Review Author: Gerard

Review Date: 23 Feb 2026

Review Body: Unforgettable Wildlife Experience in Borneo On my journey through Borneo, this was without a doubt the best place to witness wildlife in its natural environment. The diversity of animals you can encounter here is truly amazing. With the right guide, you’ll be surprised at how much there is to see—monkeys swinging through the trees, colorful birds flying overhead, reptiles resting along the riverbanks, and even eagles diving into the water to catch fish. It’s a paradise for nature lovers and wildlife photographers. What made the experience even better was the peaceful setting and the quality of the accommodations. The rooms are great—clean, spacious, and comfortable, offering a perfect retreat after a long day of exploring. The food is good too, with tasty local dishes that fuel you for the next day’s adventures. If you enjoy a boat ride, then this is definitely the place to be. Cruising through quiet jungle waterways, spotting animals in the trees or along the shore, is both exciting and relaxing. The movement of the boat adds a bit of challenge to photography, but also adds to the thrill. This place is a must-visit for anyone wanting to experience the wild heart of Borneo. I would happily return!

Review rating: 5

Review Author: Alvaro

Review Date: 23 Feb 2026

Review Body: We spent one night and two days at Bilit Adventure Lodge and it was simply incredible! Everything was perfect – from the pick-up in Sepilok to the warm welcome at the lodge. The staff were super friendly and made us feel at home. Huge shout-out to our guide Rusli – not only did he make every tour unforgettable, but he also helped us last minute to find transport to Semporna. You’re the best, my friend! Couldn’t recommend this place enough – an unforgettable experience.

Review rating: 5

Review Author: Cas van Loon

Review Date: 23 Feb 2026

Review Body: We stayed 4 days and 3 nights at Bilit Adventure Lodge with Rusli as our guide. We drove from KK to Bilit ourselves and could easily park the car in Bilit and we could head straight across to the lodge. The program was really well put together, and Rusli knows every detail from the region and the animals and shares it in a fun and engaging way. The accommodation was also great with very friendly staff. We’d definitely recommend this stay.

Review rating: 5

Review Author: LB

Review Date: 23 Feb 2026

Review Body: Amazing place Beautiful, friendly, happy staff Delicious variety of food Lovely spacious clean rooms Grounds are stunning, plenty of places to sit and take in where you are. The boat safaris are the best, wind in your hair and anticipation of what you might see. Best part of our tour, loved this place, deserves more than one star rating.

Review rating: 5

Review Author: Jill

Review Date: 08 May 2026

Review Body: An amazing trip from start to finish. Really well organised. Our guide Fadzli was very knowledgeable. The food was tasty and the accommodation was comfortable. We got to see the big five on the fantastic river trip. Felt very lucky to see the elephants! We were in two minds about the city tour but it was definitely worth doing.

Review rating: 5

Review Author: Luke

Review Date: 23 Feb 2026

Review Body: Awesome adventure here! Guide was great very knowledgeable. Rooms were nice. Good Air-conditioning is definitely needed!! Seen lots of the major animals and wildlife. Food was really good and never the same during my stay. Go see this place before it's gone and destroyed by the palm plantations.

Review rating: 5

Review Author: James

Review Date: 23 Feb 2026

Review Body: Amazing service - a really well run company. They employ local rangers to help with the tours and we saw an abundance of wildlife. Very good for the price, also. The rooms were nice and clean with good AC, and the food was really good!

Review rating: 5

Review Author: Eddie Ward

Review Date: 21 Apr 2026

Review Body: Amazing experience. We booked the 2D 1N and it was packed with stuff to do but never felt rushed. All our dietry requirements where met. Our tour guide was excellent and extremely knowledgeable. 10/10

Review rating: 5

Review Author: Margaret

Review Date: 23 Feb 2026

Review Body: Absolutely loved it! Spacious airy rooms, good beds, beautiful location, very helpful staff, delicious food.

