Sumbiling Eco Village is a nature lodge situated in the interior of the Temburong District, home to some of the best preserved rainforests in Borneo. Due to our location, we are within reach of the popular Ulu Temburong National Park as well as other well-preserved rainforest areas, yet just 5 mins walk to the main road, 25 mins drive from Bangar (Temburong's main town), and around 2 hours by boat and drive from the Brunei International Airport. A rustic stay awaits you, as our lodge is surrounded by shady trees and new growth forests, and is located right on the banks of an upstream stretch of the Temburong River, with rocky rapids, and clear water depending on the rainfall. We try our best to keep structures to a minimum, with huts built from bamboo as well as reused and new wood being the main theme. On a typical day, while away the afternoons on cosy hammocks under shady trees beside the river, and take time to finish that intriguing novel you've never quite managed to finish. When the heat gets to you, the cooling waters of the river await, though if a mere cool dip doesn't do it, try a downstream float in a rubber tube, or try your hand at a traditional bamboo raft. Then as the sun sets, tune in to the symphony of the night, with the sounds of insects, frogs and other wildlife never too far away. This is the place to rest, relax and have some simple outdoors fun, especially if you have been worn out on the road for the last few weeks or months. For those who want more and whose budgets permit, we also conduct optional excursions, such as a night walking tour, or a daytrip either to the Ulu Temburong National Park or the Rainforest Discovery trek into the nearby rainforest, a hands-on see, smell, taste and feel educational trek for those who are interested in the numerous benefits of the rainforest to us. Despite the back-to-basics approach and our proximity to the rainforest, we provide a reasonably comfortable stay, with bedding in both rooms and tents, properly built-up bathrooms, with sitting toilets and even walled outdoor showers. Fans are found in the rooms as well as in the main hall. The bathrooms, rooms and main hall are lit-up at night, and there is no early lights out policy. Power points to charge electronics are available on request. We have a small resource corner, with maps, brochures, and books on various interests.
We spent 2 nights at the Sumbiling Eco Village while on a 3 day jungle tour with Borneo Guides and really enjoyed it. The camp is right on the banks of the Temburong River and most chalets have great views over the river. We were warmly received by the friendly lodge manager Uni who gave us a great rundown of the property. She took very good care of us during our stay, organizing and leading some of our excursions and ensuring that we were well looked after. Our room was a small, basic A-frame chalet on the edge of the river with nice views. The whole chalet was well-ventilated and fully insect screened with a couple of fans to came the air moving around inside. A balcony would have been very nice on which to admire the river scenes, but a least we had a large screened window to look out of. The bed comprised some thin-ish mattresses on the floor with a light sheet. The chalets do not have ensuites so you have to use the communal toilets showers next to the main lodge area. We were virtually the only ones there much of the time, so pretty much a private use of the facilities. Be warned that they do not provide towels – you need to bring your own – which we found very inconvenient. Luckily I had a single small hand towel with which my wife and I shared. The food was excellent, generally comprising traditional Malay dishes, full of flavor and natural ingredients – loved it! We had a few really heavy downpours and were surprised to find that they didn’t even provide umbrellas for the guests to get around the camp. Something that needs improvement. There are plenty of areas to sit and relax along the riverfront provided it’s not too wet. Bring mosquito repellent as there are the occasional mosquitos flying around, but it wasn’t too bad. All the excursions (rainforest hike, night walks, river trips, etc) were all excellent and highly recommended. Great guides and lots of interesting plants and animals to see both day and night. Overall we had a great stay and would recommend it to other travelers looking for a great jungle experience.
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Date of stay: September 2023
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Trip type: Traveled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
During the adventure, my friends and I was suppose to stay until new years 2020. But I could not because of family events. I was quite woeful that I did not manage to stay all the way with my brothers (as I only stayed for one night) and that was how fun the experience was in Sumbiling Eco Village.
