Sutera Sanctuary Lodges at Manukan Island

Sutera Sanctuary Lodges, also known as Manukan Island Resort, is a luxurious 5-star retreat located on the stunning Manukan Island—just a 20-minute boat ride from Sutera Harbour in mainland Kota Kinabalu. The island’s natural beauty is truly captivating, with its powdery white sands, turquoise waters, and occasional sightings of sea urchins and corals. Guests can enjoy complimentary snorkeling, offering a chance to spot vibrant fish and coral reefs up close. The island also welcomes day-trippers, making it a popular stop for island-hopping adventures or relaxing day outings. The resort features spacious rooms equipped with a range of modern amenities. One of the highlights is the scenic 1.6-kilometer paved trail leading to Sunset Point—a perfect spot to unwind on the rocks and soak in panoramic views of the vast sea framed by neighboring islands.

Great place. More focus on removal is rubbish needed. Lovely staff but very poor for selection and untrained bar staff lacking cocktail ingredients and choices let it down. Very small beer sizes offered for premium price. The bar needs major improvement. Many drinks were served to warm and lacked sophistication. However great rooms and cleanliness. Just wish island had better bar and food choices. I picked up about 10 bags of rubbish out of the water on my stay. The life guards just sit on there phones all day when they should be more proactive. I feel management needs better training for staff and a more hands on approach to set this place apart. The roti was re heated frozen packet, the food was average but tasty. Great place to chill out for a couple of days.

One of the Best Hotel Experiences of My Life! Sutera Sanctuary @ Manukan Island is hands down one of the best hotels I’ve ever stayed at. I honestly don’t understand the relatively low 8.2 score on Booking.com—it deserves much more. Let me explain why: From the moment we arrived at the dock in Kota Kinabalu, everything was perfectly organized. The transition to the island and check-in process were seamless—complete with a welcome drink, a short informative briefing, and baggage handling taken care of smoothly. There are so many amazing features that aren’t even listed online: a gym, a sunset hike, running trail, free snorkeling gear, sports facilities (soccer, volleyball, badminton), fruit snacks in the afternoon, and even mosquito fogging twice a day. Every single staff member was incredibly friendly and genuinely helpful. Safety was clearly a priority too, with a lifeguard at the private beach and a guide for the sunset hike. We also booked some of the special dining experiences, and they were unforgettable. The barefoot breakfast right on the beach, a table-side barbecue with fresh and flavorful dishes, and a private candlelit cabana dinner on the beach that was straight-up proposal-worthy. The food overall was excellent—far better than some reviews suggest. Hygiene was also top-notch, with daily housekeeping twice a day and a very clean pool. We stayed in a hillside villa, which was over 80m² and had everything we could want: ocean views from multiple rooms, a fridge, two air conditioners, coffee, and more. I’d highly recommend this accommodation. Yes, there are day visitors to the island, but there are plenty of “hotel guests only” areas, including the serene pool and the most beautiful part of the beach.