What To Do In The City Of Semporna

The city of Semporna is notorious for kidnapping people by pirates. However, the local government has worked very intensively on security in recent years, so as a tourist you don’t have to worry about visiting this city.

And why go here anyway? The town of Semporna is the starting point for visiting the adjacent virgin islands in a sea still untouched by commercial shipping. In addition, nearby coral reefs attract divers from all over the world and villages of sea gypsies living in stilt huts built right on the sea complete the atmosphere of this area to perfection.

How to get to Semporna

If you stick to our itinerary and use the services of the above-mentioned agency, you can arrange a ride to the city of Semporna as part of the trip to the Kinabatangan River. Just report the name of your hotel in Semporna to the agency before departure and the driver will take you directly to its entrance.

Accommodations

Ideally, look for accommodation in Semporna around the port, near the city center. This time we can recommend the hotel Sipadan Inn 1. It is located in the center of everything and it is a short walk to the port, shops and restaurants. The rooms are spacious and clean. The only drawback is the very slow Wi-Fi connection, however, you can finally buy a SIM card for mobile connection just opposite this hotel :-). You will pay MYR 138 per night in a double room at this hotel. You can book it via the portal www.booking.com or via WhatsApp at +60 89 781 766.

Taman Bandar

Right in the city the Taman Bandar district, where the hotel recommended above is located, is definitely worth a visit. This neighborhood is full of shops and restaurants of various categories. In the evening, don’t forget to walk along the promenade along the sea. Stop at one of the local establishments for dinner. A visit to the fish market at the end of this promenade is also an interesting experience. At the port, you will then visit the slightly more touristy part of the city, where several hotels, restaurants and souvenir shops are located directly on the water, where you can buy everything possible at good prices.

Bohey Dulang and snorkeling

But the main reason for your visit will probably be the adjacent islands, coral reefs and a visit to the sea gypsy village.

Sea trips are provided by all the agencies in the port basically the same. You usually have a choice of three circuits, within which you will visit several islets and coral reefs. Alternatively, you can arrange a full-day diving trip here. Equipment rental is usually included in the price of the trips and their price depends on the selected package.

We personally recommend a trip that includes a visit to the viewpoint on Bohey Dulang Island. In addition to the wonderful view from the viewpoint, you can also visit two other islands, Mantabuan and Sibuan. You can also snorkel on coral reefs full of colorful fish. The price of the trip also includes food and water. Specifically, this trip starts from the port at 8:30 in the morning. You will arrive back in the city around 4:00 p.m. The price at UC Islanders Adventure which is located right next to the jetty leading to the water restaurants is MYR 230 per person.

Sea gypsies

Unfortunately at the time of our last visit (September 2023) it was forbidden to go to the sea gypsy village for safety reasons. However, agencies have been dealing with another community. So travel to the Bajau Laut village should reportedly be possible again soon. Currently you can see one village during a trip to Mabul Island. Well, It is not directly a trip to see sea gypsies but you can see them.

If it is possible at the time of your visit, definitely do not miss this experience. And please don’t forget to let us know it’s now possible! You can check in advance whether it will be possible to visit this interesting tribe with the above-mentioned agency at +60 12 822 6769.

The Bajau Laut are people living in wooden huts standing on stilts directly above sea level. Their life is very closely connected with the sea and many of them never even set foot on land. They are good swimmers who can stay underwater for several minutes. They live mainly by fishing and their physical characteristics are adapted to this.

Tips for visiting Semporna

On the pier in the harbor there are many different shops with souvenirs and various local goods. The advantage of these stores is that you can negotiate the price in them. If you buy several souvenirs at once, you can get very interesting prices. If you want to bring some souvenirs from Malaysia this is the right place to shop.

Watch out in Semporna

Semporna is a poor port city that used to be very often attacked by pirates. It doesn’t help that some sea gypsies moved in with a vision of a better life. However, they can’t do anything, so they often end up on the street. There are quite a few beggars and begging children. They will often approach you with a request for money. If you give them something, you will have more and more of them around you. So you better reject them and be very careful about your things in your pockets. Likewise, be careful when moving around the fish market.