After a two-hour 4×4 ride through kampungs, plantations and later dense forests, we arrived at the magnificent Borneo Rainforest Lodge. From that moment on, we experienced three days of pure enjoyment. From the amazing rooms with a magnificent view and a private plunge pool to the guided walks through the thick jungle, holding our breath every time the guide suddenly came to a halt. It was a truly unique experience. We saw orangutans, which was an absolute highlight. And too many other species to mention here. Danum Valley was one of the best jungle adventures we ever did and one of the most memorable highlights of our trip through Sabah.
We had already seen many beautiful photos and videos beforehand, but when you actually get there, it really does give you that overwhelming ‘wow’ feeling. Reviews we read spoke of a ‘unique experience’ and the ‘most beautiful jungle experience ever’, so needless to say our expectations were sky high. Danum Valley had been high on my bucket list for many years, yet I had never managed to visit it. It is a unique and therefore quite exclusive destination, with a corresponding price tag. As a result, not everyone is able to include it in their itinerary. They are missing out for sure though. It is worth every penny if you are looking for unforgettable memories. And unforgettable it was!
Danum Valley is located in the heart of Sabah on Malaysian Borneo and is a protected area where animals can roam freely and relatively undisturbed. You can explore this ancient jungle (primary rainforest) from the lodge and sometimes even spot different animal species directly from out of your chalet. You can see them in great detail, by using the binoculars that are waiting for you in your room.
From the first encounter with the driver at Lahad Datu airport to the jungle hikes accompanied by licensed guides who not only know everything but also see everything, the stay was simply wonderful. You really run out of superlatives to describe this jungle resort. The great thing is that a stay of just a few nights seems to last an eternity. This is partly because you are doing these terrific nature activities from start to finish. From great hikes to swimming at a waterfall, from canopy walks to night safaris… there seemed to be no end to all the great activities we did there.
Luxury chalets and villas surrounding the jungle lodge
The small-scale jungle resort has a total of three villas and 27 chalets spread out over a spacious area, truly in the middle of nowhere. Everything is well connected by wooden walkways, which makes it easy to navigate to your chalet (and also, you will never accidentally step on a poisonous snake). In the evening, the entire area is beautifully lit. The rooms all have a modern interior and the tall windows give you a magnificent view of the dense jungle surrounding the lodge. The view from the ‘River View’ rooms, overlooking the Danum River that meanders past the lodge, is truly fantastic, but even the rooms with a view of the dense jungle encourages you to search for wildlife. All chalets have air conditioning and an ensuite bathroom. The latter is nice because it prevents the room from becoming even more humid.
The Jungle Chalet (Standard Chalet) is the most affordable type of accommodation at the lodge, but it is already quite the luxurious stay (obvious given the rates). The standard chalet has a private balcony with a view of the jungle. If you are lucky, you can spot animals or rare birds from your chalet. The chalet has air conditioning to keep the insects out.
The Deluxe Chalet is beautifully situated along the river (Deluxe River View) and offers great views from your outdoor bath tub or plunge pool. The Deluxe Jungle View chalets have an outdoor pool with beautiful views of the jungle, and with occasional chances to see wildlife. These chalets are beautifully decorated and very spacious.
Every chalet has air-conditioning, which not only keeps the insects out, but also helps your clothes and shoes dry faster. The difference in price between the standard chalet and this Deluxe Chalet is almost negligible in terms of total costs, so if possible we would always choose the Deluxe Chalet, as then you have your own private plunge pool.
We stayed in one of the Deluxe Jungle View chalets and it was truly fantastic. You spend the entire stay looking out the window to see if you can spot any animals, until on the last morning of our stay, a whole family of red langurs (red leaf monkeys or Presbytis Rubicunda) suddenly passed by. It was a special sight. The chalet was fully equipped with two large beds, a rain shower and a well-stocked mini-fridge. The Nespresso machine with a few capsules was very nice, ideal for starting the day in case of early morning activities (before breakfast).
The Premium Deluxe Chalet is a step up in terms of luxury, size and, of course, price. This is an spacious apartment, beautifully decorated with a great view over the river. This villa also has a (slightly larger) plunge pool and an outdoor shower with bathroom. The presence of a Nespresso machine is again a nice extra.
