Mari Mari Backpacker Lodge

Each "Sulap" (hut or cabin in the native Kadazandusun language) is equipped with lighting and socket points, and wall fan. Guests are provided with mattress on the floor, blanket and a pillow each.

You are reminded to bring along personal toiletries and towel though some basic items may be purchased at our Manta Shop. You are in the natural surroundings of the island so please bring along insect repellent. Stay away from wet areas when mosquitoes are most active. The most active times are at dusk and dawn, so it’s best to stay out of dense, humid, and wet areas. Mosquitoes net may be provided upon request. 

For huts with attached bathroom, hot water shower is available during the island's regular electricity supply time, i.e. 6.00PM to 6.00AM. Common bathrooms are not equipped with hot water shower.

Meals are available for purchase at the Lodge's Mari-Mari Cafe. Opening hours as below :
Breakfast (7am to 10am), Lunch (11am - 2pm), Snacks (4pm – 5pm), Dinner (6pm – 8pm)

For your convenience, we recommend that you pre-order your meals before the tours. Kindly refer to the attached menu for selection. Or maybe bring along some food with you in case it is not sufficient for you. Snacks, beverages are also available for purchase at the Lodge’s Manta Shop. The surroundings of the island are covered with a stretch of beach. You may enjoy walking

Island electricity supply is only available from 6.00 p.m. to 6.00 a.m. daily. Electricity supply voltage is 240v, 50-cycle system. You will need a 3 square pin contact plug. Shopping options is almost non-existent. Anything remotely unusual is best brought with you from the city.

Mobile phone reception is not available on the island. The Lodge is nevertheless connected to the outside world by telephone and internet through satellite link (you can make calls - chargeable). Wi-Fi internet connection is available for rental when electricity supply is on.  

The best time to visit is from April to September. Please note that outside of this period you might need flexibility to travel to Mantanani Island as the sea state can be too rough to cross to the island and we do cancel trips if the weather is bad. Towel is Not Provided. All chalets are on stilts and have teak wood floors. Below each chalet is a deck area furnished with hammock between the stilts. All mattresses are on the floor. This is a very simple wooden village type house. There is a staircase to climb around 2 meters high to go to your room.

Snorkelling Day Trip

0715 HRS - 0730 HRS - Meet at Wisma Sabah, Jalan Tun Fuad Stephen, Kota Kinabalu (please refer to attached location map) and transfer by coach or van to Kuala Abai Jetty, Kota Belud. Estimated travel time will be 1 hour & 45 minutes.

0930 HRS - Arrival at Jetty and depart to Mari Mari Dive Lodge at Pulau Mantanani Kecil. We travel 1 hour going to the small (kecil) island. Mantanani Island group consists of 3 islands namely Pulau Mantanani Besar (Big Mantanani Island), Pulau Mantanani Kecil (Small Mantanani Island) and Pulau Lungisan. NOTE: For safety reasons, we may cancel / turn back halfway if the weather or sea condition is deemed unsafe for the journey to proceed.

1030 HRS - 1100 HRS  - Upon reaching Mari Mari Dive Lodge, freshen up and enjoy a cup of coffee or tea before gearing up for 1st snorkeling session. Mask and fins will be issued by our crew. Get on the boat and proceed to the 1st snorkel site.

1200 HRS - Back to the Dive Lodge for a sumptuous lunch

1330 HRS - Continue to the 2nd snorkeling site. Note: If you do not wish to continue with the 2nd snorkeling session, you may like to be transferred to the beach on Pulau Mantanani Besar by boat (at no additional charge). The Mari Mari Backpackers Lodge is located here and you may continue to do other island activities.

1500 HRS  - Depart back to Kuala Abai Jetty. Upon arrival, board coach/van and proceed back to Kota Kinabalu. NOTE: We may depart earlier from the island if the we foresee that the sea or weather is going to be rough due to the change of weather condition.

1830 HRS - Arrive at Kota Kinabalu & drop off at hotel

ADDRESS
Mantanani Island, Pulau Mantanani, Sabah, Malaysia.

INFORMATION
The island, shaped-like knife, has a beach that stretches up to 2.500 metres. The fact, that this thin island has never been commercialized, secures its hidden secrets from great number of divers and thus giving you a private but full enjoyment to the tropical island. Unfairly blessed with age-old shipwrecks and critters inhabiting in and around it.

The island promises the most diverse marine life with visibility up to 40 metres. Many species of rays flutter around like blue spotted ray and marbled sting ray amongst large schools of fish.

Besides that muck diving is excellent with the quiet existence of imperial shirmps, jaw fish ribbon eels, seahorses, pink-eyed gobbles and the jaw-dropping blue ringed octopus, amidst nudibranch of all sorts.

Day Trip Package - Rediscover nature in this secluded romantic island for diving, snorkeling and bird watching. Unless you are diving with us, let the sun decide your itinerary. When the sun is vertically atop, relax on the sandy beach in between snorkels.

As the sun starts to set, go skin diving in the clear blue seawater and be hugged by the sea’s unfathomable pressure around your body as the fish schools past you. By the time the sun dissapears into the west horizon completely, you would know that your body has surmounted the submersion of a lifetime.