All You Need to Know About the Rooms
at The Last Frontier Boutique Resort
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Guests1 room, 2 adults, 0 children
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Room review highlights
... aged 9 and 12 and there was no problem us all sharing a room - plenty of space. We all agreed that the river cruise...
... welcomed by a cold drink and shortly afterward shown to your room(s) where you can settle in to before having a light and...
... a very special place in The Last Frontier Resort. Their four room, 12 person maximum resort is the perfect way to spend time...
Featured room amenities
Baggage Storage
Bath / Shower
Bottled Water
Complimentary Toiletries
Non-smoking rooms
Wake Up Service / Alarm Clock
Non-smoking hotel
Reviews that mention rooms
Write a reviewWe had a truly fantastic 3 days at the Last Frontier. We were with our 2 children aged 9 and 12 and there was no problem us all sharing a room - plenty of space.
We all agreed that the river cruise was the highlight of our entire holiday.
Jason, Gert and all the team were very friendly and professional, the food was truly excellent, the locaton is fantastic all in all brilliant! The children didn't mention there being no TV once.
Don't be put off by the reviews that mention all the steps, they are not that bad!
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Room Tip: There are only 4 and they are next to each other and all share a balcony.
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This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC
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Garethandkaren2003 wrote a review Aug 2019
Giltbrook, United Kingdom125 contributions26 helpful votes
+1
It’s truly difficult to know where to start with our hosts and their accommodation but we’ll give it a go!!!
Myself, Wife and Daughter (15) booked to stay 20th and 21st August. The booking process and communication was exceptional from the start! All our questions and concerns were promptly answered and addressed.
We had arrived in Sandakan late in the evening of the 19th having stayed at the Four Points Sheraton. The following morning, and as arranged, we were picked up by Gert from reception. During our initial journey Gert proceeded to advise that we would be collecting 3 additional couples and then during the journey also explained, in detail, what events and activities were scheduled for the following 2/3 days!
Upon collecting the renaming guests we were introduced to one and other and then began the journey to Bilit (The Village of the Lodge). This journey is a pleasant one, takes around 1 1/2 - 2hrs depending on the traffic and included a short convenience / coffee break.
During the journey and something I would strongly recommend you do is talk to Jason (He was astonishing throughout)!
Prior to arriving at the lodge I would recommend, if you’ve not already been advised/told, that you sort out your clothes etc for only the essentials you will need for the duration of your stay (essential clothing / attire below).
The climb.....yes it is circa 600 steps, yes it’s humid, yes it’s hot and yes YOU ARE IN THE JUNGLE :) the climb to the top is a challenge but it’s great exercise and fun all at the same time.....I personally found it a lot easier to do bare foot! And yes was sweating (wet through) when I reached the top!
You’re welcomed by a cold drink and shortly afterward shown to your room(s) where you can settle in to before having a light and lovely lunch after which you’re advised what time you need to be ready for the evenings boat ride (The Activities below).
We only usually saw Jason during meal and down time.....not to say that he was sitting with his feet up (😉) in fact far from it......he was prepping the restaurant for our meal time and cooking with the other chaps at the lodge!
After our meals we sat playing UNO (card game) chatting to Jason and the other guest, who were all fantastic! And taking in the sublime views of the rainforest. We had a few soft and alcoholic drinks (which are all reasonably priced)
The Activities
1st afternoon activity - We all met at the top of the steps, around 15:30, before descending down the steps, through a small rough area, into the local village and then on to the boat! Our capital was Rodell, a smashing chap from the Philippines who has a wife and 18mth old back at home. He was absolutely exceptional throughout and took us on all of the boat tips.....his knowledge and eye for spotting the wildlife is utterly unbelievable.....how he spotted some of the snakes and lizards was beyond me!!!
During our initial trip we were fortunate enough to spot a crocodile (very briefly), all the main monkeys, loads of amazing birds and beautifully stunning views of the Kinabatang River!
We then ventured back to jetty, back up the steps (great workout again) and readied ourselves for the evening meal!
1st Mornings activity - We were up early, around 07:00, and after our delicious breakfast we headed in to the rainforest and began our climb to the highest point in the region/area, around 09:00. It was a fun but demanding climb yet at the same time rewarding and achievable for all levels of fitness! We were fortunate enough to see a small pack of Silver Leaf monkeys which were tremendous but the views......and again the knowledge of Rodell made it all the more special!
