5D/4N Sarawak Cultural Package

Kuching is a perfect destination for a traveller to start exploring Sarawak in Borneo, especially if you travel with children and are aware of responsible travel.Kuching, the capital of Sarawak, which stretches across a strip along the north and east coasts of Borneo, Kuching means "cat" in Malay and the city bills itself “the Cat City.” Kuching’s identity, superficially anyway, is tied up in a cat obsession. There are a number of large cat sculptures in the city center, and there’s even a museum dedicated entirely to the common house cat.

From the Brooke dynasty (failed trader and adventurer James Brooke and his descendents ruled the state as white Rajahs from the 1840s until 1946), the tribal populations, and the historically recent influx of Chinese immigrants, the state of Sarawak actually has a pretty rich and bizarre history.

Kuching is a nice town offering a wide range of good museums – maybe among the best in Malaysia - start with the Sarawak State Museum. It’s housed in a nice 19th-century colonial building and has a good selection of cultural artifacts from the Melanau and Dayak tribes, and some good natural history displays. Across the road, the Islamic Art Museum is a little musty, but the former madrasa (school) that contains it is interesting and there are some beautiful pieces. Further afield, the Sarawak Cultural Village in Damai (about 45 minutes from downtown Kuching) is a kind of living tribal museum. You can walk through actual re-sited long and tall houses and see how various Melanau and Dayak crafts and foodstuffs were made.

An exploratory walk through Kuching’s old downtown won’t furnish you with facts, but it’s a nice way to get a feel for life among the city’s large Chinese population. A good route takes you west across the nicely landscaped waterfront, down to diminutive Fort Margherita. Past the fort, where the esplanade ends, there is a strikingly decrepit old wet market with rows of tiled counters stretching toward corners covered over in vines and roots that have grown up through the floor. Just a bit further on is what appears to be a vacant storehouse with a fully grown tree bursting through a hole in its roof. Across the street is a stretch of wonderfully old Chinese shop houses that used to comprise downtown Kuching. Circling back toward the new city center through the streets behind the waterfront road, you’ll find more charming architecture and a pleasant neighborhood atmosphere. Closer to the new downtown is the historic Hong San Si temple, which was built in 1848 but has seen substantial renovations since.

Nature and wilderness – proboscis monkeys, orang-utans, turtles,birds, big spiders..- are easily accessible at less than one hour, as well as nice and quiet beaches.

 Itinerary

  

Day 1

ARRIVE KUCHING INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
You will be met on arrival by our representative at Kuching International Airport.Go on a city sightseeing tour. Visit Sarawak Museum & Garden, Heroes Memorial Monument, Kuching Waterfront, Esplanade to view Astana & Fort Margherita, Prosperity Cat Statue, City South Council, Civic Centre Tower, and pass by China town, Pavilion, Square Tower, General Post Office, Padang Merdeka, Old Court House and Old State Mosque before being transferred to your hotel. After check in, free at own leisure for the rest of the day.

  

Day 2

KUCHING – SEMENGGOH & SARAWAK CULTURAL VILLAGE (B)
After breakfast, proceed to Semenggoh Wildlife Rehabilitation Center, home to a sizeable group of Orang Utans - primates found only in Sumatra and Borneo. In the sanctuary, young orang utans which are either orphaned or rescued from captivity are trained to survive in the wild wilderness. Witness these magnificent creatures - Orang Utans - up close especially during their feeding time.Next stop at a pottery factory outlet before returning to hotel.

In the afternoon, proceed to the Sarawak Cultural Village - situated at the foot of Mount Santubong - which is a living museum showcasing the lifestyle, traditions and cultures of different tribes of Sarawak such as the Iban, Bidayuh, Orang Ulu, Melanau, Malay, Chinese and Penan community. A visit to the Village will give you a truly unique perspective of the local culture. Watch the beautiful cultural dance performance at the Village Theater.After returning from the village, free at own leisure for the rest of the day.

Feeding time: Morning 9am & Afternoon 3pm

Day 3

KUCHING - LEMANAK LONGHOUSE (B,L,D)
After breakfast check out from hotel before proceeding to Serian Town. Shop for local produce in the native fruits and vegetable market.Next visit a pepper farm and view wild orchids and pitcher plants (insect eating plants) along the way.After lunch at Lachau (a small chinese village), we will take a boat ride to Iban Longhouse by longboat via Lemanak Jetty.Take a tour around the longhouse and meet and interact with the natives and their families upon arrival.Dinner at the guesthouse. After dinner, proceed to the longhouse to witness the traditional war dance in full ceremonial regalia performance.Overnight at the guesthouse with toilet and shower facilities.

  

Day 4

LEMANAK LONGHOUSE - KUCHING (B,L)
After breakfast, watch a blowpipe demonstration by the Iban people and followed by a longboat down river and a short trek through the rainforest up to a pepper plantation and the old Iban cemetery.

A native lunch will be served at the riverbank.

Return to Kuching. En route, stopover in Lachau for refreshments at your own expense.Check in to hotel and free at own leisure for the rest of the day.

Day 5

DEPART KUCHING (B)
After breakfast, free at leisure until your transfer to the airport.

Your hotel options with ground arrangement

Hotel	Room Type	Single	Twin	Child + bed	Child no bed
Harbour View(3*)	Standard	1290	1040	620	580
Santubong Resort (3*)	Deluxe	1350	1100	700	610
Grand Continental (4*)	Run on the  House	1350	1070	690	610
Grand Margherita (4*)	Standard	1500	1140	730	600
Riverside Majestic (5*)	Superior	1530	1160	750	610
Damai Beach Resort (5*)	Standard	1620	1230	780	660
Hilton Kuching Hotel (5*)	Standard	1640	1220	800	610
Damai Puri (5*)	Deluxe	1740	1300	830	670
Pullman Hotel (5*)	Superior	1860	1330	880	620

RM 1,040/  1 Person