WHEN you are in need of “vitamin sea”, Semporna is the place to be.
Semporna is a small, coastal town that boasts a wide range of natural attractions and different cultures.
A popular destination among divers and adventurers, Semporna is home to many places of interest, including dive spots and islands with white sandy beaches. Boats are one of the main modes of transportation in Semporna.
The crystal-clear sea full of beautiful marine life makes this place ideal for snorkelling and diving.
Even if you are not a water baby, you can enjoy the lovely ocean view that surrounds the area. Snorkelling is one of the water activities available for visitors at the Mabul Water Bungalows.
Regardless of your budget, there are plenty of accommodation options in Semporna.
From budget-friendly inns to luxurious chalets, there will be something for every kind of visitor in this paradise on earth.
Some may prefer to base themselves in the town area, but you can also opt to stay at one of the exclusive resorts. The crystal-clear sea offers a beautiful sight of some of the marine life in the resorts.
For the trip, the DETravel team stayed at the Dragon Inn Floating Resort while having the chance to visit the Sipadan-Kapalai Dive Resort and the Mabul Water Bungalows.
Aside from that, there are accommodation offerings by community-based tourism centres, especially those closer to Bum-Bum Island such as Maglami Lami and Lato Lato.
Kapalai is a sandbank on top of reefs that was formed due to erosion on the island that took place over many years.
The only structure on the island is the Sipadan-Kapalai Dive Resort, built on stilts surrounded by pristine sea. Visitors can also spot sea turtles in the resorts.
Visitors have the opportunity to see the bottom of the sea clearly and if you are lucky, you can even spot turtles.
As for Mabul Island, it is a great diving site alternative to the famous Sipadan Island which is situated close to the former.
Visitors staying in Mabul Water Bungalows can engage in various water sports like snorkelling and kayaking while enjoying the scenic view of the open sea.
Exploring the water reveals a variety of enchanting marine life and coloured corals.
If you are feeling a little more adventurous, you can hike up Bohey Dulang – the second largest island among the Tun Sakaran Marine Park Islands.
The island is 30-minute away, via a boat ride, from the town. The trail allows only a for a one-way route – 700 metres heading up, and 600 metres heading down, aided with some staircases along the way.
The hike is challenging – highly dependent on your stamina, but the view on top makes the hike all worth it. Visitors can enjoy fresh seafood at a very reasonable price in Semporna
Semporna is also home to the one of the best seafood in Sabah, and it will not cost you an arm and a leg to savour its wide variety of fresh seafood.
And once you’ve stepped foot in Semporna, you are sure to fall in love with the place as the locals do – it leaves a fuzzy sense of yearning for some when they leave the town.
* This article is brought to you in collaboration with Sabah Tourism Board (STB). View this post on Instagram A post shared by Daily Express (Sabah) (@dailyexpresssabah) View this post on Instagram A post shared by Daily Express (Sabah) (@dailyexpresssabah) View this post on Instagram A post shared by Daily Express (Sabah) (@dailyexpresssabah)
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