The Premium Villa is the lodge’s crowning glory. These three villas are super-luxurious and fully equipped. The villa has an outdoor pool, a large indoor pool and a large terrace. Butler service is included, as well as a guide who is always at your disposal during your stay. In-house dining is also possible. The villas can be booked in a one-story version (more space and an even better view of the jungle canopy) or a version without the extra story.
Great food (and drinks)
The food was really great and they always have a wide choice of international and local options. Dishes are super tasty and of exceptional quality, especially if you consider the fact that the lodge is so remotely located. In addition to Asian dishes, there are also several Western dishes to choose from.
Breakfast was extensive but not excessive, which is actually nice in a place like this. In addition to various local dishes, you also had a wide choice of good western breakfast options (including yogurt and even smoked salmon). You could have a fresh egg cooked to your liking and they had several types of freshly baked bread. Upon request, people with gluten intolerance can also request special gluten-free bread in advance (you can indicate this when booking your stay).
Lunch was the perfect opportunity to relax between activities and enjoy a delicious bite to eat. As far as we were concerned, the dinner was fantastic. It was an extensive buffet with a wide selection. Because you usually don’t stay for more than four days, there is plenty of variety. We never saw the same dish twice during our stay. At lunch and during the evening meal, several dishes and snacks are also prepared right in front of you (the satay was really delicious).
The range of desserts and fresh fruit was also enormous and different with every meal. Desserts included pastries, chocolate, cakes, mousse, banana bread and more. As for fruit, you had more than 6 different choices every day.
There is also plenty of choice for vegetarians with various vegetarian dishes and a salad bar, among other things. If you are vegan, you can let them know in advance and they will make sure that something is always available for you.
Note that regular drinks are included in the price, but you have to pay extra for soft drinks and alcoholic beverages. Wine is only sold by the bottle and the price starts at RM200. The advantage is that you can store the bottle so you can enjoy it during your stay.
The lodge has a bar with a nice assortment of (strong) drinks. They have a nice cocktail menu and the bar closes daily at 11pm. If you come there after the night safari, you sometimes have to look for someone because the bar is not permanently staffed later in the evening. On Tuesdays and Thursdays from 5 to 6pm you can enjoy a complimentary evening cocktail in the Hornbill Bar, including cocktails and other alcoholic beverages with some snacks.
Activities during your stay at this beautiful resort
Your stay at this magnificent resort is full of action and adventure. You can choose from several activities every day, often divided into a morning part, with an optional activity before breakfast, an afternoon part after lunch and a ‘Night Safari’ after dinner. The latter can be done by walking or in a special open safari car.
The guides have an extremely good eye for detail and all speak very good English. Most are Kadazandusun – the largest ethnic group in Sabah – and grew up in the region, giving them a wealth of knowledge about the nature and the environment. Consider a private guide if you want the guide all to yourself (otherwise you will automatically join groups of up to 8 people). A private guide costs RM300 per day and you must book in advance. This can be done through Borneo Nature Tours, the manager of the Borneo Rainforest Lodge. I actually really enjoyed our group of 6 people. A private guide is especially useful if you are specifically looking for certain species (of birds).
In between, you can relax in your chalet or swim in the river (or in your pool if your chalet has one). If the conditions are right, you can even tube down the river for a while, and although this doesn’t really fit in with the image of the ultimate jungle adventure, it was really fun and special to do in the depths of the jungle. In less favorable weather, you can also do a soap-making workshop (you make a fragrant soap from recycled fat) or a mud ball-making workshop (Effective Micro Organism mud balls are used to filter the water).
Note that the 3D/2N version of the trip has a fairly full program, with little time left for any additional activities. Also be aware that the program may be adjusted on the day itself, for example, when it cannot take place at the agreed time due to heavy downpour.
Furthermore, it is also possible that on the second day or on the last morning, an extra (long) walk will be scheduled, often in the case that you have seen relatively little wildlife in the days before.
If you have enough (free) time, you can also book a wellness session at the Jari Jari Spa. It is especially wonderful to unwind in this way after the somewhat longer tours. Be sure to book in time, because the spa is often fully booked at the most popular times (for example, late afternoon and early evening).
