Must-see attractions in Sarawak

  • Chinese History Museum

    Chinese History Museum

    Kuching

    Housed in the century-old Chinese Court building, this museum provides an excellent introduction to the nine major Chinese communities – each with its own…

  • Fort Margherita

    Kuching

    Built by Charles Brooke in 1879 and named after his wife, Ranee Margaret, this hilltop fortress long protected Kuching against surprise attack by pirates…

  • Sarawak Museum

    Kuching

    Closed at the time of writing and scheduled to reopen in mid-2020 after extensive conservation work, the Sarawak Museum was established in 1891 by Charles…

  • Old Court House Complex

    Kuching

    The Old Court House was built in the late 19th century to serve as the city’s administrative centre. It now houses a cafe and bar, the excellent Ranee…

  • Darul Hana Bridge

    Kuching

    Linking the northern and southern parts of Kuching, the city's spectacular pedestrian bridge (335m) is constructed to resemble the letter 'S' (for Sarawak…

  • Sibu Heritage Centre

    Sarawak

    Housed in an airy, circular municipal complex built in 1960, this excellent museum explores the captivating history of Sarawak and Sibu. Panels, rich in…

  • Art Museum

    Kuching

    Closed at the time of writing and scheduled to reopen in mid-2020. This museum featured an exhibit called Urang Sarawak, which deftly and succinctly…

  • Female Borneo Orangutan at the Semenggoh Nature Reserve near Kuching, Malaysia.

    Semenggoh Wildlife Centre

    Sarawak

    One of the best places in the world to see semiwild orangutans in their natural rainforest habitat, swinging from trees and scurrying up vines, Semenggoh…

  • The Astana (Palace) built by Charles Brooke in 1870, now the residence of the state Governor. Kuching, Sarawak, Borneo, Malaysia

    Astana

    Kuching

    Built by Charles Brooke in 1869, the Astana (a local word meaning 'palace’) – conveniently labelled in giant white letters – and its manicured gardens…

  • Deer Cave & Lang Cave

    Gunung Mulu National Park

    A 3km walk through the rainforest takes you to these adjacent caverns. Deer Cave – over 2km long and 174m high – is the world’s largest cave passage open…

  • Fort Sylvia

    Sarawak

    Built by Charles Brooke in 1880 to take control of the Upper Rejang, this wooden fort – built of belian (ironwood) – was renamed in 1925 to honour Ranee…

  • Tanjung Datu National Park

    Sarawak

    Occupying a remote, rugged peninsula at Sarawak’s far northwestern tip, this compact 14-sq-km national park features endangered mixed dipterocarp…

  • Great Cave

    Sarawak

    A raised boardwalk leads 3.1km (3½ to four hours return) through swampy old-growth rainforest to the mouth of the Great Cave, a vast cavern approximately…

  • Wind Cave & Clearwater Cave

    Gunung Mulu National Park

    Wind Cave, named for the cool breezes blowing through it, has several chambers, including the cathedral-like King’s Chamber, filled with dreamlike forests…

  • Waterfront Promenade

    Kuching

    The south bank of Sungai Sarawak along Main Bazaar and Jln Gambier is a lovely tree-shaded promenade, with walkways, lawns and food stalls. It's a fine…

  • Gunung Mulu National Park

    Sarawak

    Arguably the most impressive destination in Borneo, World Heritage–listed Gunung Mulu National Park manages to pack some of the planet's most incredible …

  • Langang Cave

    Gunung Mulu National Park

    Langang Cave can be visited on the park's Fast Lane tour, which passes extraordinary stalactites and stalagmites. Keep an eye out for blue racer snakes…

  • Bako National Park

    Sarawak

    Bako National Park is one of the best places in Sarawak to see rainforest animals in their native habitats. It's notable for its incredible biodiversity,…

  • Mulu Discovery Centre

    Gunung Mulu National Park

    Offers a very accessible introduction to the park as a ‘biodiversity hot spot’ and to its extraordinary geology. Situated in the HQ building between the…

