Perched between rainforest canopy and crashing surf, Permai Rainforest Resort in Borneo is where wild meets whimsical — sometimes literally. The moment you arrive, there’s a decent chance a macaque will size you up (or your snack stash, anyway). But hey, that’s life in the jungle. You’re not just visiting nature here. You’re, well, kind of moving in with it.
Located beneath the brooding silhouette of Mount Santubong, the resort sprawls out in quiet reverence to the lush forest around it. But it’s the treehouses that really steal the show. Elevated, tucked away, and reached via a short trek through the foliage — there’s something almost cinematic about the journey to your room. You half expect a film crew to pop out from behind a palm. Luckily, the resort’s staff makes it easy: they handle the luggage while you tackle the stairs.
The interiors? Simple but thoughtful. Designed mostly with couples in mind, the rooms lean into the view — and what a view. A huge sliding glass door opens up to a balcony that looks out over the South China Sea, offering a daily spectacle of sunlight playing tag with waves. At night, you’ll hear the hush of the ocean, cicadas chirping somewhere close (but hopefully not too close), and sometimes, nothing at all. Which is rare. And oddly comforting.
Despite the rustic setting, there’s air conditioning — a welcome touch when the rainforest decides to turn up the humidity dial. And yes, there’s an en-suite bathroom too, so you won’t be doing the whole “barefoot in the jungle” thing unless you want to. It's wild, but not that wild.
A short wander along a jungle path leads to the on-site restaurant, which — bonus — also comes with a side of forest. Think open air, sweeping views, and the occasional silver langur performing acrobatics nearby. It’s equal parts peaceful and surreal. You may even forget your phone… for a few minutes, anyway.
All told, Permai Rainforest Resort isn’t about high-end luxury. It’s about something else — that hard-to-define blend of calm, curiosity, and closeness to the wild. It’s about realizing you don’t need Wi-Fi to feel connected — not when there’s a monkey stealing your banana and a sea breeze stealing your breath.
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