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Gaya Island Resort

5.0 star property

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Photo gallery for Gaya Island Resort

Outdoor pool, pool umbrellas, pool loungers
Kinabalu Villa
Lobby
On the beach, snorkelling, beach bar
Couples treatment room(s), hot stone massages, deep-tissue massages

Reviews

8.8 out of 10
Excellent

Popular amenities

  • Pool
  • Spa
  • Free Wi-Fi
  • Restaurant
  • Air-conditioning
  • Gym

Explore the area

View in a map
Malohom Bay, Pulau Gaya, Tunku Abdul Rahman Park, Gaya Island, Sabah, 88000
  • Place, Sapi Island
    ‪5 min walk‬

Room options

View all photos for Bayu Villa

Bayu Villa | View from room

Bayu Villa

  • Garden view
  • 47 sq m
  • 1 bedroom
  • Sleeps 3
  • 1 King Bed OR 2 Single Beds
  • Free Wi-Fi

View all photos for Kinabalu Villa

Kinabalu Villa

Kinabalu Villa

7.6 out of 10
Good
(5 reviews)
  • Partial sea view
  • 47 sq m
  • 1 bedroom
  • Sleeps 3
  • 1 King Bed OR 2 Single Beds
  • Free Wi-Fi

View all photos for Canopy Villa

Canopy Villa

Canopy Villa

8.0 out of 10
Very good
(1 review)
  • Garden view
  • 47 sq m
  • 1 bedroom
  • Sleeps 3
  • 1 King Bed
  • Free Wi-Fi

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The price is €131
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About this property

Gaya Island Resort

Catch some rays on Gaya Island Resort's private sand beach or spend the day relaxing at the full-service spa. Then enjoy a meal at one of the resort's 4 restaurants.
Gaya Island Resort offers 121 air-conditioned accommodations with minibars and safes. Rooms open to balconies. Pillowtop beds feature premium bedding. LED televisions come with satellite channels. Bathrooms include separate bathtubs and showers with deep soaking bathtubs and rainfall showerheads. Bathrooms are also outfitted with bathrobes, slippers, and bidets.

Guests can surf the web using the complimentary wireless Internet access. Business-friendly amenities include desks and phones. Additionally, rooms include complimentary bottled water and hair dryers. A nightly turndown service is provided and housekeeping is offered daily.

Recreational amenities at the resort include an outdoor pool and a 24-hour fitness center.

The recreational activities listed below are available either on site or nearby; fees may apply.

The onsite spa has massage/treatment rooms and couples treatment room(s). Services include deep-tissue massages, hot stone massages, Swedish massages, and Thai massages. The spa is open daily.
During your stay at Gaya Island Resort, you're just a quick walk from Sapi Island. You'll find features like free WiFi in public areas, plus 4 restaurants and a full-service spa.
  • Free WiFi
  • Drinking and dining options include 4 restaurants, a beach bar, and a poolside bar
  • Take a swim in the outdoor pool
  • Indulge with hot stone massages at the spa
  • Services include babysitting, dry cleaning/laundry, and a concierge
  • Onsite recreation includes a 24-hour gym and yoga classes
  • 5.5 mi (8.8 km) from Pantai Pulau Mamutik and 19.6 mi (31.6 km) from Dalit Beach
  • Airport shuttle service available for a fee
Unwind on the resort's private sand beach. Pamper yourself with a treatment at the full-service spa and enjoy amenities at Gaya Island Resort like an outdoor pool and a 24-hour fitness center.

There are 4 restaurants on site. You can enjoy a drink at one of the bars, which include a beach bar, a poolside bar, and a bar/lounge. Public spaces have free WiFi.

This 5-star Gaya Island resort is smoke free.

