Majestic Bodgaya Island, with its dramatic landscape and lush vegetation, invites travellers to explore its hidden wonders.
Details
Pulau Bodgaya, Pulau Bohey Dulang and Pulau Tetagan together form a semi-circular group of islands marking part of the rim of a large, ancient volcanic crater.
Approximately 8km long and 1.5km wide, Bodgaya Island covers an area of ~796.4 hectares, making it the largest of the 8 islands in Tun Sakaran Marine Park.
There are no coral sand beaches here, as there are on nearby islands. Beaches on Pulau Bodgaya are formed mainly from cobbles of volcanic rocks believed to be of late Tertiary (Pliocene) and Quaternary origin (up to 2.58 million years ago).
There’s an abundance of flora and fauna in the sheltered slopes and valleys of the island, where the richest vegetation and tallest trees in the area may be found. A number of freshwater streams flow along its northern end.
Accommodation & day tours
There are no major hotels or resorts on Pulau Bodgaya, or any of the other islands in Tun Sakaran Marine Park.
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Things to do
Visitors to Bodgaya Island usually stop by as part of a longer trip to nearby Pulau Bohey Dulang, one of the most popular destinations in Tun Sakaran Marine Park.
Snorkeling & scuba diving
See above for snorkeling and diving day tours to Tun Sakaran Marine Park.
Bajau Laut (Sea Gypsies) village
Most visitors to the island come to catch a glimpse of the Bajau Laut settlements set amidst the majestic backdrop of the mountainous Bodgaya and Bohey Dulang islands.
Getting here
Pulau Bodgaya can be reached by visitors from:
- Bum Bum (±15 minutes);
- Semporna (±35 minutes);
- Pom Pom(±20 minutes);
- Mataking (±30 minutes); and
- Mabul (±1.5 hours).
More info
The crater rim formed by the 3 islands continues underwater as part of an extensive belt of coral reefs (the Southern Rim reef) between the southern points of Bohey Dulang and Tetagan.
The island terrain is rugged with precipitous faces and wooded valleys with volcanic rock exposed in many places. Mangrove is established along much of the coastal fringe.
There are two peaks on the western ‘arm’ of the island. The main one (Mt. Bodgaya) reaches heights of up to 455m, and to the east of this is another peak that reaches heights of up to 427m. Another peak (~366m) is found on the island’s eastern arm. The two arms are separated by a valley, which cuts through from the island’s north to south.
Access is possible to most shorelines at high tide, but becomes increasingly difficult at low tide.