Pulau Manukan, Malaysia
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About Pulau Manukan
Facing, offshore wind, exposure, level and swell range are estimated. Facts: verified, surf details estimated.
The spot faces NW (295°), so it takes swell from the NW. The wind blows offshore from the SE (115°). It is sheltered to the open swell. It suits beginners and up. It works in 1–5 ft of swell. The sea is about 28°C in February, its coldest month (no wetsuit), and 30°C in May, its warmest (no wetsuit). For beginners the best months are usually September, October and November, with about 3 good days in 7. From the weather of past years. The town to stay in is Kota Kinabalu, 8 km away (about 15 min by car).
Water about 30°C: no wetsuit. Typical sea temperature for the time of year, not a forecast.
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Book the trip
From Chicago: about 26 h 35 door to door, one way. An estimate; the journey never changes the score.
Fly. Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD) to BKI, changing at Hong Kong International Airport (HKG).
See flights ORD → BKI · Skyscanner from about £785 returnAdGetting there. 25 min from the airport to Pulau Manukan.
Accommodation.
Stay in Kota KinabaluAd
Typical prices for a double room that month, not a quote.
Room photos are examples, not these hotels (credits).
See all places to stay in Kota Kinabalu (ad) on Booking.com →Closest towns to stay in
Kota Kinabalu 14 min by car · rooms from £60 a night · 348 places to stay · where Pulau Manukan stays
Places to stay in Kota Kinabalu · Booking.com Ad
Typical prices for a double room that month, not a quote. Drives are estimates.
Hire and lessons.
Surf lessons in Kota Kinabalu · GetYourGuideAdBoard and wetsuit hire in Kota Kinabalu · GetYourGuideAd
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Where it is
Pulau Manukan on Google Maps · Directions
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Forecast
The score for intermediates, coloured as on the area pages:GoodFairPoorToo bigToo small
| Day | Score for intermediates | Swell | Energy | Wind | Temp |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sun 18Oct | 17, too small | 2 ft6 s | 21kJ | wind from the west-north-west, 2 knots | 30°C |
| Mon 19Oct | 13, too small | 1 ft6 s | 10kJ | wind from the north-west, 1 knot | 29°C |
| Tue 20Oct | 12, too small | 1 ft6 s | 9kJ | wind from the south, 3 knots | 30°C |
| Wed 21Oct | 9, too small | 1 ft6 s | 9kJ | wind from the south, 6 knots | 29°C |
| Thu 22Oct | 9, too small | 1 ft3 s | 3kJ | wind from the south-south-west, 3 knots | 29°C |
| Fri 23Oct | 10, too small | 1 ft3 s | 3kJ | wind from the south-south-west, 9 knots | 29°C |
| Sat 24Oct | 21, too small | 2 ft8 s | 42kJ | wind from the south-south-west, 7 knots | 29°C |
| Sun 25Oct | 28, too small | 2 ft8 s | 58kJ | wind from the west-south-west, 4 knots | 29°C |
| Mon 26Oct | 23, too small | 2 ft8 s | 48kJ | wind from the south-west, 0 knots | 29°C |
| Tue 27Oct | 7, too small | 1 ft6 s | 6kJ | offshorewind from the south-south-east, 3 knots, offshore | 29°C |
| Wed 28Oct | 0, poor | – | – | – | – |
Day scores here are the conditions out of 80; a trip's score on the results is the same conditions out of 100. The journey never scores. The forecast reaches about 10 days. Energy is the swell's power in kJ per metre of wave, from its height and interval: it grows with the square of each, so a long-period swell hits far harder than a short one the same size. Wind is in knots: 10 kn is about 19 km/h. The arrow points where the wind blows to; offshore wind, blowing from the land out to sea, is green and says so.
Your trip, day by day
6 nights from Mon 19 Oct, leaving from Chicago, for intermediate surfers. Change dates
- Mon 19 OctTravel out
Fly ORD to BKI, changing at HKG, then 25 min by road. About 26h 35 door to door
- Tue 20 OctRest day
Too small: 1 ft at best.
- Wed 21 OctRest day
Too small: 1 ft at best.
- Thu 22 OctRest day
Too small: 1 ft at best.
- Fri 23 OctRest day
Too small: 1 ft at best.
- Sat 24 OctRest day
Too small: 2 ft at best.
- Sun 25 OctTravel home
Fly ORD to BKI, changing at HKG, then 25 min by road. About 26h 35 door to door
Rough cost
About £1,220–£2,400 each for 6 nights, 2 people sharing a room. A guide from typical prices, not a quote: check the real prices before you book.
| What | How we worked it out | Each |
|---|---|---|
| Flights | return ORD to BKI, estimated from distance and season, changing at HKG, full-service airlines, with a hold bag | £785–£1,635 |
| To the UK airport | parking or the train, there and back | £35–£65 |
| Taxi | airport and back, shared | £15–£25 |
| Stay | 6 nights, a mid-range double, shared | £165–£280 |
| Food | 7 days eating out | £155–£290 |
| Board and wetsuit | 5 days, or about £85 to fly your own | £65–£105 |
| Total | £1,220–£2,400 |
Prices from public sources, checked in 2026: where they come from. Lessons, lift-pass deals and insurance are extra.
Places to eat near Kota Kinabalu
- Suang Tain Seafood RestaurantSeafood · 0.1 km from the centre
- Uncle BOB Fried ChickenChicken · 0.1 km from the centre
- 雙天海鮮樓Seafood · 0.1 km from the centre
- 5 Star Hainanese Chicken Rice & BBQ PorkChinese · 0.2 km from the centre
- ChubsBar and grill · 0.2 km from the centre
- Der Master Restaurant, Delicatessen Grocer & BarGerman · 0.2 km from the centre
Within 2 km of the town centre, listed by how complete the listing is (website, opening hours, cuisine) and whether two sources name it. Not a judgement of the food: we have no reviews. Listings © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL) and Overture Maps Foundation. Credits
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Where to stayAd
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