Review rating: 5

Review Author: Richard

Review Date: 23 Feb 2026

Review Body: Nicely equipped lodge on the beautiful river. Enjoyed the baked beans for breakfast, and night walk

Review rating: 5

Review Author: Vincent

Review Date: 23 Feb 2026

Review Body: A rustic lodge on the riverbank, with lovely sunrise views. An elevated walkway leads to the rooms in the trees. Facilities are basic but comfortable with a/c and large toilet, shower room. Meals are buffet with enough to eat. Staff very friendly but reserved. This lodge is popular with tours so daily arrivals and departures by river boat

Review rating: 4

Review Author: Peter Chi Kee Chin

Review Date: 23 Feb 2026

Review Body: Low season when I came so not manu guest and services cut back. River cruise was good saw many wild life; Pigmy elephant, Probosces monkeys, long tail, short tail, pig tail Marcaque, Crocodile, many Hornbills

Review rating: 4

Review Author: Gabriel

Review Date: 23 Feb 2026

Review Body: Room was very basic with 2 bathrooms. AC was good. Food was also very good

Review rating: 4

Review Author: Pim

Review Date: 01 May 2019

Review Body: Positive: We saw nice animals! The rooms were outdated and the bathroom smelled. Food was included and was nice.. Negative: We got a transfer back to Sandakan but there was out of sudden an extra stop to look for a cave but we had to pay extra for it if we wanted to see it..

