Gaya Island Resort

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Luxury
5.0 star property
8.8

Excellent

Elegance nestled between sea and forest

Beautifully set against the sea and primary forest, this resort offers spacious accommodation with stunning views. Delight in high-quality buffet meals and exceptional excursions focused on marine and forest conservation, including coral garden snorkelling and forest trekking.

The current price is ฿8,886
฿14,633 total
includes taxes & fees
17 Oct - 18 Oct

Popular amenities

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

Room options

Available filters for rooms
Showing 6 of 6 rooms

View all photos for Bayu Villa

A hotel room with a large bed, two bedside lamps, a wooden ceiling, and a door leading to another room.

Bayu Villa

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

View all photos for Kinabalu Villa

A hotel room with a large bed, a view of the mountains, a ceiling fan, and a television.

Kinabalu Villa

8.0 out of 10
Very good
(6 reviews)
  • Partial sea view
  • 47 sq m
  • 1 bedroom
  • Sleeps 3
  • 1 King Bed OR 2 Single Beds

View all photos for Canopy Villa

A modern bedroom with a large bed, bedside lamps, and a view of the outdoors.

Canopy Villa

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

Room

  • Sleeps 20

Room

  • Sleeps 20

Room

  • Sleeps 20
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About the area

Located in Gaya Island, Gaya Island Resort is on the beach. International Cruise Terminal Kota Kinabalu and Jesselton Point Ferry Terminal are worth checking out if an activity is on the agenda, while those wishing to experience the area's natural beauty can explore Pantai Pulau Mamutik and Dalit Beach. Tunku Abdul Rahman Park and Aquascape Center are also worth visiting. Looking to get your feet wet? Kayaking and fishing adventures can be found near the property. Visit our Gaya Island travel guide
View more Resorts in Gaya Island
Map
Malohom Bay, Pulau Gaya, Tunku Abdul Rahman Park, Gaya Island, Sabah, 88000

Getting around

  • Putatan Station
    24 min drive

Restaurants

  • McDonald's
  • Fatt Kee Seafood Restaurant
  • Suria Food Court
  • Nyonya House
  • New WK Dining 新旺角

About this property

Gaya Island Resort

  • Luxury boutique resort
  • Take advantage of a beach bar, a poolside bar and a garden at Gaya Island Resort. This resort is a great place to bask in the sun with a beachfront location, beachfront dining and snorkelling. Treat yourself to a massage at the on-site spa. At the 4 on-site restaurants, enjoy breakfast, lunch, dinner, children's meals and seafood. Yoga classes are offered at the 24-hour gym; the property also has a library, dry cleaning/laundry services and a bar. Stay connected with free in-room WiFi.
  • You'll also enjoy perks such as:
    • An outdoor pool, along with sunloungers and pool umbrellas
    • A round-trip airport shuttle (surcharge), babysitting (surcharge) and a gift shop
    • A 24-hour front desk, luggage storage and smoke-free property
    • Free newspapers, tour/ticket information and wedding services
  • Room features
  • All 121 rooms have comforts such as premium bedding and air conditioning, as well as perks such as free WiFi and safes.
  • More amenities include:
    • Pillowtop mattresses and free cots/infant beds
    • Rainfall showers, deep-soaking baths and bidets
    • LED TVs with satellite channels
    • Balconies, electric kettles and ceiling fans

Awards and affiliations

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

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  • Spa
  • Free Wi-Fi
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฿10,927 total
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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
  • Smoking not allowed

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

Pets not allowed

Children and extra beds

Children are welcome
Rollaway/extra beds are not available.
Free cots are available on request at the property

Payment types at the property

  • American Express
  • Mastercard
  • Visa

Important information

Fees

You'll be asked to pay the following charges at the property. Fees may include applicable taxes:

  • Destination fee: MYR35 per person, per night. This fee does not apply to children under 1 year of age.
  • Boat transfer per adult: MYR 212 (return)
  • Boat transfer per child: MYR 106 (return), from 2 to 11 years old

We have included all charges provided to us by the property.

