Sutera Sanctuary Lodges At Manukan Island

Had a wonderful two days at Manukan island. The resort is in a beautiful spot, one is immersed in nature. The resort has a separate beach to the beach used by day visitors, there were plenty of shaded loungers. The snorkeling was exceptional, we brought our own equipment. The food at the restaurant was nice, prices around 30-60 myr per dish for lunch/dinner, breakfast was included and was delicious.

I would appreciate more information about the boat transfer before booking. The room description says that boat transfer is included but the boat is only at scheduled times, otherwise one has to pay quite a lot for a private transfer. The earliest boat to leave the island was 12 pm, the latest boat to get to the island was 3:30 pm. I did raise to the reception team that I wasn't sure we'd make the afternoon transfer to the resort as our flight was landing in KK in the afternoon and they kindly offered to wait for us for up to an hour (which eventually wasn't necessary) Many reviews also bring up the litter issue. It isn't that bad, but there's quite a lot of trash on the edges of the beach. I didn't see any staff clear those areas. The sunset spot at the tip of the island was particularly bad and the bins there were overfilling.

Room - We love our stay at the Hillside Villa！The villa is huge, bright, clean and comfortable. I particularly love the sofa area that looks directly out to the sea. Service - All the staff had been wonderful and warm. They were always ready to provide assistance. I'm wow by their smiles and warm service. Food - The food at the restaurant is good. I would love if there were more choices of light snack and finger food. Environment - The overall vibe at the resort is quite relaxed and it is possible to just spend the whole day at the private beach. I think it would be even better if there is onsite food and drink service at the beach since it is a short walk from the restaurant like providing ice water, sales of drinks and food.

It would definitely be great if the rooms have wifi.

Gli appartamenti sono molto belli e posizionati proprio sulla spiaggia privata (anche se gli accessi non sono regolamentati) del resort. Ottima la colazione compresa e i pasti à la carte consumati presso il ristorante (essendo l'unico dell'isola, forse sarebbe più opportuno prevedere almeno una mezza pensione). L'isola è molto bella, meta durante il giorno di innumerevoli turisti tramite tour giornalieri automatizzati, mentre la mattina e la sera è una vera oasi di pace. Piccolo squali del reef proprio nelle acque di fronte la spiaggia.

Il servizio incluso di navetta verso la terraferma non ha molte opzioni e viene gestito in modo caotica. A causa della presenza di un gruppo numeroso ci è stato chiesto, più volte e nonostante avessimo dichiarato di avere un'organizzazione rigida, di anticipare o ritardare la nostra partenza dall'isola. Ci sono stati addebitati ben 100 ringit per la rottura di una brocca di vetro nell'appartamento. Ci è sembrato un costo spropositato per il costo della vita del Paese.

Cosy, wonderful staff, beautiful landscape

Rooms very comfortable and the food was amazing

The hoards of day trippers

Absolutely perfect stay! The hillside apartment was a dream, even better than we imagined. The staff were absolutely amazing, especially Grace who was equal parts professional, friendly and funny 🥰 The food was delicious. When we stayed, they actively restricted the private beach to guests only and it was paradise! So relaxing and peaceful. Snorkeling was super fun, all the fish are underneath the pier, they are so cute!

There are small menus by each sunlounger at the private beach offering drinks, but the male staff member told us we had to walk to the bar to order which is by the public beach and quite a distance when you're trying to relax!

The resort is designed like chalets, and we stayed in connecting king and twin rooms. Clear water beach on some parts. Boat Transfers: The speedboat departs only at certain timings. The jetty is near Magellan Sutera Resort, so I recommend staying there if you need to overnight before or after. Do note—do not leave your belongings on the boat. The staff will not inform you if anything is left behind. Check in : Fast and staff were friendly and helpful .

I stayed here with my two children, and while the island itself is beautiful, my overall experience at the resort was disappointing. I received a complaint from a staff member, Amberly, about “noise” from my kids. When I asked her what exactly the complaint was, she couldn’t explain and I had to follow up myself. Eventually, she came to the room to apologize, but by then the mood of the trip was already affected. It turned out the complaint was about stomping sounds. In reality, the rooms have very weak floorboards—just walking normally sounds like stomping. I was upset to be held accountable for something caused by the resort’s infrastructure, not my children’s behavior. As a parent traveling with two kids, this was stressful, especially since my kids are generally well-behaved. It was the first time I’ve ever received a complaint against them, which made it all the more discouraging. Facilities: The sink leaked at night while it was raining, and there were two 5-minute power shutdowns (one at 10pm and another at 10:30am). Stain on bedsheet. Wi-Fi: No Wi-Fi in the rooms. It’s only available at the reception and restaurant. Food: Extremely expensive. A steak was MYR 96, while a nasi goreng cost MYR 50. Activities: While snorkeling near the resort, I didn’t see any fish. It’s much better to go with a tour group instead. Weather: September is not a good month to visit. It rained every afternoon and evening; only mornings were clear. Overall, I do not recommend this resort for families with young or active children. The noise complaint was poorly handled and the facilities are not well-maintained . It’s a pity this is the only resort on the island, because the island itself is worth visiting.