State of Sarawak Things to Do

 
by Willettsworld
 
  •   Things to Do
    by Willettsworld
  • A tambang or river ferry
      A tambang or river ferry
    by IreneMcKay
  • Mosque
      Mosque
    by Twan
  • Market
      Market
    by Twan
  • Market
      Market
    by Twan
 

Most Viewed Things to Do in State of Sarawak

1.

Sarawak River Cruise   Kuching

Sarawak River Cruise, Kuching

 8 Reviews  A great way to spend an afternoon in Kuching is cruising down the Sarawak River. Several companies do one and a half to two hour trips up and down the river in the late afternoon leaving from the... 

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2.

Sarawak Cultural Village   Kuching

Sarawak Cultural Village, Kuching

 19 Reviews  Tucked away on the foothills of legendary Mount Santubong, 35 km away from Kuching is Sarawak's fascinating cultural showcase, the award winning "Sarawak Cultural Village". This living museum depicts... 

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3.

Sarawak Museum   Kuching

Sarawak Museum, Kuching

 26 Reviews  I'm not generally a museum fan but this museum was pretty interesting and as with the other museums we found in Sarawak had free admission. Most of the exhibits related to Sarawak's tribes and... 

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4.

Bako National Park   Kuching

Bako National Park, Kuching

 14 Reviews  Bako National Park is a national park in Kuching, an area in the state of Sarawak on the island of Borneo in Malaysia. It is the first national park in Sarawak since 1957. It lies approximately 40... 

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5.

Semenggoh Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre   Kuching

Semenggoh Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre, Kuching

 11 Reviews  great experience to see how the orang utan and other wild animals got take care and get ready to be taken back to... 

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6.

Cat Statues   Kuching

Cat Statues, Kuching

 21 Reviews  Several agencies provide the opportunity of a city tour of Kuching. In the comfort of an air-conditioned bus or mini-van you can see many historical buildings - both the traditional and from colonial... 

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7.

Waterfront   Kuching

Waterfront, Kuching

 11 Reviews  The Kuching Waterfront is a pretty 1km walkway that runs from the Main Bazaar to the Riverside Suites. Initially, the area was just a riverbank with dilapidated buildings until the city council... 

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8.

Fort Margherita   Kuching

Fort Margherita, Kuching

 13 Reviews  This fort was built in 1879 by Charles Brooke and named after his wife - Margherita. It is a beautiful building and there are lovely views up and down the River Sarawak from its walls. Its original... 

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9.

Astana   Kuching

Astana, Kuching

 11 Reviews  This majestic building was built by Charles Brooke, the second Rajah, in 1870 as a bridal gift for his wife. A spectacular building which stands out on the high ground across the the river from the... 

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10.

Main Bazaar   Kuching

Main Bazaar, Kuching

 6 Reviews  Part of Kuching heritage that facing the waterfront, the Kuching Main Bazaar is made up of a row of two storey shophouses on one of Kuching's oldest streets dating back to 1864. Gone are the days... 

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11.

Tua Pek Kong Temple   Kuching

Tua Pek Kong Temple, Kuching

 15 Reviews  Tua Pek Kong located right opposite the water front is the oldest Chinese Temple in Kuching. While it has been modernised since it was first built in the 1870's, it still retains 'old-world' charm... 

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12.

Chinese History Museum   Kuching

Chinese History Museum, Kuching

 11 Reviews  The Chinese History Museum is a small museum located near the Kuching Waterfront and is housed in a building that was originally the Chinese Chamber of Commerce, built in 1912. This is where a... 

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13.

Damai Beach   Kuching

Damai Beach, Kuching

 6 Reviews  Take white sand beaches lapped by the South China Sea, add rainforest walks and an imposing jungle -covered mountain and you have Damai. This is Sarawak's main beach resort area. Damai boasts three... 

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14.

Museums   Kuching

Museums, Kuching

 12 Reviews  The Museum is situated on both sides of the road, with an overpass bridge connecting them. There is and old (built in 1891) and new side. You will find exhibits of Natural history, Indigenous people,... 

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15.

Carpenter Street   Kuching

Carpenter Street, Kuching

 6 Reviews  Carpenter Street is an old street that runs from Jalan Tun Abang Haji Openg, where the General Post Office is located, to Jalan Ewe Hai to the east, immediately behind the Main Bazaar. Due to its... 

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16.