Review rating: 5

Review Author: rodi2008, Chiang Mai, Thailand

Review Date: 06 Jun 2011

Review Body: What the Bilit Adventure Lodge lacks in luxury, it more than makes up for with its character. The main draw in the Kinabatangen River Valley is the wildlife and believe me, you will not be disappointed. But with all the lodging options available, why not choose one that makes you feel at home? The staff at the Bilit Adventure Lodge made the trip more than just another entry in the travel journal; they treated us like one of the gang and viewing the wildlife with friend,s rather than a tour guide, greatly enhanced our Sabah experience. The lodge is owned by the SWA (Sepilok Tropical Wildlife Adventure), a licensed tour operator that also owns a much more touristy lodge right near the Sepilok Orangutan Rehab Center. But if you've ventured all the way to Sabah, choosing an overnight package on the river is a far more enjoyable experience than a roadside hotel in a crowded area. You can book packages directly from the company or from virtually any third party tour operator in Sabah. A 2 night/3 day package is a perfect opportunity to experience all the area has to offer and make sure you choose a private guide; it will make a world of difference if one of the monkeys steals your heart and you just can't leave; we think group tours are far more impersonal. (We are biased but we think you should request the services "Loy Jungleman" , our guide, who we are proud to call a new friend on the other side of the world) Our stay was part of a 6 night package that started at Borneo Rainforest Lodge and continued on from Lahad Datu. Loy and his driver picked us up right on time and we drove past rather ordinary scenery, passing numerous palm plantations for about 2 hours. You arrive in the small village of Bilit and hop on a quick boat ride across the river. The lodge itself is set among a lush rainforest setting and consists of a collection of buildings with 4 units each. The rooms are not luxurious by any means but the air conditioner was unbelievably fantastic after 3 heat filled nights in Danum Valley; that alone makes it worthwhile. The rooms are small but adequate enough with a small shower, a double bed with average mattress and pillows and an extra smaller bed. There's no need to do anything but sleep in the room anyway. The animals are active at dawn and late afternoon so the river cruises are conducted at 6 AM and 4 PM to allow maximum viewing. The river and its environs are filled with a cornucopia of wildlife including more macaques than you can count and so many different birds that even an avid bird watcher would be impressed. We were very lucky to see a large male orangutan hovering in a nest which is unusual. The monkeys will often walk all the way down to the river and stare at you from two feet away while they search for food. Too much fun to describe ! There are also crocodiles; they are fun because you can go right up to them and almost touch them before they scamper away. The sad reality of why the viewing is so optimal is due to the limited space that's been imposed on the native wildlife due to the clearing of forest for palm plantations. There are pygmy elephants in the area but they were not around when we were there. Our morning cruise was shrouded in a mystical fog that lifted just in time to see lots of birds including numerous hornbills, egrets, pittas and gorgeously colored kingfishers that glide along the river searching for fish. Monkeys seem to be more active in the afternoon. Our evening cruises were spectacular; Loy, our expert guide, was able to spot and explain a lot of the wildlife to us; we shared much of our California wildlife with him also, much to his surprise. The cruises will last until darkness and the drivers will always search for the best areas for viewing. After the morning cruise, they took us to Gomantong Caves which are world famous for the swiftlets, whose nests are harvested annually by daring (crazy) people that scale the cliffs to collect the ingredients of one of the most expensive delicacies in Asian cuisine. The cave is dark and filled with mounds of never ending bat poo and millions of cockroaches. You can walk around in a circle inside the cave but do not touch anything and ensure you wash your hands thoroughly afterwards. Personally, we were not impressed with the caves as we find indoor caves with stalagtytes more impressive. The tour usually calls for a return trip in the afternoon to see the bats but we opted to hang out on the deckside and drink beer instead. There are also night walks available but we didn't take them because leech socks are required (we had enough of that at Borneo Rainforest Lodge and our socks were filthy and wet). If you haven't taken one yet, we highly recommend them; look for slow lorises (we did not see any in Danum but wish we did) The meals are served on the main lodge area which overlooks the river. Because it's an ecolodge, they keep the lighting and power to a minimum. Although considered basic by most others who posted, we found the lunch and dinner to be quite tasty, consisting of chicken in a Malaysian style fricassee sauce, whole prawns, beef, delicious fresh vegetables, fruit, and best of all, "chips" (they love French fries and because everything is cooked in palm oil, they taste better than McDonald's fries). Breakfast was a few fried eggs and some sausage made without pork (no pork can be found in Malaysia due to the Muslim population), toast and potatoes. Adequate but not awesome. And bring your own coffee if you need your fix; i There's not much to do at the lodge in between cruises which is where the character part I mentioned comes part in. When not entertaining guests, Loy and his buddies mostly hang out on the deck playing the guitar. How they know so many American pop songs from the old days is beyond me. But unlike other resorts where the staff is the staff, here you can chat it up with your guide and the whole staff. If you are the kind of traveler that enjoys getting to know other people and their attitudes, culture and lifestyle, this place is for you. Our guide Loy obviously has a passion for the area and was genuinely interested in learning about us as much as were about Malaysia. Steven, one of the teenage staff, joked with us the whole time and the personality and warmth of the staff left us feeling sorry to go. Loy even offered to let us tap onto his IPhone's WiFi connection. In exchange, I offered him a Starbucks Via instant coffee which he had never tasted (They consider Nescafe is instant a luxury) There are many choices in the area including cheesy looking lodges with "Koom-bi-ya" like group activities. Skip all that and treat yourself to the best wildlife viewing available in Sabah coupled with a small lodge run by a great bunch of people that try hard to please you. Highly recommended.

