The unusual feature here is not just island hopping, but spending much of the day at a floating club house off Gaya Island. You can swim, snorkel, try the sea slide, or settle in with the ocean views and music before a shorter stop at Sapi Island.
I like that several easy-to-enjoy activities, including snorkeling, kayaking, paddle boarding and the slide, are part of the day, and I like the buffet lunch served at sea. Those details make this a practical choice if your group wants a mix of play and downtime without arranging separate island transfers.
The main consideration is that Sapi Island gets only a short visit, while the floating club house can feel crowded when several tour groups arrive together. If your priority is a quiet beach day or long stretches on shore, this may not be the best fit.
- The quick take
- Why the floating club house changes the day
- A morning departure from DBKK Jetty
- At the club house: swim, slide or take it easy
- Buffet lunch with a sea view
- Sapi Island: a quick change of scene
- What the price gets you
- Who should book this trip?
- Should you book it?
- FAQ
- Where does the tour depart from?
- What time does the tour return?
- Is hotel pickup included?
- Which activities are included?
- Are snorkeling equipment and life jackets provided?
- Is lunch included?
- How long is the stop at Sapi Island?
- Can infants and children join the tour?
- Is the tour accessible by wheelchair or stroller?
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The quick take
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9 / 9- The floating club house is the main event: Plan to spend most of your time there, with sea views, music, places to relax and water activities.
- Several activities are included: Snorkeling equipment, a life jacket, kayaking, paddle boarding and the sea slide are included in the described experience.
- Lunch is served on the water: Expect a simple buffet, not a long restaurant meal or a reason to book on its own.
- Sapi Island is a brief stop: The schedule allows about an hour there, including free time and photos.
- Come ready to be on the water: There is no hotel pickup, and the tour is not wheelchair- or stroller-accessible.
👉 See our pick of the 3 Best Guided Tours In Kota Kinabalu
Why the floating club house changes the day
Many island excursions spend the day moving between beaches. This one gives you a central base at the Floating Club House @ Gaya Island, where you can leave your belongings, take a break and choose how active you want to be. That can be welcome if your group includes swimmers and non-swimmers, or children who want to move between activities.
The club house is also a good place to pause between swims. You can take in the sea views, listen to music and enjoy the breeze without having to spend every minute in the water. If you want a day that feels more like a floating beach club than a beach-hopping expedition, this setup is the draw.
There is a trade-off. The schedule puts a lot of the day at one offshore location, so you should not expect a long, unhurried stretch on Sapi Island. And when several groups share the club house, its social, lively feel may come with crowding.
You can also read our reviews of more tours and experiences in Kota Kinabalu.
A morning departure from DBKK Jetty
The meeting point is DBKK Jetty in Kota Kinabalu. The listed departure time is 9:00 a.m., and you are asked to arrive 10 minutes early. There is no hotel pickup or drop-off, so you need to make your own way to the jetty and allow enough time to get there.
The schedule lists a safety briefing and departure at 9:30, followed by arrival at the floating club house at about 9:40. Since those times can shift with traffic and weather, treat them as a guide rather than a promise of exact minutes. Be ready at the meeting point on time: late arrivals and no-shows are not refundable.
An English- or Chinese-speaking guide is included. Guide assignments can vary; names on previous departures have included Little Bear and Wilson. The crew’s role matters on a day with several water activities, especially if you have children or are new to snorkeling. A safety briefing comes before the boat trip.
At the club house: swim, slide or take it easy
The first major stop is the Floating Club House @ Gaya Island. Here, the choice is yours: use the sea slide, kayak, paddle board or snorkel, or take a slower approach and relax by the water. Snorkeling masks and life jackets are included, and the described package includes the slide, kayaking and paddle boarding.
The flexibility is valuable because not everyone wants the same kind of holiday. Confident swimmers can spend more time in the water, while anyone who would rather stay dry can enjoy the views and music. One family-friendly detail is that children can play in the water while adults keep the day at a more relaxed pace, though parents should still pay close attention to their own children.
Optional water sports are available at extra cost. The tour information does not specify which activities or their prices, so ask before booking if you have a particular sport in mind. If you are content with swimming, snorkeling, kayaking, paddle boarding and the slide, the included options already give you several ways to fill the morning.
The club house can get busy when multiple tour groups are there at once. One account described a crowd of Chinese tour groups, so expect a shared setting rather than a private platform. That does not make the day a poor choice, but it does matter if you value quiet or want a lot of space around you.
Buffet lunch with a sea view
Lunch is scheduled for noon, with more water activities listed for 1:00 p.m. The meal is a buffet served at the club house, a useful break that saves you from having to arrange lunch between boat transfers. The food has been described as simple, so think of it as convenient fuel for the afternoon rather than a culinary highlight.
