Sprawled lazily along the bank of the Sungai Sarawak, state capital Kuching has a leisurely charm all its own, cultivating a sophisticated but relaxed atmosphere where high-rises tower over traditional river ferries and souvenir shops rub shoulders with b
Category: Malaysian Borneo Sarawak
While Bako has the edge for wildlife and popularity, Kubah National Park is the nearest national park to Kuching and makes another easy and rewarding day-trip option. Just 20km west of the city, the park’s 22 sq km protect a range of forested sandstone hi
Kapit is another Rejang river town dating from the days of the white raja – historic Fort Sylvia still stands on the riverbank. The startling new pastel-and-green-glass District Council Offices, greeting passengers off the express boats, show the continui
A Unesco-listed site widely regarded as Sarawak’s top attraction, Gunung Mulu is the most heavily promoted of the state’s national parks and one of the most popular destinations in Borneo. The park is an unspoilt wilderness offering caving, trekking and w
At the mouth of the Batang Kemena, Bintulu is an undistinguished commercial centre servicing offshore oil and gas installations and upriver logging. Bintulu came under James Brooke’s sway in 1861, and a simple memorial near the town centre commemorates Sa
Belaga is a small bazaar town and administrative centre located where the Rejang divides into the Belaga and Balui rivers. Its friendly population makes it an excellent base from which to explore the interior, and there are many Kayan and Kenyah longhouse
A lovely hanging valley in eastern Sarawak, the Kelabit Highlands are tucked up against the Indonesian state of Kalimantan and ringed by jungle-covered mountains on all sides. The main population centre is the languid village of Bario, home to about 800 s
Bako is Sarawak’s oldest national park, protecting 27 sq km of an unspoilt promontory between the mouths of the Sarawak and Bako rivers. It’s a beautiful spot, where mangroves fringe the coasts and the rocky headlands are indented with clean beaches. The