Market   Kuching

Market, Kuching

 11 Reviews  This is the old Kuching Wet Market a.k.a. Cheko Market which was built during the Brooke era for the Malay community to market their jungle and domestic produce. Today the old market continues to... 

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17.

Mosques   Kuching

Mosques, Kuching

 15 Reviews  The Old State Mosque of Kuching stands on the site of the first mosque that was built in 1847 by the family of a famous Malay leader, Datuk Patinggi Ali. That first mosque was a simple wooden building... 

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18.

Rainforest World Music Festival   Kuching

Rainforest World Music Festival, Kuching

 4 Reviews  The rainforest music festival is fantastic. Ethnic music from all over the world. Set on the edge of a rainforest with giant trees. We watched a flying squirrel glide over the stage. Generaly the 2nd... 

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19.

General Post Office   Kuching

General Post Office, Kuching

 5 Reviews  The Kuching General Post Office is a majestic building along Jalan Tun Abang Haji Openg. It was constructed by order of Rajah Charles Vyner Brooke, the third and last white ruler of Sarawak. The... 

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20.

India Street   Kuching

India Street, Kuching

 4 Reviews  India Street derives its name from the fact that it has always been a street occupied by Indian shops. At first it was called Kling Street in the 1850's but the third White Rajah of Sarawak, Sir... 

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21.

Square Tower   Kuching

Square Tower, Kuching

 8 Reviews  The Square Tower is located on the Kuching Waterfront and is a white cube-like structure in the shape of a fortress. It is one of those odd looking buildings that is hard to miss. It was built in... 

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22.

The River Walk   Kuching

The River Walk, Kuching

 5 Reviews  Along the Colonial District of Kuching is the Riverwalk. Approximately 10 blocks of long concrete walk along the river filled with food and drink vendors and places to sit on. It's a great way to... 

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23.

Old Courthouse   Kuching

Old Courthouse, Kuching

 4 Reviews  The Old Courthouse lies behind the Brooke Memorial and was built by Sir Charles Brooke, the second Rajah of Sarawak, in 1883. It was built of ironwood and embellished with Sarawak motifs. At the time... 

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24.

Brooke Memorial   Kuching

Brooke Memorial, Kuching

 5 Reviews  The Brooke Memorial stands outside the Old Courthouse. I remember seeing it on TV for the first time when Michael Palin visited it as part of his Full Circle travel series. Dedicated to one of... 

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25.

Textile Museum   Kuching

Textile Museum, Kuching

 4 Reviews  The Textile Museum is located in a building called the Pavilion which was built in 1907 as a medical centre. The ground floor housed the consultation room, a laboratory and officers. On the first... 

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Reviews from VirtualTourist Members

Iban Longhouse

by Twan

The Iban live in a state of Sarawak Borneo and Malaysia are mainly Christian and animist. They are among the Dayaks and are sometimes called Sea Dayak. In Sarawak, they form the largest population group.They were also known by the locals panjamon called, which means Headhunters. They did therefore with people of other villages that quarrel was caused by the hunt trespassing.The Iban lived mainly from hunting and gathering and hunting especially on boseekhoorns, boar, clouded leopards, honey bears, slender monkeys, proboscis monkeys, gibbons, rats, hornbills and beyond everything else that is edible and lives.The Iban were tattooed on their hands if they had one or more heads rushed. Jean-Yves Domalian lived with the Iban and was also accepted, married there and lived like a real Iban. He has also written a book about: Panjamon, headhunters in Borneo.

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Blow Pipe demonstrations at Serubah Longhouse

by Daihappydai

After a fascinating evening of dancing and games, we were able to witness some of the daytime activities of the Iban people. One of these was a blow pipe demonstration and a chance to try our own hand at it. The blow pipes are almost two metres long and fire a small dart. In the jungle, the tips of these darts contain a poison that anaethetises small animals. The long pipes are not easy to direct, and while our hosts hit the mark on almost every attempt, some of us had trouble just blowing through the long tube.

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Artifacts at Serubah Longhouse

by Daihappydai

Besides the human skulls hanging inside hessian bags at the entrance to the family rooms in the longhouse, traditional jewellery and headwear is also put on display for tourists. The heavy, thick earrings must take some time to get accustomed to - replicas of these can be purchased in Kuching. There are some intricate bracelets and neckwear, along with 'feathery' head-dresses worn by men during ceremonies. The longhouse also has examples of traditional knives - were they used for beheading?At the longhouse, you can also buy examples of Iban art work, including wood carvings and matting.

