Located in the East of Sabah (Malaysia), Semporna has a peaceful beauty with a population density of only about 135,000 people. Thanks to that, this beautiful town offers visitors a peaceful and quiet space, extremely ideal for those who want to enjoy a relaxing vacation to avoid the hot summer.
Although it does not have many diverse attractions, Semporna attracts tourists with its picturesque islands, the most famous of which are Sipadan, Mabul, Mataking and Kapalai... Each island has its own beauty with pristine beaches, clear blue water and colorful coral reefs. Visitors coming here can freely admire the natural beauty, enjoy the fresh air and participate in countless exciting sea activities, especially scuba diving to see coral.
Semporna attracts tourists with its picturesque islands.
Currently living and working in Kuala Lumpur, Mr. Van Minh accidentally learned about Semporna about a year ago through a friend in Malaysia: “As a beach lover, I was captivated by Semporna at first sight. The deserted islands, long white sand beaches, and even the beautiful emerald green water, all of these things attracted and pushed me to Semporna.”
His journey to Semporna was carefully planned over two weeks. From booking flights, hotels to island hopping, everything was carefully prepared to ensure a perfect trip. Living in Kuala Lumpur, he found it quite convenient to travel to Semporna. He chose to fly from Kuala Lumpur to Tawau, then took a Grab for about an hour to reach Semporna town.
Currently living and working in Kuala Lumpur, Mr. Van Minh accidentally learned about Semporna about a year ago through a friend in Malaysia.
To simplify your fun when coming to Semporna, Mr. Van Minh suggests three famous island discovery tours:
Three pristine islands in Tun Sakaran Marine Park: Bohey Dulang, Mantabuan and Sibuan
The first journey gave him the opportunity to explore three beautiful islands, Bohey Dulang, Mantabuan and Sibuan, located in the Tun Sakaran Marine Park. Each island has its own unique beauty, offering unforgettable experiences during the summer in Malaysia.
Upon arriving at Bohey Dulang, he challenged himself to climb to the top to see the breathtaking panoramic view of the surrounding area. Then, he immersed himself in the cool, clear water and participated in swimming, snorkeling, and exploring the colorful world under the ocean.
Immerse yourself in the cool, clear water
The excursion continued to Mantabuan - a paradise for scuba divers. Here, he had the opportunity to admire the rich marine biodiversity with countless colorful fish and pristine coral gardens.
Sibuan welcomed him with endless stretches of white sand and crystal clear waters that allowed him to see the bottom. He spent his time relaxing on the beach, soaking up the warm sunshine and trying his hand at scuba diving, exploring the mysteries hidden deep under the water.
Bask in the warm sunshine
“When choosing this tour, you will visit Bohey Dulang - the second largest island among the 8 islands in the Tun Sakaran Marine Park, which is strictly protected and managed by the Malaysian government. When arriving at Bohey Dulang, you will be guided by a tour guide to climb one of the highest mountains on the island and from here you can look down at the ocean in a comprehensive way, at that time, the whole miniature world seems to be in your eyes.
After visiting Bohey Dulang, the group will take you to the two islands of Matabuan and Sibuan, of which Sibuan is especially impressive to me. The two sides of the island are separated by a long stretch of white sand, which looks very beautiful and unique. The sea water of this island is so clear that you can see the bottom. Unfortunately, this island does not allow flycams, so I could not take many beautiful photos," said Mr. Van Minh.
The sea water is so clear you can see the bottom.
Diving paradise - explore Mataking, Pom Pom and Timba Timba corals
The next day, he chose to enjoy the snorkeling and coral viewing paradise of the three-island tour: Mataking, Pom Pom and Timba Timba. Mataking, consisting of “Kecil” (Small Island) and “Besar” (Big Island), is connected by a strip of fine white sand, offering a unique experience of walking on water. Just 45 minutes by boat from Semporna, Mataking appeared before his eyes as a paradise with long stretches of white sand and clear blue sea.
Continuing the trip, Timba Timba attracted him with its long, pristine white sand beaches, stretching under the blue sky, creating a breathtaking scene. This island gave him the opportunity to capture beautiful memories in every moment. Coming to Timba Timba, he was immersed in the pristine nature, enjoying the fresh air and the clear, refreshing sea water.
A paradise with long white sand beaches and emerald green waters.
The final destination of the tour is Pom Pom - a small island famous for its rich and biodiverse coral reefs located in the Celebes Sea. With a circumference of only 2.3 km at high tide, this island owns an impressive 4 km long fringing coral reef. Being part of the coral triangle and also home to more than 500 species of coral, Pom Pom is an ideal destination for Mr. Van Minh as well as tourists who love diving and exploring the nature under the ocean. Especially, during the nesting season (May and August), visitors have the opportunity to witness the wonderful scene when baby sea turtles emerge from their nests.
Ideal destination for tourists who love diving and exploring nature under the ocean.
Enjoy the pristine beauty of Mabul and Kapalai islands
"When we went, we had a lot of free time and didn't know which tour to choose or which to skip, so we decided to join all three," Van Minh humorously shared. On this tour, he had the opportunity to walk on the long stretch of white sand of Mabul Island to enjoy the fresh, refreshing air. This place brings a feeling of relaxation and peace after stressful, tiring working days in the bustling city.
When coming to Kapalai, he also did not miss the opportunity to participate in snorkeling and scuba diving activities. The crystal clear blue sea water here opened up before his eyes a colorful world with vibrant coral reefs and countless exotic marine creatures.
This place brings a feeling of relaxation and peace after stressful working days.
“The nature and marine ecosystem of Semporna are really beautiful and rich. There are fish and marine creatures that I saw for the first time in my life. The famous tourist destinations here are strictly protected by the Malaysian government and well planned, so they still retain their original beauty, giving visitors the feeling that this land has not been touristized,” said Mr. Van Minh.
Semporna's marine life and ecosystems are rich.
The place gives visitors a feeling that this land has not been touristized.
All the experience of 5 days 4 nights traveling to Semporna beach
"5 days and 4 nights in Semporna was like a dream for me, each day was a different interesting experience. If you ask me how I feel after the trip, it is a feeling of satisfaction mixed with a little regret. Regret here because I cannot stay in Semporna any longer. However, one thing I know for sure is that I will return to Semporna in the future!", Mr. Van Minh confided.
Based on his experience, Mr. Van Minh does not hesitate to share some tips to help you have the most economical and effective trip to Semporna.
First is the transportation issue. According to him, you should fly from Kuala Lumpur to Tawau early in the morning to have more time to enjoy Semporna. You should also take a late night flight on the way back to save travel time and avoid being rushed. When traveling from Tawau to Semporna, using Grab will be more economical if you go in a group of 4-6 people. When traveling in a group, you can also easily negotiate better hotel room rates and other services.
Next, it is the issue of food and accommodation. If you want to save on food costs, choose to stay at hotels in Semporna town. Here, you can easily find many delicious restaurants with affordable prices. If you want a unique and convenient experience, choose to stay at a hotel on the sea. However, the price here will be higher than the hotel in town.
In addition, the best beach season in Semporna is from March to October. This is the ideal time for you to participate in sea tourism activities such as diving, swimming, surfing...
Visitors should fly from Kuala Lumpur to Tawau early in the morning to have more time to enjoy Semporna.
Detailed itinerary for the Semporna sea tour, Malaysia:
