Sarawak is Malaysia's Land of the Hornbills — a vast, diverse state on the island of Borneo that stretches from the lively waterfront of Kuching to the ancient rainforests and cave systems of the interior. It's a place where you can have lunch with a view of the Sarawak River, meet the indigenous Iban community in a traditional longhouse, and stand inside one of the largest cave chambers on Earth — all within a few days.
Whether you're a first-time visitor drawn by Kuching's food scene or a serious traveller heading for Gunung Mulu's UNESCO caves, this guide covers both the highlights and the overlooked gems that make Sarawak genuinely extraordinary.
🦅 Sarawak At A Glance
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UNESCO Sites
Gunung Mulu NP
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Gateway
Kuching Int'l Airport
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Halal Food
Widely available ✅
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Photography
World-class 🌟
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Wildlife
Orang utans, hornbills
Must-see attractions in Sarawak
Sarawak's unmissable attractions include the Kuching Waterfront, Bako National Park, Gunung Mulu National Park with its UNESCO-listed caves, the Semenggoh Wildlife Centre, and an Iban longhouse cultural experience. These span Sarawak's three great draws: city culture, wildlife, and ancient jungle.
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Kuching Waterfront
Kuching City Centre
A beautifully restored colonial waterfront along the Sarawak River — heritage shophouses, the Astana palace across the river, the Square Tower, and some of the best evening food stalls in Borneo. The promenade is at its best after 5pm when the light is golden and locals come out for their evening walk.
Heritage 🏛️Photography 📸
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Bako National Park
37km from Kuching
Sarawak's oldest national park — accessible by boat from Bako village, covering sea stacks, jungle trails, and multiple ecosystems in one small area. Proboscis monkeys are nearly guaranteed. The Lintang trail is doable in a day. One of the best wildlife day trips from any Malaysian city.
Wildlife 🐒Hiking 🥾
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Gunung Mulu National Park
Miri Division (fly from Miri)
A UNESCO World Heritage Site with the world's largest cave passage (Deer Cave), the world's largest cave chamber (Sarawak Chamber), and the Pinnacles — razor-sharp limestone spires rising from the jungle floor. Accessible only by small plane or a long boat journey — worth every ringgit of the effort.
UNESCO 🌿Caves ⛰️
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Semenggoh Wildlife Centre
24km from Kuching
Sarawak's orang utan rehabilitation sanctuary — semi-wild orang utans come to feeding platforms twice daily at 9am and 3pm. When the forest fruit season is good, some don't bother showing up (they're eating well elsewhere) — which is a good sign but plan accordingly. Combine with a Kuching day.
Wildlife 🦧Conservation 🌿
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Iban Longhouse Cultural Stay
Batang Ai & surrounds
An overnight stay in a traditional Iban longhouse — communal living, traditional rice wine, cultural dance, and a glimpse into one of Borneo's most enduring indigenous traditions. Various tour operators run responsible cultural stays along the rivers of the interior. One of the most memorable experiences in all of Malaysia.
Culture 🏡Indigenous 🌿
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Sarawak Museum
Jalan Tun Abang Haji Openg, Kuching
One of the finest natural history and ethnological museums in Southeast Asia — founded in 1891, with an extraordinary collection of Bornean artefacts, wildlife specimens, and indigenous cultural objects. The new museum campus opened in 2023 and is architecturally stunning.
Museum 🏛️History 📜
Sarawak's hidden gems
Beyond Kuching's waterfront and Mulu's famous caves, Sarawak hides a fairy cave with cathedral lighting, an antique row on Main Bazaar that's perfect for collectors, a compact national park with exceptional biodiversity, and the stunning new Sarawak Museum campus that most visitors walk past without going in.
💎 Hidden Gem
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Fairy Cave & Wind Cave
Bau, 1 hour from Kuching
A giant limestone cavern with cathedral-like natural lighting pouring through a massive opening — inside, a small Buddhist shrine and towering stalactites. Wind Cave nearby has bats and underground rivers. Both accessible by a short drive from Kuching and require only a small entrance fee.
💎 Hidden Gem
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Main Bazaar Antique Row
Main Bazaar, Kuching
The old trading street running parallel to the Kuching waterfront — antique shops, tribal art, ceramics, textiles, and Bornean handicrafts in 100-year-old shophouses. An excellent place for collectors and curious browsers. Prices are negotiable and the shop owners are knowledgeable about provenance.
💎 Hidden Gem
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Kubah National Park
22km from Kuching
A compact national park with exceptional biodiversity — over 94 palm species, 1,000+ orchid species, and rainforest waterfalls accessible by half-day hike. Much quieter than Bako and excellent for birdwatching. The Waterfall Trail ending at a natural swimming hole is particularly lovely.
💎 Hidden Gem
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Sarawak Museum Campus (New Wing)
Jalan Tun Abang Haji Openg, Kuching
The stunning new Sarawak Museum Campus opened in 2023 — a contemporary building housing the Islamic Heritage Museum, Natural History Museum, and Art Museum under one architecturally dramatic roof. Many visitors see the old building but miss the new campus across the road. Free entry.
Stay connected in Sarawak
CelcomDigi covers Kuching city, Miri, and the main tourist highways comprehensively. Signal is limited in Gunung Mulu (accessible only by small plane or river boat) and in deep jungle areas. Download offline maps before heading into the interior.
📶 Stay connected in Sarawak
Navigate Kuching, share your adventures on CelcomDigi 5G
Malaysia's widest, fastest, most secure 5G network — covering Kuching, Miri, and Sarawak's main tourist corridors.
See Postpaid 5G Plans →🌏 For international visitors
Tourist SIM — stay connected from Kuching Airport
The CelcomDigi Tourist SIM is available as an eSIM online or from CelcomDigi stores at KLIA and KLIA2. Unlimited internet from RM15 — ASEAN roaming included on 14-day and 30-day passes.
Get your Sarawak Tourist SIM →What to eat in Sarawak
Sarawak's food culture is distinct from peninsular Malaysia — kolo mee (springy wonton noodles with char siu), Sarawak laksa (richer and more coconut-forward than the Penang version), manok pansoh (chicken cooked in bamboo), and umai (raw fish salad) are the standouts. Halal options are widely available in Kuching.
🍜 Must-try food in Sarawak
Sarawak Laksa 🍜Kolo Mee 🍝Manok Pansoh 🍗Umai 🐟Midin Jungle Fern 🌿Kuching Tomato Mee 🍜
🕌 Halal tip: Halal food is widely available in Kuching — look for JAKIM certification. The waterfront hawker stalls and Kuching Bazaar area have many halal-certified options. Traditional Iban food at longhouses may contain rice wine (tuak) — ask in advance if this is a concern.
🗳️ What's your top reason to visit Sarawak?
Vote and see what fellow travellers chose!
⛰️ Gunung Mulu caves & Pinnacles31% 🌉 Kuching — food, culture & waterfront28% 🦧 Wildlife — orang utans & proboscis monkeys25% 🏡 Iban longhouse cultural experience16% Top tips for visiting Sarawak
Fly to Mulu — don't attempt the river route unless you have days to spare. Book orang utan feeding times at Semenggoh in advance. Give Kuching two full days minimum. And don't miss the sunset bat exodus at Mulu's Deer Cave, which happens daily around dusk.
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Fly to Mulu
MASwings operates daily small-plane flights from Miri to Mulu (30 min) and from Kota Kinabalu. Book early — seats are limited and Mulu is one of the most popular stops for nature travellers in all of Borneo.
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Book Semenggoh in advance
Semenggoh's feeding sessions (9am and 3pm) can fill up on weekends and school holidays. Book entry in advance via Sarawak Forestry Corporation's website. Morning sessions generally see more orang utans.
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Give Kuching two days
Kuching is one of Malaysia's most underrated city destinations — the waterfront, Main Bazaar, Sarawak Museum (old and new campus), and the day trips to Bako and Semenggoh genuinely need two days minimum.
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Watch the Deer Cave bat exodus
Every evening at dusk, millions of bats spiral out of Deer Cave at Gunung Mulu — one of the most extraordinary natural spectacles in Malaysia. The time varies; park rangers will advise based on that evening's conditions.
Frequently asked questions
What are the best places to visit in Sarawak?+
Top spots: Kuching Waterfront, Bako National Park, Gunung Mulu (UNESCO), Semenggoh Wildlife Centre, and Iban longhouse stays. Hidden gems: Fairy Cave near Bau, Main Bazaar antiques, Kubah National Park, and the new Sarawak Museum Campus.
How do I get to Gunung Mulu?+
By small plane via MASwings from Miri (30 min) or Kota Kinabalu. Book in advance — seats are limited. The river route is available but takes many hours and is logistically complex.
How many days should I spend in Sarawak?+
Minimum 5–7 days: 2 in Kuching, 3 at Gunung Mulu, plus optional longhouse stay. Kuching alone deserves 2 full days — it's one of Malaysia's most rewarding city experiences.
Is Sarawak good for first-time Borneo visitors?+
Yes — Kuching is an easy, rewarding city base, Bako is accessible on a day trip, Semenggoh is well-organised, and Mulu has good facilities. No prior adventure experience needed for an extraordinary experience.
Is there a CelcomDigi Tourist SIM for Sarawak?+
Yes — Tourist SIM available online as eSIM from RM15. Physical SIM at KLIA and KLIA2. Covers Kuching and Miri. Download offline maps before heading to Gunung Mulu.
Ready to explore Sarawak?
Sarawak is the Borneo that most travellers are looking for — ancient rainforest, world-class cave systems, orang utans in the wild, and a city (Kuching) that ranks among the most liveable and enjoyable in Malaysia. Plan for at least a week and you'll leave wondering how you almost skipped it.
Stay connected on CelcomDigi Postpaid 5G across Kuching and Sarawak's main corridors. International visitors can get the CelcomDigi Tourist SIM from RM15 as an eSIM before arriving.
