Accommodation
Bigfin Beach Resort Sabah is a small private resort ideal for those who are searching for a place to truly chill and relax in a nature lovers paradise. We are located on a beautiful sandy beach in Mengkabar bay, directly opposite Pulau Pandan Island. We are nestled in the surrounding jungle with a stunning backdrop of Mount Kinabalu in the distance. Since we have no road access our place is only accessible by boat from the tiny Mengkabar Village. We have private hilltop en-suite chalets, all with fantastic panoramic views of the ocean and surrounding coastline. Onsite facilities include a restaurant/bar, hang out areas, water sports, jungle paths and PADI Scuba Dive Centre. Perfect for divers and non-divers alike who seek affordable accommodation in a quiet, idyllic location where you can enjoy the lush, peaceful surrounding nature.
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Double En-suite Chalet
Private Double rooms with spacious balcony and attached private bathroom. All rooms have wall fan, 2 hammocks, chairs, double bed with bedding/towels/mosquito net provided and en-suite bathroom with western toilet and cold water shower. Stunning views from the balcony overlook Mengkabar bay, Pulau Pandan and Mount Kinabalu in the distance. RM260 per night (double occupancy) RM200 per night (single occupancy) +RM20 per person per night peak season surcharge (April/July/August) |
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4 Bed En-suite Dorm/ Family room
En-suite chalet with 2 bunk beds (sleeps 4 person). Can also be rented as a private unit for a family or group of friends. Awesome views of the ocean and jungle from the balcony to hang out and meet friends. Available from April 2020 RM90 per person per night (divers rate) RM110 per person per night (non-divers/peak season) |
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Triple En-suite Chalet
Private triple chalet with double bed and single bunk on-top. Spacious balcony and attached private bathroom with western toilet and cold water shower. Wall fan, 2 hammocks, chairs, bedding/towels/mosquito net provided. Stunning views from the balcony overlook Mengkabar bay, Pulau Pandan and Mount Kinabalu in the distance. RM340 per night (triple occupancy) +RM20 per person per night peak season surcharge (April/July/August) |
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Restaurant
We have an on site restaurant for in house guests only. Meals are local Malaysian cuisine served buffet style. If you have particular dietary requirements or dislikes please let us know in advance and we will do our best to accommodate these. Please understand our food has to be brought in by boat and transported from Kota Kinabalu or Kota Belud as there are no shops nearby. If you would like any extra drinks or snacks please feel free to bring them with you. Our menu is fairly flexible and we tend to mix things up depending on what we have in stock or available from our garden.
Breakfast
2 Eggs + Toast with butter/jam or Pancakes or Hot Oats
Fresh Fruit
Water/tea/coffee
Lunch
Fried rice/ fried noodles/ pasta
Fresh Fruit
Water/tea/coffee
Dinner
Local style buffet with white rice, chicken/beef dish and vegetable dishes
We also offer BBQ dinner; please request in advance (minimum 4 person).
*Fresh fish is available on request at extra cost (subject to availability). Please note, we do not usually serve fish as we do not believe that the fish from the local market or supermarket has been sustainably caught. If you would like fish please let us know in advance and we will try to ask the local fisherman if they have any catch of the day. However, please consider that the locals usually only catch for their own consumption (the nearest fish market is in Kota Belud town), so there may not be any available.
Breakfast
2 Eggs + Toast with butter/jam or Pancakes or Hot Oats
Fresh Fruit
Water/tea/coffee
Lunch
Fried rice/ fried noodles/ pasta
Fresh Fruit
Water/tea/coffee
Dinner
Local style buffet with white rice, chicken/beef dish and vegetable dishes
We also offer BBQ dinner; please request in advance (minimum 4 person).
*Fresh fish is available on request at extra cost (subject to availability). Please note, we do not usually serve fish as we do not believe that the fish from the local market or supermarket has been sustainably caught. If you would like fish please let us know in advance and we will try to ask the local fisherman if they have any catch of the day. However, please consider that the locals usually only catch for their own consumption (the nearest fish market is in Kota Belud town), so there may not be any available.
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Non-diving Activities
Kayaking + Stand Up Paddle RM60 (double) RM40 (single)
We have a double/single kayaks and Stand Up Paddle boards available for 1/2 day rental. Lifejacket, paddle, mask and snorkel included. You can paddle across to Pulau Pandan and explore this tiny uninhabited island, or discover other private beaches within the bay. Park the kayak and enjoy great snorkelling on the shallow reefs.
Snorkelling/Beach hopping RM80 (with guide) RM60 (no guide - good swimmers only)
We run snorkelling and beach hopping trips on our small boat around Mengkabar bay (for in house guests only). Tour lasts 2-3 hours and we will visit Pandan Island + 2 other snorkel sites. Mask, snorkel and life jacket included.
