Flagship lodge inside Danum Valley
Situated on the Danum River inside a primary rainforest of a lineage some 130 million years old, this 31-chalet lodge offers high-end comfort and expert wildlife guiding 2.5 hours from Lahad Datu.
Flagship lodge inside Danum Valley
Borneo Rainforest Lodge places 31 air-conditioned chalets on the bank of the Danum River, 97 kilometres from Lahad Datu. The primary forest starts directly at your veranda rail and the dedicated wildlife guides begin their trekking schedules before dawn. You will appreciate the 24-hour power and hot showers after searching for Bornean orangutans in the 43,892-hectare lowland dipterocarp reserve.
Owned and operated by Borneo Nature Tours, a commercial subsidiary of the Yayasan Sabah Group, the lodge is the only luxury accommodation inside the strictly protected reserve. It operates under tight environmental covenants set by the Danum Valley Management Committee to keep the human footprint low. Guest numbers are capped at 60. The plan for a sustainable footprint here was spearheaded in the late 1980s by Dr Clive Wallis Marsh. The lodge opened in 1994.
The layout centres on a main lodge building housing the reception, the lounge and The Restaurant and Bar. A riverside communal dip pool, a gym station and 2 en-suite bird hides were added in December 2024. From this central hub an extensive network of elevated wooden boardwalks radiates out to the chalets. These walkways protect the forest floor from soil compaction and keep you above the ground-dwelling insects and leeches.
The property holds official accreditation from the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture (MOTAC) and earned Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) certification in 2024. The lodge employs a fully local workforce and sources the majority of its materials regionally. It is an inland lodge devoted to exploring the rainforest. The team will structure your itinerary to allow 24 hours between your last dive and your domestic flight to Lahad Datu if you are combining a rainforest stay with a Sipadan reef package.
The property is undergoing a major expansion. Construction of a new 3-storey clubhouse and 9 additional luxury chalets runs from 1 January 2025 to 22 January 2027.
Building work is scheduled between 8am and 6pm daily to minimise disruption. This timing coincides with the hours when most guests are off the property trekking or rafting. You may however experience some noise during your stay if you choose to remain at the lodge during the day. State this construction period plainly when discussing dates with your travelling companions.
Borneo Rainforest Lodge gives couples, photographers and families access to primary rainforest with fine meals, air conditioning and expert guiding. It suits people preferring to walk the trails by day and retreat to high-end comfort by night.
The jungle paths suit people who are steady on their feet; the team can check the boardwalk routes with you if you need wheelchair access. If you need high-speed internet in your room for remote work, ask the team to help you choose a coastal resort.
Why stay here
This is the premier wildlife destination in Malaysian Borneo. The guiding is exceptional and the access to primary forest is unmatched anywhere in the state. The fact that you can spend 5 hours trekking rugged trails in high humidity and then return to a cold drink, a hot shower and a very comfortable bed makes the physical effort sustainable over several days.
Located deep inside the 43,892-hectare Danum Valley Conservation Area
Features 31 air-conditioned chalets and villas connected by elevated boardwalks
Bornean orangutans seen on most stays and gibbons heard at dawn
Includes guided forest trekking, nocturnal safari drives and canopy walkway access
Suits couples and photographers seeking air-conditioned comfort in the primary forest
Rooms
The entry-level rooms offer 28.8 square metres of space and sleep 2 people in either 2 single beds or 1 double and 1 single. They sit slightly back from the river and feature an outdoor deck with direct views into the jungle canopy. All Jungle Chalets are air-conditioned and have ceiling fans.
Enquire about this roomThese rooms range from 31 to 68 square metres and look out over the river or the jungle. They sleep 2 to 3 guests. The private balcony features an outdoor oversized bathtub as well as a private plunge pool.
Enquire about this roomBuilt with families in mind, these 97-square-metre chalets sleep up to 4 people in 1 single and 2 double beds. They offer expansive living areas featuring floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the Danum River and a private balcony holding a plunge pool.
Enquire about this roomThis tier brings the outside in using floor-to-ceiling glass walls to give panoramic views of the river. Covering 103 square metres they are designed for couples using double bed configurations. The outside deck holds a private infinity plunge pool and a seating area where you can use the complimentary binoculars to scan the canopy.
