Bunga Raya Island Resort & Spa

8.6

Excellent

175 Guest reviews

8.6

Excellent

175 Verified Reviews

Read all reviews

Cleanliness8.6/10

Service8.8/10

Comfort8.6/10

Condition8.2/10

location8.4/10

Neighborhood8.6/10

Value8.0/10

Amenities8.2/10

The walk in rain forest was excellent

Very peaceful

BEAUTIFUL ESCAPE.

Monkeys Snorkeling Games Relaxing Hornbills everywhere Jungle

Snorkeling, SUP, relaxing, pool and ping pong for jungle rain, monkeys!!!

This is not a five star resort!

Beautiful property with private beach (awesome gym views!), delicious meals and, most importantly, excellent service from the staff. So many sand flies and I came home with a million bites, but I believe it was worth it. Would highly recommend :)

Provided number can not reach hotel which waste lots of time

Amazing resort in an amazing location. Bit pricey but you can see why. Fantastic end to our 3 week trip in Borneo

My stay at this hotel was rejuvenating. The soothing sound of the sea, the breathtaking natural surroundings, and the courteous staff all contributed to a delightful experience.

fantastic stay in the island

it is a wonderful trip, we have a very good time during the stay, the sea is beautiful, the room is nice, all staff are so friendly and nice.

If there is one thing to highlight about Bunga Raya, that's the staff: they were all really well trained, helpful and friendly - from this perspective, one of the best experiences we ever had. The ladies at the massage were also really good. We liked breakfast a lot: great variety and quantity, I would especially recommend Tuaran mee. The house reef has probably seen better days (condition of the corals), but you can see a lot of small fish, clownfish, rays and if you are lucky, even a green turtle. We were also told that leatherbacks frequent the area if you visit at the right time. There were two things that we did not like: the cocktails have really little alcohol and the beach is quite dirty (PET bottles and other bigger pieces too). While it's understandable that the property cannot control what's in the water, they could send staff around daily to collect the thrash. We hoped they would do this, but we saw the exact same pieces for several days. At this price / quality level (and with so many people employed there), we could not understand why they would not do this.

No word could be described for such a terrifying ways of handling for no- show customers that faced emergency issues. Most probably I’m not dealing with human being that was the only ways I could say. “NO CRITICAL THINKING “

Has a lot of potential, but needs re-investment to bring back up to 4/5 star standards. Rubbish is a serious issue on the beach & the resort / hotel area needs a deep clean. Staff are lovely.

We had an amazing time! The staff were incredible, always happy to help and very friendly!

An amazing stay at a lovely resort in the rainforest, yet not too far away from KK. The staff are terrific and go out of their way to make you feel welcome at the resort. Thankfully we arrived the week after bad weather, so there was cleanup/fixing in progress, which is understandable. After seeing some of the other report options near KK, we definitely were lucky to get seclusion/privacy and nature in abundance. To mention some memorable staff (and other were also friendly/helpful but I can not recall their names, sorry!): Ellyrika, Cera, Eduardo, and Isaac (jungle guide with excellent English). Laurant, the French resort manager, does an amazing job at welcoming you, checking in regularly to make sure there is nothing you need and leaving personal notes/gifts to make the stay memorable. A big thank you to all at Bungaraya.

Beautiful place

We stayed 2 nights 3 days and the whole experience was fantastic!! Beautiful beach, incredible location and superb staff. Highly recommend!!

A Beautiful Location

We stayed here for 2 nights recently. The management had to make some adjustments as the current Covid regulations changed suddenly. I must say they coped very well and we were extremely well looked after. The resort is beautiful, with excellent grounds, and the general location is stunning. Can't wait to get back!

The staff where amazing, so helpful, friendly and happy. The staff we encountered made every possible attempt to accommodate us at every turn, we wanted for nothing at Bunga Raya Resort. The resort was breathtaking, we stayed in a villa with an amazing view overlooking the bay. Our villa was huge, with the largest King bed I have stayed in. It was very comfortable. The bathroom was spacious and clean. The grounds where filled with wildlife and hundreds of hibiscus flowers, we enjoyed just walking around the grounds and taking it all in. Snorkeling in the bay was very safe and very enjoyable. The boat ride into the resort was well organised and the boat drivers made every attempt to make our trip as smooth as possible, the sea was a little rough on one trip, but the driver took note and made every attempt for a smooth ride.

