Labang Longhouse Lodge

Labang Longhouse Lodge

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About

#1 of 2 lodges in Bario
4.6 of 5 bubbles
Location
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Rooms
4.6 of 5 bubbles
Value
4.2 of 5 bubbles
Cleanliness
4.8 of 5 bubbles
Service
4.4 of 5 bubbles
Sleep Quality
The Labang Longhouse Lodge/Homestay in Bario is a beautiful longhouse styled guesthouse located 10 mins walk from the airport, 10 mins walk to the market centre, and enjoys a panoramic view of the Kelabit plateau from its wide veranda. From there you get to eat your meals, watch the sunset, enjoy your tea and write your memoirs. The Facility: With 18 rooms, it is the biggest accommodation facility in Bario. Superb for large groups, but cosy enough for the lone traveler. The rooms are clean with warm duvet covers (the nights can get chilly in Bario), ideal for twin-sharing but easily convertible to double beds and big enough for an extra mattress especially for kids. There are fish ponds for guests to fish their meals, and a small garden to pick their greens, if they choose. The lodge runs on solar-powered electricity and has its own conference facilities, thus it is an ideal venue for meetings, retreats, seminars, conferences, workshops and youth camps. Rates: RM120per person/per night. Full board (room + all meals). Activities: Nature Tours - Located on the main route to the highland adventure activities like jungle trekking, camping, kayaking, bird watching, fishing, nature walks, etc. Culture Tours - It is near enough to cultural centres for handicraft making, original longhouse visits, farming experiences, e-Bario internet centre and community hall. The lodge has a resident Certified Tour Guide, and tours to many of Bario destinations and special cultural programs can be organised upon request. Lodge Management: The owners are retired and experienced educators and conservationists, fluent speakers of English, Malay and Kelabit with expert traditional knowledge on culture, history, language, and wildlife. David worked in the creation of many of Sarawak's National Parks and preserved her wildlife and natural heritage during his time in the civil service. If knowledge is what you seek, they are ideal resources for guests and researchers alike seeking knowledge on Bario, it people, and its flora and fauna. In addition, you will be entertained by David's endless repertoire of jokes.
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Property amenities
Free parking
Free breakfast
Bicycle rental
Pets Allowed ( Dog / Pet Friendly )
Free airport transportation
Conference facilities
Banquet room
Laundry service
Airport transportation
Meeting rooms
Self-serve laundry
Room features
Fireplace
Room types
Non-smoking rooms
Good to know
HOTEL STYLE
Budget
Family

Location

Kelabit Highlands, Bario 98050 Malaysia
Getting there
Bario Airport
6.7 km•
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Bakalalan Airport
29.6 km•
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Traveller rating
  • 30
  • 6
  • 0
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  • 0
Time of year
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Detailed Reviews
ajpatt wrote a review Jun 2013
Louth, United Kingdom
+1
5.0 of 5 bubbles
The flight to Bario is on a small plane, no cabin crew and so noisy theres no chance of conversation. Theres a luggage restriction of 10 kgs per person and they also weigh all the passengers along with their hand luggage before boarding. Bario airport is just a small building with chickens and dogs playing outside and just a short drive from the airport is the Labang Longhouse homestay.

Its built in the longhouse style with the bedrooms all along the side on the first floor, and the other side being open plan with tables, chairs and settees, this is a communal area and has a lot of historical information and photographs on the walls of the Kelabit people.

The bedrooms consisted of two single beds which could be pushed together to make a double one. There was no other furniture in the room and the communal bathrooms were at one end of the longhouse. They were basic with no hot water – but Lucy would boil a kettle of water for you if needed.

Lucy and David, the owners, were extremely friendly and very knowledgeable about the area and the people. They were also very active members of the community which is mainly a Christian church going community. During our stay Lucy took us to other Longhouses to meet the residents who were very interesting with stories to tell of the Kelabit people. Lucy also took us on a trek to a salt well which is well worth doing.

