8-Day Sarawak Coastal and Interior Explorer

After pickup from the hotel/airport, we drive northward using the Sarawak coastal way which is remote from the usual tourist route of Batang Ai.  We drop by a local fishing market and take photos of the catches of the day.  Along the way, we cross two major Borneo Rivers, one over a huge bridge and the other using a unique car ferry together with local commuters. We arrive at Kampung Hilir Maludam, a peaceful Malay fishing village, and check into a local homestay. Spend some relaxation time at the back patio to watch the fishing boats returning. After lunch, we ride a speedboat to discover Maludam NP in search of proboscis monkeys, and if you are lucky, you may have a chance to sight the endangered Red Banded Langur. Returning to the village, we will get to participate in a Malay traditional baking class in the neighborhood.  If it’s the time of the season, we will be able to watch jellyfish and dried fish processing in the local village during the kampong walking tour. We then join the family dinner on the dining floor of the local host and be entertained by local Malay dance and music performances. Stay overnight in this simple homestay for a full experience of a traditional Malay fishing village.

Accommodation: Maludam Hotel

Meals: Lunch, Dinner

After a local breakfast, the coastal road heads inland to join up Pan-Borneo Highway towards the interior of the Iban Heartland. After a 2.5 hours journey, you’ll disembark at Ulu Sarikei Longhouse, an authentic century-old longhouse, to meet with your longhouse host. Explore the local community with your local host and enjoy spontaneous ‘longhouse hospitality’ at its best. The main sources of income in the interior is rubber tapping and pepper planting. You’ll see raw rubber being dried in front of the longhouse as well as pepper processing!

We take a 45 minute hike to the nearby waterfall through the Kebun (farm) and take part in some of the farm activities. At dinner time, spend time with the rest of the longhouse folks to exchange stories. Longhouse hospitality is from the heart, but the facilities tend to be fairly simple; be prepared to eat seated on the floor, and sleep on a mattress under a mosquito net.

Accommodation: Ulu Sarikei Longhouse

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Enjoy a simple breakfast prepared by the host, after which you get to see the residents of the longhouse going about their daily life such as heading off to their Kebun (farm), rubber tapping and some are drying their peppers in front of the longhouse. In the late morning, we say farewell to our local host, and get ready for our next adventure to Sibu, Sarawak., a 1-hour drive away.

Sibu is the largest port and commercial center in the Rejang Basin and the gateway to Central Sarawak. Upon arrival in Sibu, we have a local favorite hawker lunch such as kampua (noodle) and kongpia (mince meat bun). In the afternoon, join us on Sibu Heritage Trail including a visit to the mind-boggling Sibu market, one of biggest markets in Sarawak – home to more than 1,200 stalls serving up a bedazzling variety of commodities. The market can be leisurely covered on foot and the highlights are the Iban ladies selling exotic fruits, jungle produce and handicrafts, and the Chinese poultry sellers who offer their live chickens and ducks neatly wrapped up in tubes fashioned from old newspapers.

We then take a stroll of Old Sibu Town and soak in the sights and smells of pastries baking in earthen ovens, alleyways with small businesses that provide priceless photo opportunities. Take a leisurely stroll on a beautiful esplanade alongside Malaysia’s longest river – The Mighty Rajang River. Walk on to a beautifully crafted Chinese Temple, climb up the Seven Storey Pagoda and take a panoramic view of Sibu’s waterfront life. Tonight, you will enjoy the modern town of Sibu in a local restaurant before settling into the comfort of a local 4 star hotel.

Accommodation: Kingwood Hotel

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

From Sibu, we cruise the Rajang River, Malaysia’s longest river, towards Mukah. In Mukah, it truly seems as if time has stood still and the Melanau tribe is one of the most celebrated ethnic tribes in Sarawak, known for their gentle, loving nature and seafaring skills. We take the local speedboat in the late morning to cruise the Igan River to the town of Dalat. The boat journey will bring you through the meandering river, passing Melanau villages, timber & sago processing factories and Iban longhouses. This is the best way to experience the local ways of life as the boat stops often to let passengers down or pick up goods for the next village. The boat journey snakes its way between a rainforest & mangrove swamp before arriving in Dalat Town.

Upon reaching Dalat, stop over by a Church by the river and walk over to Jerunei Garden to have a late lunch at the local kopitiam. Proceed to Mukah overland, stop over in Oyo Town and Kg Judan for Kuih Sepit cottage industry before checking in at Lamin Dana Homestay. Visit Lamin Dana Handicraft Center, learn and understand about Melanau handicraft before taking a guided walk along Kg Tellian to view traditional huts and houses, as well as traditional craft such as boat making, as well as learning about the Jerunei’s custom and the hierarchy of the Melanau people. Stay the night at Lamin Dana, a traditional Melanau house built above the water.

Accommodation: Lamin Dana Homestay/Mukah Kingwood Hotel

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

After an early breakfast, we take a leisure boat cruise at 7:30am along the dark mysterious brackish waters of Tellian River passing through wild sago trees and peat /mangrove swamp forest. Visit the local sago processing center, a cottage industry that produces Sago Pearl the traditional way. Sago pearls are exported all over the world for various uses in food and beverages such as “Chendol” or “ABC”, local delicacies being the most prolific. Head downriver and visit the bustling fish market and witness the Umai (raw fish) processing. If we are lucky, we may be able to sample one of the local “Bizarre Foods” in the market, ie, the wild sago worm (Siet). Return to Lamin Dana for check out.

After an early lunch, transfer to Mukah airport for an early afternoon flight to Miri. Upon arrival, we drive into the city of Miri towards Piasau Nature Reserve, 5 km north of Miri city centre, and learn about the “Bring Back the Rainforest” initiative and for a chance to spot the Oriental Pied Hornbill couples that have been roosting here since 2005. We then check in at a hotel and the rest of the day is free and easy, or take a walk to enjoy the sunset at the Coco Cabana waterfront.

Accommodation: Kingwood Boutique Hotel Miri

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

After an early breakfast, we will move on to our next journey, Mulu National Park. The journey will take about 1 hour 45 mins by air. Mulu National Park is Sarawak’s largest national park with a size of 544 sq km. It is well known for its limestone cave system. There are 4 most visited attractions which are Wind, Clearwater, Deer, and Lang Caves. These caves are accessible wooden walkways and paths. Upon your arrival in Mulu, you will meet and greet with our English speaking guide, who also takes care of your registration and hospitality in the national park. Afternoon time, meet up again with your guide at the registration point and proceed 3km plank-walk to Deer Cave and Lang Cave. If the late evening’s weather is fine, the guide will bring you to the bats observatory section to see the bats flying in and out the cave entrance which is really amazing and later returns to the plank walk back headquarters.

Flight: (MH3752 KCH-MZV 10:05-11:40)

Accommodation: Mulu National Park Garden Bungalow

Meals: Breakfast

Rise and shine with the sound of the jungle! Get your simple breakfast at the park canteen. The guide will bring you to one of the Penan tribes’ settlements at Batu Bungan by boat transfer. You will get to see the authentic lifestyle of Penan as well as check out their handicraft displays on sale too! Continue another boat journey to visit Wind and Clearwater caves.  Lunchtime will be a simple picnic at the summit hut of Clearwater cave. After lunch, you can go for a swim at Clearwater spring. Go back to headquarters with another boat journey.

Accommodation: Mulu National Park Garden Bungalow

Meals : Breakfast, Lunch

Today will be your last day in Mulu National Park. Breakfast will be at the park canteen. While waiting for transfer to the airport, have a free and easy activity around the park.

Meals: Breakfast