Permai Rainforest Resort : an Eco Resort in Kuching, Borneo
We found the perfect holiday destination for the nature lovers and adventure seekers, and the good news is, it’s eco friendly !
Located on the Santubong Peninsula in Kuching, Sarawak, Permai Rainforest Resort is an eco resort offering a wide range of adventure & nature activities in a beautiful location.
As you make your way through the wooden paths, you don’t realise how the resort actually blends in the nature.
It hit me when we were coming back from our boat trip. I was driving the boat (yes really !) and I couldn’t spot the resort. I was navigating thanks to the captain — who was keeping a close eye on my boat driving skills, don’t worry ! And only him could see where the resort was located. The only “building” we could see from afar was one of the tree houses, the only one that has a clear view on the sea. This is how discrete and respectful of nature the resort is. This is one of the many reasons why I fell in love with this place.
But for starters, we like how Permai is taking care of the environment by implementing eco friendly regulations.
What makes Permai Rainforest an Eco Resort ?
Recycling & Reusing
Composting
Locally grown vegetables
Power saving
Trash collecting
Accommodation
Permai offers 3 types of accommodation.
Camp site
For the more adventurous kind, you can also camp in the forest and be truly in harmony with nature. Bathrooms and electricity are provided, you just have to bring your own camping gear. Not for the faint-hearted though, as the jungle around the resort is packed with all kinds of animals, some of which I would not like to find in my tent ! More on that down below…
Permai Rainforest Resort Facilities
Jungle Pool
The jungle pool is a real delight after a long day of adventures around the resort.
The refreshing water comes from the nearby waterfall, and its basin is made as if it as a natural lake. So much more enjoyable than a modern pool if you ask me !
Beach
There 2 beaches in Permai Rainforest Resort. Damai beach is shared with Damai Resort and the other one is private. After walking on a stoned path you are rewarded with a lovely remote beach. Watching the sunset from there is mesmerizing.
Restaurant
The Feeding Tree serves Halal certified food and does not serve alcohol. The interior has again a “tree house” feel with wooden tables and natural decorations. It has a gorgeous view on the beach, perfect for watching the sunset whilst enjoying a delicious meal or a fruit juice. The hearty local dishes served at the Feeding Tree definitely exceeded our expectations and made our stay all the more pleasant.
Outdoor Activities at Permai Rainforest Resort
Permai Rainforest Resort is not only known for its tree house and surrounding tropical rainforest, but also for its wide range of outdoor activities. They are all very well supervised by full time highly trained instructors, so be reassured, safety is their main concern ! Here are the ones we tried, but there are many other activities like a via ferrata and climbing wall.
High rope courses & Zipline Flying Fox
I am personally afraid of heights, but both Antoine and I are afraid of high ropes, so it was a real challenge ! But I’m sure for regular outdoor activities aficionados it’s super easy ! Freddy, our instructor was very patient. The zipline scared me to death but Antoine loved it ! Just watch our video to hear me scream…
Stand up Paddle
It was a first for us and an amazing moment.
The bay in front of Permai was the perfect place to try SUP.
It is definitely an activity we will do again in the future !
Jungle Trekking
There are several paths guests can take to explore the surrounding rainforest. It can be challenging with the heat and humidity combine, but other than that the path was very much walkable and easy as long as you watched where you were going ! The big reward is to see the waterfall and enjoy the lush nature.
Night jungle walk
Walking through the jungle at night was a great way to spot some of the wildlife inhabiting the forest in Permai. Thankfully, our nature expert, Freddy, helped us spot all the animals around us and taught us a few facts about them.
Make sure to wear long pants and closed toe shoes to avoid getting bitten by ants or other not so friendly animals…
Mangrove Tours
Permai Rainforest Resort is located in the Kuching Bay and near the Kuching Wetland National Park.
A short boat ride will take you to the nearby mangrove where you will spot some wildlife like crocodiles, with a bit of luck.
We went to the mangrove the same day we went on a boat trip to spot dolphins, but they also organise night mangrove tours, where you will have more chances to see some crocodiles.
Dolphin Watching
The Kuching Bay is known to be home to Irrawaddy Dolphins. Don’t miss the opportunity to spot these interesting dolphins on a boat trip, if you (unlike us) have the chance to properly see them. Permai Rainforest Resort partners with University Malaysia Sarawak and Shell on Dolphin Population Surveys as part of the Sarawak Dolphin Project.
Trip to Satang island
Satang Island is visible from Permai beach, and is only a short boat ride away. It is part of the Turtle Islands group and is a protected area for marine green turtles. We didn’t find the snorkeling to be so interesting because of the cloudy water, but it is still worth it to take a boat to Satang to enjoy this remote little island with its turquoise blue water and gold sand beaches. Be careful of the sandflies though !
Bird watching tower
We visited the bird watching tower on our way back from the jungle trekking to the waterfall and it was already noon. Definitely not a good time to see birds, so we don’t have many images, but we did manage to see a few Silver Leaf Monkeys.
The bird watching tower is only accessible with ropes as it is 70 feet high ! Another way for me to fight my fear of heights…
See more of the incredible wildlife we spotted at Permai Rainforest Resort and on Borneo in general. Interested to try out other activities while in Kuching ? Check out the bamboo rafting and orangutan tour package we did !
Overall, we had an amazing experience at Permai Rainforest Resort. We felt like it was an incredible way to experience Sarawak’s nature and even try some activities we’ve never done before or were too scared to try !
We highly recommend to visit the resort during your time in Kuching, especially because it offers something for every budget, even the very low ones !
Useful Information
- Check out their reviews on TripAdvisor.
- Check out their prices and book on Agoda.
By Van Pick Up :
Permai <> Airport
- RM40 per person per way : 2-3 pax minimum
- RM30 per person per way : 4-8 pax minimum
Permai <> City Centre
- RM20 per person per way : 2-3 pax minimum
- RM15 per person per way : 4-8 pax minimum
By Public Bus :
- City Link Public Bus : drop off at Sarawak Cultural Village, 5 mins walk from Permai.
By Taxi :
- From Kuching City : RM60 (one way), 30-40 minutes drive.
- From Kuching International Airport : RM80 (one way), 40-50 minutes drive.
- Address : Permai Rainforest Resort, Pantai Damai Santubong, Jalan Sultan Tengah, 93050 Kuching, Sarawak, MALAYSIA.
- Phone Number : +6082 846487 or +6082 846490
- Website : https://permairainforest.com/
- Email : reserve@permairainforest.com
- Facebook : Permai Rainforest Resort
- Instagram : @permairainforestkuching
A huge thanks to the team and friendly staff at Permai Rainforest Resort for inviting us to live this wonderful experience ! As always, our opinion remains our own. If you click on some of the links above, we might make a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thank you for supporting this project !
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BORNEO is the second episode of Expedition 100, The Vlog Expedition's new NextGen vlog series where Violette & Antoine are taking you on an ultimate world tour seeking their top 100 most extraordinary places on Earth.
Sometimes, to make your dreams come true, you have to take risks. This is the most adventurous and challenging trip we’ve taken so far, and it’s to the incredible island of Borneo. We're taking you to spot all sorts of wild animals in the rainforest and to a bit of a challenge, with some scary yet awesome outdoor activities.
Explore the Kinabatangan river in Sabah and the Rainforest of Sarawak with us and look for crocodiles in a 360 video...
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Don't forget the EXPLORE menu at the end of the vlog, where you can find Violette's pictures, 360 videos, practical blog posts for you to organize a similar trip and lots of other stuff ! Learn more : how to use NextGen vlogs.
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