Stunning Sandy Beach and Thriving Coral Reef for Secluded Tropical Luxury

Mon Aug 11 2025 09:20:50 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time) by CityfanSi

What an amazingly beautiful and well run place, where every need and more is catered for. Had been looking forward staying here since booked and didn’t expect to have expectations exceed but the place and the incredibly attentive, professional, friendly and above all humble staff managed it (especially Haary😉). Read reviews and really don’t understand any of the negative episodes - seem impossible from our recent experience, photos on any webpage DO NOT do it justice either, simply stunning and well maintained throughout. Plenty of wildlife encounter to be had in the edge of the jungle, large Monitor Lizards on patrol, hornbills seen and definitely heard! Wild boars making night tone appearances, mischievous long tailed macaques, even saw a sake or two (not poisonous)!! Snorkelled with many beautiful fish in large shoals, saw spotted rays, baby reef sharks, cuttlefish - my wife was also fortunate enough to swim with a green turtle, but very elusive generally. And found Nemo😉 Overall amazing 7 days spent at Bungaraya, thank you so much everyone from Carl the manager to Haary at the Pantai restaurant to the polite ground staff, room cleaners and everyone else we came into contact with, superb.

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Mon Aug 04 2025 07:25:43 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time) by E4486SCharryt

This is a beautiful hotel with a charming rustic boutique feel, set in a stunning location with crystal-clear beaches and fantastic snorkelling—sharks and turtles just off the shore. The rooms are tucked into the rainforest and offer lovely views, adding to the tranquil atmosphere. While the staff are warm and friendly, the service is noticeably slow. Waiting over 40 minutes for drinks is unacceptable. The food however is delicious, but also takes a long time to arrive. The biggest downside was the sandflies. Despite using the repellent provided, we were covered in itchy bites that lingered well after our stay. It's a serious issue that you should consider when choosing to stay in this area. I’d urge the hotel to consider more proactive and more effective way of managing these pests as it impacts the overall experience of the stay. That said, this hotel is still a gem with some of the best food we had during our trip. Just be prepared for the bugs and the slow pace.

Sat Jul 26 2025 04:26:09 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time) by Ben M

After reading reviews we were a little nervous but the resort was perfect for our family. The hotel is based in amongst the rainforest and we woke to the sounds of the jungle each day. Our 2 bedroom Accommodation was very spacious and luxurious. The beach was golden and the sea turquoise and clear with loads of fish to see in the corals. The food was great and whilst the service was not the speediest the food was worth waiting for and was fresh. As long as you use the lotion and stayed away from the beach in the afternoon there was no issues with sand flies. Monkeys were seen but did not interfere with the holiday and were only seen by the pool across the 5 days we were there. If you want a break in great location and relaxed resort I would highly recommend.

Thu Jul 10 2025 14:19:41 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time) by pripmuncher

What a beautiful resort. We booked a superior villa for 5 nights, this was one of the cheapest room options. The villa was huge, bed was comfortable, lovely bathroom and a sea view to die for which we weren't expecting and a huge balcon, great aircon. Of course the paths are steep but this is the reason for the views, we have stayed in many hotels with this layout and are happy with the walking. The hotel grounds are very well maintained and all of the staff so friendly, such lovely people. They gave us something for the room so that we could get WiFi here which was appreciated. We went in March after our visit to Danum Valley so still early in the season, only a few villas occupied and no children it was really peaceful, just the way we like it. The breakfast was great, plenty of choice and we mostly ate in the long house where we were looked after very well and the food was excellent. The transfers to and from the hotel were excellent, we had a private transfer early morning for our return to the airport. The hotel is picturesque, set in the rainforest on the edge of the sea, plenty of wildlife and very good snorkeling when the conditions allowed, we saw some huge cuttlefish, what an experience. The monkeys did wreak havoc but great to watch, just don't leave anything on your balcony just in case. The only downside for me unfortunately was the sand fly bites. I was bitten on the first day whilst waiting for our room to be ready sat on the decking not the beach, I must have had around 60 bites and still have the scars. I was a mess. It's unfortunate and I didn't see many other people there that had been bitten that were staying there, I n all my years of going abroad I had never experienced sand flies. They either like you or if you're lucky they don't. I have just returned from another holiday abroad in Europe and have been bitten by sandflies again, my tip is take calamine lotion, it helps with the itching which I did this time, but the lady in reception at Bungaraya kindly gave me some lavender oil to roll onto them, after the first day I smothered myself in the oil they make up to repel the sandflies. My mosquito repellent also repelled sand flies but you can't really use it while sunbathing. If you are looking for peace, tranquility and luxury, this hotel is the place to relax and unwind after trekking in the Jungle which is what we did before moving on elsewhere.

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Fri Jul 04 2025 12:42:00 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time) by Annett K

When we arrived we thought we are in paradise. The landing wharf is impressive and we got a warm welcome from the staff. Some bungalows are located near the beach, most on a steep hill, sourrounded by trees. Unfortunately most bungalows don't offer ocean view. In the heat it is unpleasant to walk to the beach and restaurants, but they have golf carts that pick you up and bring you back. It mostly works like a charm, except when people arrive or leave and they have to deal with the luggage. The food is good, but the service is extremely slow in both restaurants. More than an hour waiting time to even get a starter. We learned our lesson, went to the bar for cocktails and pre-ordered our dinner. This worked and we went to the dinner table when the food was ready. All staff members were extremely friendly, but we were not impressed from the manager at all! There are two truly negative things: 1. The sand flies. Even if you use the provided protection oil there is a high chance you get bitten and suffer painful bites! They lasted for a long time! Those creatures also have the ability to transmit diseases... There was also something tiny in the water that bit us, but we don't know what it was. It made snorkelling very unpleasant. 2. The monkeys. All bungalows offer a really nice balcony with cushioned armchairs and a table. Inviting to sit and relax and enjoy a drink. BUT, only until the monkeys get aware of you. They jump onto you or the table and grab whatever they can get. They knocked my (expensive) drink over and drank it. On another occasion my husband came from a massage and a group of monkeys attacked him for NO REASON on the walkway to our bungalow!!! I heard their loud noises, looked what is going on and saw my husband running! I opened the door and slammed it close just in time before they got in. We talked to the manager about this and he just said that this is wildlife and a lot of people are happy to see it. UNBELIEVABLE!!! We travel the world and were often in remote areas with monkeys present, but we never experienced anything like this!!!

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