Meals were Kelabit style – which includes a lot of wild plants and herbs as well as Bario rice and pineapple. There were a lot of dishes we’d never tasted before but it was all delicious especially the ginger flower. After the evening meal, David, who was an expert on birds and wildlife, would tell stories of his experiences – he had great sense of humour and we laughed along with him at his tales.

There wasn’t 24 hour electricity, it was run by a generator and usually for a few hours each evening – but it was hit and miss, so remember to bring a torch.

Its about a 10 minute walk into the centre of Bario, theres not a lot there, just a few shops, a clinic and a pub called Y2K which was always filled with friendly locals. The pub is attached to a small shop where you buy your drink from and then you can either sit at the tables outside or in the pub itself – which was really a room with a pool table in.

Bario is a base for jungle trekking, from a few hours to days. We had a full day trekking with a guide Lucy knew, it was excellent, the guide (Erone – not sure if thats spelt correctly) was very informative and the trek was an adventure in itself, we would certainly recommend it – the only downside was we did have several leaches on us at various times during the day, but even they couldn’t dampen our spirits.

As well as being a great trekking area it’s also somewhere quiet and relaxing - its very laid back and no-one seems to be in any great hurry but what they have is all the time in the world for you.
We thoroughly enjoyed our 4 days in Bario and would recommend it to anyone looking for something different – its only a homestay but they welcome you into their home and you live as they do.

If you’re looking for 5 star treatment then Bario won’t be for you, but if you want to see a different way of life before the modern world catches up with them and become part of a family for a few days then book into the Labang Longhouse – you won’t be disappointed. We were very pleased that we had chosen to stay here and will never forget Lucy, David, Bario or the people of Bario.
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Date of stay: May 2013
5.0 of 5 bubblesValue
4.0 of 5 bubblesRooms
4.0 of 5 bubblesLocation
5.0 of 5 bubblesCleanliness
5.0 of 5 bubblesService
5.0 of 5 bubblesSleep Quality
Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
John W wrote a review Dec 2016
Burwood, Australia
5.0 of 5 bubbles
We recently stayed with Aunty Lucy and Uncle David in their lovely house. As a large university group (21 people) it can be hard to find good accomodation. BUT we found it here at Labang Longhouse Lodge.

Kelabit people are known for their amazing hospitality, and you certainly get that here. The rooms are basic, but nice. If you want a western hotel don't go to Bario! You use share bathrooms, but there are plenty of them and this is part of the longhouse experience.

Meals are taken on a deck overlooking Bario and the mountains. It is very pretty and the food is lovely. The dishes local and made from local foods including ferns and Davids wonderful pineapples.

Best of all are Lucy and David. Always willing to help, have a chat, and enhance your experience. They were great with our students, helping to shed light on their culture and the environment.

If you get invited to sit around the fire, do it! The fire is really important in Kelabit culture and the stories told are entertaining.

I can't wait to return next year with more students.

Thank you so much Aunty Lucy and Uncle David.
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Date of stay: November 2016Trip type: Travelled with friends
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
binben wrote a review Nov 2014
Melbourne, Australia
5.0 of 5 bubbles
A beautiful longhouse homestay near the airport and the town centre. You have an unobstructed view of the beautiful mountain range that surrounds Bario. I have the company of the friendly host while staying in this homestay. Good food. Had the chance to eat some local dishes using vegies from the highland.
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Date of stay: November 2014Trip type: Travelled solo
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Berry_in_Blue wrote a review Sept 2019
SLovakia
5.0 of 5 bubbles
I enjoyed my stayed in labang immensely and would love to come again :)
Lovely place with lovely people in the middle of nature :)
I appreciated all the knowledge and stories shared and the amazing food.
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Date of stay: September 2019
5.0 of 5 bubblesValue
5.0 of 5 bubblesLocation
5.0 of 5 bubblesService
Trip type: Travelled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
xlx_lucy_xlx wrote a review Jul 2017
Kuching, Malaysia
4.0 of 5 bubbles
A friend recommended the homestay when deciding where to stay in Bario. It was a short trip of two nights. The homestay has most things that would have enabled one to stay comfortably. They picked us up from the airport and the meals provided were wonderful, loved the local veggies! We also went on a guided tour with them. The most fun though was wandering around the town area on our own.
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Date of stay: June 2017Trip type: Travelled with friends
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Marloes S wrote a review Jan 2017
The Hague, The Netherlands
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Our visit to Bario was one big adventure. It all started with the flight from Miri to Bario. It is a small airplane which can accommodate max 14 persons. You can see the pilots steering the plane. At Bario airport you will get a warm welcome by the security personell. Lian (Lucy's and David's son) picked us up and lunch was waiting for us. David was telling the most wonderful stories about his time working as a biologist in order to set up national parks in Sarawak. He has an amazing sense of humor. Lucy gave us also a very warm welcome once she returned from Miri. She is a very peaceful, academic lady with lots of knowledge of Bario's history and people. I liked to listen to her.

