Name: The Last Frontier Boutique Resort
Address: Kinabatangan River, Sandakan, Sandakan, Sandakan, 90000, Malaysia
Rating: 10

24-hour reception

Smoke-free property

Garden

Terrace

No elevators

General

Non-smoking rooms

Locker

Rooms

Luggage storage

Services and amenities

Diet menu (on request)

Breakfast

Restaurant

Bottled water

Meals

Transfer services

Transfer

English

Chinese

Languages Spoken

Library

Hiking

Picnic area

Recreation

Free parking

Parking

Pets Not Allowed

Pets

Temperature control for staff

Personal protection equipment for staff

Extra decontamination measures

Temperature control for guests

Personal protection equipment for guests

Additional measures against COVID-19

Health and Safety Measures

Location

At the resort

Sandakan Airport

Lahad Datu Airport

The Last Frontier Boutique Resort

Sandakan

Okay - I'm going to give this a comprehensive review as I think it is worth it.

We booked via Booking.com, not usually available but hubby saw it and cancelled our previous bookings to stay here for a 4 night package.  They usually work on a 2 day package but were willing to accommodate our request.

comms are excellent - Gert and Jason have this down to a tee.  Very informative, very open about the staircase and the facilities as TLFB resort.  Made recommendations about luggage and the storage facility at the bottom of the staircase.  

We decided to let Gert arrange our transfers for us, from Sepilok and a return to the airport - which were good VFM and arranged well.

The first impressions of the stairs are they are quite formidable.  I am nearly 60 and not in the best of shape, however, take your time and enjoy the noise, surroundings, view etc.  They are doable.

Gert admits the staircase is a bit of a problem, cost to repair etc, and at times it does feel a little rickety and unstable, but again, take time and be safe.

At the top, there are 4 rooms - attached and then a detached common room, diner etc.  Fantastic views down to the river and surrounded by jungle.

The beds are hand made and are comfortable and we needed an extra pillow which was provided.  Good quality shampoo and shower gel provided, which would have saved me some space in my packing.   There is no hanging space, if things get wet, other than outside on the balcony.  A fan, no air con, but this easily cooled our rooms.

There are wooden chairs on the balcony and I read a lot, but not the most comfy.  However, good to view butterflies, birds, monitor lizards etc from room.

The rooms are noisy, you can hear people moving about, talking and could be a problem if neighbours are not considerate.  

The food is bespoke, obviously cooked to order and varied.  As we stayed extra nights, Jason and Gert thought about this and deviated from the standard menu to provide us with some alternatives.  We appreciated this very much and it replicated the levels of service that Jason and Gert aspire to.  Thanks guys and to your staff as well.  We discussed the food options with Gert and he explained that Spaghetti and Chicken cordon bleu were on the menu and some people really enjoyed that nod to home cooking - however, we are with the other camp, keep with the malaysian food, that was really tasty and faultless.  Each to their own preferences.

There are hikes from the rooms - we saw hornbills etc and hubby saw an eagle.  Boat trip safaris, you have to go down to the river, obviously, and about 15 min walk to the jetty.  We saw crocs, probiscus monkeys, otters, hornbills, macaques and elephants - which were quite rare (and felt a little conflicted as they looked to be quite disturbed by the 15 + boats that were on the edge of 'harassing them').  Early morning boat trips were our favourites, very atmospheric.

Also, have to question the eco-impact of the boat trips - noise, pollution, erosion etc - this has to be balanced against other environmental impacts of tourism etc.  Conservation is definitely a consideration here.

Ryan, the guide and other staff - really great and always wanting to help.

This is why we gave the resort a 5 star though.  After 2 days of not seeing much from the lodge, on the swap over for the next guests, we took the opportunity of relaxing on our balcony and reading.  

Hubby heard a rustling, and within 25 feet was a male, adult orangutang, who was walking along the trail.  He seemed bemused by our presence but was not visibly disturbed or agitated.  He remained awhile, cogitated and decided upon his approach and then wandered off to a nearby tree, where he ate and relaxed for some time.       We were able to give him room, privacy but still view from a distance.

It would be so easy for Jason/Gert to provide food etc and incentivise visits from wildlife but they don't.  They really do try to provide a service where people may, if incredibly lucky, view wildlife in their habitat without intervention.  We applaud that - and wish TLFB resort all the best in their future endeavours.

For us, well worth a visit, and thank you for the memories and experience of a lifetime.

Fantastic

What an amazing place - wonderful staff, stunning setting surrounded by sounds and sights of the rainforest, intimate setting just 4 rooms and a max of 8 guests, fantastic food. Great AM and PM river trips with Ryan where we spotted Orangutans, Proboscis Monkeys, Crocodiles, Hornbills and much more.

Brilliant spot to enjoy all that the Kinabatangan River has to offer.

It’s difficult to write a review for The Last Frontier Lodge that will do it justice.  From the time you are picked up to the time you depart you can expect to be treated with genuine kindness and caring.  The meals are beautifully presented, fresh and flavourful.  The rooms clean, roomy and comfortable. The hikes and river cruises interesting and timely giving you an agenda that keeps you occupied but also gives you time to explore on your own or relax. My husband and I are avid travellers and rate The Last Frontier 10 out of 10 however it is for people who enjoy the outdoors with a bit of adventure in an intimate setting.  If you want 5 star and luxury this may not be suitable for you.

Don’t Stay At The Last Frontier Unless You Want An Amazing Experience!