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Cultural performance at Serubah Longhouse

by Daihappydai

Perhaps the highlight of a visit to Serubah Longhouse is the evening cultural performance. Welcomed with glasses of a highly potent alcoholic drink by the head of the household, we were treated to traditional dancing and singing by the Iban inhabitants of the longhouse and were then invited to join in on some danicing and games. It was both culturally enriching, and at times hilariously funny, as the householders tried to hide their smiles at our clumsiness. If you have the opportunity, even for an overnight trip from Kuching, this is a must do.

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Entering the Serubah Longhouse

by Daihappydai

After an amazing boat ride passing lush vegetation along the Lemanak River, the Serubah Longhouse comes into view. And its not hard to understand why it is called a longhouse. We were invited to climb the steep entrance steps to see the living quarters in day light. The communal gallery stretches for 100 metres. Off the gallery are the private quarters where families eat and sleep. Initially the gallery appears bare until we see hessian bags hanging from pillars outside the living quarters. But it is what is in the hessian bags that surprises - human skulls. While headhunting has now ceased, the skulls are kept as traditonal reminders of the past.

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A visit to Serubah Longhouse by boat

by Daihappydai

A great tour option from Kuching is an overnight stay at Serubah Longhouse, home to Iban people. The best way to get there is to travel by bus to Lemanak Jetty and then board a longboa for a one hour trip down the Lemanak River before arriving at the doorstep of the longhouse. The trip down the river takes you through some peaceful, picturesque countryside.

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Visit a traditionall market at Serian Town

by Daihappydai

Serian Town is located about 65km from Kuching. There is a daily market selling fresh fruit and vegetables, fish and chicken, along with freshly made sweet delicacies. The market also sells clothes, jewellery (that you should bargain for) and pharmaceuticals. It is a very clean market. The store holders are happy to explain their wares. Great for a day trip or a stop off on the road to the Lemanak river.

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Semonggok Orangutan Centre

by Daihappydai

Just a short trip from Kuching is the Semonggok Orangutan Reserve. Here you can see semi-wild orangutans who mostly fend for themselves but sometimes come to the specially erected feeding platform if there is a shortage of food in the jungle. The centre is well run in terms of rehabilitating orangutans to live in the wild - most of the funding is through tourism but it is a no touch policy and there is no guarantee that you will see an orangutan (although both times I have visited I was lucky enough to see several travelling through the trees and the largest of them all, Richie, getting a free feed at the feeding platform.) If you are visiting Kuching, put a visit to the centre on your 'to do' list! Many agents in Kuching will organise tours for around $30 US per person

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Visit a pepper farm

by Daihappydai

If you are doing a tour from Kuching to one of the Iban longhouses, make sure to stop off at one of the pepper plantations en route. Liew's pepper farm is open to the public. You can walk through the fields and learn the diffference between white and black pepper. You can watch the pepper being seperated and ground, and buy some fresh pepper to take home with you. Something a little out of the ordinary and well worth a visit.

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Caves

by stanian

The two limestone caves near the former goldmining town of Bau are worth a visit, you won't find any gold here but in the wind cave you can see bats and various types of swifts.There are also alters where you can light a incense stick and maybe pray for some gold.

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Top 3 Hotels in State of Sarawak

Hilton Kuching  Kuching

 17 Reviews and 264 Opinions  This is my favourite hotel when visiting Kuching. Guests on the executive floors will be able to use... 

 Hotels in Kuching

Marriott Miri Resort & Spa  Miri

 11 Reviews and 93 Opinions  We were looking forward to a weekend at the Miri Marriott. The hotel is undergoing a renovation so... 

 Hotels in Miri

RH Hotel  Sibu

 28 Opinions

 Hotels in Sibu

The Place

Reviews and photos of State of Sarawak attractions posted by real travelers and locals. The best tips for State of Sarawak sightseeing.

Experience State of Sarawak
 

Questions and Answers

anganeric profile photo

Q:  Hi, I have never been to malaysia. Really keen on checking out Borneo for some diving and rainforest treks. Can anyone suggest... 

GrumpyDiver profile photo

A: We did a couple of divers off Mamutik Island (near Kota Kinubalu) in early March and it wasn't great. Rainy season had just ended and things were still a bit churned up... 

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