Why Lankayan Works for a Honeymoon

Most Southeast Asian honeymoon islands have to balance romance with crowds. Lankayan avoids the problem by design. The island sits inside the Sugud Islands Marine Conservation Area, a protected zone in the Sulu Sea where fishing is restricted and turtle nesting is monitored. The only accommodation is a single dive resort with beachfront wooden chalets, so the number of guests on the island at any time is small.

That creates a very particular atmosphere. Days revolve around the tide, the dive schedule and the evening turtle watch. You can walk the full circumference of the beach in well under an hour, and most evenings end with dinner by the water and a starry sky with almost no light pollution. For couples coming off a busy wedding, that simplicity is the point.

• Seclusion: one resort on the island, no day-trippers or party boats.
• Turtles: green and hawksbill turtles nest on the beach, and hatchling releases are a highlight.
• Easy diving: house reef, wrecks and macro life close to shore, with short boat rides.
• Borneo add-ons: orangutans, sun bears and river safaris are all within reach of Sandakan.

When to Go: Seasons on the Sulu Sea

Lankayan lies on the sheltered east side of Sabah, which means it is less affected by the northeast monsoon than the west coast around Kota Kinabalu, but sea conditions still vary. The general pattern below is a useful guide for planning; local weather can always differ.

If you are planning around a wedding date, the safest window for both boat transfers and diving is broadly March to October. Couples travelling in December or January should allow a buffer night in Sandakan in case a crossing is delayed.

Getting There from Kota Kinabalu or Kuala Lumpur

There are no direct international flights to Sandakan, so most couples connect through Kota Kinabalu or Kuala Lumpur. Domestic flights to Sandakan are short, and the airport is a short drive from the town and jetty.

• Step 1: fly to Sandakan (SDK) via Kota Kinabalu or Kuala Lumpur.
• Step 2: overnight in Sandakan or near Sepilok, because island boats leave in the morning.
• Step 3: transfer to the jetty for the resort speedboat, typically around 90 minutes across open water.
• Step 4: on departure, the boat returns in time for afternoon flights, but keep a cushion for weather.

The crossing can be bumpy when the wind is up, so pack seasickness tablets if you are prone to motion sickness and keep valuables in a dry bag. Transfers are normally arranged by the resort as part of a package rather than booked independently.

Where You Stay: Life at the Island Resort

Accommodation on Lankayan consists of stilted or beachfront wooden chalets spread along the sand, with ocean views and simple, comfortable interiors. This is not a marble-and-butler luxury resort in the style of the Maldives; think of it instead as a well-run eco-dive lodge on an exceptional beach. Meals are usually served in a central restaurant, and packages tend to include full board, transfers and a set number of dives.

For honeymooners, the practical question is whether that style suits you. If your idea of a romantic stay includes a private pool, spa menu and multiple restaurants, consider spending a few nights at one of the luxury resorts elsewhere in Sabah and treating Lankayan as the adventurous, barefoot part of the trip. If you mainly want privacy and nature, Lankayan delivers more than most five-star addresses.

What to ask the resort before booking

• Which chalets are closest to the water, and which are most private?
• What is included: meals, transfers, conservation fees and how many dives?
• Can they arrange a private beach dinner or a honeymoon set-up?
• What is the policy if weather cancels the boat transfer?

Turtles, Reefs and Wrecks: What to Do

Conservation is central to the Lankayan experience. Rangers patrol the beach at night during nesting periods, relocate eggs to a protected hatchery and release hatchlings at dusk. Guests are often invited to watch, and seeing a tiny turtle make its first run to the sea is a memory many couples rank above any spa treatment.

Diving and snorkelling

The reefs around Lankayan are known for macro life such as nudibranchs, ghost pipefish and frogfish, along with several wrecks that attract schooling fish. Dive sites are typically only a few minutes by boat. Visibility is generally best in the drier months. Beginners can complete training dives in the shallow, sandy waters around the island, which makes it a gentle place to try diving together for the first time.

If you are keen on big-name dive sites, you can extend the trip south to Sipadan and Mabul, which require a separate flight to Tawau and a permit for Sipadan itself.

Above the water

• Sunset walks around the island and stargazing from the jetty.
• Kayaking in calm morning conditions.
• Hammock time and reading, which is a legitimate activity here.
• Photography of the reef flats at low tide.

Pairing Lankayan with Sepilok and the Kinabatangan

Because you have to pass through Sandakan anyway, Lankayan pairs naturally with some of the best wildlife experiences in Borneo. The Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre is a short drive from Sandakan airport, and the neighbouring Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre is next door. Feeding times at Sepilok draw the biggest crowds, so arrive early.

From Sepilok, it is roughly a two to three hour drive to the lower Kinabatangan River, where riverside lodges run dawn and dusk boat safaris to look for proboscis monkeys, hornbills, crocodiles and, with luck, pygmy elephants. Our guide to the best lodges on the Kinabatangan covers the more comfortable options.

Budget and Booking Tips

Lankayan is usually sold as an all-in package covering the boat transfer, meals and activities, so the headline price looks higher than a typical room rate but covers most of your on-island spending. Expect to pay more for diving packages than for snorkelling-only stays, and check whether a conservation fee is included or charged separately.

• Book early for March to May if diving with whale sharks is a priority.
• Ask for honeymoon touches such as a beach dinner when you book rather than on arrival.
• Bring cash for tips and extras; the island has no ATM.
• Travel insurance should cover diving if you plan to dive.

For general Sabah travel information, the Sabah Tourism Board publishes destination overviews and event calendars, and the Sandakan entry is a helpful primer on the gateway town.

Is Lankayan Right for Your Honeymoon?

Choose Lankayan if you want a genuinely small island, care about marine conservation and are happy with comfortable rather than lavish rooms. Skip it, or keep it short, if you need fine dining, nightlife or a spa every day. For many couples, the best answer is a combination: a few barefoot days on Lankayan followed by a polished resort stay elsewhere in Borneo or a city break in Kota Kinabalu, where our list of luxury hotels in Kota Kinabalu can help you finish in style.

Frequently Asked Questions