Kuching Transportation

To/from Lundu: Sarawak Transport Company (cream and green) express buses depart from the regional bus terminal at 08:15, 11:00, 14:00 and 16:00. Buses depart Lundu at 08:00, 11:00, 14:00 and 16:00. Travel time approximately two hours. At Lundu, take a taxi or van or walk appoximatly 2.5 kms (north) to the Gunung Gading National Park. For Tanjung Datu National Park, catch a connecting Sarawak Transport Company bus to Sematan where you will have to charter a boat to the park.

Kuching's regional express bus terminal is located along Jalan Datuk Tawi Sli, also dubbed as "3 and a half miles", located south of the city, just before the Boulevard shopping mall. All long-distance express buses arrive from and leave for major Sarawak cities like Sibu, Bintulu and Miri, as well as Pontianak in Indonesia.

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Kuching has a very nice airport. The standard taxi fare from downtown is RM23 and it is a ~20 minute drive in normal traffic. Air Asia did have one auto check-in machine. Note that auto check-in can be done 1-6 hours before your flight, but cannot be used for international flights. The departure area has several restaurants and shops. I tried one of the Marrybrown breakfast sets (one egg, two small hotdogs, spoonfull of beans, two pieces of toast, and coffee) for RM8.90.

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The small boats that you can hire to cross the Sarawak River are tambangs (small river ferries or water taxis). I read that they are 30 sen but did not actually take one myself. There is no schedule. Just find one at one of the several landings (e.g. near the Courthouse Complex or near the Hilton Hotel) or wait at the landing until one arrives.

From airport to city, go to the airport taxi counter for coupon. RM22 (Apr 09). To Damai RM66.

It taks about 20 mins from airport to city (waterfront). From city to airport, catch any taxi for RM20.

Taxi is quite rare in Kuching. You may want to pre-book through your hotel if you want to go anywhere far from your location. But if you are staying in one of those hotels in the city, pretty much everything of interest is within walking distance. Kuching is quite a small city.

If you are arriving at the airport, you can get a taxi from a counter just after the arrival hall. It costs about RM20+ to get to the city center.

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Inside the Holiday Inn Kuching is a small travel agency. They personel is very friendly and helpful. They give you a way better rate (even to the Holiday Inn itself!) then if you would have booked straight at the hotel. Furthermore they can book and organize trips to Bako for you. Tailormade with guide. Which is really recommended in case you want to see all the wildife around you and know where to go.

I managed to hire a Proton Iswara 1.5L Auto sedan for RM200 (2.5 days use). Was definitely happy to drive around but mind you.... signboards are not very informative. The standard map of Kuching City (can be obtained from Tourist Information Office) is quite handy but you are completely on your own once you leave city limits.

I'm not saying its impossible but you must understand that tourist destinations are actually designed for the typical tourist who arrive in chartered buses.

Most parts of Kuching is one way so you must possess a very strong sense of geography!

Kuching's hotels have banded together to offer a free City Tram service that shuttles around major sights once every hour. Ask for a City Tram sticker and route map from your hotel lobby.
There are the following options, walking, buses, taxi, and car rental. Taxi's don't seem to "drive around" . There is also the unfortunate situation where not all taxi's can go anywhere, a particular taxi only services some roads or parts of town. This makes it hard to just flag a taxi and expect to be taken where you want. Taxis are mostly unmetered, you agree on a price given the destination before getting in! Generally visitors find such unstructured arrangements . They are easily to be seen at all hotels , airport, and taxi station Kuching City. Buses are by far the best option, although most places are walking distance it is far too hot to do so. Most of the buses are not air conditioned so sit beside an open window. Ask for more info before using a bus as sometimes the drivers may seem reluctant to provide any assistance to those who don't know where to go. The fares are cheap though, the air-conditioned buses generally cost a bit more and seem to make up perhaps half the fleet.
TAXIS
Airport to town is RM 17.50 – buy a coupon at the taxi stand at the airport. Town to airport is RM 15. Short distances around town are RM 5-7.

-Green - Sarawak Transport Company (STC)

-Blue - Chin Liang Long Bus Company (CLL)

-Orange - Matang Transport Company (MTC)

-Brown/Red - Bau Bus Company

-White with Red, Yellow and Black stripes - Petra Jaya Bus Company

-Brown/Purple - Regas Transport Company