Great place for family vacation

Amazing holiday experience in a beautiful private island. Harmonized with the sea and mountain, makes an absolutely beautiful scenery. The employees are really friendly to us, always smiling, do everything what we want from them. Best place for holidays with family.

Beautiful eco conscious resort affiliated with the marine research center where you can adopt a baby coral and help regenerate the reef

Fantastic setting and magnificent beach. Villas beautifully designed and well equipped. Staff extremely attentive and helpful. A great place for a relaxing getaway.

Of course the natural beauty is out of this world. The service is second to none, really had a wonderful experience with each staff member we encountered. The villas are superb. A perfect way to unwind in a small private space of your own. Each room is equipped with refill water and your own water bottles. The restaurants have refilling stations too. The rooms are also equipped with natural mosquito repellent and toiletries. Every morning staff are cleaning the beach from plastics that get washed up on the shore.

The great escape

Amazing place, peaceful and one with nature. Great food and also try the seafood restaurant at Gayana!

The resort is perfect if you want to relax. It was very quiet, even at CNY, we practically had the place to ourselves. The staff were so friendly and helpful, and the setting is beautiful.

Amazing views and beautiful bay and snorkling.

Heavenly!!

Amazingly beautiful place!! We arrived on a late flight but they had a transfer waiting for us to take us to the island. The staff was friendly and quick to bring the golf cart to take us to meals and home again. We loved the open air huts on the pier but would suggest to have a system to alert the staff when in need of a cocktail as they don't service this area. Otherwise, a wonderful time and wouldn't hesitate to go again. The snorkeling was fantastic right off the pier! No need to book a tour to do this as other boats come from KK to the same reef right outside your door!!!

Paradise

Amazing place, resort is beautiful. Have thought of everything and go the extra mile. Would highly recommend.

Nice beach - in 3***-star hotel environment

We went with 5*****-star expectations and experienced a 3***-hotel-service which is 10 years old with huge patina. Doing nothing than beach and pool. Activities are very, very limited. Enjoy the pure nature! Cleaner couches in the public are strongly recommended!

Great place on the beach! Expected more from the kitchen but the wine collection and wine cellar are impressive. Their lunch and breakfast meal preparation is mediocre and inconsistent. You pay for the great beach and the remote setting. Overall a nice ocean resort.

Nice but couldn't cope with poor weather

We stayed for three nights during a heavy storm which did impact upon our stay quite a bit. We liked the resort in terms of how it looked, the room (huge and well appointed with them being well hidden in the jungle which was very cool listening to the sounds!) and the food at the restaurant was superb. The shower was very poor (weak and couldn't maintain a temperature) and we were given the reasoning that its in the rain forest but sadly when they charge what they do, that isn't an acceptable excuse. Our room was up a steep hill and staff were great in coming to get us with a buggy whenever we wanted as it was dangerous to walk when wet. The rain meant that we only had limited time at the pool (which was nice and comfy in a nice spot. We also tried the short canopy walk which was good (we saw a snake!) and wanted to do a longer one but the rain meant it was cancelled. We also did a short snorkeling but visibility was poor due to the rain. We found the resort and staff to be nice but there really was a lack of things to do or effort from staff in bad weather. Their response was to spend more money at either the spa or on cooking classes. They told me there was a games area which burned down over a year ago but no attempt to replace what was there as that would have kept us occupied whilst raining. Having stayed in similar resort type place where you are stuck on the island, many offer discounts at the spa during storms and that would have been enough to get us to go along.

Tropical Perfection

The staff are courteous and warm, genuinely invested in making your stay as comfortable and enjoyable as possible. The rooms are jaw dropping - you'll never find your partner in the giant bed, the bathrooms are just beautiful and the fit out is sublime. Then turn around and look at the view, amazing. The food is generally decent, the booze is expensive (the wine list makes your eyes water) but that is almost an aside as you can purchase French Rose / Italian reds and a vast array of delicious wines from The Wine Cellar in Kota Kinabalu so thats easy enough to remedy. Warm water for snorkeling, a bazillion tropical fish species, monkeys, hornbills, tree top jungle walks, infinity pool, kayaking, hobie cat and enough sun lounges for everyone. We cannot wait to return to this incredible resort.