Optional extras

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

The above list may not be comprehensive. Fees and deposits may not include tax and are subject to change.

You need to know

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 and terraces, which may not be suitable for children; if you have any concerns, we recommend contacting the property prior to your arrival to confirm that 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

We should mention

This property does not have any lifts
Only registered guests are allowed in the guestrooms

Frequently asked questions

Does Gaya Island Resort have a pool?

Yes, this property has an outdoor pool.

How much does it cost to stay at Gaya Island Resort?

As of 7 Oct 2026, prices found for a 1-night stay for 2 adults at Gaya Island Resort on 17 Oct 2026 start from ฿8,886, excluding taxes and fees. This price is based on the lowest nightly price found in the last 24 hours for stays in the next 30 days. Prices are subject to change. Choose your dates for more accurate prices.

Is Gaya Island Resort pet-friendly?

No, pets are not allowed at this property.

How much is parking at Gaya Island Resort?

This resort doesn't offer parking.

What time is check-in at Gaya Island Resort?

Check-in start time: 3:00 PM; check-in end time: 9:00 PM. Late check-in is available during limited hours.

What time is check-out at Gaya Island Resort?

Checkout is at 11:00 AM.

Does Gaya Island Resort provide a shuttle to the airport?

Yes, there's an airport shuttle that runs 7:30 AM-9:30 PM on request. A fee of MYR 140 per vehicle applies.

Where is Gaya Island Resort located?

Nestled on the beach, this Gaya Island resort is 5.5 mi (8.8 km) from Pantai Pulau Mamutik and 19.6 mi (31.6 km) from Dalit Beach. Tunku Abdul Rahman Park is 0.8 mi (1.3 km) away.

Can I cancel my reservation for free and receive a full refund?

Yes, this property offers free cancellation on selected room rates because flexibility matters! Please refer to the property cancellation policy on our site for more details about any exclusions or requirements.

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Reviews

Gaya Island Resort Reviews

8.8

Excellent

9.0

Cleanliness

8.4

Location

9.2

Staff & service

9.0

Property conditions & facilities
Rating 10 - Excellent. 248 out of 451 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 150 out of 451 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 37 out of 451 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 10 out of 451 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 6 out of 451 reviews

Reviews

Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
We had an amazing time at Gaya Island Resort. It is a luxury resort with great food and drinks, comfortable rooms, and incredible views/proximity to the ocean. Worth noting is that this is in a nature reserve, surrounded by jungle and ocean, and the resort embraces and supports this, which means coexisting with wildlife. You can walk out from the resort beach to their own protected reef and swim with dozens of species of beautiful fish (equipment is available for free). We didn’t see any snakes, though we watched for them constantly over 5 days and participated intently in multiple jungle walks. The activities were an absolute highlight - a deeper snorkeling excursion, walks, mangrove kayaking, and more available. I had booked it confident that the family members who prefer to lounge by the pool would be well-served, but they ended up coming on the excursions and having a great time. Definitely worth 4-5 days if you can swing it.
Stayed 5 nights in Oct 2026
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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 review

10/10 Excellent

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 review

10/10 Excellent

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 review

8/10 Good

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 review

10/10 Excellent

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 review

10/10 Excellent

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 review

8/10 Good

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

6/10 Okay

Liked: Staff & service
Could be so much better - this is 3 or 4 start at best - Its missing the finishing touches that enhances guest experience - eg 1 hour for bags to be brought to room, food over priced and average - room aircon is not up to standard, not enough power outlets - in reality only one for guest use in the room, for the money there is better , far better
Stayed 4 nights in Apr 2026
Verified review

8/10 Good

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 review

10/10 Excellent

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 review

6/10 Okay

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 review

8/10 Good

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 review

6/10 Okay

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 review

8/10 Good

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 review

6/10 Okay

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 review

8/10 Good

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 review

8/10 Good

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

10/10 Excellent

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 review

10/10 Excellent

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 review

10/10 Excellent

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 review

10/10 Excellent

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 review

10/10 Excellent

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 review

10/10 Excellent

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 review

10/10 Excellent

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