Review rating: 5

Review Author: lynn_ksk, kuala lumpur

Review Date: 09 Aug 2011

Review Body: We spent 3 days 2 nights over at Bilit - all 12 of us. Our tour package included a visit to Sepilok Orang-Utan Rehabilitation Centre before arriving at the lodge and afterwards the Gomantang Cave tour. The bus ride from the Sandakan airport to Bilit Lodge is roughly about 2.5 hours. The bus stops at an up river make-shift jetty and a 2 minute speedboat ride is necessary to get to the lodge. A narrow wooden bridge over a sea of water hyacinth connects the various chalets and the main dining house. Our room were the basic 2 single beds with a wall fan and attached bath in a wooden chalet on stilts that houses 10 other rooms in total. I would suggest buying bottled water on the way here (the bus makes a stop at a basic convenience store enroute here) and brush your teeth with it if your not used to the water. A few of us did - I personally did not and was fine. There are also no hot shower and water is derived mainly from rainwater collected in huge barrels behind the lodge for the toilets and shower. Our guide, Sevi knew the the surroundings of Bilit like the back of his hands. And his enthusiasm for spotting wild-life especially his personal favorite - birds is infectious. On our first day there, we traveled by speed boat up and down the river both in the early morning and late afternoon hoping to catch a view of the wildlife by the river banks - and we sure did! We were lucky to have encountered the a whole herd of pigmy elephants chowing on the river banks not once but on 3 separate outings! We even manage to spot horn bills, herons, the proboscis monkey, and even the elusive orang utan attending to her nest up on the tree. The following day's agenda was hiking into the forest behind Bilit to Oxbow Lake. As it rained heavily the previous night, the 2 hour continuous journey was generally wading through muddy tracks filled with elephant dung, infested with mosquitos, insects and many other wire bugs including the dreaded blood sucking leech. Rubber knee length boots and leech socks are a must. Both items are readily available for rent at the lodge for rm5 each. Meals are served at the main dining house. The breakfast menu consisted of fried eggs, sausages, toast with a choice of instant coffee or tea. Lunch and dinner are rice based meals with simple and tasty asian side dishes of veg, meat (usually chicken) and fresh local fruits for dessert. On two occasions, tea time was a real treat - fresh fried bananas and hot tea. Delish! Canned drinks, bottled water and beer can be bought from the kitchen by of course at 3x the usual price. A note though, no ice is available here due to the water issues. Make sure to check out the early morning view by the river, just before sunrise - it is simply breath-taking. And chilling out by the dining hall at night, just listening to the sounds of nature. Other available activities around the lodge includes tree planting (rm10 each tree) and night jungle trekking (which we had to forgo due to the heavy rain). If being up close to nature, the wildlife and basically experiencing first hand how the locals live is what you're looking for - go no further than Bilit Lodge for an unforgettable experience! A word of caution especially for those insect / small creature-phobic though - it is not uncommon to find jungle roaches, spider, gecko, ants or other small creatures inside the rooms. But hey - that's all part of nature eh Also, plan ahead and bring necessary emergency items - medicine, light first aid etc. should the need arises - the nearest town with amenities is over an hour away!

Review rating: 5

Review Author: Ping L, Timaru

Review Date: 16 Nov 2013

Review Body: Despite the mod-con of air con, this Lodge is basic but comfortable. The one positive attribute of this place is its VERY WEAK or almost non-existence Wi-Fi and therefore, urbanites like myself have no choice but immersing myself in the tropical jungle experience. I thought that the River ride is meant to be a walk in the park but it's not meant to be. Heavy cloud beckoned and lightning was at the horizon. Being in the deep end and not being in control of the situation, I didn't know if the ride would be postponed or continued. Armed with a very thin poncho, we faced the unknown with heavy raindrops suddenly becoming live "ammo" flying vertically against our face whilst the boat went "warp" speed. If you want to know the authentic experience of what locals have to put through, this is a good introduction indeed. Nothing is being cottoned up but just the way it is, and so, it should be. And as the rain cleared, we hit jackpots with spotting of orang utans, hornbills, eagle, crocodile, "orang belanda" monkeys! An innocent question then started to breed paranoia inside my head. I saw a warning sign about being vigilant with crocodiles and asked the guide if it's a common sight. And then, she started telling us the story about one particular crocodile that's 800 kgs in weight that's at Sandakan Crocodile Sanctuary now. Locals even gave it a name and when it was at this river, it chomped through four locals who were fixing their fishing nets! Yikes. Then, there's the tropical jungle walk to see the Oxbow Lake. Believe me, the journey to get there really brought to the fore the hardship the British armies had to endure as they marched from Sandakan to Kundasang. The tropical jungle IS not a pleasant place to be in especially after heavy monsoon rain. You have to walk through puddles that were deep but almost impossible to dislodge your feet. Gumboot is an absolute must! With intense humidity under the foliage, you need plenty of hydration!! Moreover, you have to overcome spikey and dangerous plants, snakes and my new favourite nemesis, leeches and lots of them! Within my group, you could hear constant scream of ladies as they found leeches on their forearms or elsewhere. What I have learnt is that with salt water, leeches could be dislodged very easily. Anyhow, it's a joy upon reaching the Lake and after a few moments rest, we had to make our way back to the Lodge again. It's a very challenging experience but an experience that's worth savouring. Locals have been graceful with their hospitality and you get to see them being themselves playing badminton with our guide during after working hours and there were laughters everywhere. If you are truly an Indiana Jones-reincarnated, don't miss this for the world:)