What an amazing place! Yes, you need a level of fitness that will get you up and down 600 stairs multiple times but it's worth it. Only 4 rooms, so it's private. Rooms are functional, thoughful and clean. Food was fantastic (the reviews about the amazing banana pancakes are correct). Opt to do the additional morning boat ride if you can, it's totally worth it and beautiful on the river in the mornings. Since there are a maximum of 8 guests, the boat is a lot roomier than the other boats you see from larger lodges. Each trip is 2 hours (walk from the lodge to the boat about 12 mins each way).

If you can't live without the internet, get a local eSIM before you come. You get signal in the dining area. 

Ryan was a great guide. We saw an orangutan as we arrived at the lodge, lots of proboscis monkeys, crocodiles, macaques (pigtail and long tail) along the river. Heaps of birdlife. 

I can't say enough about Jason. He started the lodge from nothing over 20 years ago. His passion for the area is inspiring. We had some great conversations during the transfer and at the lodge. I required urgent medical attention at the end of our stay and Jason was outsanding in his care for me. He is one of a kind and enough of a reason to stay here.

Exceptional!

This isn’t just a place to stay, it’s an exceptional  experience. Hosted superbly by Jason and the team, we  enjoyed the 2N,3D package which was packed with highlights and adventures. A big shout out to Ryan and his xray vision which spotted the very best wildlife the area has to offer plus the pure treat watching an elephant swim across the river infront of our boat and wild orangutans swinging in the forest (and yes, one eyeballed me!).  We loved the food, the steps, the views, the vibes and the attention to detail - all of which delivered a very special experience for us all. Thank you!

Superb Jungle adventure

The most amazing stay.  The kitchen excelled with all our food allergies and nothing was too much trouble for them.  We saw wild Orangutans near the lodge.   Only 4 rooms, so quiet and less mosquitoes than those places on the river.  I loved my stay and highly recommend to others.

Our family thoroughly enjoyed the 2D2N package at the Last Frontier in Bilit. It is such a special place, with just 4 bedrooms, set up high on a hill overlooking the Kintabagan river. We were able to watch a family of 3 orangutans in trees just beside the steps leading up to the lodge, and saw hornbills, monitor lizard and squirrels from the the eating area. We enjoyed 2 boat rides with Ryan as part of our trip and saw different types of monkeys including proboscis, countless birds including hornbills and a crocodile. We also enjoyed a guided walk along the ridge with far reaching views over the palm oil plantations which are encroaching on the land all around this area.

We really enjoyed talking to our hosts Gert and Jason about Sabah and found Jason's food to be very tasty, and some of the best of our trip -  we particularly loved his beef curry and breakfast pancakes.
We left the bulk of our luggage in lockers at the bottom to make it easier to walk up the steps - we only ended up walking up 3 times during the trip and found this to be part of the experience! A torch was helpful for walking up at dusk after the boat trip.  Rooms were simple, but comfortable with hot showers. Highly recommended!

Special 2 night stay

We loved this place! Everything about our stay was perfect, starting off with the pick-up during which we got so much information and tips for the rest of our trip in Malaysia. The hosts are so nice and ready to help with anything. 

The location was even more beautiful than expected and we could’ve just sat by our room or in the eating area for hours being entertained by the amazing views and wildlife. 

The highlight of our stay were the river cruises, we saw so much wildlife on the first day alone and Ryan was an amazing spotter. Even the moments we didn’t see any wildlife were so memorable because of the amazing views of the rainforest.

Finally, in addition to kind staff, unique views and lots of wildlife the food here was delicious. They also have very nice vegetarian dishes which was highly appreciated.

Would definitely come here again and I recommend this place to everyone!

Amazing stay in a beautiful jungle location

Wow! What an amazing place. We visited here as a family of 5 for a 3D/2N stay.  This was part of a little tour of Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand, and while we loved everywhere we went, we all agreed this place was the best and most memorable - and not just because of all the steps!

Starting with the steps actually, they’re not that bad! Does require a little fitness. I was too lazy to sort my stuff out and only take the minimal to the top so went up with my backpack and it was ok.  Easier without of course. You only have to do the climb 3 or 4 times and it was nice to keep the exercise up. We found the steps easiest to do bare foot. 

The rooms were lovely, fairly simple but comfortable and a really nice feel.  The food was fabulous. There is something liberating about just being made food without having to choose from a menu, of course made so much easier when the food is as good as it was here. All the meals were great, especially the nasi goreng which I need to try and make at home!

The daily boat trips were of course the highlight and Ryan was fab at spotting the wildlife from a great distance! We were fortunate and saw all of the coveted animals - orangutans, Pygmy elephant, large crocodile, tons of proboscis and other monkeys, hornbills etc. 

We saw 2 orangutans in the trees outside the lodge one morning when we were having breakfast which was a special treat. 

The jungle trek was fun (and rather sweaty!). 

Gert and Jason were lovely welcoming hosts, thank you for the extra touch’s for my sons birthday. He still has Peanut as his screensaver and talks of him daily - I hope he is ok! 

There are quite a few other lodges on the river offering similar stays but this place surely has to be the best. It’s small so you really do get the personal touch. Highly recommended.

Perfect three days in the jungle

I cannot rate these guys highly enough, just beautiful people inside and out and doing wonders for the local area and our understanding of wildlife and the fragility of the environment. The whole team bend over backwards to help and nothing is too much trouble, they provide a caring, personal and really special stay in the jungle. The boat trips were fantastic and we were able to see wild orangutans, monkeys, elephants and crocodiles. Went for a hike and experienced great food too. The rooms are clean and comfortable and ponchos are available for anyone who needs them. Thank you to the Last Frontier for doing what you do, we loved our stay.

The Last Frontier Boutique Resort

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