Mataking Reef Resort @ MATAKING ISLAND — Hotel in Sabah

They don’t deserve to be called luxury resort. Overall 2/10. Please consider other resorts. There are better ones I am sure.

House keeping is terrible. Missing towel. Missing dental kit. Missing bath robe drawstring. I have to call them everyday to remind them at least one thing. After housekeeping, left my door open for at least half a day. Since routine housekeeping is normally before noon.

Booking of activity. I walked at least from dive center to reception back to dive center and back to reception before they said, oh, I have to book at reception center. Minimum 2 pax to go out for boat trips. I asked if they can call my room when someone else single pax is going for the trip so I can make it up for the 2 pax criteria. They said, rarely people book their trips and they recommend I book from other resorts or from Klook instead. They were just very resistant on me trying to book my trips. I cannot believe. The service and business oriented attitude is terrible.

Super inconsistent food quality. Most days are really bad. No one at the counter and you have to find someone so that they can call someone. Perhaps only 1 day is fairly good out of the seven for food. The coffee is really bad.

The gift shop is only opened at 6pm for a few hours. They said because only got 1 staff. While at night, there were at least 6 staff in the shop. When I entered they will come and ask me if I need anything.

Never provide umbrellas for guest. If it is raining, you have to call them so they can send it over. After using it, they will collect it back until you insist on brining back to the room. And they will only send 1 umbrella. Shouldnt umbrellas be provided in the first place?

Booking of massage. After booking and reaching the place, they said, they didn’t know of my booking. I had to wait for 20 mins for the masseur to arrive. Everything was done in a rushed manner. It’s like customers fault to book at this time slot near dinner.

Facilities are not in working condition. Pool table faulty, balls not coming out, waste two coins, pool cue damaged. Board games dirty and missing items. Totally after 6pm, nothing to do. They don’t even allow you to walk on the beach.

I am sure you won’t enjoy your time in this resort if you have seen betters ones in Malaysia at the same price. This is overrated.

Please consider other resorts if you must visit Semporna or Sipadan. Imagine paying this price, yet receive average service. You will be turned off. Almost 99% of the visitors are from China. There aren’t any locals visiting here. So you can regulate your expectations when all locals aren’t visiting here. I rarely get pissed off for resorts but this Mataking, really make me super disappointed. Maybe it’s just me. For you to find out. They simply don’t love...

Mataking Island Resort is a fantastic destination for families with children and for those who love diving and exploring underwater treasures. We travelled as a family of four — two adults and two teenagers — for a 4-day, 3-night all-inclusive package in a beach chalet, which came with a beach-facing jacuzzi!

Upon arrival at Tawau Airport, the resort arranged transportation to take us to Semporna Jetty, about an hour’s drive away. Once there, we had to wait for the rest of the guests, as the boat transfer follows a set schedule. Fortunately, the jetty has several cafes, restaurants, and shops to help pass the time. When the boat arrived, the journey to the island took less than an hour. We were warmly welcomed with live music and drinks at the island’s jetty, followed by a buffet lunch.

The only downside was having to wait until the official check-in time before receiving our room keys. The staff also gave a short briefing about the island, available activities, and safety guidelines.

That evening, there was a baby turtle release session, which the kids found fascinating. The island also offers a turtle adoption program for a minimal fee. Mr. Ambo, who oversees the Turtle Conservation Program, explained and demonstrated the full process — from nesting to hatching. It was truly special to hold these tiny creatures before they were released back into their natural habitat.

The next few days were filled with water activities that our children thoroughly enjoyed — snorkeling, glass-bottom kayaking, paddleboarding, exploring the islands (there are two connected islands you can walk between at low tide), discovering native plants and wildlife, birdwatching, island hopping, and of course — diving!

All meals were included in the package, which made everything so convenient. The island also features a spa, karaoke room, gym, observation tower, peacock area, and turtle hatchery. Monitor lizards roam freely around the island, adding to the natural charm. A highlight of our trip was the Thursday night barbecue dinner — a lovely added bonus.

Other optional activities include batik painting, temporary tattooing, and Malaysian cooking lessons, available upon request.

One morning, we had a special surprise — a turtle swam along the beach, feeding on seaweed (refer to the video). It was a memorable, close-up encounter with a wild turtle for the kids!

Overall, it was a refreshing short getaway with my family. I’m looking forward to exploring other islands in the future and hope they’re just as good as Mataking Island.

Note: WiFi and mobile data reception on the island is very poor. Plus point in my case, no disturbance during...

If you’re looking for an escape to paradise, look no further than Mataking Reef Resort. Located about an hour by boat from Semporna (nearest airport: Tawau), this island retreat is truly breathtaking — pristine waters, white sand beaches, and vibrant marine life await you from the moment you arrive.

One of the biggest highlights for me was the on-site PADI 5-star dive center. The staff is both professional and incredibly friendly, creating a safe and fun environment for divers of all levels. They organize daily dives, including unforgettable trips to Sipadan, and equipment rental is available directly at the resort. The dive center is exceptionally well managed and a key reason I’d return.

Even if you’re not a diver, the snorkeling is phenomenal. Just steps from the shore, the reef is alive with colorful fish and massive sea turtles — it’s like swimming in an aquarium. Honestly, you don’t need to be certified to experience the magic of the underwater world here.

The rooms are clean, comfortable, and well maintained, with daily housekeeping and two complimentary bottles of water delivered each day.

As for the meals, they’re mostly Asian cuisine, which makes total sense — you’re in Malaysia, after all. That said, there’s always something for everyone: fresh fruit, bread, coffee, and more traditional international options are available at each meal, so you won’t go hungry even if you prefer more familiar flavors. There are also different dishes every day, with live cooking stations adding a nice touch.

For relaxation, there’s a spa offering massages and a small gym if you want to stay active. The resort also takes care of all transfers, including boat and airport pick-up/drop-off, making the whole journey seamless.

When it came time to leave, I genuinely cried. The whole experience was that special. It felt like the Maldives, but even better in some ways — far less crowded, more intimate, and incredibly serene.

Whether you’re an avid diver or just looking for a peaceful island escape, I can’t recommend Mataking Reef Resort enough. This place stole my heart.

If I had one suggestion for the resort management, it would be to raise awareness among certain guests — particularly some Chinese tourists — about plastic waste. During my stay, I sadly noticed plastic bottles and litter left along the shorelines, which really detracts from the beauty of the island. I believe the staff could do more to educate visitors and enforce basic environmental rules, possibly even with warnings or fines. A paradise like this deserves to...