Feast Village - This restaurant serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
Fishermans Cove - This restaurant specializes in seafood and serves dinner only. Reservations are required. Open daily.
Pool Bar and Lounge - This poolside family restaurant serves lunch and dinner. A children's menu is available. Open daily.
Tavajun Bay - This beachfront restaurant serves lunch only. Open daily.
Omakase - This restaurant specializes in Japanese cuisine and serves dinner only. Open daily.

Awards and affiliations

The property is a member of the Small Luxury Hotels of the World.

Property amenities

Internet

  • Available in all rooms: Free WiFi
  • Available in some public areas: Free WiFi

Parking and transport

  • No on-site parking available
  • Return airport shuttle (surcharge) from 7:30 AM to 9:30 PM on request

Food and drink

  • 4 restaurants
  • A bar/lounge
  • A beach bar
  • A poolside bar

Restaurants on site

  • Feast Village
  • Fishermans Cove
  • Omakase
  • Pool Bar and Lounge
  • Tavajun Bay

Things to do

  • 24-hour gym
  • Full-service spa
  • Library
  • Outdoor pool
  • Snorkelling
  • Yoga classes

Family friendly

  • Babysitting (surcharge)
  • In-room cot
  • Laundry facilities
  • Outdoor pool
  • Soundproofed rooms

Conveniences

  • 24-hour front desk
  • Free newspapers in lobby
  • Gift shop/newsstand
  • Laundry facilities
  • Luggage storage
  • Safe at front desk

Guest services

  • Concierge services
  • Dry cleaning/laundry service
  • Housekeeping (daily)
  • Tour and ticket assistance
  • Turndown service
  • Wedding services

Outdoors

  • Garden
  • On the beach
  • Pool loungers
  • Pool umbrellas

Full-service spa

  • Couples treatment rooms
  • Deep-tissue massages
  • Hot stone massages
  • Spa open daily
  • Spa treatment rooms
  • Swedish massages
  • Thai massages

Accessibility

  • If you have requests for specific accessibility needs, please contact the property using the information on the reservation confirmation received after booking.
  • Upper floors accessible by stairs only

More

  • 2 floors
  • Banquet hall
  • Built in 2012
  • Smoke-free property

Room amenities

Bedroom

  • Free cot
  • Pillowtop mattress
  • Premium bedding

Bathroom

  • Bidet
  • Deep soaking bathtub
  • Dressing gowns
  • Free toiletries
  • Hair dryer
  • Rainfall showerhead
  • Separate bathtub and shower
  • Slippers
  • Towels provided

Entertainment

  • LED TV with satellite channels

Food and drink

  • Electric kettle
  • Free bottled water
  • Minibar

More

  • Air conditioning
  • Ceiling fan
  • Desk
  • Iron/ironing board
  • Phone
  • Safe
  • Soundproofed rooms

Policies

Check-in

Check-in start time: 3:00 PM; Check-in end time: 9:00 PM
Late check-in subject to availability
Minimum check-in age: 18

Check-out

Check-out before 11:00 AM

Special check-in instructions

Guests must transfer to the property via boat and must arrange the transfers by contacting the property before travel, using the contact information on the booking confirmation
This property offers transfers from the ferry terminal and airport (surcharges may apply); guests must contact the property with arrival details before travel, using the contact information on the booking confirmation
The check-in location differs from the property location; go to: [Gaya Lounge, Jesselton Point Jetty]
Guests must contact the property in advance for check-in instructions; front desk staff will greet guests on arrival at the property
To make arrangements for check-in please contact the property ahead of time using the information on the booking confirmation
If you are planning to arrive after 9:00 PM please contact the property in advance using the information on the booking confirmation
Information provided by the property may be translated using automated translation tools
Speedboat transfers (surcharge) are required between Jesselton Point Ferry Terminal and Gaya Island Resort. Departure times are as follows: Jesselton Point Ferry Terminal to Gaya Island Resort: 10 AM, noon, 2 PM, 4 PM, 6 PM and 9 PM. Gaya Island Resort to Jesselton Point Ferry Terminal: 7 AM, 9 AM, 11 AM, 1 PM, 3 PM, 5 PM, and 6:30 PM. Guests who miss the last transfer of the day must board a private charter boat (surcharge). Rates for private charters are MYR 500 from 7 AM to 9 PM, and MYR 700 from 9 PM to 7 AM.

