Borneo Rainforest Lodge - Lahad Datu, Sabah

Borneo Rainforest Lodge is located in Danum Valley, one of the world's oldest rainforests. Their chalets consist of only 31 individual chalets with fans and en-suite toilets, with a maximum capacity of 60 people on a full-board basis every day. The journey from Lahad Datu to Danum Valley takes roughly two and a half hours drive along gravel roads. Since Borneo Rainforest Lodge is located inside the rainforest, the activities mainly focus on exploring the tropical jungle, such as jungle trekking, night safari/walks, river rafting, wildlife watching, and visiting the popular Danum Valley Canopy Walkway.

They recently had a special promotion: RM3,176 for three days and two nights for two people or RM1,588 per adult for a twin-sharing jungle chalet that can accommodate up to three people. The package includes two breakfasts, three lunches, and two dinners (full board meals), return transfers from the Lahad Datu hotel or airport, entry permit & taxes for the conservation area, guided jungle activities and two nights accommodation.

My partner booked the package through Amazing Borneo Tours. The tour operates on a join-in basis with a shared guide, but a private guide or tour can be arranged at an additional fee for a more personalized experience. A moderate level of fitness is recommended, as the experience includes outdoor activities throughout the stay. However, guests are welcome to skip any activity and relax at the lodge if they prefer.

Itinerary overview:

Day 1: Lahad Datu - Borneo Rainforest Lodge

Activities: Nature trails, tree-top canopy walk, and night drive

0830: Meet and greet at your hotel lobby, followed by registration and a briefing at their office

0930: Depart for an approximately two-and-a-half-hour overland journey via gravel roads to Danum Valley

12:00: Arrival and check-in at Borneo Rainforest Lodge

12:30: Lunch at the lodge

15:30: Introduction video at the Seraya room - 15 minutes

16:00: Afternoon track along nature trails, followed by a walk on the tree-top canopy walkway (300m long up to 26m high) for close-up rainforest observation - 1.5 hours

19:00: Dinner at the lodge

20:15: Night drive in an open-top vehicle to spot nocturnal wildlife (subject to weather conditions) - 1 hour

Overnight at Borneo Rainforest Lodge

Day 2: Jungle exploration

Activities: Jungle trek, coffin cliff, jacuzzi pool, river rafting, and night walk

06:30: Breakfast at the lodge

07:30: Morning jungle trek to the Kadazandusun burial site known as Coffin Cliff, followed by a visit to the viewpoint for a bird's-eye view of the surrounding rainforest. Continue to the jacuzzi pool for a refreshing dip - 4 to 5 hours

12:30: Lunch at the lodge

14:00: Afternoon jungle trek or enjoy a relaxing river rafting session (RM 100 per person) along the Danum river - 2.5 hours to 3 hours

18:45: Guided night walk in search of nocturnal wildlife (subject to weather conditions) - 1 hour

20:00: Dinner at the lodge

Overnight at Borneo Rainforest Lodge

Day 3: Borneo Rainforest Lodge - Lahad Datu

08:00: Breakfast at the lodge. Free and easy

11:30: Check out and proceed for lunch

After lunch, depart for your hotel in Lahad Datu town (approximately a two-and-a-half-hour drive)

Dining time:

a) Breakfast: 7am to 9.30am (earliest is 5.30am, if we want to go for an early morning canopy walk)

b) Lunch: 11.30am to 2pm

c) Dinner: 6.45pm to 9pm

Our jungle chalet featured a queen-size bed and a single bed, each with two comfortable pillows. The beds were comfy, and the room had a spacious layout with a private balcony. The bathroom had a toilet with bar handles for support and a shower with strong hot water. However, there was only a half partition in the shower area. Hence, water tended to splash into the toilet area. The body wash provided was milk-based and did not lather. Apart from that, there's no shelf for toiletries in the shower area.

The room's air conditioning was not very cold. I adjusted the temperature from 16℃ to 23℃ according to the instructions, but the room still feels warm. We had no choice but to switch on the ceiling fan. The next day, I informed the front desk and requested housekeeping at 8am along with a check of the air conditioning. However, they only came nearly two hours later and found no problem with the air conditioning. They advised us to ignore the instructions on the wall and set the temperature back to 16℃. Then I realized there were two air ventilation switches, and after turning both on, the room finally felt cooler.

The room came with a mini fridge stocked with two complimentary cans of 100 Plus and two cans of Coke. The TV offered limited channels (TV1, CNA, CGTN, Awani, Sports 1 & 2, and Cartoon), but Netflix and YouTube were available. The room's complimentary Wi-Fi was fast. The lodge facilities included a kid's room, a swimming pool, which had murky water during our stay, and a single piece of gym equipment. Overall, the jungle chalet was comfortable and well equipped. Minor issue aside, it was a relaxing and memorable base for exploring the rainforest.

Check in time: 2pm

Check out time: 11.30am