Island resort

Everything was excellent however the food did not have much variety and was quite basic considering that it was a 5 star hotel so that could be improved.

Awesome hotel

Top notch service and an ideal location if you want to unwind, relax and enjoy an idyllic view with white sand beaches, pristine waters and tropical rainforest. Lots of activities available, from snorkelling to scuba diving and kayaking.

Gaya Island_First Malaysian Island Adventure

Overall a very beautiful and enjoyable place and we were well looked after by a friendly and efficient staff. However, apart from finding a rat in our room, the absolute spoiler was sand flies, which were a new and unpleasant experience for us and we felt we should have been more informed about the pesky bugs upon our arrival. Three weeks later and still have visible bites. And for the length of our stay we found the food menu choices at both the beach and main restaurants limited, plus the beach restaurant & bar with its black tables and chairs lacked ambience and character, especially at night.

Great beach resort in a small private bay.

We wanted to spend a few days just the 2 of us without the children. Bunga Raya was the safe haven we were dreaming of. Great place in a quite bay with numerous activities offered. Still 30 min away from Kota Kinabalu.

Beautiful location and good hotel

The location is amazing. It is quiet from people noise but full of wildlife noise. The beach and pool are wonderful. The staff can move on "island time" when ordering but everyone is very friendly and accommodating. Our villa was up the hillside a bit but a staff person was always ready to drive us up in a golf cart if necessary.

Lovely resort away from the hustle and bustle.

Although nearly booked out never felt that we were crowded in any area. Staff are sensational. Manager Thomas and ALL duty managers - never felt they were rushed to answer our questions about the Island or history of the area. Will return definitely in the future.

Service was a little bit slow considering that the resort didn't look very busy but otherwise, the staff is very friendly and welcoming. The resort itself felt very secluded and it felt like we had the beach to ourselves many times. I stayed at villa 1 which was the villa closest to everything so getting around was easy and we never needed a buggie to drive us around. We got a visit from a few curious monkeys in the morning and slept with all the doors open and the screen doors closed to hear the ocean waves at night. The beach can get a lot of trash after the rain, unfortunately, but its usually clean in the mornings. Mosquito repellent is a must! Even with the rain, our stay was incredible. I can't wait to come back!

Came here with my Husband & Parents (no kids) & we had a great time! Beautiful surroundings & excellent food! The extremely nice staff made us feel very welcome. The only downsides were the trash from the ocean & the sand flies - both of which are no fault of the resort! They give out natural bug repellent & clean the beach every morning. We had a lovely time here!

The brakfast was very bad. No choice at all. With very high price I pay, definitely not worth

Dirty beach

6 nights for the two of us at Bunga Raya

We stayed 6 nights with the sole intent of relaxing, which we duly achieved. The resort is in a picturesque and secluded cove with a brilliant beach and clean and clear water. There is a decent pool, great service two restaurants with a varied selection of decent food and a good spa for a range of treatments. The resort was also very quiet. We weren't interested in any activities beyond sitting on the beach of by the pool but there were numerous options.

Fabulous location & great staff

We had a lovely relaxing stay in this rustic jungle resort. Fabulous views and lots of wild life. We twice took the boat to eat at the sister eco resort which was great.

Nice and relaxing but need some improvements

Nice and relaxing, friendly staff.Resort was built nicely into the nature. One big dissapointment was garbage on the beach and in the water.The first days water was clear and nice for bathing and snorkling. Last day the beach and water was filled up with garbage, and we could not stay in water or on the beach. Staff did not clean the beach, that was dissapointing, they did not look busy.Restaurant was a bit dissapointing, boring menu.

Great place to get away from it all

We stayed 2 nights at Bunga Raya and would have liked an extra night to really relax. There is not a lot to do other than walk along the beach, relax by the pool or sip cocktails on the deck - so great if you need some time away with a partner or friend. the food was really good and the staff could not do enough for you.