Access methods

Staffed front desk

Pets

  • No pets allowed

Children and extra beds

  • Children are welcome.
  • Rollaway/extra beds are not available.
  • Free cribs (infant beds)!

Payment types at the property

Important information

Fees

Guests will be asked to pay the following charges at the property:

  • Destination fee: MYR 35 per person, per night. This fee does not apply to children under 1 year of age.
  • Boat transfer per adult: MYR 172.80 (roundtrip)
  • Boat transfer per child: MYR 86.40 (roundtrip), from 2 to 11 years old

We've listed all charges provided to us by the property.

Optional extras

The fees and deposits listed below will be charged at the time of service, check-in, or check-out.

  • Airport shuttle fee: MYR 140 per vehicle (one-way)

This may not be a comprehensive list. Fees and deposits are subject to change and might not include tax.

You need to know

This property is managed by a professional host. The provision of housing is linked to their trade, business, or profession.
Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card, or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
This property accepts credit cards and cash
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher, a smoke detector, and a first aid kit
This property has outdoor spaces, such as balconies, patios, terraces which may not be suitable for children; if you have concerns, we recommend contacting the property prior to your arrival to confirm they can accommodate you in a suitable room
Please note that cultural norms and guest policies may differ by country and by property; the policies listed are provided by the property
To get to the property, guests need to transfer by boat. Transfers need to be confirmed in advance by contacting the property at the number on the booking confirmation. Gaya Island Resort offers transfers from the ferry terminal and airport (fees may apply). Please contact the property at the number on the booking confirmation with your arrival details prior to travel. The check-in location differs from the property location. To check in, guests will need to go to Gaya Lounge, Jesselton Point Jetty
To arrange for check-in, guests must contact the property in advance of arrival using the information on the booking confirmation. Guests arriving after 9:00 PM must make advance arrangements by contacting the property using the information on the booking confirmation. Guests must contact the property in advance for check-in information. Front desk staff will greet guests on arrival at the property.
If you cancel your booking, you'll be subject to the host's cancellation policy. In accordance with EU regulations about consumer rights, property booking services are not subject to the right of withdrawal.

We should mention

  • Registered guests are the only ones allowed to be in guestrooms.

Property is also known as

Gaya Island Resort
Resort Gaya Island
Gaya Island Resort Malaysia/Pulau Gaya
Gaya MalaysiaPulau Gaya

Gaya Island Resort Reviews

Reviews

8.8

Excellent

Rating 10 - Excellent. 246 out of 449 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 150 out of 449 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 37 out of 449 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 10 out of 449 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 6 out of 449 reviews

9.0/10

Cleanliness

9.2/10

Staff & service

8.8/10

Amenities

9.0/10

Property conditions & facilities

Reviews

Verified

8/10 Good

Hiroshi

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
THE Resort.
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2025
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveller

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Wonderful location and views. Staff were always friendly, helpful and polite. Fantastic range of activities.
Stayed 4 nights in Aug 2024
Verified

8/10 Good

Samantha, Li Cheng

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Villa was nice and spacious. Service was excellent. Food needs to improve
Stayed 4 nights in Oct 2022
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Gitanjali

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Situated in one of the largest underwater national parks. Spectacular natural beauty with sea, sand and jungle. Hundreds of species of marine and island life. Underwater and above ground Activities beautifully curated by YTL staff to blend conservation and fun.
Stayed 2 nights in Dec 2024
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Siu Chui

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
The property has a beautiful setting with the sea and a primary forest as its backdrop. The hotel excursions are excellent with an added inspiration on marine and forest conservation. Coral garden snorkelling and forest trekking are highly recommended. The staff are all genuinely kind and attentive. A very good resort.
Stayed 4 nights in Feb 2024
Verified