Review rating: 5

Review Author: Projectport

Review Date: 03 Feb 2018

Review Body: I had the holiday of a lifetime in Borneo, largely due to the sincere kindness and superb service provide by my Tourist Guide Elod. He really wants you to gather memories of his Sabah home of which is a proud ambassador. The staff at Bilit Adventure Lodge work really hard to make your stay comfortable and an adventure. The boatmen have eagle eyes to spot the wildlife that are in residence along the Kinabatangan River. Remember, not all animals are present 365 days a year. Enjoy what is present, if an Elephant or Crocodile doesn’t appear, they are residing elsewhere according to whatever season or river conditions are present. If an animal is there, the guide and boatman will find it for you. I saw Orangutans, short and long tailed Macaques, Rhinoceros and Oriental Hornbill birds, Civets, Storks, wild Boar and the weird and wonderful Proboscis Monkey. And I took away my “Yes, I did get that close” collection of memories, photographs and videos of Borneo rainforest animals interacting. I walked through the muddy rainforest and came across the smaller inhabitants; bright green grasshoppers and black as the ace of spades millipedes. Others saw the mouse deer; a miniature version of what you might think of as a deer. If the staff say hire the leech socks and gum boots, take their advice. It’s suckingly sumptuous to sink ankle deep into the walking track while looking at the huge buttress roots of the rainforest trees and trying to trace the huge thrown canopy wines. Leave your expectations of luxury accommodation at home, or stay elsewhere according to your budget. You will find a very clean, comfortable, and roomy lodge with big bathrooms, hot water and air conditioning. If you are addicted to instant external communications, give yourself a break and read a book or talk to your fellow guests, the staff or your guide. Wi-Fi in the rainforest isn’t on tap. Food – I was presented with diverse local cuisine lunch on arrival sufficient for two people. There is plenty of diverse buffet food available at breakfast, lunch and dinner so eat cereal or eggs for breakfast or enjoy Malaysian noodles. Staff service is friendly and accommodating. The old mantra- if you’re nice to people they will return the same to you. My memories are of a wide mouthed river with silver and pink sunsets, hot and humid weather with a cool breeze beating against me when powering back to the open decked lodge after experiencing up close viewing of the local wildlife and enjoying the warm smile of the lodge staff. Lower reviews….. who are you?

Review rating: 5

Review Author: Steve P, Brisbane, Australia

Review Date: 18 Nov 2015

Review Body: My first impression was wow, this really is in the jungle. The hotel can only be approached by a small boat trip up the Kinabatangan River. After arriving at the jetty, you realise that you are away from it all, a phone network but certainly no wifi. The rooms are in groups of four situated at intervals along the raised wooden broad walk, that runs the length of the property. As you make your way to your room you feel the eyes of the jungle are on you. The rooms are very adequate with hot showers, good aircon and a kettle, the outlook is something else. We were awoken on some mornings by the Macaque Monkey's running on the roof, but this just adds to the excitement of the place. We were here as part of a tour and had different things to do each day such as trips up the river and walks in to the jungle. If you were here on your own back (or if that is possible) things to do would be limited. The wildlife in the proximity is staggering, we sighted, Pygmy Elephants, Orangutang's, Hornbills, Proboscis Monkey's and Crocodile to name a few. The food is by buffet and had a good selection, the boss 'Nelson' was always there to help and the small bar he ran was priced very competitively considering the hotels position. If you get the chance to stay here, enjoy it whilst you can, when you leave you will miss it.The staff are wonderful and the position wonderful. My five mark is based on what you get for $50 a night and that is worth 5 in my ratings! On a sour note and nothing to do with the hotel, the place was spoilt by the visit of about 30 kids from the Hong Kong International School. They were ignorant and arrogant, the teachers had no control and the staff had to clean up after them. If you are reading this and are a parent of one of those kids that visited this hotel in early November 2015, you should be ashamed at their behaviour!