The members of the facilities there guided us well and provided us with exciting thoughtful adventures. They are very friendly and their services are great! My memories are a bit wilt so the things I am about to state will not be in order. First we all got to hike in the morning, another would be heading to the rapid rivers to later float away on the current with our tube donuts, hike some more to then learn about the wilderness in the jungle, cook in the jungle with bamboos! How cool is that right? swim/ in certain rivers that's located near the village and stayed in this locally well made huts that can fit many of my friends and I. Definitely a trip that would be good for your friends and family. You will certainly see me coming here again eheh
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Date of stay: December 2019
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Went here for a night to spend my weekend away from our busy hustling life. The moment we reached the village, Eco Owner greeted us with smiles and asked if we have eaten/drink. My partner and I was originally worried about toilet annd was proved wrong as the toilet/shower facilities is very clean and spacious. This place has everything you need to have a spiritual cleansing from your busy life from just chilling next to the river, to bbq grilling and making marshmallows. Would definitely come here agajn and recommend others to try this place out! 11/10 (extra 1 pt as there was little to no mosquitoes 😂)
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Date of stay: August 2022Trip type: Traveled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Other than them getting our pickup time wrong and losing a couple of hours of the trip, it was an enjoyable trip. The facilities are basic which is fine. The food nice. The swimming hole was a highlight. The canopy walk was really enjoyable - but only if you're fine with heights. There aren't any animals to see but the jungle and river are quite scenic. The accommodation opens out on to the river but has mozzie protection and is quite cute. It's basically a glamping tent type arrangement. My main issue with the trip is that I could have stayed in the fanciest hotel and gone to the fanciest restaurant in Brunei for much cheaper. There seems to be a huge markup on very basic facilities and food.
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Date of stay: January 2020
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
After reading raving reviews online and looking at pictures of what a gem Temburong has to offer. I’ve decided to inquire availability dates for a weekend getaway at Sumbiling Eco Village. I sent an email to their official website for an inquiry. Initial conversation was pleasant at first until a few exchange of emails with their Manager, Julia Yen. Either way, I was taken aback with the level of poor customer service she portrayed. She asked to Whatsapp her instead in the evening and she replied but when asked for a phone call to inquire further. She stated that it wasn’t a convenient time (which is acceptable). I asked to be contacted at a convenient time. I emailed again to follow up on a query stating my dissatisfaction on the absent follow up and she responded not with an apology but with a poor attitude defending her actions.
I am utterly disgusted with the level of professionalism Julia has portrayed and request the management of Sumbiling Eco Village to properly train your employees at all levels in the organization to be able to respond to customer queries with hospitality ethics. I expect employees in the hospitality industry to be polite at a minimum to all customers.
Nonetheless, I do look forward to visiting Sumbiling Eco Village soon as I will not allow a single employee’s incompetence dissuade me from exploring what Sumbiling Eco Village has to offer. I am sure, there are other friendly natured souls in town.
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Date of stay: July 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
I did a 2N3D package tour including breakfast lunch dinner. Enjoyed so much & extended 1N stay.
4 cabins are right on bank of temburong fresh water flowing river. I had the Meranti cabin. Basic & clean with fans & a sleeping mattress on the wooden floor.
common 4 shower & 4 toilet cubicles in a big spacious changing room with benches & hanging hooks. Bring own bath towels & toiletries.
big dinning area well lit with many fans, a few seating areas all over, very spacious! local delicious meals prepared by a local lady cook working in the kitchen, had the local signature bamboo chicken over wood fire, really sumptuous.
Rifril is very helpful & takes good care of me on the waterboat trip to the Canopy & waterfall. He shares about the local area & even helped me booked the hotel in town. His team of local Iban rangers, Mangat, Jeff, Daniel are fun & interesting, they stick tog! This is the 1st time I am the only guest with a guide Airul + 3 local rangers. As it is the durian season, they picked many durians on the ground & I had a durian fiesta in the 4 days.
Met the kind friendly owner Leslie who shares about Simbiling’s beginnings & his support to the local community. Amazing work! Julia, his wife is the one who liaise with me on watsapp, very prompt. I confirm & paid deposit in the same morn. A lovely couple who enjoys sharing this borneo rainforest little gem with others.
Amazing great time here, no wifi own data, soak in the rainforest positive ions! Highly recommended!
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Date of stay: August 2024Trip type: Traveled solo
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Great trip, including river boat ride, rain forest hike with 747 steps, high bridge walk and waterfall. Canopy walk on high bridge was spectacular! Really enjoyed our day. Fikri was a great guide and very knowledgeable! Would definitely recommend!!
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Date of stay: January 2023Trip type: Traveled with friends
Room Tip:Don't let the climb put you off, it's taken at a steady pace and the view was spectacular at the...
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What an exciting experience it has been for us all as a group. The activities were very adventurous and has taught all of us the jungle ways in surviving. The service provided is excellent & the staff were very friendly and engaging with us all. Will totally come back for another trip with my boys 🤙🏼
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Date of stay: December 2019Trip type: Traveled with friends
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
After visiting Sumbiling ECO Village my wife and I tried to decide whether this was the first or second worst vacation experience we’ve ever had. Basically, it is bare bones camping, and you won’t get to do anything unless the villagers let you. Skip to the last paragraphs if you just want the summary.
