Getting there
Mataking Island is located in the Celebes Sea,
off the coast of Malaysian Borneo. It is in Malaysia’s
most eastern state, Sabah, and can be reached
within 40 minutes by speedboat from the closest
town on the mainland, Semporna.
Speedboats to Mataking
Island depart from Semporna, a small fishing town,
and trips there and back are arranged by The Reef
Dive Resort. The boat trip takes around 40 minutes
(see schedule below).
The closest airport
to Semporna is in Tawau,
approximately 1 hour away. The Reef Dive Resort
has scheduled transfers by air-conditioned minivan
from the airport to Semporna (see schedule below).
You can also take a taxi from the airport to Semporna.
Air Asia has several flights daily
to Tawau from Kota Kinabalu and Kuala Lumpur.
Malaysia Airlines has daily flights
from Kuala Lumpur and Sandakan and several flights
daily from Kota Kinabalu. From any international
destination, book your return flights to Kuala
Lumpur International Airport, or Kota Kinabalu
Airport, from where you can get the abovementioned
connecting flights to Tawau.
The
Reef Dive Resort transport schedule:
To Mataking Island:
Recommended flights to
Tawau:
From Kuala Lumpur with Air Asia
AK5154 (KUL to TWU) depart 15:25 arrive
18:25
AK5156 (KUL to TWU) depart 17:50 arrive
20:35
From Kota Kinabalu with Malaysian
Airlines
MH2121 (BKI to TWU) depart 07:00 arrive
07:45
MH2137 (BKI to TWU) depart 13:15 arrive
14:00
Minivan schedule from
Tawau airport to Semporna
Depart 08:00, arrive 09:30
Depart 14:15, arrive 15:45
Speedboat schedule from
Semporna to Mataking Island
Depart 09:30, arrive 10:30
Depart 16:00, arrive 17:00
Return from Mataking Island
Speedboat schedule from Mataking island
to Semporna:
Depart 11:00, arrive 12:00
Depart 15:00, arrive 16:00
Minivan schedule from
Semporna to Tawau:
Depart 12:15, arrive 13:45
Depart 16:15, arrive 17:45 |
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Recommended flights from
Tawau:
To Kuala Lumpur with Air Asia
AK5157 (TWU to KUL) depart 21:00, arrive
23:45
To Kota Kinabalu with Malaysian Airlines
MH2134 (TWU to BKI) depart 14:40, arrive
15:25
MH2148 (TWU to BKI) depart 21:00, arrive
21:45 |
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In order to minimize your waiting time, try to
book your flight so that it fits with the regular
speedboat and coach transfer schedules. Adjustments
to the boat schedules are possible for group bookings
and other special circumstances – please
enquire with The Reef Dive Resort. You are advised
to reconfirm your transportation arrangements
with the resort.
As there are no boats to the island after nightfall,
you may need to plan to spend a night in either
Semporna or Tawau, particularly if your flight
arrives in the evening. The Seafest Hotel and
the Dragon Inn in Semporna are popular choices
as they are within metres of the Speedboat departure
point.
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