Review rating: 5

Review Author: Myca10, Australia

Review Date: 29 Jun 2011

Review Body: The staff at Bilit Adventure Lodge are knowledgable of the surrounding wildlife, and they are very welcoming and go out of their way to ensure you have a great stay. We booked 3 days / 2 nights here, which is recommended. The main highlight here is the animal-life, and you're not always guaranteed to see animals when you're looking for them! The more time you can spare, the better. Having said that, we were amazingly lucky and had the opportunity to see Pygmy Elephants during 2 of our boat cruises. This was truly special - to see them playing in the river in the driving rain, and then also to see them feeding on the riverbank the following day. We feel very privileged to have experienced this. Our guides were very accommodating - we stayed long after the boats from other lodges had left, so that we could quietly watch the elephants. Additionally we had the opportunity to see hornbills, proboscis monkeys, macaques, silver-leaf monkeys. The night walks are great (there had been heavy rain during our stay, which makes for lots of mud!) - a great opportunity to find beautiful birds and insects, and Western Tarsiers too! You can hire wellington boots and leech socks for a very small fee. The food at dinner is delicious and plentiful! Lots of homecooked meals. The lodging is comfortable and adequate. Aircon is available in some rooms. Don't expect luxurious accommodation or gourmet meals - it's the middle of the jungle and very far from towns. There's nothing fancy. What you will get is an unmatched experience, the opportunity to see some amazing wildlife in their natural habitat, and the company of the very friendly people who run the lodge.

Review rating: 5

Itinerary Day 1

Itinerary Summary: Orangutan & Sun Bear Centers, Kinabatangan River cruise & overnight stay in a riverside lodge.

Itinerary Description: 8:15 AM: Begin your adventure with a pick-up from Sandakan Hotel or Airport. Visit Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Center and Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Center. 12:30 PM: Enjoy a delightful lunch at Sepilok Jungle Resort (SJR). 1:00 PM: Depart for Kampung Bilit with a scenic 2-hour drive, arriving at Bilit Jetty. 3-minute boat transfer to your charming riverside lodge. 3:30 PM: Take a refreshing afternoon tea break with local snacks. 4:00 PM: Embark on an enchanting Kinabatangan River wildlife cruise (approx. 2 hours), where you’ll spot incredible wildlife against stunning natural backdrops. 6:00 PM: Return to the lodge to freshen up. 7:00 PM: Savour a delightful dinner. Overnight at the lodge.

Itinerary Day 2

Itinerary Summary: Morning Adventure: Kinabatangan River Cruise and Sandakan City Tour

Itinerary Description: 5:30 AM: Rise and shine! 6:00 AM: Set off on a serene morning river cruise (1 hour) to greet the day and spot wildlife in their natural habitat. 7:30 AM: Enjoy breakfast to fuel your adventures ahead. 8:30 AM: Depart from Bilit and journey back to Sandakan. Lunch: Delight in a meal en route to Sandakan. Sandakan City Tour: War Memorial Park, Puh Jih Shih Temple, St. Michael's Church, Central Market: Experience local life and vibrant culture (time permitting). Drop-off: Conclude your adventure at Sandakan Hotel or Airport (please book flights departing after 5 PM).