Jungle Trekking RM20 per person (1-2 hours)
One of our staff will guide you into our surrounding jungle by torchlight. Our best wildlife sightings are generally at night when animals are more active during the cover of darkness. This area is home to many different species of snakes, lizards, giant insects and birds. We have also sighted several rare and interesting mammals such as; flying langurs, tarsier, silver leaf monkeys, slow loris, pangolins, civet cats, wild pigs, mouse deer and sea otters. If you would like to adventure on your own we have a short nature trail you can follow during the daylight.
We have a double/single kayaks and Stand Up Paddle boards available for 1/2 day rental. Lifejacket, paddle, mask and snorkel included. You can paddle across to Pulau Pandan and explore this tiny uninhabited island, or discover other private beaches within the bay. Park the kayak and enjoy great snorkelling on the shallow reefs.
Snorkelling/Beach hopping RM80 (with guide) RM60 (no guide - good swimmers only)
We run snorkelling and beach hopping trips on our small boat around Mengkabar bay (for in house guests only). Tour lasts 2-3 hours and we will visit Pandan Island + 2 other snorkel sites. Mask, snorkel and life jacket included.
Jungle Trekking RM20 per person (1-2 hours)
One of our staff will guide you into our surrounding jungle by torchlight. Our best wildlife sightings are generally at night when animals are more active during the cover of darkness. This area is home to many different species of snakes, lizards, giant insects and birds. We have also sighted several rare and interesting mammals such as; flying langurs, tarsier, silver leaf monkeys, slow loris, pangolins, civet cats, wild pigs, mouse deer and sea otters. If you would like to adventure on your own we have a short nature trail you can follow during the daylight.
Important Information
NO Shops
We are in a remote location, there are no shops or other restaurants nearby us! If you would like any snacks, toiletries, cigarettes etc then please bring these with you from Kota Kinabalu.
Power
We do not have 24 hour power! We run the resort using a mix of solar power and power from a small generator. We run the generator from 6pm-11pm. At night we use solar to power room fans and resort lights. During the day power will be intermittent, but we do have a solar charging port in the restaurant should you need to charge your phone or other USB device during the day. We have a strictly NO ELECTRICAL HEAT APPLIANCES POLICY (no hairdryers, hair straighteners, toaster, kettle etc) as our generator can not support the power output.
Internet
We now have Wifi available in the restaurant but not in the rooms as the signal does not reach. It is not very fast, so fine for email/FB/Whatsapp but not for streaming videos, please consider that this is due to our remote jungle location. If you need phone reception we recommend you buy a local MAXIS hotlink prepaid sim (RM10) to use with internet data (we find this network has the strongest signal).
No plastic bottles
We do not sell plastic water bottles in the resort (we have picked up too many off beaches in Sabah to justify selling them!). We provide filtered water that is safe to drink, we recommend you use your own flask to refill water. If you do not have a flask please just ask us and we will lend you one for your stay.
Sewage
We have a septic sewage system which means strictly NO tissue or tampons/sanitary pads down the toilet! Please use bins provided.
Conserve Water!
Our resort is run mostly from rain water collection. During your stay we ask that you make an effort to please conserve water! Always turn taps off immediately after use and please take short showers. Thank you!
Mosquitos
As we are surrounded by borneo jungle.. yes we have many mosquitos! Please bring/wear insect repellant and cover up in the early morning and early evening (when they are most hungry!) Be aware we do sometimes have sand flies on the beach. Sand flies seem to be most prevalent during very low tide.
Jellyfish & Poisonous Animals
We do get jellyfish in the bay usually during the cool water season (December-March). If you are stung the best treatment is to poor vinegar over the sting and remove the tentacles. Monitor for shock and other symptoms and inform a member of staff if you feel very unwell. We also occasionally get poisonous scorpions, giant centipedes, spiders and snakes about (welcome to borneo!) Do let us know if you see or are stung by any of these (but don't worry too much it is unlikely!).
We strongly recommend that all children wear a skin suit or long clothing to protect from jellyfish stings whilst swimming in the sea in borneo.
We are in a remote location, there are no shops or other restaurants nearby us! If you would like any snacks, toiletries, cigarettes etc then please bring these with you from Kota Kinabalu.
Power
We do not have 24 hour power! We run the resort using a mix of solar power and power from a small generator. We run the generator from 6pm-11pm. At night we use solar to power room fans and resort lights. During the day power will be intermittent, but we do have a solar charging port in the restaurant should you need to charge your phone or other USB device during the day. We have a strictly NO ELECTRICAL HEAT APPLIANCES POLICY (no hairdryers, hair straighteners, toaster, kettle etc) as our generator can not support the power output.