10/10 Excellent

hywel

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
The staff, the staff, the staff. Such genuine helpful staff quick to resolve any problems. Genuine smiles. The East Malaysians are the best hosts.
Stayed 4 nights in Nov 2024
Verified

8/10 Good

Lesley

Liked: Cleanliness, property conditions & facilities
Had a lovely stay, would like to have seen more food options and later bar food service. Activities team were great, reception and waiting staff were not very friendly, expected a higher level of service.
Stayed 4 nights in Apr 2024
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Thomas

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
We were a group of nature lovers who were using this as a three night stay to get used to the temperature and time change upon arrival in Borneo. Loved the grounds and snorkeling right from the beach. Fantastic nature center staffed by several biologists. The food options were a bit pricey but we were expecting that. The grounds were very birdy and we found two Borean Pit Vipers. The mangrove tour was fantastic. Room is very good quality for the price.
Stayed 3 nights in Mar 2025
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Eiji

Liked: Amenities
It is totally amazing!! The staff are really polite and professional!! But the mosquito are really many. So you should bring medicine lol. If you can go there, you should enjoy their facilities. Especially snorkeling!! The beach in front of pool are really great!! There are clear water and many beautiful fishes. You don’t need to go anywhere, just go to beach with your snorkeling gears!! So I appreciate for your hospitality and great services.
Stayed 3 nights in Nov 2023
Verified

6/10 Okay

Amanda

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
The property itself and rooms were nice, but the resort was way too expensive for what was provided. we did not feel like we got value doe the money. The meals were excessively expensive for what they were, and left us with traveler's diarrhea unfortunately. Very basic tours were extra charges too, as were the transfers in and out from kota Kinabalu. We also stayed way too long. I think max 3 nights would be recommended so you don't get bored.
Stayed 5 nights in Oct 2024
Verified

8/10 Good

Verified traveller

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Beautiful location, well organised, excellent food, friendly staff, amazing rooms. Many hidden taxes ... and service charge added even for buffet meal (which was self service ... although did finally remove when challenged). The private beach had a huge rubbish dump just behind the sandy beach. Very disappointing to see on a luxury trip. Great to see the conservation work with rescued turtles and coral. Strange to see complimentary ice lollies being handed out by pool, but only if you agreed to a young waiter taking a photo on his mobile phone ... bizarre.
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2024
Verified

6/10 Okay

Matthew

Liked: Property conditions & facilities
Disliked: Staff & service
Starting with the positives, Gaya Island Resort is in a wonderful setting. The accommodation is spacious with nice outlooks, though depending where you are you could have quite an uphill hike to your rooms. We had the buffet meals in the dining room and the standard of what was offered was very high. The staff were very friendly and accommodating. The service however of the management and reservations team leading up to our visit was appalling. Despite having paid in full we were sent automated messages threatening to cancel our booking and keep any monies already paid. When we replied explaining payment had been made and asking for clarification we simply received the same message again. None of these messages came with a name or contact details. Several attempts to ring the reservations line all concluded the same way i.e. being told all the lines were busy and the phone call was dropped. Expedia's initial attempts to contact the resort also failed but we assume they eventually worked, as we received an email from the resort informing us we should ignore the previous messages. No hint of an apology was offered. On top of this, on two of the days we stayed there was, for different periods of time, no water and no electricity. Regarding the water, on one occasion this lasted for over 9 hours. Finally the cleanliness of the resort in some areas was disappointing. In particular the gym floor was covered in sand and even hairs - very unpleasant.
Stayed 5 nights in Jul 2023
Verified