We booked through Borneo Guide. Their representative met us at the airport, drove us to their office, and went over some basic things about the trip. We asked him whether we needed to bring any water containers with us and he told us not to worry because they would certainly have something for us at the village. It was about 1:30pm local time and the Borneo Guide representative asked if we had a chance to have lunch. We told him that we had not and he told us not to worry because they would certainly have something for us at the village. He then rushed us off to make the 2:00pm boat leaving for Sumbiling.
The rest of the trip was just plain AWFULL!!
The villagers met us at the boat and drove us to the village. Our guide was Farin. On the way to the village they spotted a wild tortoise on walking on the side of the road. We came to an abrupt halt and Farin ran out of the vehicle to catch the tortoise. We asked “What are you going to do with it? You aren’t going to eat it, are you?” Farin responded, “Oh No. We are just going to keep it.” When we arrived at the village we could tell by the excitement over the tortoise that a new item just got added to the villagers’ dinner menu.
Upon arriving at the lodge Farin told us to sit and rest from our trip. We asked if they had any lunch for us since we had not eaten and Farin said no. Lunch was finished and there would be no food before dinner. We asked when that would be and Farin said “Any time you would like.” “How about 6:00pm?” we asked and she said, “Oh, I don’t’ know.” “7:00pm?” we countered and she said, “Maybe. It depends on when it’s ready.” She gave us a bag of peanuts to make up for the lack of lunch.
At this point it is 3:30pm. We asked if there are any activities for the afternoon. Farin said “No. You should just rest from your trip.” We noticed a large trail map on the wall and asked where the trails were so we could go on a hike. Farin told us that we could not go on a hike because we might get lost, and all of the trail guides are at the village longhouse meeting with the chief. She said we should just rest from our trip. (By the way, around this time all of the villagers who were at the lodge disappeared for an afternoon nap, which more likely explains the lack of afternoon activities.)
We unpacked, and played cards until dinner. At 7:00pm we went to the dining area and Farin told us that dinner wasn’t ready. “Maybe 8:00pm,” she said. When dinner was finally put out on the serving table (at 8:30pm) we were both shocked at how little there was. The description of “ample food” on the web site is a complete fabrication. “Adequate for a small child” would be more accurate. However, what they did serve was prepared well, but very basic dishes.
We asked Farin if they had water containers and she pointed to plastic cups and a water cooler, and told us we could have unlimited water (gee, thanks for that). We asked if they had a water bottle and Farin said no. I asked if there was a market nearby where we could purchase some bottled water and she told us that someone would have to drive us to the town. She had a look on her face and a tone in her voice that indicated this was an impossible request. We told her that we would pay someone to drive us if necessary and she made the arrangements.
At one point we inquired about going on a night walk. Farin told us that we could to that and that there a lot of things to see, but not tonight. We asked when was the last time they saw any animals (not just insects) and she said it was about 3 years ago. (Ok, skip the night walk.) A summary of the first day was that we spent $280 USD to sit around the lodge and do nothing. Here’s the really dumb part. Boats leave from BSB (the capital city) to Sumbiling every hour until 5:00pm. We could have spent time in BSB, had lunch, purchased any supplies we were lacking, taken the last boat to Sumbiling and probably all of our frustrations to that point would have been avoided. Instead, we were rushed on to the next boat everything went downhill.
But let’s not stop here. Let’s put a cherry on top of the first day in Sumbiling Eco Village. We paid extra to get a room so we could have a ceiling fan, as I get hot easily and then can’t sleep. No one told us that they cut all power to the lodge at 10:00pm, rendering the fan useless. (Ugh!) You better have a torch if you need to go to the toilet. My wife also enjoyed the look of hanging plants that were long since dead in cut-up plastic Coke bottles.
The next morning we tried to put the awful experience of the first day behind us and hoped that the second day would make it all worthwhile. Breakfast was just as limited as dinner the night before. (Sigh…but let’s buck up and press forward.) We spoke with Farin about the canopy walk and the waterfall trek, but she never gave us a straight answer about how to prepare, what to wear, how long it would take, etc. During breakfast my wife and I decided to cut our 3-day/2-night stay in Sumbiling ECO Village short and return to BSB that afternoon. We told Farin about our decision and after speaking with someone she came back and said, “Ok, we will take you back, but no refunds.” We didn’t care about a refund, we just wanted out. It was at this point that I realized that we were essentially their prisoners. We were not going to be able to do anything unless they let us.