Lian and/or a local guide took us around. We visited the oldest longhouse, pineapple garden, salt spring, solar farm and prayer mountain. They took us around either by car or motorbike. We also enjoyed fishing in their pond and sitting at the fire place in the kitchen. Lucy took us to her sisters place. Everywhere we came we got a warm welcome and another story about Bario.

It was pineapple season and we ate a lot of delicious pineapples (prepared in variety of ways). The veggie are also very tasty. The rooms are basic. They have a warm shower, but I preferred to wash myself with a bucket of cold water. It is part of the charm.

Lucy, David and their 2 sons are such a colorful, creative and peaceful family. They will make your stay unforgettable.
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Date of stay: January 2017
4.0 of 5 bubblesRooms
5.0 of 5 bubblesService
4.0 of 5 bubblesSleep Quality
Trip type: Travelled with friends
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Annechien wrote a review Aug 2016
4.0 of 5 bubbles
After a disappointing experience at another accommodation in Bario, we were looking for a nice, quite place to stay the rest of our time.

We stayed at Davids longhouse for 3 nights and it was a good one! We had a good sleep, relaxing time at the nice spay verandah and a lot of fun with the host David.
There is a fishing pond next to the longhouse, so we catched our own fish.

The only thing is the food was sometimes a bit monotonously (with a lot of fish..,).

One advise. Are you staying here at saturday? Go to the market with David... Its a lot of fun for sure!
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Date of stay: June 2016
3.0 of 5 bubblesRooms
4.0 of 5 bubblesCleanliness
5.0 of 5 bubblesService
Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Keren-Happuch wrote a review Jun 2016
Penang, Malaysia
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Stayed here for 3 days & 2 nights in Nov 2015 with friends partly to relax & also to partly join in a conference held in this homestay called Listening with the Heart. The wide verandah at the homestay is my favourite place to watch the mist and fog in the morning and evening. I love to hold my hot cup of coffee and just sit there with a book. The rooms are rustic and comes with old-fashioned wonderfully soft mosquito nets. I had a corner room with 2 superb different window views. The food was great and in particular I loved the pineapples best. We even had smoked deer meat on the last night. Uncle David & Lucy were gracious hosts. My best memories of my time at Bario were of meal times at the wide verandah - lots of laughter, good food and great Kelabit hospitality.
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Date of stay: November 2015Trip type: Travelled with friends
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
pdmancs wrote a review Aug 2015
Manchester, United Kingdom
5.0 of 5 bubbles
I stayed at Labang Longhouse for three nights. I made the arrangements with Lucy, the retired Kelabit owner, by email. 90RM per night, incl breakfast, lunch and dinner. Airport pick-up and drop-off is 20RM (although it's only about a 20 minute walk). Rooms are simple, and there are 3 shared washrooms. There's no bath or shower - just a bucket of cold water.

Lucy will help with organising guides and treks in the area. They also provide packed lunches if you plan on spending the whole day out and about. Guides are 120RM per day, but this cost can be split between several people so it helps if you can partner up with others.