  • Sarawak Cultural Village

    Sarawak

    This living museum centres on seven traditional dwellings, including three tribal longhouses, a Penan hut, a Malay town house, a Melanau tall house and a…

  • Hong San Si Temple in Chinatown. Kuching, Sarawak. Malaysia. Borneo

    Hong San Si Temple

    Kuching

    Thought to date to around 1840, this fine Hokkien Chinese temple with intricate rooftop dragons was fully restored in 2004. There's a big celebration here…

  • Kuching Wetlands National Park

    Sarawak

    The only way to see the majestic mangroves of 66-sq-km Kuching Wetlands National Park is by boat. About 15km northwest of Kuching, the park has no office,…

  • Kubah National Park

    Sarawak

    Mixed dipterocarp forest, among the lushest and most threatened habitats in Borneo, is front and centre at this 22-sq-km national park, which more than…

  • Tua Pek Kong Temple

    Sarawak

    A modest wooden structure existed on the site of this colourful riverfront Taoist temple as far back as 1871; it was rebuilt in 1897 but badly damaged by…

  • Bario Asal Longhouse

    Sarawak

    This all-wood, 22-door longhouse has the traditional Kelabit layout. On the dapur (enclosed front verandah) each family has a hearth, while on the other…

  • Talang-Satang National Park

    Sarawak

    Sarawak’s first marine park, established in 1999 to protect four species of endangered turtle, consists of the coastline and waters around four islands:…

  • Batang Ai National Park

    Sarawak

    Batang Ai National Park's dipterocarp rainforests have the highest density of wild orangutans in central Borneo and are also home to gibbons, langurs and…

  • Longhouse Verandah

    Sarawak

    Once you've paid your entrance fee you’re free to explore Annah Rais’ three longhouses (Kupo Saba, Kupo Terekan and, across the river, Kupo Sijo).

  • Wind Cave

    Sarawak

    Situated 5km southwest of Bau, Wind Cave is essentially a network of underground streams. Unlit boardwalks in the form of a figure eight run through the…

  • Medan Niaga Satok

    Kuching

    Kuching’s biggest and liveliest market is 9km west of the city centre. It's open every day, but the main event is the larger weekend market that begins…

  • Pa’ Lungan

    Sarawak

    The trail from Bario to Pa' Lungan is walkable without a guide. About halfway along you'll see Batu Arit, a large stone featuring bird carvings and…

  • Fairy Cave

    Sarawak

    About 9km southwest of Bau, Fairy Cave – almost the size of a football pitch and as high as it is wide – is an extraordinary chamber whose entrance is 30m…

  • Painted Cave

    Sarawak

    After passing through the part of the Great Cave known as Gan Kira, you emerge into the forest and a section of boardwalk before arriving at the Painted…

  • Islamic Heritage Museum

    Kuching

    Offers a pretty good introduction to Malay-Muslim culture and its long ties with the Muslim heartland far to the west. Displays range from Bornean-Malay…

  • Niah Archaeology Museum

    Sarawak

    Across the river from park HQ, this museum has displays on Niah’s geology, ecology and prehistoric archaeology, including an original burial canoe that’s…

  • Sarawak Textile Museum

    Kuching

    Housed in a ‘colonial Baroque’–style building constructed in 1909, this museum displays some superb examples of traditional Sarawakian textiles, including…

  • Matang Wildlife Centre

    Sarawak

    At the western edge of Kubah National Park, Matang Wildlife Centre has had remarkable success rehabilitating rainforest animals rescued from captivity,…

  • Frog Pond

    Sarawak

    Situated 300m above sea level and about a half-hour’s walk from park HQ, this artificial pool provides a breeding ground for numerous frog species. The…

  • Headhouse

    Sarawak

    Whereas the Iban traditionally hung head-hunted heads outside each family’s bilik, the Bidayuh grouped theirs together in the community’s panggah or baruk…

  • Niah National Park

    Sarawak

    Niah’s caves have provided ground-breaking insights into human life on Borneo way back when the island was still connected to mainland Southeast Asia. In…

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