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Stunning Sandy Beach and Thriving Coral Reef for Secluded Tropical Luxury
Powered By TripAdvisorCreated by local craftsmen on the gently sloping hillside, the timbered villas at Bungaraya Island Resort overlook a coral reef island teeming with aquatic life. This boutique resort reveals the true unspoiled natural beauty of Malaysia but keeps luxury at its heart. Indulge in the warm waters of a private bay, pamper yourself with treatments at the indigenous spa, and experience decadent waterfront dining after a day of exploring your island hideaway.
- Scuba dive or snorkel to unearth the secrets of the coral reef
- Retreat to a spacious villa with a private balcony and a plunge pool
- Indulge in luxurious treatments using indigenous plants at The Echo Wellness Spa
- Explore the jungle from above with an exhilarating zip line through the rainforest
- Dine along the South China Sea in the hotel’s private and romantic beachside pavilion
Bungaraya Island Resort is a place for special moments, unexpected experiences, and memories of a lifetime. For the ultimate romantic evening, book the beachside pavilion for an intimate dinner under the stars. Arrange a private sunset cruise, follow the trails into the heart of the Malaysian jungle, or just relax to the sound of the lapping waves.
Hotel Amenities
Accommodations
Bungaraya Island Resort has 48 wooden villas handcrafted by local tradesmen. From the outside, they reflect the traditional simplicity of Borneo architecture, but step inside to sophisticated modern comforts. Timber-lined rooms extend into open-air living spaces, crisp white linens dress the beds, spacious baths have walk-in showers, and private balconies offer endless views of the verdant forest meeting the white sands of the South China Sea.
Life at Bungaraya Island Resort is focused on relaxation and solitude. Dine in the exquisite restaurants or take your meals in your secluded villa, selecting from the full 24-hour room service menu. When you want to explore, attentive staff members are on hand to arrange once-in-a-lifetime sea adventures and trips into the rainforest.
Offers
I Prefer Member Rate
Preferred Suites
Preferred Local
Dining
Dine your own way at Bungaraya Island Resort. Dress for dinner and head to the two excellent restaurants serving local specialties and the freshest seafood, enjoy fine dining in the comfort of your own villa 24 hours a day, or for a special celebration, the staff will arrange private seafront service.
The Longhouse – Dine throughout the day at this laid-back alfresco restaurant with panoramic views. Eggs any way you like them at breakfast, long, lazy lunches, and dinners of wagyu beef, kerabu chicken, or surf and turf.
Pantai Restaurant & Bar – At the water’s edge, you will find the freshest local catches, succulent meat skewers, and delicious salads at Pantai. Expert chefs prepare your dish to perfection as you relax listening to the sound of the waves.
Pavilion – Create an evening to remember at this idyllic spot with a romantic dinner in the hotel’s beachside Pavilion.
The Koi Wine Cave – Embrace your inner sommelier at the underground cellar of over 2,500 bottles of exceptional wine. This spacious cave can hold private dinners and special functions for up to 20 guests.
Room service – Whether you want to put your feet up after an exciting day trekking in the jungle or you would like an informal evening at home, order from either of the hotel restaurants and dine in the comfort of your own villa. Room service is available 24 hours a day.
Activities at Bungaraya Island Resort
Come here to relax or explore and Bungaraya Island Resort will exceed expectations. Kayaks and paddleboards are available, and there is a well-equipped gym and a beachside infinity pool. The spa is a serene oasis offering indigenous and Western treatments using luxurious Kerstin Florian products.
Hiking and jungle trails lead straight from the resort. Get a hit of adrenaline on an exhilarating zip line through the forest. If a slower pace appeals, charter a boat or relax on a sunset cruise.
Location
Bungaraya Island Resort sits on a peaceful coral reef on Gaya Island in Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia. The hotel is right on the edge of Tunku Abdul Rahman Park on a tranquil crescent bay framed by white sand on one side and the lush jungle on the other.
Address
Polish Bay, Gaya Island, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysiawhat3words Address
Transportation
- Airport
- Kota Kinabalu International Airport is 5.6 mi / 9 km away from Jesselton Point, followed by a 15-minute speedboat ride.
Reviews
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Beautiful place!
