance fee hence privacy is lessened).
👉The room rate was the best on 2021, they have increased the room rate for year 2022, but still lower than usual one, so grab fast before sold out! 
👉 Overwater resort usually sold out very quickly, need to book at least 6 months before your trip. Since Sabah is not opened for international traveler yet, I am able to book the room 6 weeks before traveling date, yeah ✌!

③ Enhanced safety implemented by the government to safeguard the tourists, 
👉 Don't worry on the pirates issue, there are a troop of armies located in and out of Semporna, whether it is in town or private island
👉 There are no incident of tourists being kidnapped by pirates anymore ever since the last incident

④ No monsoon season means accessible all year round with perfect weather suitable for sea activities such as swimming, snorkeling, diving and etcetera.
👉 Unlike other islands in Malaysia which are having monsoon season like Redang island and etcetera, Semporna island is the perfect destination to visit at any month of the year!


SUMMARY

We have enrolled a local agent for our 5D4N trip. The agent is doing a good job ensuring our safety and make sure we are comfortable throughout the trip. He is an experienced local who lives in Semporna and happy to share with you on the things in Semporna that we are not aware of (i.e. locals staying there is are not buying house, they only buy land or sea! You see me write, they purchase sea in term of acre from government and build overwater stay, how cool is that 😱! *growing my knowledge is indeed a beauty of traveling*). Even the driver who works with him is a friendly guy too. Thanks for the attentive care from the team, I would genuinely recommend to you guys. As you guys are wondering some of the tour operators are offering half of the price for day tour, but the safety might be an issue, some even don't offer you life jacket etcetera. The team here will take care you nicely. Please find his contact as below if you are interested to join his package in Semporna, Sabah.

Contact Person: Tsen Ken (Dive Monster Tour & Travel)
Phone Number (Whatapps): 016-5886063

Some of the day trips and hotel stays have been included in the package, some of the items are excluded from the package and we need to pay for ourselves. I have written down as self-paid OR included in package as the remarks in each item below. 

1. Transportation 🛪🚗⛴

FLIGHT: （self-paid)

Airline Company: AirAsia
Flight Route: Kuala Lumpur - Tawau
RETURN Flight Price (2 pax): RM646  (not buy during promotion so price is higher)

SHUTTLE VAN: (included in package)

To and fro Tawau airport - city

BOAT/SPEEDBOAT: (included in package)

For day trips travel to outside islands


2. Accommodation 🏡

Day 1 & Day 2: （self-paid)

Accommodation Name: 仙本那爱丽家民宿 Elly's home
Booking Method: Booking.com (Link here)
Stay Date: 13 Feb 2022 - 14 Feb 2022
Price: RM150 for 2 nights (2 pax occupancy)

Notes: You can follow agent's package to stay at Neo Paly Hotel too, which is located at a much strategic location, nearby seafood restaurants and jetty for day trips.

Day 3 & Day 4: (included in package)

Accommodation Name: Sipadan Kapalai Dive Resort
Booking Method: n/a (booked by agent)
Stay Date: 15 Feb 2022 - 17 Feb 2022
Price: n/a (agent charged the whole 5D4N package, scroll down and refer below itinerary and cost breakdown for more)

Notes: You can book via agent or official website online. The price differs for diver (more expensive) and non diver (cheaper) rate. Price varies from RM1600  - RM2000 (1 pax occupancy). Kapalai resort charges go by per head. So the estimated total cost for our 2 pax occupancy, the room rate for 2 nights come at RM3200 - RM4000 💰💰💰.

Notes: For those interested to secure limited daily headcounts to Sipadan island for diving acitivity, it is said that once you book this resort for your staycation, your headcount to Sipadan Island is almost guaranteed 😎! And what's more, it is only a short speedboat ride which makes it easy and convenient.



 3. Area of Interest / Islands

 Below lists are some of the famous islands that are frequently patronized by travelers, to serve as a quick summary of the different islands in Semporna. As there are many big and small islands off the Tawau city, and 1st timer to Semporna might be lost. So this can serve as a preparation guide for you 😄. 

