Bilit Rainforest Lodge

Bilit Rainforest Lodge

KG Bilit Seberang Jalan Sukau, Kota Kinabatangan 90200 Malaysia
Traveller (1190)
Room
Room & Suite (53)
Dining (27)

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About

4.0
#1 of 1 guest house in Kota Kinabatangan
4.6 of 5 bubbles
Location
3.9 of 5 bubbles
Rooms
3.9 of 5 bubbles
Value
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Cleanliness
4.1 of 5 bubbles
Service
4.1 of 5 bubbles
Sleep Quality
Bilit Rainforest Lodge is located beside the Lower Kinabatangan River in the village of Bilit, approximately 2 hours drive from Sandakan. It is a set of amidst lush tropical forest and offers comfort and peaceful relaxation as well as a base for easy exploration of the incredible diversity of plant, mammal and birds at the Kinabatangan region. All chalets and the restaurant are made from local hardwood material and are designed to blend into the nature giving a unique local native ambience. The rooms are very spacious and comfortable with a minimum of 600 sq.ft. for standard chalets and 800 sq. ft. for VIP permier chalets. A boardwalk connects the jetty, restaurant and all the chalets.
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Property amenities
Free breakfast
Restaurant
Breakfast buffet
Darts
Table tennis
Gift shop
Outdoor furniture
Shared lounge / TV area
Room features
Air conditioning
Housekeeping
Safe
Room types
Non-smoking rooms
Good to know
HOTEL CLASS
Star ratings are intended to indicate the general level of features, amenities, and services to expect. This property is classified according to Giata.
1.0 of 5 stars
HOTEL STYLE
Mid-range
Charming
Languages Spoken
English, Chinese, Malay

