Mantanani Island Snorkeling or Diving Optional Mangrove River Cruise

Five-star experience! Five-star trip! A perfect journey! Our tour guide, Sue, contacted us via WhatsApp the night before and was incredibly patient in answering all our questions. She also helped us take photos throughout the trip without any hesitation. Some of our group members had very high expectations for photography, and Sue was surprisingly patient in helping them get their shots. It's worth noting that our group was a combination of several smaller groups, but all the guides knew each other, so they were great at creating a lively atmosphere. One guide constantly played music through a loudspeaker, which really boosted the mood, and they even matched the theme – for example, playing Jay Chou's "Rice Field" when we were watching fireflies! Truly professional! Be aware that the local mosquitoes are very aggressive and aren't deterred by mosquito repellent, so that's something to keep in mind. The sunset there is stunning! We had plenty of time for free activities and taking photos. My first snorkeling experience was also amazing. The only downside was that some people in our group might have been afraid of water, so we had to accommodate them and couldn't visit more spots. We ended up staying at one spot for about an hour. You can rent a locker on the island for HKD $60, but you honestly don't need to; no one is going to steal your belongings on a deserted island... Watching the fireflies is an absolutely unforgettable experience! Photos can't capture the awe-inspiring sight; you'll understand once you go! P.S. The meeting time that day was 7 AM! So it was a very early start, but totally worth it.

Baoqing was truly our guide of the day. Although I’m a local and have joined multiple tour agencies to Mantanani Island and the Kawa-Kawa River, Baoqing stood out as an exceptional tour guide who showed me how much difference a good guide can make to a trip. He provided clear and detailed information from the beginning until the end, including estimated travel times to each destination, which is especially important for foreign tourists. What impressed me most was his attentiveness during the snorkelling session, where he took the initiative to ask who could and could not swim—something none of the other tour agencies I’ve experienced ever considered. The tour assistants were friendly, patient, and very considerate despite doing this work repeatedly, and their professionalism truly enhanced the overall experience. For firefly-watching tours, feel free to reach out—I’d be happy to help upgrade and enhance the tourist experience, as I studied firefly tourism during my master’s degree.

The one-day tour was exceptionally well-organized, it felt like not a single minute was wasted... Mantanani Island's white sand and turquoise sea are truly beautiful. The crew members fed a lot of bread at the snorkeling spot, attracting many beautiful fish, making me feel surrounded by schools of fish. In the evening, the mangrove night tour allowed us to see many fireflies. The crew members used lights to attract the fireflies, as if we were in a fairy tale world. We even saw a tree covered in fireflies, resembling a Christmas tree with lights, corresponding to the twinkling stars in the sky, washing away the fatigue of busy city life for every tourist. The only regret was not seeing proboscis monkeys during the afternoon mangrove cruise, but travel is all about having some regrets, so we have the motivation for our next trip! Secondly, I must emphasize how enthusiastic, gentle, polite, and experienced the tour guide Nelson was. He took great care of us throughout the entire trip, arranging for us to sit in the best spots on the boat for optimal viewing and travel experience. He helped us watch our belongings so we could take photos with peace of mind. A big thumbs up for Nelson! 👍

an exceptional tour! good value for its price. we went to mantanani island, explored the wildlife of saba in the river cruise, and saw the firelies after sunset. it was a whole day tour, quite tiring, but it was worth it!

The facilities on the island are cleaner than the ones I have been to before, the check-in spots are good, and there are free water sports equipment to borrow. I went to two spots for snorkeling. The water is deeper and the coral reefs are far away. You can feed bread to attract fish. The tour guide Johnny took the place of me who did not try diving and dived to the bottom to take close-up photos of the beautiful coral reefs and fish. After lunch and free activities on the island, we went to cruise the river to look for rare proboscis monkeys. There was only a 30% chance of seeing them. We were lucky to meet two groups of proboscis monkeys, and they were very close. For dinner, I came to a very wide and deserted beach to watch the sunset, which is more comfortable than Tanjung Aru Beach in the city center. The fireflies we watched after dinner are truly unforgettable. The camera cannot capture the shock and beauty of that moment, and the fireflies will still fly to our hands. A very fulfilling day, highly recommended.

When I went to Mermaid Island, there were not many tourists. You can see many colorful corals and fish at the first snorkeling point. The second snorkeling point is not as good as the first one. The lunch provided on the island is not bad, free time for activities You can use the boat placed next to it. The tour guide I followed this time is Victor. From the previous comments, it seems that he will always wear the No. 79 red jersey, and he will accompany you into the water when you are at the snorkeling spot. If you can’t swim, you can follow him. Said that he will pay attention to the situation at any time, he is a very warm uncle, and the whole trip is not very leisurely, it is a very suitable trip for relaxation (the dim sum and curry puff pastry in the afternoon are super delicious!!! Rose water is also delicious )

Our guide, Addison, was very kind. I was the only Korean in the group, which included a Japanese family and some Chinese people. The guide thoughtfully provided separate Korean guidance via WhatsApp, which helped me a lot during the tour. He also proactively took photos for me and even played Korean pop songs, which made me feel very included and not left out despite being the only Korean. The boat staff were also fluent in English. They joked around with me and proactively asked if I needed anything, making the whole experience very enjoyable! I asked if the guide and staff also did other tours, but unfortunately, they only do the Mantanani Island tour. I would love to come back again. Safety: Life jackets and equipment are provided, and staff are always present during activities and snorkeling. Experience: They take great photos (some are paid) and offer various marine sports. Location: A bit far from downtown Kota Kinabalu.

our day trip started at 7am from hotel lobby on 16March. our guide is Yung. friendly and responsible young man. love the activities.. snorkeling area was not good because water not clear not many fishes to see. we did managed to see jelly fish. island waters very pretty. sand soft. too bad weather v hot... kawa kawa cruise was great. we are lucky saw proboscis monkeys. after dinner we visited beach to view gorgeous sunset..and back to kawa kawa cruise for fire flies.. so pretty.. all good. reach hotel at 10pm plus.. what a long day..

Awesome, awesome! ! The tour guide Wenzi is humorous, handsome and considerate! The experience is very good, and you must go to see the fireflies! The visual shock, the stars in the sky plus the fireflies on the river and the trees are super beautiful, like the lights of a Christmas tree🎄, the snorkeling🤿 coaches take you to find Nemo, take pictures and videos for you, leaving you with beautiful memories, and the sunset is also beautiful. In short, I am very satisfied with this trip! It is recommended to find Brother Wenzi😆

It's far from Kota Kinabalu, but it's worth it. It has a superior marine environment than Dinawan/Mungalum. I think it is more beautiful because it is a place that is difficult for people to reach. I highly recommend it to anyone thinking of coming to visit.