Nanga Sumpa Lodge is located in the Ulu Ai region, on the upper reaches of the Ai River, in the heart of Sarawak on Borneo. Built on the banks of the Delok River, opposite a traditional longhouse of the Iban tribe, it is accessible only by longboat. The accommodation is based on a partnership spanning over 35 years between operator Borneo Adventure and the local Iban community.

Why choose this lodge

Nanga Sumpa Lodge was founded in 1987 by Borneo Adventure as part of the Ulu Ai project. The ambition was clear from the start: to move beyond surface-level cultural tourism and foster genuine encounters between visitors and the Iban community. Its position opposite the longhouse is no coincidence—it ensures both proximity to the community and respect for each person's space.

Part of the services is coordinated directly by the longhouse residents, and profits are shared between the community and Borneo Adventure. This partnership has endured for over 35 years. The benefits are tangible: improved living standards, health and education for families, contributions to sanitation, roads and shared facilities.

The lodge aligns with several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Your stay represents a direct contribution to the local economy and nature preservation: the project prevents logging in the area, benefiting the fauna and flora of the surrounding rainforest.

Atmosphere

Arrival comes at the pace of the longboat ascending the river from Batang Ai Lake, approximately 1 hour 30 minutes of navigation between forested banks and rapids. On site, electricity is supplied by a solar system, and evenings unfold by soft light on the ruai, the covered Iban-style veranda where meals and conversations are shared. Meals are prepared on-site from local ingredients: rice, noodles, chicken, fish and jungle vegetables. Everything remains deliberately simple, reflecting the environment in which the project is rooted.

Rooms

The Forest Rooms

The three Forest Rooms are spacious bedrooms of approximately 35 m², each with an en-suite bathroom. Windows are fitted with mosquito screens. The rooms share a ruai and can each accommodate up to four people.

The Ruai

The Ruai is a multipurpose annex designed for groups, film crews, researchers or students. It features a common area as well as its own sanitary block with showers and toilets.

Services and activities

The lodge serves as a departure point for several nature excursions and cultural immersions within the Iban community:

• Longboat journey upriver to a waterfall, with swimming
• Visit to the longhouse and surrounding farms
• Participation in the daily activities of the Iban community
• Hiking along trails beside waterways, crossing cultivated lands and leading into primary forest
• Wildlife observation, with a chance to spot orangutans in their natural habitat

Location

The lodge sits on the banks of the Delok River, in the Ulu Ai region (upper reaches of the Ai River), approximately 1 hour 30 minutes by longboat from Batang Ai Lake. Access is by waterway only. Ulu Ai is a pristine and isolated area, renowned for the quality of its rivers, waterfalls and expanses of intact tropical forest. While longhouses can be visited in many regions of Sarawak, Ulu Ai stands out for the richness of its natural environment, which complements the cultural experience.

Nearby

To extend your exploration of Borneo and Malaisie, several accommodations complement an itinerary:

• The Kinabatangan Riverside Lodge, another nature stop on the banks of Sabah's iconic river.
• The Laban Rata Resthouse, a mountain refuge for climbing Mount Kinabalu.
• The The Eastern & Oriental Hotel in Penang, for a historic stopover on the peninsula.
• The Banjaran Hotsprings Retreat, a thermal retreat in the jungle near Ipoh.

Planning your stay

To integrate Nanga Sumpa Lodge into a complete itinerary across Sarawak, Sabah and the Malayan peninsula, explore our tailor-made trips in Malaisie.