Location

KG Bilit Seberang Jalan Sukau, Kota Kinabatangan 90200 Malaysia
Getting there
Sandakan Airport
48.8 km•
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Lahad Datu Airport
52.1 km•
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364Reviews4Q+A43Room tips
Traveller rating
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Detailed Reviews
dolally wrote a review Jun 2022
London, United Kingdom
1.0 of 5 bubbles
So lets start with the positives. I have read many reviews about crap guides uninformed. Our guide Jon was the most amazing guide and spotted for us all sorts of wildlife including Pygmy elephants. Eagles. Kingfisher snakes crocodile hornbills. His English was brilliant. His knowledge was amazing and we loved him. This was our time once off the hotel edge and on the boat. Unfortunately that’s where it stops. The rooms are basic beyond belief. Not clean We had no hot water initially and then a Luke warm trickle. No making any beds up or any room service. No milk for coffee in the room no fridge. No WiFi in the resort offered at all. Then there is the food. The first 24hrs we got given plates of food No choice at all. Oven chips and s scoop of rice. With some accompliments. The second evening the food was better and came out in a buffet style. This was an improvement but to be honest couldn’t have got worse. We were lucky as we had moved our orang-utan visit to the day. There isn’t much going on in the day and I was so glad to be out of the accommodation. After a cold breakfast before leaving you are given the guest book. Bless us brits are so polite…. Nobody mentions the accommodation which is below a french refuge standard. My 18 year old son might not mind if he was back packing. Sorry guys. But people need to know what they are heading into. It was our 25th Wedding anniversary on Tuesday night. What a hole to be in ! Leaving on a positive. Did I mention Jon our guide was AMAZING !!!
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Date of stay: June 2022
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.
julie_higgins wrote a review Aug 2023
Canberra, Australia
1.0 of 5 bubbles
This resort is desperately in need of repair.
Our room was basic. The shower tap was falling off the wall, the tap over the hand basin was so loose it had to be held to use. The shower rod was dangerously loose.
Food was awful and barely warm though the omelette was good.
Our room was not serviced.
All the hand railings and timber walkways in the resort were in desperate need of attention.
The resort had an air of neglect.
The landing jetty was poorly constructed and could easily cause an accident.
The staff were pleasant and we felt for them working in such a sad place.
We were perturbed that the river had so many plastic bags and bottles floating and around the waters edge. No effort that we could see was being made to rectify.
I would definitely not recommend this resort and would hope that it is brought up to its original standard before it is forced to close causing loss of employment to the staff who were very pleasant.
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Date of stay: August 2023
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.
Mary C wrote a review Feb 2023
+1
1.0 of 5 bubbles
This was the worst part of our whole holiday it was like being in a prison camp. We have stayed in basic accommodation before and that is fine as long as the room is clean and the food is good. This however was not the case. The jetty to the property is falling apart with one corner missing its floation barrel because there had been a lot of rain prior to our arrival we had to disembark onto the muddy shore. The walk ways to the lodges are in very poor condition and an old digger is also sitting in full veiw. -The lodge we got was poorly cleaned, drawer for clothes had not seen a clean for some time, also the handle to the drawer was broken, the 'wardrobe' which should have had doors on it had 2 hangers. When trying to use my hairdryer, I thought it might blow up as the electric sockets were very dodgy, as was the electrics in the showeroom with the wire coming out the wall and no covering over it. The shower was probably from the arc ages and did not work properly. There was toilet paper stuffed into the wall at the skirting board and in the toilet there was a plaster stuck on the skirting board. Washhand basins were cold water only and I found a hair on one of them. We were the only people staying there and each lodge should of had a hamock outside the room this was not in place for our lodge. the food was very basic, we told our guide we did not eat fish or spicy food. We got both fish and spicy food and unfortunately we had to stay 2 nights and got basically the same things on both occasions. For our first dinner the guide told us dinner was at 7pm, we duly arrived at the alloted time to be served up cold food. We were then told it had been prepared at 6pm so no wonder it was cold, they took it away and presumably heated it up in the microwave. The only dessert we got was watermelon and papya, no fancy desserts. The only thing we did enjoy was the first river cruise where we saw some wildlife and a male orangutan. However we then had to go on another 2 cruises the following day where we did not see anything much different to the first one. There was supposed to be a visit to cave but as this was closed, we were told it would be substitued with another night cruise, this we declined, there is only so much you can see going up or down a river it was like there were just trying to fill in time.
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Date of stay: February 2023
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.
Sandra D wrote a review Jun 2024
Adelaide, Australia
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Not sure what I was expecting but this accomodation surprised me. Large cabin and comfortable bedding and air-conditioning. To access a short boat ride is required, as you arrive at the dock a boardwalk leads you to the communal dining and bar area. The boardwalk then leads to the lodge cabins at the rear where you are surrounded by forest and wildlife. If you want TV forget it this property is basically off grid and access to wi-fi can be purchased. But you don't need these things as you can spend leisurely trips on the river spotting bird and animal life in their natural setting.
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Date of stay: June 2024
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.
Biffro wrote a review Jul 2023
London, United Kingdom
+1
4.0 of 5 bubbles
We stayed here for 2 nights as part of a group tour. We had a rustic cabin which was really sweet and comfortable and we had a good fan to keep us co at home night. The facilities were basic but the place had a lot of charm and it was nice staying in a place surrounded by nature. We did two river cruises each day and we were so lucky to see Pygmy elephants and lots of wildlife including proboscis monkeys and hornbills. Breakfast and lunch was ok with not much variety with popadoms for lunch and dinner on both days and loads of carbs and fried food.