Gorgeous, Easy Private Island Getaway

Bunga Raya is a gorgeous resort with a secluded vibe. The service was 5-star. Everyone from drivers to waiters to spa staff was incredibly friendly and made us feel welcome. Spa was one of the better ones I've experienced in SE Asia, and our bungalow was right on the beach with amazing views. Check in/transport incredibly easy and efficient. My only suggestion for improvement would be food - more fresh options like fruit, vegetables, smoothies, pool snacks, etc. We saw many wild boar and exotic birds! It really is a jungle paradise.

Well worth it...

...it does look a bit tried in places but it was well worth the trip to the Island to stay in a piece of paradise for five nights...after two weeks of travelling around Borneo. We had a lot of ran and there is not much to do when that happens...but wait for it to stop - so if travelling with teenagers then you need to have thinks to entertain them with. The staff were very friendly and helpful - always trying to make your stay pleasant.

Beautiful romantic location

We had a very nice time at this resort and would recommend it to couples looking for a romantic getaway. We stayed in one of the Villa's which looked directly onto the beach. There is good snorkeling and water equipment for activities.

Fantastic

Fantastic in all aspects

We came to Bunga Raya straight after we climbed Mount Kinabalu. We could not have asked for a better place to recover from that ordeal! It was perfectly relaxing, staff were super friendly, attentive and always available to help (and cart us in the buggy when needed).

Beautiful setting.. But major renovation needed

The hotel setting is stunning with beautiful untouched rainforest and lovely beach. The grounds, pool, restaurant are all great however the villas are in major need of renovating. The wood is rotting, the bedding is mouldy and the smell is really musty in all the rooms. It's a shame as everything else was great. The staff were lovely, food generally good, although the service in the restaurant needs improving. If the villas are renovated I would consider returning.

Relaxing

Great place in an ideal, secluded location. Really enjoyed the proximity to a nice beach and snorkelling opportunities without having to go anywhere.

Very good hotel and facilities

Everything was very good. Zip line, canopy walk, snorkeling, kayaking, swimming pool, all at same place. Low point are sand flies. They do not know how to manage. they clean the beach in the morning and spray in the evening, of course is not working. We came back home with dozen of bites. We could not enjoyed the beach because of this. Besides this issues, it is a wonderful place.

Lovely tucked away paradise

enjoyed the overall vibe and service, location is great, unfortunately I was there on a rainy season and only had one day of sun never the less is was a great experience

Very nice place to stay

Everything was fine and the offered spare time activities are comprehensive. The only negative thing was that there are only 3 connections a day to Kota Kinabalu. If one wants to go independently from the offered boat trips, it costs around 50 USD.

Absolute heaven on an Island

Bunga Raya is a very special place, for nature, relaxation, good health and stunning views this place ticks all the boxes, the island is stunningly beautiful with lovely Hisbiscus flowers growing everywhere and what impressed me also was that the creatures live side by side with the islanders. The staff are outstanding with their helpfulness and friendliness, already I am thinking of returning as I loved it so much, there is a swing on the beach which I enjoyed daily, an infinity pool, snorkelling, gym, canopy walking, so much to do here, it is perfection and you wont want to leave. To sum up, this island is a wonderful, natural jewel in the ocean.

Service: Go the extra mile, Outstanding; The guided trek to Padang Point for a snorkel is great. Zip lining lots of fun too!

Just Fantastic

I thought it is a great hotel with super service. Really for a independent hotel you will not find better. Fazi does a great job organizing everything. I hightly recommend this hotel< it is well worth it. Marty

Gorgeous jungle resort.

Stayed at Bunga Raya for 2 nights with a friend. We had a deluxe villa which was much larger than expected. We had requested twin beds on booking and unfortunately arrived to 1 large bed, however this was quickly taken care of when discussed with hotel staff. The resort is built into the mountains in a very unobtrusive way and is much larger than it looks. There's a lovely pool but it is situated on a beautiful beach which was pristine during our visit. We snorkelled in the coral reef just off the shore of the resort and saw hundreds of fish and coral. Spa facilities are very good and we had some excellent treatments. My only criticism is that the bathroom shutters don't completely shut off from the outside so the bathroom is always humid and there were a few insects, however this didn't hamper our enjoyment of the resort. Would definitely recommend, we thought it was close to paradise!

