Our stay was very relaxing”

Thi place really is what is says on the tin - a Secret Sanctuary, upon arrival you walk through a gorgeous garden with a wooden bridge and pond with lots of greenery and flowing water. When we arrived we were welcomed with complimentary beers and as we were the only people staying that night we got to choose whatever room we fancied the look of (each one is completely unique). We stayed for four nights in the "honeymoon suite", this is a large room with 2 double beds, a balcony, and ensuite shower and toilet, all of which were very clean. Cyril and his staff are very very friendly and couldn't be more helpful, they arranged various taxi's and tours for us and told us good places to go and things to see. There is a forest just 10 minutes walk from The Secret Sanctuary , which is very peacefull to walk around - we saw plenty of lizards, dragonflies, and monkey's. The food at The Secret Sanctuary is truely amazing,and the bar is an honesty bar so you just help yourself as long as you write it down on your bill. I would say the only downside is that it is located slightly out of the city centre, however we got a taxi in for RM25, also if your taxi driver isn't sure where Secret Sanctuary is when you return just explain that it is the "wooden house" or "Chinese house", however go prepared with a copy of the address just in case. All in all we had a great time here and will definitely be recommending to any friends who plan a trip to Kuching.

Serene Stay”

I had such an amazing stay at The Secret Sanctuary. A few months have now past since my stay, but the experience was so wonderful that I wanted to make a point to come back and give a review. First off, the staff was amazing! The owner was away on vacation when I stayed, but the rest of the staff took great care of me. Breakfast was ready every morning. It was such a personalized experience! The Secret Sanctuary is also a restaurant in which many locals will visit to eat and relax in the evening. The food was incredible. If you need a place to get away and truly relax, this is certainly it! The facilities are kept up very nicely and in speaking with the staff and other locals, they really work hard to keep it that way. I would visit again in a heartbeat!

Probably our favorite place in Malaysia”

We loved our stay at the Secret Sanctuary! It's a kind of place that deserves a movie made about it... Very relaxing (we all loved the fish spa pool!) + some of the best "fusion" food we had in Malaysia + very helpful owner (Cyril) who helped us with our sightseeing itinerary and drove us everywhere. Perhaps not for business travelers or people who want their hotels perfectly neat and sterile, but if you like the relaxed california hot springs vibe, this place will feel like your second home!

Really a nice & sweet place”

most sweetest place in kuching! i am more than happy to know this place from trip adviser. it's a wooden house with waterfalls and a cute swimming pool. at the moment when i pushed the door,omg, it's like i went to the paradise recommend everyone stay at this place if you plan to go to kuching. trust me, this is the best thing in the city. ps, you are required to take off your shoes before entering.

Extremely helpful staff and very awesome rooms”

Probably the best boutique type hotel i stayed in. Very photogenic place. Staff is very helpful and friendly. Loved the jacuzzi and pool. Great place to relax. Only setback is the mosquitoes. However if we do come back to kuching again will definitely come back for a stay.

Lovely place with wonderful people!”

the owners are wonderful. i planned on staying for three nights but ended up staying for five. willing to drive you to the city or to other places around kuching. julia is wonderful. she took me to an open air market and helped me out a lot. the place is wonderful and well designed. i would definitely go back. the food is also delicious!

Lovely decor but a bit far out of town”

It is a real shock to find such a quirky little residence in suburbia. Coming from Kuching, the taxi driver wasn't familiar with the address and I had to call the hotel to give directions. A lot of thought and care has been put into the decor. There are lovely water features, hanging plants, chill out areas, and friendly staff. You could open the doors from the shower area and walk straight out into the pool area. The food was of a high standard (although not particularly cheap) and there was a good selection of wines. There are RM5 and RM10 specials each day (small snacks/starters) and one evening they brought a selection of Korean snacks to us for free. You could have a lovely relaxing stay here, but if you are keen on sightseeing the town of Kuching it is probably more convenient to stay in the town or hire a care for a day or 2.

Wonderfully Bohemian Friendly Little Hidden Palace”

We loved it here - in fact so much so we stayed an extra week. Cyril the owner went all out to give us the best time possible - he made us feel so welcome and even took us out to see the sites, without expecting anything in return. He was a true gentleman. The energy and sheer style of the place is all created entirely from his passion - every corner reveals an unexpected room in which to lounge, a beautiful little pool complete with waterfall, a fish spa to sooth one's aching feet. His staff were so friendly, there was an honesty bar in which it was up to you to be just that - honest. In fact the whole place felt authentic and honest - it was a dream - we did not want to leave. I'm sure the place is not for everyone, but if you want to experience true hospitality and a non judgmental, almost spiritual vibe, then don't let this place remain a secret to you - go and see Cyril - he works so hard to make the place a mini paradise and really deserves to have punters to share it with - that seems to be his love. We would return annually if we could. Thanks Cyril, for making our stay so memorable xx