Labang is home to Lucy, her husband David and their family and, although it's a pretty large place with room for quite a number of guests, it really does feel like a home, and there are always friends and relatives dropping by. Lucy and David are lovely people, and David is great fun with his moonshine and tall tales.

The Bario area is incredibly beautiful and peaceful. And the people are very warm and welcoming. They share whatever they have, and always make time for you.

One last thing - the flight from/to Miri on a tiny twin-prop plane was an adventure in itself.
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Date of stay: August 2015Trip type: Travelled solo
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
KimMeng wrote a review Apr 2015
Malaysia
5.0 of 5 bubbles
We were overwhelmed by the friendliness and hospitality of Lucy and Uncle David at their beautiful long house homestay. We hung out with them on their lovely balcony with a great view of Bario, ate meals with them and were generally very very well taken care of. Will certainly stay there again.
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Date of stay: April 2015
4.0 of 5 bubblesValue
5.0 of 5 bubblesService
4.0 of 5 bubblesSleep Quality
Trip type: Travelled with friends
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Answer from Labang-Z
Bario, Malaysia1 contribution
Sometimes the telephone signal connection is bad in Bario. A solution - You can use Whatsapp to send a message to that number. When the message gets through, you will get your reply.
Answer from
San Francisco, California
They are on Facebook as Labang Longhouse Lodge, which includes a phone number If you search the web for Lucy Labang SRB that should give the information. It seems impossible to post email addresses or phone numbers here.
fnady wrote a tip Sept 2019
Brunei Darussalam123 contributions9 helpful votes
5.0 of 5 bubbles
"Bring insect repellent"
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Grey wrote a tip Jul 2017
Selangor, Malaysia11 contributions2 helpful votes
5.0 of 5 bubbles
"Quiet place. Beautiful Views. Wonderful Host."
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owenlabertawe wrote a tip Jan 2015
Swansea, United Kingdom7 contributions5 helpful votes
5.0 of 5 bubbles
"All are good with superb views."
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WaihekeMike wrote a tip Sept 2013
Auckland Central, New Zealand4 contributions2 helpful votes
5.0 of 5 bubbles
"Take a hat to add to the collection"
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Not the right property for you?
There are more places to choose from in the Bario area.
LOCATION
MalaysiaSarawakMiri DistrictBario
NUMBER OF ROOMS
16
Prices are the average nightly price provided by our partners and may not include all taxes and fees. Taxes and fees that are shown are estimates only. Please see our partners for more details.
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LABANG LONGHOUSE LODGE: See 34 Reviews and 66 Photos (Bario)

Frequently Asked Questions about Labang Longhouse Lodge
Which popular attractions are close to Labang Longhouse Lodge?
Nearby attractions include Bario Asal Londhouse (1.0 km).
What are some of the property amenities at Labang Longhouse Lodge?
Some of the more popular amenities offered include free breakfast, free parking, and airport transportation.
What food & drink options are available at Labang Longhouse Lodge?
Guests can enjoy free breakfast during their stay.
Is parking available at Labang Longhouse Lodge?
Yes, free parking is available to guests.
Does Labang Longhouse Lodge have an airport shuttle?
Yes, Labang Longhouse Lodge offers an airport shuttle for guests. We recommend calling ahead to confirm details.
Does Labang Longhouse Lodge have airport transportation?
Yes, Labang Longhouse Lodge offers airport transportation for guests. We recommend calling ahead to confirm details.
Is Labang Longhouse Lodge located near the city centre?
Yes, it is 0.8 km away from the centre of Bario.
Are any cleaning services offered at Labang Longhouse Lodge?
Yes, laundry service and self serve laundry are offered to guests.
Are pets allowed at Labang Longhouse Lodge?
Yes, pets are typically allowed, but it's always best to call ahead to confirm.
Does Labang Longhouse Lodge offer any business services?
Yes, it conveniently offers meeting rooms, a banquet room, and conference facilities.