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Major city · 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.

Not yet checkedSourcesWhat these labels mean

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).

basic guide: no trip line yet
More
3 pages, for the metro and roaming-off days
Map
Google Maps Apple Maps Street View
More ways in
Print / PDF guide
Local time, weather, currency, airports
Weather
see forecast
Currency
MYR
Best months
March–September
avoid November–January (monsoon, rough seas, some resorts close)
Airport
TWU
Nights
2–3

Not a trip line yet

This is a basic guide for Pom Pom Island: no airport-to-bed path, walking clusters or day plans yet. Fares and schedules here are unverified. What this page does cover
Rules in force · 5Drug trafficking can carry the death penalty in Singapore…
  • Southeast Asia ↗Drug trafficking can carry the death penalty in Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam, Laos, Thailand, Brunei and Myanmar; never carry a bag or parcel for anyone.
  • Southeast Asia ↗Carry a passport valid for at least six months from entry with two blank pages; airlines refuse boarding on less.
  • Malaysia ↗Most foreign visitors must submit the Malaysia Digital Arrival Card (MDAC) online shortly before arrival; use only the official immigration site.
  • Malaysia ↗Remove shoes before entering mosques, temples and homes; cover shoulders and knees, and use the robes on loan at major mosques.
  • Malaysia ↗Cards and e-wallets are common in cities; keep some ringgit in small notes for hawker stalls, taxis and tolls.

Entry rules depend on your passport. Full visa guide

Checking your follows…
What is in this basic guide9 covered · 4 not yet ▾

Not in this guide yet

  • Walking areas with bag rules
  • Day plans checked against opening hours
  • Airport-to-bed timings and the last safe connection
  • Field-checked times and prices
Emergency numbers for Pom Pom Island999 ▾

Tap a number to call from your phone. These are the numbers listed in this guide; a row marked check has not been verified.

EssentialsQuick answers and what things cost

Essentials

Quick answers and what things cost

Quick answers

The questions people ask first about Pom Pom Island, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.

Show all 12 answers
DecideWhat it is known for, and when the weather works

Decide

What it is known for, and when the weather works

At a glance

What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.

White-sand beach and coral reefsTurtle nesting (seasonal)TRACC marine conservation volunteer programmeExcellent snorkelling and diving
Airports
TWU Tawau Airport (About 1 h 15 min drive to Semporna, then a resort boat transfer (about 1 h).)

Best months at a glance

From the guide's best and avoid lists

  1. Jan

    Avoid

    29°C (84°F)

  2. Feb

    not flagged

    29°C (84°F)

  3. Mar

    Best

    30°C (86°F)

  4. Apr

    Best

    31°C (88°F)

  5. May

    Best

    31°C (88°F)

  6. Jun

    Best

    31°C (88°F)

  7. Jul

    Best

    31°C (88°F)

  8. Aug

    Best

    31°C (88°F)

  9. Sep

    Best

    31°C (88°F)

  10. Oct

    not flagged

    30°C (86°F)

  11. Nov

    Avoid

    30°C (86°F)

  12. Dec

    Avoid

    29°C (84°F)

Best: Mar–Sep. Avoid: Nov–Jan. Month by month →

Warmest Apr (31°C (88°F)), coolest Jan (24°C (75°F) low), wettest Nov (17 rain days), driest Apr (8). Averages, not a forecast.

Weather and climate

Forecast from Open-Meteo · averages rounded

Pom Pom Island: next 7 days

Loading forecast…

Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.

Air quality

Loading…

Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.

Jan

29°C (84°F)

24°C (75°F)

15 rd

Feb

29°C (84°F)

24°C (75°F)

12 rd

Mar

30°C (86°F)

24°C (75°F)

10 rd

Apr

31°C (88°F)

25°C (77°F)

8 rd

May

31°C (88°F)

25°C (77°F)

10 rd

Jun

31°C (88°F)

25°C (77°F)

9 rd

Jul

31°C (88°F)

24°C (75°F)

10 rd

Aug

31°C (88°F)

24°C (75°F)

10 rd

Sep

31°C (88°F)

24°C (75°F)

11 rd

Oct

30°C (86°F)

24°C (75°F)

14 rd

Nov

30°C (86°F)

24°C (75°F)

17 rd

Dec

29°C (84°F)

24°C (75°F)

17 rd

High / low, both scales · rd = rain days

Arrive & moveAirports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in

Arrive & move

Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in

Getting around

No roads. Walk the beach at low tide or swim/snorkel. The forest is impassable.