**Below guides Credit to Google, My Perfect Travel Tours company, mysabah.com**


① Where is Semporna?
👉 Sit flight and reach Tawau airport
👉 Sit car/shuttle van/grab to reach Semporna city
👉 Semporna is a little town located in the south-eastern coast of Sabah in Malaysia, capital of  Semporna district in the Tawau. Semporna in Malay language means "perfect"
👉 Boasts a lot of seafoods and beautiful collections of islands. Well known for one of the best diving sites with different kinds of marine life and coral species in the world
Semporna location
Photo credit to: My Perfect Travel & Tours

Map of Semporna islands
Some of the famous islands in Semporna, scroll below for more details on each island
Photo credit to: MySabah.com

It is hard to find some good guidance online as there are many islands and it may be confusing for some of the 1st timers who would like to visit Semporna.
Thus, I have drawn and wrote down the summary guidance for the famous islands
which are frequently patronized by tourists who visit Semporna
Map Photo credit to whoadvetures.com
去沙巴仙本那前都找不到很多好的笔记，大大小小的岛屿看了会乱。
于是，我爬了资料，做了一些笔记，画圈和写下了重要的几个观光岛屿给你们，
游客通常都是参观这几个岛屿哦。


② Tun Sakaran Marine Park (Semporna Islands Park)
👉 Largest Marina Park in Sabah, size of 350 square KM. Has the largest concentration of coral reefs in Malaysia
👉 Comprises of 8 islands (ie. Bohey Dulang, Mantabuan, Sibuan, Bodgaya, Sebangkat, Selakan, Maiga, Church Reef and Kapikan Reef)
👉 One of the famous island hopping day tour is visiting Bohey Dulang, Mantabuan and Sibuan islands
👉 Bohey Dulang island is perfect for hiking. The bird eye panoromic view at the peak of mountain is beautiful, can see different water color shades of lagoon
👉 Snorkeling and diving in the marine park can give you some sights of eagle rays, turtles, barracuda, bumphead parrotfish, nudibranchs, corals etcetera

Tun Sakaran Marine Park
Viewing from Semporna town, Tun Sakaran Marine Park looks like a "Sleeping Old Man"
Credit to MySabah.com
从仙本那小镇看到这个敦沙卡兰海洋公园，像极了“ 睡着的老人”

Photo credit to: My Perfect Travel & Tours
Photo credit to: My Perfect Travel & Tours

③ Mataking, Timba Timba, Pom Pom Island
👉 One of the famous island hopping day tour is visiting 3 islands as mentioned above
👉 Mataking is a 2-in-1 islands, consists of Mataking Kecil and Mataking Besar. In between these 2 islands, there is a 20 acres of land. During low tide, you can walk to each other when a long stretchy sandy beach that connects the two islands appear. There is an "Underwater Post Office" for divers only to post a letter, giving them the first of its kind of experience in Malaysia
👉 Timba Timba is well known for it's long white sandy bar. We have some of the best drone shots here during our day trips to these 3 islands. Scroll down to see the videos in my Youtube channel!
👉 Pom Pom island is a small coral reef island
👉 Snorkeling can give you many species of marine life, coral reef, sea stars, sea urchin and etecetera. We even snorkel with turtles together!

Photo credit to: My Perfect Travel & Tours
Photo credit to: My Perfect Travel & Tours
Experience glass boat with good photoshooting opportunity!
Photo credit to: My Perfect Travel & Tours


Youtube video on the beautiful aerial view of
Timba Timba island
Shot with Sony camera & DJI drone



④ Mabul Island
👉 Two beautiful floating dive resort named as Mabul Water Bungalow (more expensive) & Sipadan Water Village (cheaper). Both are Instagrammable and famous among travelers
👉 Near to Sipadan Island for best diving experience
👉 Need a small entrance fee to enter and visit for day trippers who do not stay in the resort, check with respective agent on the cost