Internet
We now have Wifi available in the restaurant but not in the rooms as the signal does not reach. It is not very fast, so fine for email/FB/Whatsapp but not for streaming videos, please consider that this is due to our remote jungle location. If you need phone reception we recommend you buy a local MAXIS hotlink prepaid sim (RM10) to use with internet data (we find this network has the strongest signal).
No plastic bottles
We do not sell plastic water bottles in the resort (we have picked up too many off beaches in Sabah to justify selling them!). We provide filtered water that is safe to drink, we recommend you use your own flask to refill water. If you do not have a flask please just ask us and we will lend you one for your stay.
Sewage
We have a septic sewage system which means strictly NO tissue or tampons/sanitary pads down the toilet! Please use bins provided.
Conserve Water!
Our resort is run mostly from rain water collection. During your stay we ask that you make an effort to please conserve water! Always turn taps off immediately after use and please take short showers. Thank you!
Mosquitos
As we are surrounded by borneo jungle.. yes we have many mosquitos! Please bring/wear insect repellant and cover up in the early morning and early evening (when they are most hungry!) Be aware we do sometimes have sand flies on the beach. Sand flies seem to be most prevalent during very low tide.
Jellyfish & Poisonous Animals
We do get jellyfish in the bay usually during the cool water season (December-March). If you are stung the best treatment is to poor vinegar over the sting and remove the tentacles. Monitor for shock and other symptoms and inform a member of staff if you feel very unwell. We also occasionally get poisonous scorpions, giant centipedes, spiders and snakes about (welcome to borneo!) Do let us know if you see or are stung by any of these (but don't worry too much it is unlikely!).
We strongly recommend that all children wear a skin suit or long clothing to protect from jellyfish stings whilst swimming in the sea in borneo.
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Eco-friendly Efforts
Rubbish
Sadly we do get a lot of plastic washing up on our beach. We employ a member of staff to beach clean on a DAILY basis, this rubbish then has to be transported by us by boat and then 40 minutes by car to the closest rubbish dumb. Most of the time our beach is kept very clean except after a big storm at sea or strong waves then sadly we can get a large amount of trash washed up. To minimise waste, we do not sell plastic bottles or use straws, we recycle cans and make compost.
Solar
We use solar power for resort fans, lights, our freezer, internet booster and some other appliances. We only run our generator for 12 hours per day, and we are slowly expending our solar capacity to lower our fuel usage.
Water collection
As there is no mains supply of water here, we collect rainwater and top up our supply when needed with water from a small natural well. We appreciate if you could please try to conserve water during your stay. We collect grey shower water to flush the toilets.
Building Materials
We have deliberately not used hard wood for our structures, as sadly many hard woods traditionally used as building materials in Malaysia are now endangered. Whilst you can see we have used wood for the deck and balcony, we have tried to keep our use of wood to a minimal and used only for facades rather than the main structure.
Sadly we do get a lot of plastic washing up on our beach. We employ a member of staff to beach clean on a DAILY basis, this rubbish then has to be transported by us by boat and then 40 minutes by car to the closest rubbish dumb. Most of the time our beach is kept very clean except after a big storm at sea or strong waves then sadly we can get a large amount of trash washed up. To minimise waste, we do not sell plastic bottles or use straws, we recycle cans and make compost.
Solar
We use solar power for resort fans, lights, our freezer, internet booster and some other appliances. We only run our generator for 12 hours per day, and we are slowly expending our solar capacity to lower our fuel usage.
Water collection
As there is no mains supply of water here, we collect rainwater and top up our supply when needed with water from a small natural well. We appreciate if you could please try to conserve water during your stay. We collect grey shower water to flush the toilets.
Building Materials
We have deliberately not used hard wood for our structures, as sadly many hard woods traditionally used as building materials in Malaysia are now endangered. Whilst you can see we have used wood for the deck and balcony, we have tried to keep our use of wood to a minimal and used only for facades rather than the main structure.
Dragon Pearl Beach Resort
Our neighbour Dragon Pearl is situated in the same bay as Bigfin Divers. If you wish to stay here and dive with us it is possible for us to pick up divers directly from the resort. Dragon Pearl is a small resort offering budget accommodation and a restaurant serving a la carte food and drinks. Situated on a lovely beach looking out across open ocean past Pulau Pandan Island. They are accessible by road from Mengkabar Village and have private car parking available (rm10 per night). Other activities such as snorkelling trips, jungle trekking, kayaking and tubing are also available.
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