Very different, you will either love or hate it”

our deluxe poolside room was more or less integral part of the restaurant and bar. our en suite bathroom, as extraordinary as it was, lacked not only a washbasin but almost any privacy beside semitransparent curtains which partially avoided curious glances. our bedroom was not so much different in that concern. we guess this is meant to be so and part of the concept. just don't expect too much privacy. the place is also quite popular for late diners and bar visitors, including events as birthday parties for up to 200 people (as the owner proudly said and as marketed). not marketed was the close vicinity of some restaurant tables, which were located less than 2 meters from our bathtub. thus showering became quite a public event. on the other hand you could hear every word, laughter and the music, which luckily was mostly good, but nevertheless could not be overheard. earplugs are advisable for a good sleep. dinner is really very very good, and pretty expensive, too. it is a very special place, quite different, but not very much zen, by the way. but that lie in the eye of the believer. you can be sure to be right in the middle of any party or other event, so you be better prepared. the owner most probably is. only continuously running tv somehow is a bit banal and would much better fit into a pub. it does not fit to the places attitude which the owner is more than willing to explain to you in detail and length. unfortunately the secret sanctuary (which is neither of it) is highly overpriced, there are places in kuching which offer superior quality and comfort for the same or less costs and much more of the intended atmosphere. we call it an overpriced extravanganca, which does not keep its promises. on the other hand it is so different, that it might as well be paradise for someone else. we will most probably not return for another stay.

Peaceful area and back to basics”

Weird ownwer with hippie tendencies and penchant for nudity. Need to be open-minded. I wouldn't say it's value for money because there was no TV in the room, some lights weren't working and the room just had a bed and table. No one came to clean the room during our stay too. When I thought I lost my key to the room, they actually told me they didn't have a spare key! Good thing I found it. It's nestled in a residential estate and seemingly has little or no public transport nearby (I rented a scooter while I was in Kuching). It's a place that might appeal to some for its character and homely feeling but definitely won't go down well with some tourists. Staff were friendly and helpful in general and the pool with a 'waterfall' and fish therapy pond were nice touches. Food was good because the owner used to be a chef but all in all, I doubt I'd come back again on my next visit to Kuching.

Peaceful place for tolerant people”

Dont expect host and staff to be available at all time. They appear sometimes Do expect trust to you as a guest, a lot of freedom and mellow atmosphere. The only minus is a monkey that may be aggressive to children. You have to onserve it all the time. Location is close to airport but quite far to central Kuching.

Charming boutique hotel surrounded by nature”

Pro's: customer service (e.g. free airport shuttle service) design and ambiance of the hotel Con's: level of noise food in the hotel owned restaurant is overpriced shared bathrooms location is far from the city centre of Kuching and not known to most taxi drivers

Love the place for its ambience and serenity”

The awesome waterfall that is built by the owner is worth my stay. Wish I could stay there for another few more days / weeks. Waking up every morning with the sound of water flowing and birds whistling is pure joy. You won't get this anywhere in a city.

Superb!”

At first I was like...no TV????!!! You kidding me??? But after a while, I started to like the place.. Back to nature I would say... Overall design is just fantastic.. They even have a jacuzzi and yes, they have a swimming pool too... Very laidback and enjoyable atmosphere... TOns of place for you to laze around in the common area.. Treehouse.. I love it... definitely will be back there again!

A Wonderful Experience”

This vacation for my birthday. Besides my well-planned journey trips to Semanggoh, Bako and Damai, the owner Cyril help us with tips for more smoother journey. Very friendly owner, staff and the dogs...hahaha..although we are Muslims, but they respect well to keep them away. A vacation to remember the most with wonderful stay experience here

Different”

Stayed here for 3 nights when I was in Kuching. It was just a little bit further out from the city than I expected

Nice and Zen Place”

The hosts are really nice and warm-hearted.They took good care of us during our stay.They cooked according to your need and brought us medicine when we were sick.They took us on a ride around the city.Very nice of them.But there is only shared bathrooms.

Lovely hosts...”

we loved julia and cyril for their amazing hospitality!..the rooms are basic. everything is really simple but there is a homely feeling to the place...my husband and our boys enjoyed the pool, sauna and fish spa...once you're in the hotel, you just forget that you are in a middle of a residential area..abundance of flora and fauna...

Best Stay Everrrrrrrrr”

It was superb. We stayed at this place for one night only unfortunately during the Sarawak Rainforest Music Festival. This place has exceeded our expectation. Every guests are welcomed as if they are in their own house. The staffs are very friendly and helpful. The facilities are fantastic. I really love the hot tub and the swimming pool! Will definitely come back to this place again soon!

Slightly Rustic and Charming”

Bit of miscommunication with the owner. Place is a 10 minute drive away from the city, so if you're looking for a none hotel chain stay, this might be it. Food was okay, but cheap local fare can be had at coffee shops in the vicinity.