Moana Water Village
19 rooms · private plunge pools
Some properties like Moana Water Village have 19 rooms and integrate private plunge pools into their design.
- 19 rooms
- Private plunge pools
- Air-conditioning and exceptional food
Semporna's floating resorts
The Semporna water villages
An honest guide to the water villages of the Semporna archipelago, explaining how the independent over-water properties differ from the island resorts and how to visit the Bajau communities in a way that works.
Welcome
Homes on stilts over the Semporna sea
Independent wooden properties built on stilts stand directly over the coral reefs of the Celebes Sea. A scheduled speedboat takes you from the Semporna mainland jetty to your over-water room in under 45 minutes. You wake to the sound of the ocean and spend your days snorkelling the house reef or exploring the Tun Sakaran Marine Park.
A scheduled speedboat takes you from the Semporna mainland jetty to your over-water room in under 45 minutes.
You wake to the sound of the ocean and spend your days snorkelling the house reef or exploring the Tun Sakaran Marine Park.
Who it suits
Off-grid over-water properties
Over-water setting
Stay in an independent property built directly over the Celebes Sea.
Scheduled speedboat transfers
Reach the water villages by scheduled speedboat from the Semporna jetty.
Reef snorkelling
Snorkel coral reefs from your deck or join daily island trips.
Maritime culture
Experience Bajau Sama and Bajau Laut maritime culture on its own terms.
Grassroots community support
Understand Sabah statelessness and how your visit helps Omadal grassroots schools.
Accommodation
Standalone wooden stilt structures
The Semporna water villages give you a room directly above the ocean with the reef outside your door. A stay typically includes your room, all meals served in a central dining area and afternoon tea.
Maglami-Lami Waterhouse
6 rooms · built off Pulau Bum Bum
Smaller operations like Maglami-Lami Waterhouse with 6 rooms built off the coast of Pulau Bum Bum rely entirely on boat access.
- 6 rooms
- Built off Pulau Bum Bum coast
- Relies entirely on boat access
Off-grid operations
Wooden partitions · off-grid systems
The honest picture of what to expect from the smaller operations is that they run on off-grid systems. Hot water is not standard everywhere and the walls are thin wooden partitions.
- Off-grid systems
- Thin wooden partitions
- Hot water is not standard
Independent water villages
Connected by wooden walkways
They are standalone wooden structures built on stilts directly over the sandbars and shallow reefs around the islands. They are connected by wooden walkways.
- Standalone wooden structures
- Built directly over the reef
- Connected by wooden walkways
Over-water rooms
All meals included
A stay typically includes your room, all meals served in a central dining area and afternoon tea. You are here for the location rather than the amenities.
- Room directly above the ocean
- All meals served in central area
- Afternoon tea included
Dining
Meals in the central area
A stay typically includes your room, all meals served in a central dining area and afternoon tea. The properties operate fixed-schedule speedboat transfers from the Semporna public jetty.
Wildlife you may see
Keep your binoculars close
Sightings are wild and never guaranteed: that is the point. These are the residents your guides will be listening for.
Accommodation
Ways to stay
Rates on enquiry: no prices are published.
Tun Sakaran Marine Park
2 nights in a Semporna water village: snorkel the house reef and explore the Tun Sakaran Marine Park.
EnquireIsland-hopping trips
3 nights in a water village: daily island-hopping trips and meals in the central dining area.
EnquireBajau communities
A week over the Celebes Sea, visiting the Bajau communities respectfully and snorkelling the coral reefs.
Enquire
Practical matters
Common Semporna travel questions
Everyone entering the park requires a conservation permit. The team arranges this for you and includes it in your package.
You fly to Tawau Airport and take a road transfer to Semporna. The properties run scheduled speedboat transfers from the jetty to the floating structures.
The properties accept children and many have specific child policies. Tell the team the ages of your children and they will confirm the arrangements.
Sabah Parks issues 254 Sipadan permits a day. You dive Sipadan by booking a package that secures a permit. The team confirms what applies to your dates when you enquire.
Practical matters
Scheduled mainland speedboat transfers
You fly into Tawau Airport from Kota Kinabalu or Kuala Lumpur. A driver meets you and the road transfer to Semporna takes around an hour and a half. The boats to the water villages leave from the Semporna jetty.
Alternatives
Nearby and combinations
Most guests pair Semporna water villages with Mataking Island, an exclusive island resort near the Alice Channel, or Pom Pom Island, a premium resort with a sea turtle hatchery. Combination itineraries are built to order.
The community
Plan your Semporna water village stay
Tell the team your dates and they will arrange your over-water room in the Semporna water villages and coordinate your speedboat transfers.