Before leaving for the canopy walk and the waterfall trek we asked Farin if we are dressed appropriately, and specifically whether we should bring water shoes. She said, “No, what you have is fine.” On the trail to the canopy walk Farin pointed out a bridge that collapsed and a flower on one tree. Other than that she didn’t tell us anything else about anything and spent more time talking with the other guides than speaking with and guiding us. The actual canopy walk was fine, but it is a rather short metal structure. (Do not attempt if you have even the slightest fear of heights.) It was nice to get a birds-eye view of the Brunei rainforest, but it was barely worth the effort. The chances of seeing any wildlife are very slim (despite the claims of other reviews).
During the trek to and from the canopy walk, Farin asked us several times if we were sure we wanted to do the waterfall trek. We asked her if there was enough time to do the trek and still make the boat back to BSB, and she kept saying, “I don’t know.” We decided to make do the waterfall trek after all. When we got to the trailhead Farin told us we should have brought water shoes with us because our hiking boot will get wet. We told her that she should have told this to us when we asked her about it before leaving so we could have brought them. Yes indeed, we did needed water shoes. Yes indeed, our boots got soaked. We arrived at the waterfall and OMG, what a disappointment…a 3-meter waterfall with not very much water (and this is the monsoon season). After 5 minutes we trekked back to the long boat that would take us back to the lodge.
We packed, had a quick (and meager) lunch, and were driven to the boat that would take us back to BSB. Before boarding Farin told us (get this), “Ok, Maybe someone will be there to meet you.” “What do you mean ‘maybe’?” I asked. “Did you tell them we were coming?” “I sent a text,” she responded. I told her to call to be sure. Sure enough…no one was there to meet us, and, because there are no taxis in BSB, we had to walk to our hotel toting our luggage behind us.
--- Summary --- This was a just plain awful experience in every way. Way over priced and very little value in return. I like eco-tourism and want to give the local people a reason and the means to preserve their environment, but there is no possible or remote way by which I can recommend Sumbiling ECO Village or Borneo Guide. I’ve read the other reviews and can’t believe they are talking about the same place. Maybe we just caught a bad guide and a bad time to visit, but I think the root issue goes much deeper than that. I genuinely hope that someone from this organization reads this review and puts a lot of effort into getting their act together. It could have been a good experience but instead turned out to be an infamously bad personal memory.
A final note to Borneo Guide and Sumbling ECO village. Wsterners go to the village because they like nature and care about the environment. Capturing a wild animal (even if only a tortoise) in front of Western tourists with the intention of eating it for dinner is very poor form!!!
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Date of stay: December 2013
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Trip type: Traveled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from borneoguide, Owner at Sumbiling Eco Village
Responded Jul 23, 2014
Dear Robert and Julie, Thank you for your honest feedback! We are very sorry to hear you had such a bad experience and that we did not meet your expectations. Providing our guests with the best possible hospitality and service has always been our mission. I cringed when I read about the incompetency of the guide and insufficient food. They have been trained to served food proportionately and timely. Whilst it is a continuous effort to train the Local staff and villagers, providing excellent customer service is our main goal. It is unfortunate you were not treated likewise. We want you to know that we truly enjoy sharing our passion for Eco-Tourism with visitors. You can be assured your feedback will be addressed accordingly in an effort to improve the experiences for our future customers. Given the opportunity and if you ever come back to Brunei, we would like to invite you back on us for a better experience. We hope you will return to experience the many enhancements we made lately – we have new riverside tents, a new kitchen and chef and extended our dining area. We hope to see you again in the future and wish you the very best. The Management
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
It was a wonderful experience to stay at Sumbiling. We chose to sleep outside in a tent, which we really enjoyed. Our guide, Hatta, was very knowledgeable of local history, culture, flora and fauna. The highlight of the stay was the night walk, where a local Iban guide walked us through the jungle and pointed out animals left and right. We could not believe the variety of animals we saw. We also got to spend the evening with an Iban family living in a traditional longhouse and learned about their life and customs.
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Date of stay: February 2011
Value
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Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
Trip type: Traveled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from borneoguide, Manager at Sumbiling Eco Village
Responded Dec 11, 2011
We are glad you had a wonderful experience at Sumbiling Eco Village. Your review will help more people to know and visit the place thus indirectly help to provide more job opportunity for local villager. On behalf of everybody involved we like to say a big thank you for your review. cheer!
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Los Angeles, California44 contributions40 helpful votes
"Spring for a room upgrade if you prefer to sleep close to the river as the tents are set back further in the jungle by the dining area. If you are a light sleeper the tents are not for you."
There are more places to choose from in the Batang Duri area.
LOCATION
Brunei DarussalamTemburong DistrictBatang Duri
NUMBER OF ROOMS
5
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