Nearest full guides

Straight-line distance, not travel time

See & doDay-trips, door to door

See & do

Day-trips, door to door

Day-trips

Door-to-door, not ride time
Sempornago

Door to door: About 1 h

Resort boat transfer, about 1 h

Gateway town for supplies or a side trip to Sipadan.

Sipadango

Door to door: About 2 h from Pom Pom

Boat from Semporna, about 1 h

World-class diving; permits required and limited to 120 per day.

Mabulgo

Door to door: About 1.5 h from Pom Pom

Boat from Semporna, about 30 min

Another island with resorts and good snorkelling.

Kota Kinabaluovernight

Door to door: About 4–5 h

Drive to Tawau (1 h 15 min), then flight to KK (about 50 min)

Too far for a day trip; combine with a longer Sabah itinerary.

Eat & sleepWhich area to sleep in

Eat & sleep

Which area to sleep in

Where to sleep

Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.

Sipadan Pom Pom Island Resort

The larger resort on the island; books out weeks ahead.

Mussah Poteh Resort

Smaller resort; check availability.

PracticalWhat a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card

Practical

What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card

Cost per day

2026 estimate, excluding the bed unless stated
Budget
RM 500–700
Mid
RM 800–1,000
High
RM 1,200+

Trip budget

2026 estimate · converts to your currency
Resort room (per person, all-inclusive)2 × 3 nights × RM800RM4,800
Food, local transport, entries2 × 3 days × RM800RM4,800
Boat transfer Semporna ↔ Pom Pom (return)2 × RM200RM400
Diving package (per dive)2 × RM150RM300
Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurgeRM1,030
Trip total≈ RM1,888 per person per day, bed includedRM11,330≈ US$3,000

2026 estimate in MYR. All-inclusive resort packages cover meals, transfers and some activities.

Prices of common things

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 (≈ US$1,400)

2026 estimate; check locally.

Watch out

Safety

Very safe: no village, no crime. Watch for centipedes and mosquito bites. No poisonous snakes. No malaria.
  • 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.

Emergency numbers

Police / Ambulance
999
Fire
994
From mobile
112

Pocket card

One page · print or save as PDF

Fill in, then print or save as PDF

Stays in this browser only; nothing is sent anywhere.

Pom Pom IslandPom Pom Island

Pocket card · Voykit

My bed tonight

—

—

—

Ke Pulau Pom Pom, tolongTo Pom Pom Island, please

Emergency

  • Police / Ambulance999
  • Fire994
  • From mobile112

Embassy

Nearest consular assistance: Kota Kinabalu (US, UK, Australia, Canada).

My embassy: —

Fare anchors (2026 estimate)

  • Tawau Airport → Semporna (taxi): About RM 100–150, 1 h 15 min
  • Semporna → Pom Pom (resort boat): About RM 150–250 return, 1 h

Say or show

  • Selamat pagi — Hello (suh-lah-mat pah-gee)
  • Terima kasih — Thank you (tuh-ree-mah kah-seh)
  • Berapa? — How much? (buh-rah-pah)
  • Ya / Tidak — Yes / No (yah / tee-dah)
Deep diveWhat this guide covers so far, and its sources

Deep dive

What this guide covers so far, and its sources

Not a trip line yet

This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Pom Pom Island. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.

What we know, and what is coming

On this page

  1. Best months: March–September · avoid November–January (monsoon, rough seas, some resorts close) · month by month →
  2. 1 airport and 2 areas to sleep in
  3. Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
  4. Cost per day in 3 bands
  5. 4 day-trips, door to door
  6. 4 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers

Coming as the guide grows

  1. Resort pages with verified rates and boat schedules.
  2. TRACC volunteer page with programme details and pricing.
  3. Semporna transfer page with operator contacts.

Meanwhile

Back to Malaysia

Sources

Ask about Pom Pom Island

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