Enquire about this roomThe largest accommodation covers 179 square metres split across 2 floors. The first floor provides extensive living space while the ground floor opens to a private infinity pool and an outdoor tub. They are highly sought after and require booking well in advance.
Enquire about this roomDining
The lodge operates on a full-board basis. All meals are served at The Restaurant and Bar in the main central building. The food is excellent even here, hours from the nearest town.
The kitchen serves a varied menu of Chinese, Malaysian, local Asian and international dishes. Meals are a mix of buffet and a la carte service. The chefs cater for dietary requirements such as vegan or strict gluten-free meals provided you tell the team when you book.
Evenings are quiet. There is complimentary Wi-fi in the main lodge area but none in the chalets. Mobile signal is limited to basic 2G. Every room has a satellite phone for safety and the front desk handles fixed-line calls and emails. The Mandara Spa operates 7 treatment chalets until 9pm offering Dusun-inspired therapies and a signature Morning Dew Bath ritual using Borneo coffee scrubs and local floral infusions.
From your doorstep
A stay here revolves around the wildlife. The standard package includes the services of an in-house nature guide shared with up to 8 guests. You can arrange a private dedicated guide for a daily fee if you prefer exclusivity. Your private group has a maximum of 6 guests per guide.
Suspended 27 metres above the primary rainforest floor, the Borneo Rainforest Lodge canopy walkway is a 360-metre structure anchored directl
A night drive is the best way to see the rainforest mammals that sleep through the heat of the day. This guide explains how the drives work,
The trails at Danum Valley run deep into a ancient primary rainforest. They are hot, humid and root-choked and they offer a way of seeing th
The classic Sabah birding circuit connects the montane forests of Mount Kinabalu with the lowland dipterocarps of Danum Valley. This guide e
The Kinabatangan floodplain holds the highest concentration of wildlife in Borneo. This is where you go to track orangutans and proboscis mo
Wildlife you may see
Sightings are wild and never guaranteed: that is the point. These are the residents your guides will be listening for.
The singular draw of Danum Valley is the density of rare endemic Bornean wildlife in an unlogged habitat. The biodiversity is resident all year round.
Packages
Rates on enquiry, no prices are published.
2 nights at the flagship lodge: the canopy walkway at dawn, a night drive, and dinner beside the river.
Full board · on enquiry
EnquireA private week across the Lodge and the Study Centre: hides, flexible dawn starts and a vehicle that waits for the light.
Full board · on enquiry
EnquireSabah has no single dry season and rain falls all year in Danum Valley. The forest never closes. April and May are statistically the least wet months in the interior. The peak season runs from March to October and the green season from November to February.
Sipadan is a marine park on the east coast. Sabah Parks issues 254 Sipadan permits a day. Your Sipadan days can be guaranteed if you pre-book on a dive package with the right island resort. The team will build your itinerary to link your dive resort with your rainforest stay.
Yes. Encountering leeches is an unavoidable reality of walking the trails in a primary rainforest. The lodge provides leech socks keeping them off your skin effectively.
Yes. Children aged 5 and below stay free of charge when sharing existing bedding. There is a discounted child rate for ages 6 to 12 sharing with 2 adults. Third-party platforms enforce a minimum age of 18 for independent check-in. The Premium Deluxe Chalet is designed specifically for families.
The premium villas have private infinity plunge pools. A riverside communal dip pool was added to the main lodge in December 2024.
How to get there
You reach the lodge from Lahad Datu by scheduled private transport organised by the lodge. You fly into Lahad Datu airport on a domestic flight from Kota Kinabalu.
Open the interactive mapExtend the journey
Danum Valley Study Centre — The working research station in the same reserve. Tabin Wildlife Resort — The best destination in Sabah for small cats and night drives. Kinabatangan River — Boat-based wildlife safaris connecting easily from Lahad Datu. Sipadan Island — outstanding wall diving off the east coast.
Plan your trip
Tell the team your dates to plan your search for endemic wildlife and secure your room at Borneo Rainforest Lodge.
Sources referenced on this page: Danum Valley Management Committee.