Photo credit to: My Perfect Travel & Tours 

Photo credit to: asiadivingvacation

⑤ Kapalai Island (Note: We are staying in this overwater bungalow)
👉 Well known as the most expensive resort in Semporna, the beautiful floating dive resort named as Sipadan Kapalai Dive Resort. It is heaven in paradise, the resort is Instagrammable and famous among travelers. Usually get sold out 6 months ago if open for international travelers
👉 Absolute private island for the guests only. Day trippers are not able to visit in order to provide utmost privacy for guests who stay in the resort
👉 Expanding and building more overwater bungalow over the year to satisfy the demands. Currently they are 90 bungalows for stay in the resort itself, as of February 2022
👉 One of a kind "Maldivian" experience, except the unique thing is there is no real island in Kapalai here like Maldives. During low tide (day time), a small sandy "beach" appears. During high tide (evening/night time), the sandy "beach" disappears and the whole resorts are typically floating on the ocean 😱😎!
👉 Different rooms have different sunrise/sunset view due to the position of the bungalows
👉 Near to Sipadan Island for best diving experience, almost guaranteed headcount for entering Sipadan Island if you are the guests here!

Photo credit to: My Perfect Travel & Tours

Photo Credit to: amazing borneo

Youtube video on our beautiful stay in Sipadan Kapalai Dive Resort (Episode 1) - Traditional Room type revealed!
Shot with Sony camera & DJI drone


⑥ Sipadan Island
👉 Rated as one of the world's top dive sites, divers' paradise
👉 Some of the nice dive spots such as Barracuda Point, Turtle Cave, West Ridge, Hanging Gardens, Lobster Lair, Staghorn Crest, South Point, Coral Gardens, White Tip Avenue, Mid-reef or the Turtle Patch.
👉 Marine life such as sharks, turtles, schools of jackfish, barracudas, eels, morays, scalloped hammerhead sharks, lionfish, bumphead parrotfish,- longfin batfish, octopus and etcetera
👉 It is no longer possible to stay on Sipadan Island. Please arrange accomodation at one of the dive resorts nearby, such as Kapalai, Mabul, Mataking, Pom Pom, then day trip to Sipadan Island arranged by the diver operators.

 
Photo Credit to: WSJ the wall street journal



4. Itinerary & Cost 💰


5D4N

Day 1
😍Check in hotel at noon
😍Free & easy in Semporna town (seafood restaurant for both lunch and dinner all at own cost)
*exclude lunch and dinner*

Day 2
8.30am Gather at jetty for day trip to Timba Timba, Mataking, Pom Pom Island (include lunch)
4.30pm Back to Semporna town
😍Free & easy in Semporna town (western restaurant for dinner & spa center at night all at own cost)
*exclude breakfast and dinner*

Day 3
9.30am Gather at Kapalai jetty and do registration
10.30am Reach Sipadan Kepalai Dive Resort
😍Free & easy in Sipadan Kepalai Dive Resort
*All in one resort which include lunch, teatime and dinner for today*

Day 4
😍Free & easy in Sipadan Kepalai Dive Resort
*All in one resort which include breakfast, lunch, teatime and dinner for today*

Day 5
😍Free & easy in Sipadan Kepalai Dive Resort
*All in one resort which include breakfast and/or lunch for today, depending on your checkout time*

For us, our trip comes at RM2100 all together per pax. The price may differ according to diver/non diver rate, foods (opt for seafood on every meal or more budget option), accommodation (overwater bungalow price is definitely higher, choose Semporna town hotel for budget option), extra activities (spa, massage and etcetera), and transportation (grab car, flight cost). Please approach the agent if you are interested in the latest package price, they offer 4D3N package too. Frankly, 5D4N is a bit rush for us too, we hope to stay more days in Sipadan Kapalai Dive Resort, 2 nights are a bit too short 😔. Due to the expensive nightly cost of overwater bungalow, we initially plan to book 1 night, but after much consideration, we upgraded to 2 nights and never regret the decision 😃!




 Details for the above island day trips and beautiful Sipadan Kapalai Dive Resort are blogged in each link mentioned at the top or below of the page! Click in to get more tips and photos! Enjoy the holidays and Thanks for the support 💜



Refer to below links for more Semporna trip blogs:

1. Executive Summary: This Blog
2. Day 1 (Semporna): Day 1 (Semporna) Blog
3. Day 2 (Timba Timba, Mataking, Pom Pom Island):  Day 2 (Timba Timba, Mataking, Pom Pom Island)
4. Day 3-5 (Kapalai): Day 3-5 (Kapalai) Blog

  
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💗 Author: Ng Mei Lian/ Adrian Yeoh Aun Hong
👉 Date: 13/2/2022 ~ 17/2/2022

 

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