Pulau Sibu travel & tourist guide
Turtles and snorkelling feature in Sibu
Pulau Sibu is a tiny paradise island off the southeast coast of Peninsular Malaysia with pristine sandy beaches and a wealth of scuba diving opportunities. Home to some extremely luxurious resorts, Sibu Island is the realm of Malaysian rich and famous. But visitors don’t have to take out a second mortgage to stay here, and there are some great discounts available with our hotel booking partners which allow the ultimate in five star pampering at bargain rates.
The Sibu group of islands lies 30 minutes by ferry from the mainland and was designated a marine national park in 1993. Naturally there is a plethora of flora and fauna to explore with different sea turtle species crawling ashore here during July to lay their eggs. It is difficult to reconcile the picture postcard appearance with the fact that a Vietnamese refugee camp once occupied the area.
Sibu resorts generally shut down during the peak of the annual monsoon season, which typically goes between November and February. There is no bank or ATMs on the island, but most of the resorts, and certainly the big ones, will accept credit cards (with a surcharge).
Mobile phone reception is often a bit tricky on Sibu Island, so it is generally best to book hotels and resorts online. As well as being hassle-free and cheap, booking Sibu hotels online also often means a discount. If you plan on visiting any time near peak season, be sure to allow plenty of time for booking.
Pulau Sibu attractions and activities
With so much of the land remaining uninhabited, there are not many tourist attractions on Pulau Sibu to speak of. Visitors here spend their time relaxing on the perfect sandy beaches, splashing about in the water and propping up the bar when the sun does down.
Snorkelling
There are many places to snorkel by Sibu Island with equipment rental normally provided free from the resorts. Visibility can be hit or miss, but giant dams, parrot fish, cockles, butterfly fish, sea horses and countless other marine animals can be found amongst the reefs.
Fishing
Angling is an extremely popular Sibu activity with some huge marlin caught off the shore. As Pulau Sibu is designated a marine park, fishing is only allowed more than two kilometres from her coast normally by Unjang or Kelong.
Clamber around rocky outcrops to hidden beaches
Jungle trekking
There are plenty of jungle trails that crisscross the island and are teeming with monitor lizards, exotic birds and insects. Remember your mosquito repellent, take sensible shoes and leave enough time to get back before dark (most journeys take less than 20 minutes).
Scuba diving
The marine park is packed full of turtles, rays and blue tip sharks and the knowledgeable diving shops attached to the resorts will have an idea where to head at what time of year. Scuba Doo PADI Dive Center (Cabanas Resort, Tel: (07) 861 4473) comes highly recommended and also offers excellent snorkelling trips to smaller islands near Sibu.
Pulau Sibu resorts and hotels
Sea Gypsy Village Resort: this Pulau Sibu hotel is a well established eco-resort catering for all pockets. It thrives in harmony with its natural surroundings and features sympathetically-designed chalets nestled amid five acres. There is also a pretty deserted sandy beach here. Tel: (019) 710 4119. Rooms from US$60.
Sibu Island Cabanas Boutique Resort: This recently renovated resort is located on probably the island’s best beach and surrounded by clean well maintained tropical garden. It is a short stroll from snorkelling spots and there’s a top notch bar and restaurant attached. Tel: (07) 861 4473. Rooms from US$50.
Sari Pacifica Hotel, Resort & Spa: this elegant Sibu resort is surrounded by a verdant tropical hills and features a private beach and picturesque vistas of Tinggi Island. All guest villas have sea views, LCD televisions and spa bathrooms. Tel: (03) 8942 8888. From US$120.
Pulau Sibu restaurants and bars
There are no independent eateries on the island since the only one called ‘On the Rocks’ lived up to its name and fell into the sea. All Sibu resorts have restaurants and most stays include meals as part of the deal, usually in a buffet arrangement. Saturday is normally barbecue night on northwest beach where Sea Gypsy and Sibu Island Cabanas and found.
These are overpriced, however, at RM80 plus tax so it’s probably best to opt for an all-inclusive deal when booking accommodation. The resorts have a full range of alcoholic drinks including top shelf spirits with beers costing around RM12 and cocktails anywhere from RM20 upwards.
Getting to Pulau Sibu
There are no roads on Pulau Sibu so walking between resorts is the only way to get around the island. There are no scheduled ferries to the island so you have to arrange transfer with your resort when booking. The boat journey takes 30mins and costs RM70 return.
Access to Sibu is by the small town of Tanjung Leman, around 72kms south of Mersing and 130kms north of Johor Bahru. There is no public transport to Tanjung Leman and so visitors must arrange pickup with their resort or take a taxi (around RM180 from Johor Bahru). But it works out cheaper to take a bus to Kota Tinggi and then catch a taxi to Tanjung Leman from there.