Sat Sep 21 2024 11:45:34 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time) by Travel-K134
Stunning location with the most beautiful beach and pool. The staff were all so friendly and keen to help out. Some lovely fish to snorkel with despite the coral not being in good condition. A few things could have been improved like a cracked and loose marble step into the toilet (DV21). The A/C and TV , lights were left running in our separate living room area which had we realised sooner would have turned off sooner to save electricity and we heard this was happening in others chalets. We loved all the wildlife around the resort including so many hornbills and water monitor lizards. The food was delicious particularly a pizza we had for lunch. Beautiful flowers also around the resort.
An intimate paradise retreat
Mon Aug 26 2024 22:38:45 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time) by hannahc28
We arrived at this paradise island after visiting Sepilok and Kanabatangan river. Two of us were sick and we needed a refuge. The resort welcomed us with open arms and we had the most incredible stay. The resort is surrounded by stunning mangrove forests on a beautiful bay. It’s intimate and serene with villas on the beach and up into the hillside. We stayed in a spacious two bedroom villa high in the trees with a view of the beach and sea beyond. A family of Macaque monkeys with a small baby regularly visited us along with a pair of hornbills. It was like living in our own private wildlife retreat. The service was exceptional and we loved our meals, especially in the Longhouse serving Asian food. There is an international restaurant by the beach but the ambience is not as good. Every meal we had was perfection and the menus were extensive. We particularly loved the fresh juices and mocktails and they make a great margarita. Reynaldo and Ellyika were particularly warm and welcoming in the restaurant always anticipating our needs and remembering what we like. The spa was also fabulous - real expertise and stunning surroundings. There are mosquitos and sand flies but this is a paradise island in the jungle and so you have to expect it. Bring mosquito spray! We have stayed in many resorts around the world and this is in the top 3. It’s not as slick and polished as some 5 star resorts but this adds to its charm. It’s like a rustic village in the rainforest with every comfort and luxury you need with very personal service. We loved every minute and highly recommend.
Small changes would make such a difference
Thu Aug 15 2024 19:41:03 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time) by Stay798616
Lovely setting in a beautiful bay. Villa’s generally good but very hilly if you are not keen on walking (although there is a buggy service). Food generally good. All of the staff very friendly. The thing that lets the hotel down is poor management and leadership - there is no sign of any senior management or staff. For example there is no one taking drinks orders at the pool or clearing plates/cups, there is no receptionist at the Spa, you are given a bizarre breakfast when you leave at 6 am in the morning (hot coffee as you get on a speedboat), they ran out of certain types of drinks at least 3 times and the service is a little slow. Some better training and guidance would make all the difference and would convert the hotel from having Fawtly Towers tendences to a good 4.5 resort!
Doesn’t quite hit the mark
Sun Jul 21 2024 20:03:51 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time) by Robyn12
This resort has the most fabulous location and huge wow factor. We stayed for 3 nights in a Superior Villa high up in the rainforest but if you had mobility issues you should consider staying elsewhere. A club car was offered to collect guests, but it took too long and the road was very steep – almost too steep for walking. Breakfast options were limited and became boring – even after 3 days! The 5 -star resort category across Borneo is highly competitive and if the Bunga Raya wants to stay in this market then some serious maintenance needs to take place and some serious retraining of staff needs to occur. At times the whole place felt like a cross between Fawlty Towers and a run-down granny flat.
Way beyond expectations - incredible end to our Borneo trip
Tue Jun 18 2024 23:02:33 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time) by peteworthy145
Having booked this holiday pre Covid and only just completed the trip , we dipped into trip advisor again a week ago and panicked having read a few reviews from march to early June - cleanliness, hills and flies! I truly believe that was early season and Bungaraya was not operating at full capacity of staff. We are here now day 3 of 5 ( late June) and it has been exceptional , beach is clean of debris , resort is under constant maintenance - sweeping , cleaning etc . The room (room50) is the highest on resort and offers spectacular views of the rainforest with the sea glimmering through branches . Yes we are high up , but a buggy arrives within seconds to collect us .. really not a problem whatsoever. Staff - all of them cannot do enough for you .. truly exceptional . Food - tasty with superb presentation, fresh produce .. not one upset over any meal . Sand flies - didn’t experience any whilst walking on the beach. Snorkelling was fascinating and all equipment FOC . Do not be put off by early season reviews … luxury in the rainforest !