Daily activities we did there
Our stay began at 15:30 with our first walk (more of a jungle hike) with our guide Alex, immediately after the briefing and explanation. We saw a leaf-nosed snake here, but not much else of interest. Alex would be our guide for the next few days. We ended up having an amazing time with him. All of the guides are great, so it doesn’t really matter who your guide will be during your stay.
The second activity was the night safari in an electric car. This was a lot of fun, deep in the jungle in the dark. We used large lamps to look for eyes that lit up. We saw unusual looking frogs, an enormous snake (Sumatran Viper) and a civet.
On the second day we got up at 5am for a very early hike to the Coffins, the waterfall and the swimming spot (including fish spa). This was quite a tough hike through dense jungle, and at times you almost needed a machete. It was a truly beautiful hike and we saw a lot along the way, including one of the highlights: an orangutan with a baby gliding through the canopy above us.
In the afternoon we went on a hike to the Canopy Walk, but because it was raining really hard, only three of us went with the guide, the other three stayed in their chalet (the hike earlier that day was quite strenuous). However, it was a great walk in the pouring rain. Eventually we saw a huge Flying Squirrel gliding through the air and listened to the cicadas that start its distinct, patterned, and somewhat shrill sound orchestra (at 6pm like clockwork).
In the evening after dinner, we went out again (it was great to search for things ourselves with the lodge’s flashlights), to do the so-called ‘Night Walk’. We saw many insects, fluorescent scorpions, a Mock Tarantula, a pit viper, stick insects, huge snails, grasshoppers, a sleeping bird, a fire millipede and more. My personal highlight was spotting a Keeled Slug Eating Snake. I had never before spotted a snake that others had not spotted in that same spot (even Alex our guide was impressed as several other groups had passed this point and none had noticed the snake under the big leaf).
On the morning of the third day, we were up early again and at 6am we began our hike towards the Canopy Walk. In the early morning it is completely different, especially compared to the hike during the huge downpour the day before. We saw a gibbon, but it was moving too fast to take a picture of it. We also saw a Raffles’s Malkoha, a beautiful bird species.
About the costs
A stay at the Borneo Rainforest Lodge isn’t cheap, but when you consider that you are staying in extreme luxury, including all (very good) meals, transfers to and from the airport and all activities including guide and driver, then it is well worth the cost for this unique experience.
What we also noticed was that the alternative accommodation at Park HQ (Danum Valley Field Center) is not that much cheaper, even though this is clearly the budget option. If you compare the price of a 3D/2N tour between Borneo Rainforest Lodge and Park HQ (Field Center) based on 2 people in a standard room with air conditioning, you pay a total of €2000 at Borneo Rainforest Lodge and €1400 at Park HQ (last price comparison done early 2025). That’s a difference of 30%, and at the lodge you’ll be experiencing complete luxury for three days, while at the research center it is a somewhat more basic stay, although just as amazing in terms of activities.
It is up to you, of course, but we recommend that you consider whether you could save the difference of €600 elsewhere during your trip. Perhaps you have something wonderful to celebrate? In our opinion, the jungle experience is unique thanks to the incredibly pleasant and special stay at the lodge.
How to book your stay?
The official party that manages the lodge and handles bookings is Borneo Nature Tours. You can book a stay directly through their website. They will also indicate during the booking process which flights you should take (from Kota Kinabalu) to be in Lahad Datu in time for the transfer deep into the jungle.
There are also various popular local tour agencies that offer a stay at the lodge, often in combination with a larger Sabah travel program. Examples are Sticky Rice Travel, Amazing Borneo Tours, Borneo Eco Tours and River Junkie. The aforementioned Borneo Nature Tours is also an excellent starting point for your trip through Sabah.
How to get there?
There are daily flights from Kota Kinabalu to Lahad Datu. The resort recommends booking MASWings flight MH3012 (departure at 7:30 in the morning from Kota Kinabalu Airport) and on the way back MASWings flight MH3019 (departure at 16:00). This fits in perfectly with the transfers to and from the nature park. Think of €80 per person for this return flight (including 20 kg of checked luggage and 7 kg of hand luggage).
The transfer to the lodge is included in the price and is a 2-hour drive of about 92 km in a sturdy 4×4. On the way, you may find yourself stopping because the driver has seen something in the bushes. Don’t be surprised if your first encounter with an elephant or orangutan is already on the way to the lodge.