8/10 Good

Kaori

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
キナバルヴィラに４泊しました。おだやかな海が一望できる清潔かつ快適な部屋に滞在し、自然豊かなリゾートを満喫しました。 一緒に行く予定だった娘が直前で体調を崩してしまったため一人旅になりましたが、ひとりでも充分楽しめます。 コタキナバルのジェッセルトンポイント（船着場）にあるオフィスでも、チェックインに始まりチェックアウト後の空港へのタクシーの手配などさまざまなサポートをしていただき、有り難かったです。 フレンドリーでホスピタリティにあふれたスタッフの方がほとんどでしたが、目をそらして挨拶をしてくださらない方（ごく一部です）がいて残念でした。 とはいえ、とてもすてきな体験でした。次回はぜひ娘と一緒に来たいです。
Stayed 4 nights in Aug 2025
Verified

6/10 Okay

Mingye

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
食事のバリエーションはイマイチ、1泊は短くて感じるが、2泊だと長い感じする。プライベートビーチではビーチは綺麗だけど、すぐ横にプラスチックゴミがたくさんあって、こどもも環境を心配してる
Stayed 2 nights in Dec 2024
Verified

8/10 Good

Verified traveller

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

Godt resort med lidt mangler

Lokation og mad super god. Der er ikke så meget at lave udover sol, vand og afslapning. 3 nætter er passende. Vi manglede vandforsyning i en dag.
Stayed 3 nights in Dec 2024
Verified

8/10 Good

Mario

Liked: Cleanliness
Schöne Hotelanlage. Gute Zimmer. Service ok. Preis-Leistung zu hoch.
Stayed 1 night in Sep 2024
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveller

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

BisyoAd92

自然環境との調和がすばらしい。部屋の清掃も素晴らしい。
キナバル山と日の出
レストランの屋根で朝食のパンケーキをねらう天狗ざる
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2023
Verified

10/10 Excellent

YEONGJIN

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

최고에요

요트값비싼거 뺴곤 완전최고. 처음부터 잘알려줘야지 끝날때 보증금 싹날림 ㅠ
Stayed 1 night in Feb 2020
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveller

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
非常棒的度假村，潔白的沙灘，透明乾淨的海水，讓人真的非常放鬆。渡假村的工作非常有禮貌，餐點價格雖然有點高，但還算不錯。讓人還會想再去的渡假村。
Stayed 2 nights in Jan 2020
Verified

10/10 Excellent

chun chou

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
좋았어요 :) 두번 방문 했었는데 이번에는 한국사람도 중국사람도 정말 많아졌더라구요! 참고하세요~
Stayed 1 night in Jan 2020
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveller

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
這是一家非常棒的渡假村，風景很漂亮，工作人員很和善，讓人非常放鬆，非常推薦。
Stayed 1 night in Jan 2020
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Yen Ying

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

Beautiful Gaya Island Retreat

My family and I stayed at GIR for 2 nights and had a great time. The rooms were enormous (complete with separate areas for walk in robes, bathtub, shower, toilet). Room amenities were excellent, with bug spray and ointment for insect bites. Our rooms had fantastic views across the sea to Mt Kinabalu, beautiful to watch the sunrise every morning. The staff were all very friendly and attentive to our needs. We will absolutely be back again. Thank your GIR for a great time!
Stayed 2 nights in Jan 2020
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveller

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

コストパフォーマンスに優れたリゾート

とてもコストパフォーマンスに優れたリゾートです。島なので、リゾート気分を味わえます。スタッフも笑顔で挨拶してくれ、不快なことはなにもありませんでした。欠点はお湯があまりでないことぐらいです。滞在中は日本人はだれもいなくて、中国人と韓国人が多かったです
Stayed 2 nights in Jan 2020
Verified

4/10 Poor

Verified traveller

Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Each room has a bath tub but there were less hot water in the evening. Even after water filled, many aunts was floating.
Stayed 1 night in Dec 2019
Verified

8/10 Good

Verified traveller

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
suggest book activity or dinner reservation early, before arrive as not many slots
Stayed 3 nights in Jan 2020