Revealing a side of Asia unlike anywhere else, Sarawak offers an alternative for those seeking humble authenticity far from the tourist-trap clichés. Visiting Sarawak can be done as a complementary trip to Peninsular Malaysia and neighbouring countries, or a journey discovery all on its own. To discover Sarawak means taking the road less travelled.
Whether it is sharing in lifestyle of one of the many indigenous communities’ longhouses, exploring gigantic caves in the UNESCO World Heritage of Gunung Mulu National Park, you will find Sarawak offers a host of memorable experiences to bring home to.
Connect with your inner-self; kayak along our boutique rivers, run your personal best marathon or hike the many jungle trails of Sarawak’s diverse national parks.
From participating in a volunteer programme to learning how to cook Sarawakian dishes, from making new friends at major festivals and events to seeing orangutans up close, Sarawak is a prime destination for the intrepid traveller in you.
As part of Malaysia on the island of Borneo, Sarawak is a peaceful and stable place for travel, suited for large groups or single travellers alike.
More Culture
Sarawak, the largest state in Malaysia, is home to 27 ethnic groups. With 45 different dialects, each group has their own unique stories, beliefs, traditions and cultures.
You can meet people from the Iban tribe, known for their legendary headhunting customs from days of old. They have long since ceased headhunting, but they still maintain their rich customs, art, practices and language.
The Orang Ulu, or ‘people from upriver,’ comprise of different tribes such as the Kayan, Kenyah, Lun Bawang and Kelabit. Their exotic art and music has spread internationally, as seen in the growing popularity of the boat lute or sape. The sape has become the symbol of the Rainforest World Music Festival, one Malaysia’s largest music festival.
Entrenched in Sarawak’s history are the remnants of the reign of the White Rajahs, the Brooke family monarchy that ruled the Kingdom of Sarawak from 1841 to 1946. Traces of the Brookes can be found throughout the state, from physical reminders such as colonial buildings, preserved relics that populate today’s museums, and events such as the Sarawak Regatta, to the more intangible traces within the law and culture of the people.
Sarawak’s ever-expanding world-class museums, authentic hospitality, and a diverse religious and cultural trade, all form part of the cultural attraction.
More Adventure
Land, waters, sky; pick your adventure! On land, there is everything from jungle trekking, mountain climbing to adventure caving and rock climbing. In the water, you can choose from river activities like scuba diving in Miri and Kuching, watersports, deep sea fishing, jet skiing and yachting. Looking for some airborne adventure? You can jump from Sarawak’s tallest building…safely. Or you can peer down from the treetops from the canopy walk in Mulu!
Urban explorers can visit Kuching, which has one of the most interesting architecture mix in Malaysia, with colonial buildings amongst religious, cultural and modern architecture.
In addition, you can not only take home the arts and crafts created by local artisans, but can also learn how to make them from the local skilled craftspeople. The Orang Ulu are adept at teaching skilled beadwork, while the Iban are deft weavers. Both the Melanau and Bidayuh are associated with basketry making and weaving of hats and artifacts using natural resources like bamboo, palm, rattan and tree bark.
More Nature
Sarawak has a whopping 56 totally protected areas, 37 gazetted national parks, five wildlife sanctuaries and 14 nature reserves. Its rainforests are the size of Austria.
Sarawak’s rainforests house one of the world’s richest and most diverse ecosystems. Home to the world’s largest flower, the Rafflesia (that can grow to the size of a coffee table), squirrels and snakes that fly, deer the size of cats, plants that eat insects (and small animals). The orangutan, proboscis monkey, hornbill, the Rajah Brooke butterfly and the silverleaf monkey, all call Sarawak home. Experts believe that there are some species of flora and fauna yet to be discovered.
Sarawak also has the most number of Important Birding Areas (IBAs) in Malaysia, with a great portion of Borneo’s 650 bird species having been recorded here.
Read more: Bizarre wildlife found in the jungles of exotic Borneo
Mulu National Park is a priceless UNESCO World Heritage Site, in a league of its own as it qualifies for all four of the World Heritage criteria. Fewer than twenty World Heritage areas have managed this feat. Bako National Park traces its first visitors’ footprint to 1957, making it one of Malaysia’s oldest National Parks. Niah National Park is famed for Sarawak’s genesis, with evidence of human presence from 40,000 years ago discovered in the form of Paleolithic and Neolithic burial sites.
Discover Yourself
Push your limits and learn what you are truly capable of, in the heartland of Sarawak. With its winding rivers, running like veins through the land, you can go for exciting trips by longboat or kayak through winding streams. A true test of resilience happens during the dry season, when rivers become harder to navigate without true strength.
Cycle from town to town, over roads and across fields, discovering the hidden gems along the way that would never be discoverable by car.
Join the Kuching Marathon, or one of the many marathons held throughout the year, and connect with runners from other walks of life. Or maybe join the tougher Sarawak Adventure Challenge, with 52km of trail running and mountain biking through the hilly underbrush of Sarawak.
Better yet, make your journey a chance to leave a lasting positive impact on the land you visit by volunteering. There are packages for volunteer tourism, where you can lend a hand in the preservation of Sarawak’s indigenous animals such as the orangutan and the sea turtle.
More at: Sarawaktourism