You can also travel to Lahad Datu from the Kinabatangan river or from Semporna. Coordinate this with the lodge so they can give you an indication of when they leave from their office in Lahad Datu, and then make sure you get there well in advance. Driving to the lodge yourself is not recommended. You can safely park your rental car at the office in Lahad Datu.
Our conclusion: Definitely worth it for an unforgettable experience!
Normally we are not so keen on drawing conclusions, but in the case of the Borneo Rainforest Lodge we will do so to make it clear that the – by Malaysian standards – high price is well worth it for the unique experience. The whole package is simply amazing and the tours in particular (and the high chance of spotting animals that go with them) are fantastic. It is an expensive trip, but worth every euro or dollar!
The chalets and villas at Borneo Rainforest Lodge are all gorgeous. If you have the chance, you should definitely upgrade to a chalet with a plunge pool, because there’s nothing better than relaxing in your private pool after a long day. The best chalets have a plunge pool and a view of Danum River. Add to that the chance to see an orangutan from your plunge pool and your stay will be more than perfect.
The price of a 3D/2N trip with a stay at this lodge compared to a 3D/2N at the Danum Valley Field Center (Park HQ) is at most 30% costlier, but it is absolutely worth the extra costs in our opinion. It really is the ultimate jungle adventure in Sabah.
The people who work there also contribute to making your stay such a memorable one. We will never forget our drive back to the airport in Lahad Datu. Our very friendly driver Rizwan kept looking at the trees, searching for wildlife. He told us that he had seen elephants and orangutans many times before, but that he wasn’t sure if we would see any today. Less than five minutes later he suddenly slammed on the brakes, made us all get out and said with a big smile: “You wanted to see orangutans again, didn’t you? Well, there are two of them”. A mother and her young were sitting very close by and we were able to enjoy them for half an hour because our flight wasn’t leaving for another hour.
Tips
- Book as early as possible. It is a small and very popular resort that is often fully booked. For unique places like this, it is not unusual to have to book about six months in advance.
- Always take your binoculars (or camera with a nice telephoto lens) with you when you go to the main building for breakfast, lunch and dinner. You never know what might happen to climb, fly, walk or crawl by.
- Prepare to sweat profusely. Your clothes will be soaking wet in no time. It is sometimes almost impossible to dry off because you will be on your way to the next activity again fairly quickly. I had brought overshoes so that my outdoor shoes would not get soaked through and through.
- There were relatively few leeches when we were there, but everyone experienced them at some point. Leeches’ socks are a requirement, although the critters just as easily end up in other places. There are leeches’ socks for sale at the small shop at the main lobby.
- One of the best things was that if a tour couldn’t take place, it was always made up at a later date. This always happened in consultation with the group and people who preferred to stay at home could do so.
- It can rain for long periods, but often all activities proceed as normal. This means you can use the resort’s umbrella (there are always two available at your chalet) or bring your own poncho (downside of a poncho = even more sweating).
- The water from the river is filtered and offered as tap water. You can drink this water. They also have a complete filtration system for the waste water, which is recycled for use in the toilet.
- There is electricity in your room day and night. The air conditioning is set to the dry setting because this ultimately provides better cooling.
- Sometimes animals really come right up to the lobby of the lodge. For example, an entire family of red leaf monkeys slept in the trees in front of the lobby entrance. This was the perfect moment for some beautiful photos.
- You can have a full laundry basket washed for RM50, but keep in mind that it takes at least one day. In my case, it took until the end of the day because I didn’t want them to put my clothes in the dryer (outdoor clothing usually can’t go in the dryer).
- Don’t forget to bring a bathing suit and water shoes for when you go tubing. Here too, it’s nice to wear quick-dry clothing.
- Ask the guides if they can warn you if an animal has been spotted near the lodge. You can even ask for a ‘wakeup call’, and they will come to wake you up at a certain sighting.
- Everything is for sale at the lodge. From (biologically responsible) mosquito repellent to leech socks. If you have forgotten anything, despite our checklist on our Danum Valley main page, you can always buy it at the lodge.
- The difference in price between a Standard Chalet and a Deluxe Chalet for two people is about €160 for a 3D/2N tour. For this extra amount you get a larger room and a splash pool. As far as we are concerned, it is definitely worth the upgrade!