We like to do our bit for nature and made sure we brought refillable water bottles with us, but we were really disappointed to see staff filling their water machine with loads of really small water bottles instead of the large refillable ones. A more sustainable option would be better. There was also rubbish on the riverbanks directly outside the hotel and in and around the grounds of the accommodation, and as this is a hotel for guests we were surprised that this was left for the duration of our stay. This is a nice place and we had a really enjoyable stay and loved the riverboat cruises but some small improvements would make a difference to future visitors and the environment.
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Date of stay: July 2023
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.
SpeedyTiger wrote a review Apr 2024
Melbourne
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Fabulous two days here. Good accommodation, great food and (apart from one time when our boat's engine failed) we had terrific boat safaris with great views of the pygmy elephants, proboscis monkeys other wild-life and bird-life. A beaut little jungle jaunt.
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Date of stay: February 2024
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.
Graham N wrote a review Sept 2024
Melbourne, Australia
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Not knowing quite what to expect from our agent's arrangements, we could not really ask for more. The bedrooms (most important) are all screened and have air-conditioning. The rest is open-air but that all adds to the experience. The staff are helpful and kind, the meals are of quality local cuisine and the cruises and walks are all well organised.
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Date of stay: September 2024
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.
Forklift wrote a review Feb 2020
UK
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Excellent service, comfortable rooms, very good food, enthusiatic and knowledgeable guides, exciting river trips. We ejoyed this lodge as we saw more animals by the river than we saw deeper in the forest. 2 night / 3 days was a long enough time to stay.
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Date of stay: February 2020
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.
Response from AB_Customer_Care, Public Relations Manager at Bilit Rainforest Lodge
Responded 26 Feb 2020
Hi Forklift, Thank you for taking the time to write a review! We try our very best to ensure our guests' stay with us is enjoyable, comfortable and memorable. To hear that you loved your stay with us and even got to spot some wildlife from our lodge is truly wonderful to hear! We hope to see you stay with us again on your next trip to Sabah :) have a great week ahead!
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
ksd4542 wrote a review Jun 2022
kent
5.0 of 5 bubbles
This was second visit to this amazing place in the jungle previously staying in 2019. Perfect place to chill and relax with the sound of nature. No WiFi… what does that matter. The atmosphere certainly makes up for it. Sat in the restaurant in the evening watching the bats fly in and out , and the Civet cat that appeared to have adopted the lodge! Food was great and it was no trouble for the staff to attend to likes and dislikes. Staff were very hard working and were so friendly and welcoming. Room was basic but very comfortable with everything we needed. Thank you guys for making this part of our honeymoon memorable. I hope you continue to see your visitor numbers increase.. you all deserve it.
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Date of stay: June 2022
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.
Nick S wrote a review May 2023
Totton, United Kingdom
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Set your expectations at the right level and this place is good. You are in the jungle and need to adapt. Yes the place is a bit ramshackle in places but it adds to the charm. The walkways look a tad worn but never felt like we were about to plummet to our deaths! The cabins again are old but ours was more than adequate although the shower was not great. The food was good but on occasions not at its hottest. Overall worth a visit as long as you recognise the location isn’t going to allow 5 star accommodation
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Date of stay: May 2023
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.
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WalesHappydaze asked a question Sept 2022
wales190 contributions16 helpful votes
Are wellies/boots provided ?
Answer from dolally
London, United Kingdom167 contributions116 helpful votes
No. We bought our own hiking boots and leech socks for the jungle.
Answer from hornet24
London, United Kingdom46 contributions100 helpful votes
Hi, our room didn’t have a mosquito net, but we had no problems. I think we saw more monkeys than mosquitos during our stay.
Answer from HadleyHo
Hi, I’m Hadley from Bilit Rainforest Lodge. Mosquitoes normally appear more during rainy days, while there’s too in normal days but not much. I would like to suggest you to bring along with insect repellent, otherwise you can purchase directly at the Lodge. Thank you :)
Answer from Jo A
Perth, Australia48 contributions18 helpful votes
Hi Darryl. Bilit lodge is a few hours drive from Sepilok where the Orang u tang sanctuary is. If you want to stay near the Orang Sanctuary- try Sepilok Jungle Resort - we loved it. Bilit lodge (loved this place too) is on the river and it does include the boat rides along (2 one at sunset - one at sunrise)the river to see birds, crocs, elephants, several kinds of monkeys. one of the guys does a night jungle walk - which you pay extra for - I think it was about $10 Aus. and you can buy beer :) and snacks at the lodge. the overnight fee includes your dinner and breakfast (which was good) don't expect 5 star at either place, there are 5 star places as well. up to you
Fiona S wrote a tip Sept 2024
London, United Kingdom66 contributions5 helpful votes
4.0 of 5 bubbles
"Take cash"
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debbiewickens wrote a tip Feb 2024
Ilford, United Kingdom39 contributions5 helpful votes
5.0 of 5 bubbles
"I wish I’d booked a 2 day trip rather than just an overnight"
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brainy_banana wrote a tip Oct 2023
Preston, United Kingdom124 contributions52 helpful votes
4.0 of 5 bubbles
"Bring a poncho and mosquito repellent! "
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Beauy wrote a tip Aug 2023
Two Rocks, Australia141 contributions14 helpful votes
4.0 of 5 bubbles
"Bring the mosquito cream for the night walks"
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snid9701 wrote a tip Jul 2023
Melbourne, Australia68 contributions32 helpful votes
4.0 of 5 bubbles
"Try to get a lodge close restaurant - you may get wifi signal"
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ALSO KNOWN AS
bilit rainforest hotel sabah
LOCATION
MalaysiaSabahKinabatangan DistrictKota Kinabatangan
NUMBER OF ROOMS
24
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BILIT RAINFOREST LODGE: UPDATED 2024 B&B Reviews and 1,241 Photos (Kota Kinabatangan) - Tripadvisor