Mataking Island Review
Over the years, I have been to many islands around Malaysia, but Mataking Island in Sabah is one of the best islands that I have visited and here is my review.
While many may think the islands around Malaysia consist of Penang, Langkawi, Tioman or Perhentian, you are in for a huge surprise.
Honestly, many do not know that there are in fact a few islands around Malaysia that are equivalent to those that you see at the Maldives.
Mataking Island Resort Review
And the best part, you are not paying in US dollars but in Ringgit Malaysia. The trouble with us Asians is that we always want to go far to places like Bali or the Maldives for our beach holidays.
Little do we know that in our own backyard, we have beautiful islands and other places to explore, therefore this article is to let everyone know that we do have some pretty amazing places in Malaysia.
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| Outdoor view from the bar |
Only 40 acres in size, there is nothing else but pristine beauty and one resort, in other words, just perfect for that romantic holiday you have been planning all this while.
Not only that, but the resort also caters to island weddings where you can book out the entire island just for your wedding.
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| The beach villa unit bedroom |
Mataking Resort offers beach villas, beach chalets, king chalets, and garden view deluxe rooms as accommodations.
Depending on the nature of your visit here, you can choose from the most luxurious to the most simple accommodations.
The is also a spa here which is of international standards called the Jamu Spa, and I highly recommend you try this when you visit Mataking Island.
Snorkeling and scuba diving are the main attractions here. For lovers or couples, you will find that time becomes a standstill here as you absorb in the tranquility of the beauty here.
On a side note, if you are that person who constantly needs the internet or loves checking your Facebook and Instagram, it is best not to come here. Just go to Langkawi or Penang.
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| Staff welcoming guests to Mataking Reef Resort |
As for food, the restaurant here serves food throughout the day so all meals are provided in your Mataking package.
Breakfast comes in continental and also Asian while for lunch, there is a buffet spread or if you prefer, ala-carte.
Dinner is pretty nice with a selection of seafood, western and local dishes. For those who constantly need a food supply, there is room service available while I recommend you bring your own snacks too.
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| The crystal clear waters of Mataking Island |
Other special arrangements can also be made – proposals, surprises and so on, but you need to double check with the resort too.
The island is catered for anyone who wants to escape commercialized tourism where you can just go back to basic and just chill out without having to worry about life, work or the traffic jams.
When I was here, I personally indulged with my ‘me time’ and shut off my smartphone and laptop.
I took time to walk and explore the island, did a bit of scuba diving and most importantly, try our the spa which was one of the best I have tried in years.
Scuba Diving at Mataking Island
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| A shipwreck during my dive at Mataking |
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| The famous Mataking ‘Underwater Post Office’ |
As for scuba divers, Mataking Island is one of the must-dive locations in Malaysia. Why? Because one of the dive sites here features the worlds only underwater post box where you can actually post a postcard or letter to anyone around the world.
I wrote a postcard to some friends and actually went to try this out. Quite intriguing and fascinating if you ask me, as this was a totally unexpected underwater experience.
Check out the Mataking Island Video I made with all the photographs that I took when I was here. I found that it looked nicer in the video compared to putting all the photos here. The video is below;
Another bonus is that when the tide goes down, you can walk on the white sandbank to the smaller Mataking island which is a few hundred meters away.
This is one of the most popular spots for photography too. In the main complex, there is a souvenir and gift shop where they sell t-shirts and some snacks, but that is all.
So if you need all your personal stuff or snacks and so on, you best get it in Semporna town before taking the boat here.
Oh yeah, there is WiFi in the lobby area so not all is lost for those who are in need of constant internet connection.
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| Mataking Kecil seen from the main island |
Mataking is located about a one-hour boat ride from the east coast town of Semporna in Sabah Borneo. If you know where Sipadan Island and Mabul Island is, then it is quite near there.
You can also check out my other articles on other islands to visit in Malaysia, as I personally visited all those islands during my travels around Malaysia.
Conclusion
Malaysia is a beautiful destination and offers all kinds of tourism where a number of exciting outdoor, romantic and adventurous tourism can be found over in Sabah and Sarawak Borneo.
While heading there requires extra travel from Kuala Lumpur or from Peninsular Malaysia, there are numerous daily flights heading there with budget airlines.
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