- When comparing all the costs, it was noticeable that the price does not increase enormously as the chalet becomes more luxurious/larger. So it seems that if you are the earliest, you have the best chance of getting a chalet with a private pool, and if you are ‘too late’, you have to make do with the standard jungle chalet (which is not a bad thing either).
- The pool at the chalets sounds nice, but in many cases, it is unnecessary because of the many daily activities (especially if it rains a lot, which it often does). We ended up having hardly any time to spend in the pool. Our pool experience was a short, but still a pleasant one. We would recommend it only if you are staying at least 3 nights or more, because then you will definitely be able to make the most out of it.
- If you start and end in Kota Kinabalu, you might consider booking the same hotel for both ends of your trip. You can then temporarily store your unnecessary luggage at the hotel and travel to the resort with only the bare essentials. We stayed at the pleasant LUMA Hotel in the center of Kota Kinabalu before and after our trip to Danum Valley and left our unnecessary luggage there.
- Air conditioning is only available in the rooms, not in the lobby or the restaurant. There is no Wi-Fi in the rooms, but there is in the lobby and the restaurant (due to the remote location, video calling is probably not an option). Our 4G/5G data connection with our local SIM card and our eSIM did not work.
- There is a joint information meeting for everyone on the day of arrival where all the possibilities are discussed. In the unlikely event that you miss this because you arrive at the lodge later, please go to reception and ask about all the possibilities during your stay.
- After we arrived at the lodge around 12:30, it wasn’t until 14:00 before we could check into our room. In the mean while we were invited to have our buffet lunch. Check-out was at 11:00, but you could then still enjoy a sumptuous lunch before the transfer to Lahad Datu began (we left around 13:00).
- I love a good night’s sleep, which is why I always travel with earplugs and an eye patch (just in case). In the case of the lodge, the eye patch came in handy because it is light there early in the morning (not a problem if you set out early, of course).
- If you rather do all activities with a small group, find out how big the group will be up front and consider booking a private guide if the group is too large to your liking. A private guide can be arranged in advance and costs RM300 per day.
- The checklist you receive when you make the booking includes the advice that you should bring mosquito repellent. In practice, we were surprised by how few mosquitoes there were. We hardly saw any mosquitoes in our chalet. It wasn’t too bad around the resort either. However, almost everyone was bitten during the night walk and mosquito repellent was desperately needed (some itch relief ointment was nice to have as well).
- If Borneo Rainforest Lodge is just a bit too much for your budget, you could also consider booking at the Danum Valley Field Center. This will save you about 30%, but the stay will still be quite pricey. Accommodation at Park HQ, on the other hand, is quite basic. The food is good (local) but compared to the Borneo Rainforest Lodge, a bit on the basic side. At Park HQ you have no electricity (and therefore no air conditioning) between 11pm and 6am, so prepare for sweaty nights.
- At the staff accommodations you have a chance of seeing the Buffy Fish Owl in the evening. You also have a chance of spotting the Samba Deer on the lawn. Ask your guide if he would like to walk you over there (as it is not common for guests to venture there by themselves).
- The road to the lodge is unpaved but in reasonable condition. If you are prone to motion sickness, it is best to bring some motion sickness medicine or wristband. It didn’t bother us too much, but that was mainly because we were transported by comfortable 4×4 Toyota Landcruiser.
- Please note that there are few to no standard vegan dishes. If you would like this during your stay, please mention it when you make your reservation. You should also emphasize this again when you check in.
- We mentioned MASWings several times as leading airline operator within Borneo. However, the airline has been bought from Malaysia Airlines and will be rebranded tot AirBorneo. In the near future flights will be booked at AirBorneo instead of MASWings.
- Some travelers rent a car and drive to Park HQ themselves, for example because they are doing a self-drive through Sabah. Be aware that in good weather this is an excellent but bumpy ride, while in (or immediately after) bad weather it can be a terrible ride. A 4×4 is not a requirement, but it is handy. It is better to arrange to leave the rental car in Lahad Datu during your visit to Danum.
Suggestions?
Got any good tips to share with us? Do you know of any great things to do in Sabah, or tips on the best places to eat? Let us know by leaving a reply below!