1st Day Downtime - before and after lunch! A great opportunity to take in more of your surroundings and get to know the guests or perhaps even a little nap :)
1st Evenings Boat Trip - Again
We followed the same route down to the jetty and all hopped on to the boat! The weather, was again, beautiful and as soon as you set off the breeze helped to cool you down and dry you up a little (much needed in my case). We were all desperate to try and spot an Orangutans, elephant or Crocodiles and believe me Rodell did absolutely everything he could to try and spot/find some.....he even took us along a section off the main river which he was unsure we’d be able to travel through as the water level was low....fortunately we made it but in the end the crocs, elephants and Orangutans were all hiding......it’s fair to say that everyone really wants to see the three BIG ONES.....but that aside you don’t end up disappointed, in fact far from it! Mainly because the journey along the river, the monkeys and our guide were exceptional and made every moment super special!
THE FOOD.......Well It was fantastic!
Welcome Meal - A light, but plentiful, spaghetti bolignase bolognese was fresh, tasty and just right to see us through to the evening meal!
1st Breakfast - We were presented with pancakes, bananas, fresh cream and a sweet toffee sauce.....you might want to consider that all the meals have all been really well thought out for the types of activities that you undertake......energy and slow release carbs! In addition when our daughters breakfast it arrived with her name written in pancake batter and lightly fried.......a lovely heartfelt touch.
1st Evening Meal - We started with corn soup and garlic bread! Then followed a traditional Malaysian rice dish (radang) which again was freshly prepared and super tasty.
This was followed by water melon and then some Duran as Jason had picked up one of these up....An interesting fruit this 🤣
2nd Days Lunch - Nasi Lemak which was home made and super delicious.
2nd Days Evening Meal - Starting again with Corn Soup (delicious and home made) and Garlic Bread followed by Chicken roulade, mashed potatoes and cauliflower.......again all home made and deliciously flavoursome! This was followed be water mellow :)
3rd Breakfast - We has poached eggs, toast and sausage roll! It was really pleasing to be given the choice of eggs!
ESSENTIAL CLOTHING / ATTIRE:
1st evening boat trip required flip flops / slippers, light T-shirt and shorts for the walk up/down and the boat ride! You will also need a waterproof jacket/poncho, torch (phone camera light is good enough), water (use theirs from the natural spring) and insect/mozzie repellent.
Evening meal - something light/loose fitting
2nd day/1st morning - you’ll be hiking so suitable footwear, walking/long socks and long trousers / leggings that ideally you can tuck into your socks.... a light top is also a good ideal and persons something to dab you forehead with as it’s a hefty climb!
2nd day/2nd afternoon - same as first day
3 and final morning something light to travel back in!
was
Natural Spring
Being from the UK we are always advised not to drink water from a tap abroad and the same applies here however if you take a couple of of empty plastic/reusable bottles the guys will fill them from their natural spring......this is natural spring which is filtered three times and then boiled and is perfectly safe to consume.....we drank loads of it throughout the whole of our stay and had NO ISSUES at all!
Jason - I couldn’t write a review of The Last Frontier without a special mention for Jason! His attentiveness, knowledge, experiences, food and all round nature is truly admirable and something more people should aspire towards! His passion not only for his guests but the wider community, with consideration and emphasis on the environmental factors affecting, not only Bilit, Borneo and Malaysia but the entire planet is something that we can all learn from! Overall Jason you made our stay incredible and we hope....and expect to return to see you in the future!
Overall this is, by far, one of the best places that we, as a family, have ever stayed! There are no negatives and we can’t recommend The Last Frontier highly enough to ALL types and groups of travellers.
THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH! You will be remembered fondly!
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This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC
3 Helpful votes
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We would give ten stars if we could! Jason and Gert maintain a very special place in The Last Frontier Resort. Their four room, 12 person maximum resort is the perfect way to spend time in the secondary rainforest exploring the Kinabatangan River. We stayed for three days and two nights and arranged our transportation with Jason from Sandakan as well. It is apparent that Jason and Gert are passionate about the rainforest and want to provide their guests with an educational, hospitable, once in a lifetime opportunity. Yes, there are 600 steps, no WiFi, and no air conditioning, but we appreciated the rare chance to stay comfortably in the rainforest to view wildlife.