Beautiful but...

First off, let me say that this is certainly a beautiful hotel, with great staff who are always friendly and professional. The island setting, the beach and the way the hotel is planned to blend into the environment works very well to make this an idyllic place. Unfortunately, there were some hiccups from the booking which did not start us off well; we had first booked a two bedroom villa as a party of two adults and three children as it was a family holiday. We then had an additional adult join the party, and we asked for an additional bed to be added. At first, we were told that there was insufficient space to add more than one roll away bed; when we said that it was fine, we only needed one extra bed as the kids were used to sleeping on one bed anyway, we were then told that resort policy did not allow more than 5 people in the room. As a result, we had to make a last minute booking for an additional room. When we arrived at the resort and saw the two bedroom villas, we realised the room had more than sufficient space for 3 adults and 3 children, which was very dissappointing, considering how much the 2 bedroom villa already cost. They were however able to arrange for the rooms to be next to each other which helped, but it would have been more of a family holiday to have been in the same villa. One other thing to beware of are the sandflies; we are still suffering from itch after a week; the resort does provide sandfly repellent, and you should use it liberally!

Fantatic Hotel and Great Staff

Great Place to Stay and enjoy KK. Staff are great hear and help celebrate a major birthday for us. Thanks to you all it was a great stay.

Definite coming back

Everything is perfect.

Good for short stay

amazing location, it's so green and have lots of whild animals, nothing could spoil my weekend there, as I'm true lover of nature, and in bunga raya u feel really like in jungles! Lots of flowers, birds located in the rain forest. But if u r looking for perfect hotel - better keep looking :) The facilities r not that well maintained, upon arrival our pillow cases gave impression that someone slept on it already, bathroom is horrible ( well, by my standards) we stayed at plunge pool villa, but we hardly used pool as water didn't seem crystal clean.....between villas is not enough high plants, so can see next once...I suggest they make more privacy.... food in their grill restaurant on the beach could be improoved, in another one it's more Asian and seem to be ok, but still it's not that great if u r a food lover, though of cos metter of taste I guess.... Staff is very nice, and friendly, I would say that if I'll have to go to kote Kinabalu again I'll stay there again, as I just love that jungles :)))))

Perfect retreat

From the moment you arrive you feel in paradise. I loved that people is always kind and smiling paying attention to every little detail. Nature is amazing there. Great snorkeling in the beach which they keep clean and neat. We had monkeys visiting our roof and birds and flowers everywhere. Just remember to close the windows when you leave the room and don´t leave valuable stuff outside or else monkeys might take them.

Beutiful resort on a superb beach

The, well maintained resort in an excellent atmosphere, majority of staff are very efficient & very helpful. The facilities were good; the kitchen staff could be quicker as there were delays in getting the food on the table. The residences were beautiful & comfortable. Very well furnished, the toilets were slightly disappointing- out-dated & the ambience was slightly frightening though the public toilets were soothing, welcoming & contemporary. The light switches in the Deluxe accommodation were difficult to reach & they could be better positioned for easier access. Overall the resort is superb & all involved should deserve full credit.

Paradise

We only had a short stay of one night here but it was lovely. The food at the café was one of the best meals I have ever had and hubby thought the same about his. It was everything you would expect from a resort of this calibre. I couldn't fault the resort, but if you are after a quiet place to relax and drink cocktails by the pool, you can get better value elsewhere..

fantastic staff and great service!!! The non-motorized sports are free (i was able to book a fitness session, canopy walk, and snorkeling). Food is a bit expensive compared to the hotels on mainland but it is a resort afterall. Beach isn't as clean and the infinity pool in the villa is quite small. Would stay there again!