I like the practical value of having lunch included. On an activity-heavy day, a meal on site means you can eat, rest and get back to the water without losing time to another stop. The sea breeze and island backdrop make the setting part of the appeal.
If you have dietary requirements, the supplied information does not say what the buffet includes or whether special meals can be arranged. Check with the operator before booking rather than assuming there will be suitable choices.
Sapi Island: a quick change of scene
At about 2:00 p.m., the tour heads to Sapi Island for free time and photos. The schedule gives this stop until roughly 3:10 p.m., when the return trip begins. That is enough for a short look around and some time by the water, but it is not a full afternoon on the island.
The change of scene is still worthwhile. After spending much of the day at the floating club house, Sapi gives you a chance to step onto an island and enjoy a different view of the coast. One departure’s sequence involved dropping belongings at the club house, taking a speedboat to Sapi for about 30 minutes of wading and photos, then returning to the club house for activities. The exact order can vary, so do not count on one fixed sequence.
If Sapi is your main reason for booking, consider a tour built around more time on that island. This trip’s strongest feature is the club house and its water activities, with Sapi serving as a short add-on.
What the price gets you
The tour is listed from US$63.40, while a Speed Boat Join-in Tour package is also shown from US$55.15. These are different starting prices in the supplied package information, so compare the exact option and date before paying. Do not assume that every package has the same inclusions or price.
For the listed experience, the value comes from combining boat transport, a guide, lunch, snorkeling mask, life jacket and several water activities in one outing. You are also paying for a convenient base at sea, which makes it easier to switch between active time and rest. If you would otherwise book separate transfers and activities, that all-in-one format may be useful.
The value is less clear if you want mostly beach time or a quiet, uncrowded setting. You may spend much of the day at the club house, and the buffet is simple. Treat the price as payment for a lively, activity-focused day rather than a secluded island escape.
Who should book this trip?
This tour suits families, couples and groups with mixed energy levels. The range of activities gives swimmers plenty to do, while the floating club house offers a place to rest between turns in the water. A guide and life jackets are included, but the day remains an active outing around boats and water.
It is also a good fit if you want a straightforward way to see Sapi Island and spend time offshore without planning separate transport. The short duration, about 9:00 a.m. to 3:10 p.m., leaves part of the day free, though the schedule may change with weather and traffic.
I would look elsewhere if you want a long visit to Sapi, a secluded beach, or a quiet day with few other groups. The activity is not wheelchair- or stroller-accessible, and luggage delivery is not provided. Children aged 0 to 2 are free, but infants and children still need to be included in the passenger headcount; children aged 12 and older pay the adult rate.
Should you book it?
Book this tour if the floating club house sounds as appealing as the islands themselves. Its best points are the mix of included water activities, the sea-view lunch and the chance to alternate between swimming and relaxing without arranging each piece separately.
Skip it if you want most of your day on Sapi Island or prefer a calm, uncrowded beach. Arrive early at DBKK Jetty, check the precise package price and inclusions, and consider buying accident or travel insurance, which is recommended but not included.
Floating Club House Island Hopping Day Tour at Gaya Island, Sabah
“Our tour guide this time was Little Bear 🐻, along with many enthusiastic crew members. The boat was in excellent condition-new and very clean. Both…”
FAQ
Where does the tour depart from?
The meeting point is DBKK Jetty in Kota Kinabalu. The listed departure time is 9:00 a.m., and you should arrive 10 minutes early.
What time does the tour return?
The scheduled return is 3:10 p.m. at DBKK Jetty. The schedule may change depending on traffic and weather.
Is hotel pickup included?
No. Hotel pickup and drop-off are not included, so you need to get to and from DBKK Jetty yourself.
Which activities are included?
The described experience includes snorkeling, kayaking, paddle boarding and use of the sea slide. Optional water sports are available at an extra cost.
Are snorkeling equipment and life jackets provided?
Yes. A snorkeling mask and life jacket are included.
Is lunch included?
Yes. A buffet lunch is included and is served at the floating club house.
How long is the stop at Sapi Island?
The schedule places the Sapi Island stop at about 2:00 p.m., with the return beginning around 3:10 p.m. The exact timing can change.
Can infants and children join the tour?
Yes. Children aged 0 to 2 are free, but infants and children must still be included in the passenger headcount. Children aged 12 and older are charged the adult rate.
Is the tour accessible by wheelchair or stroller?
No. The activity is not wheelchair- or stroller-accessible, and luggage delivery services are not provided.