We stayed for three days and two nights, which included all of our meals, lodging, two afternoon river cruises, and one morning hike. Highlights included seeing a herd of pygmy elephants, orangutans, long and short tailed macaque, probiscus monkeys, and hornbills. The pygmy elephants were the highlight as they only are seen by the river five to six times per year. We also enjoyed seeing orangutans in the wild. The food was incredible, as other reviewers have mentioned. Jason was a trained chef prior to opening the resort, so the food is delicious and beautifully presented. We never felt hungry during our stay! Make sure to bring a refillable water bottle, as the resort is plastic free. Staff are happy to refill your bottle as often as necessary.
We enjoyed the car ride to and from the resort with Jason, who gave us great information about his life story, the culture and politics of Borneo, the rainforest and its wildlife, travel tips for Borneo, and how we can contribute to fighting palm plantations. It is clear that Jason is passionate about the rainforest and allowing tourists to learn and experience this. We stayed at The Last Frontier Resort toward the beginning of our two week stay in Borneo and Jason gave great tips for scheduling visits to Sepilok, what restaurants and dishes to try, how to avoid leeches in the Danum Valley, and how to increase turtle viewings at turtle island. We were grateful for the time spent with him. Jason dropped us off in Sepilok on our way back to Sandakan, so we could maximize our time with the orangutans and sun bears.
What we liked most about our stay was the small group feel. Our boat for our cruises had 12 guests (six rows of two), while other cruises from alternate resorts crammed double that amount in a boat. The small group also allowed for more flexibility with the timing and duration of cruises to view more wildlife. We enjoyed getting to know the other guests during down time at the resort or meal time. It seemed easier and natural to do so with such a small group as opposed to when you stay at a larger resort or hotel.
Do not hesitate to book The Last Frontier Resort. It is a great price and with owners who truly care about maintaining an intimate and meaningful stay by the river. It was one of our favorite parts of our two week trip in Sabah and we would surely return in the future.
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This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC
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We chose to stay here whilst at the Kinabatangan River because it looked different to all the other lodges right by the river, and we definitely made the right choice! It was amazing staying at the top of the hill instead - beautiful views and so much wildlife. We had wild pigs right by the dining area! I really cannot fault this place. The staff are so friendly, accommodating and knowledgable, the room was comfy and clean, and the food was so so good!!
We went on a few river cruises where we saw macaques, proboscis monkeys, crocodiles, a wide range of birds and more!
If you plan on going to the river, and can handle the 600 steps (they are so worth it and not that bad at all once you’ve done them once, honest!), then stay here so you can hang out in the actual rainforest !
Thanks to the Last Frontier guys for having us, and to Rodel for being a brilliant guide, it was an experience we will never forget !
Laura & Sam
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This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC
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Okay having roughed it for 2 weeks around Borneo this was going to be our holiday splurge. Was it worth it..... hell yes it was. Having read the reviews we knew to pack a lighter rucksack and leave our bags in the secure generator room at the bottom of the climb. Yep the climb is epic, but you just take your time.....and boy the views are worth it. Within a few minutes of going to our room, the rustle of the trees revealed an inquisitive purple faced monkey. This is what we paid for. We thoroughly enjoyed all the tours and took an extra early morning one ( we never go back to any place twice and wanted to make the most of our time in beautiful Kinabatangan). Our guide ‘Rrrrr’ ( sorry this is what happens for delaying writing reviews) was great, we were taken away from the other tour boats in search of Orangutans, Proboscis Monkeys, Pygmy Elephants, Rhinoceros Hornbill which we got to see.....and much more.
We enjoyed the hearty meals and like many other reviewers suggested ditching the western alternatives. The room was spacious and having a hot shower and comfy bed after a look day was the icing on the cake.
Gert and Jason are fantastic hosts, I thoroughly enjoyed quizzing Jason for his recipes which he happily shared with me.
We were very fortunate that we were the last couple staying before the resort closed down for Christmas which meant that Jason, Gert and Nicolo were returning for a well earned break in Sandakan. Jason kindly showed us around some sights and took us to an amazing Chinese food Market on the outskirts called Kim Fung ( we got a grab taxi the following day for seconds!) and in the evening we ate at Sim Sim and ended up having some cocktails. Wow what amazing way to spend our last days in Borneo with some fantastic people.
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This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC
2 Helpful votes
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