An excellent getaway resort

An excellent getaway resort from the urban bustle of KK. Villas are nice, though the lack of a bath tub makes it fall just a hair short of flawless. Restaurant choices are limited, though a short boat ride to the sister property Gayana partly makes up for it. Beach is nice, which Gayana doesn't have. Staff are courteous, though their uneven English capability sometimes requires more than one person to understand your question and meet your request. Overall, a very nice place, if not the most luxury experience.

Jungle Paradise

As a family of 4 with two preteens we absolutley love this resort. All the comforts and luxury of a five star hotel with seclusion. The villas are amazing - very spacious and private. The children had their own room in a deluxe villa. Some mold in the bathrooms - but then it is a tropical climate! But otherwise everything is beautifully kept clean and tidy. Food fantastic - a little slow to come to the table at times, but always very good. If there is something you would like that is not on the menu, given that there are only two restaurants - don't hesitate to ask, the staff will try to accomodate your wishes. It was incredible to wake up to a the sound of a monkey on the balcony, ghekkos and lizards, the wild boar wandering around, just being in the jungle without roughing it! Activities are great - to be able to use much of the water sports equipment without extra charges is a big plus. We would also recommend the zip wire activity (fee) and a trip to the orangutan sanctuary on the main land (the hotel are happy to organise). During the rainy season the tide brings in a fair amount of seaweed and rubbish on the beach each day, but again the hotel endeavour to clean it up every day. We would love to go back and definitely recommend this place if you want either a quiet, relaxing or more active holiday.

l bunga raya island resort

Wonderful position and villas.The setting and nature is marvellous. The service and the cleaning is not always up to the standar expected but the personnel are friendly and nice. The cuisine isn't good for western guests and could be better respect to prices. Avoid going during xmas period because the sea is really dirty due to streams.It's a pity!!! I recommend the excursion in the jungle.

Jungle paradise!

As a family of four we were very impressed with the villas. We booked a deluxe villa which had a separate room where the children (pre-teens) could sleep - we had to pay for one extra bed. The space itself was fantastic, with a huge bed, TV's in both rooms, great stereo system, complimentary tea, coffee and soft drinks were added bonus. Some mold patches in the bathroom - but then it is a tropical climate! View from the bath incredible - very private too. The staff were all very friendly and helpful in all areas and should be commended. The food was superb, although slow to get to your table, reasonably priced. We ended up staying at the resort to eat since we preffered the menu at Bunga Raya, although you can go to Gayana. Don't be afraid to ask for something - particularly if you have children, the staff were willing to provide alternatives if they could. I was impressed with touches such as making sure food and plates were covered to prevent insects in the rooms, biscuits at bedtime etc. The pool was lovely, not enough beach towels readily available. Great activities if you want - with free use of most of the water sports equipment. Lovely beach and the staff try to keep it clean (not an easy task during monsoon season). We went snorkelling, 'sumo' surfing, kayaking. Other activities - canopy walk, 'Fying Squirrel' (zip line), jungle trek. Excellent spa. Off site - we enjoyed the marine centre at Gayana and the oranguatan centre at Shangri La, Rasa Ria.

Bunga Raya paradise and peace

We visited this beautiful island and we were very impressed by every member of staff who worked there. Nothing is too much and we were told off for not requesting transport enough from our rooms (5 minute walk!) The only comment I would have is why was our villa so far away when the occupency was low. We could have been allocated a closer villa.

Great hotel - pity about the pollution

We loved absolutely everything about this hotel - the location, the design, the facilities, the layout, the quality of the food, the friendliness and helpfulnesss of the staff. There was really just one problem, which was not the fault of the hotel, but the fault of the other (probably illegal) inhabitants of Gaya Island, and maybe commercial ships passing through nearby as well, many of whom must regard the sea as just one big rubbish dump, to judge by the quantity of waste that contantly washed up on the otherwise beautiful shore of the Bunga Raya resort. We felt really sorry for the management and staff of the resort who did their best to keep on top of the problem, but when you have a significant number of the local population who clearly care little about their environment, they are fighting a losing battle without some determined action by the government to deal with this problem. If you're not terribly bothered about walking on the beach and spending time in the sea, it won't concern you too much, because the resort is otherwise quite wonderful - but if you're beach and sea lovers, prepare to be disappointed.