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Voykit pocket guide · Malaysia
Pom Pom Island
Go for 2–3 nights if you want a quiet island with excellent snorkelling and turtle nesting; skip if you need nightlife, cheap eats or a village.
Pom Pom Island is a small white-sand island 30 km northeast of Semporna, Sabah, surrounded by coral reefs with abundant fish and turtle life. There is no village, no pollution and very little fishing. The only accommodation is two resorts that arrange all transport and meals. Most visitors come for 2–3 nights of snorkelling, diving or volunteering with the Tropical Research and Conservation Centre (TRACC).
- Country
- Malaysia
- Best months
- March–September
- Avoid
- November–January (monsoon, rough seas, some resorts close)
- Stay
- 2–3 nights
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- MYR
- Money
- Malaysian ringgit (MYR, RM); cards and e-wallets are widely used in Kuala Lumpur.
- Daily spend
- Budget RM 500–700 · Mid RM 800–1,000 · High RM 1,200+ (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- CelcomDigi, Maxis, U Mobile and Unifi sell tourist SIMs at KLIA with passport registration.
- Emergency
- Police / Ambulance 999 · Fire 994 · From mobile 112
- Plugs
- Types G · 240 V · 50 Hz · UK three-pin; hotels often have universal sockets.
- Tipping
- Hawker stalls: Nothing.; Restaurants: Nothing if 10% service charge is added; otherwise round up.; Grab / taxi: Round up.; Guides: RM20–50 a day.
- Water
- Treated in cities, but most people filter or boil; bottled water is cheap.
- Toilets
- Western and squat toilets side by side; water hose instead of paper; some public toilets cost RM0.20–1.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Resort all-inclusive (per person per night) | RM 500–1,200 |
| Boat transfer Semporna ↔ Pom Pom (return) | RM 150–250 |
| Dive (per dive, equipment included) | RM 120–180 |
| TRACC volunteer programme (2 weeks) | From €1,200 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- TWU · Tawau Airport
- About 1 h 15 min drive to Semporna, then a resort boat transfer (about 1 h).
Typical fares
- Tawau Airport → Semporna (taxi)
- About RM 100–150, 1 h 15 min
- Semporna → Pom Pom (resort boat)
- About RM 150–250 return, 1 h
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
No roads. Walk the beach at low tide or swim/snorkel. The forest is impassable.
See and do
Known for
- White-sand beach and coral reefs
- Turtle nesting (seasonal)
- TRACC marine conservation volunteer programme
- Excellent snorkelling and diving
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Semporna | Resort boat transfer, about 1 h | About 1 h |
| Sipadan | Boat from Semporna, about 1 h | About 2 h from Pom Pom |
| Mabul | Boat from Semporna, about 30 min | About 1.5 h from Pom Pom |
| Kota Kinabalu | Drive to Tawau (1 h 15 min), then flight to KK (about 50 min) | About 4–5 h |
Sleep
- Sipadan Pom Pom Island Resort
- The larger resort on the island; books out weeks ahead.
- Mussah Poteh Resort
- Smaller resort; check availability.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Hello | Selamat pagisuh-lah-mat pah-gee |
| Thank you | Terima kasihtuh-ree-mah kah-seh |
| How much? | Berapa?buh-rah-pah |
| Yes / No | Ya / Tidakyah / tee-dah |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Light handshake or hand on heart; wait for women to offer a hand; avoid: Firm grips, hugging
- Pointing: Use the thumb with fingers folded; avoid: Index finger pointing
- Homes: Shoes off; avoid: Walking in with shoes
- Mosques: Covered clothes, headscarf for women; avoid: Entering during prayers
- Public affection: Keep it low-key; avoid: Kissing in public
Scams and watch-outs
- Resorts arrange all transport from Semporna; you cannot arrive independently.
- No shops, bars or restaurants outside the resorts — everything is included or pre-ordered.
- Centipedes and mosquitoes are the main nuisances; no malaria, but bring repellent.
- Turtle nesting season roughly April–September; respect nesting sites at night.
Very safe: no village, no crime. Watch for centipedes and mosquito bites. No poisonous snakes. No malaria.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Pom Pom Island yet. Suggested stay: 2–3 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- White-sand beach and coral reefs
- Turtle nesting (seasonal)
- TRACC marine conservation volunteer programme
- Excellent snorkelling and diving
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- TRACC Marine Conservation: tracc.org
- Pom Pom Island Resort: pompomisland.com
- Wikivoyage: Pom Pom Island, revision 5240910 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5240910
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Printed from Voykit (/pom-pom-island). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.