3-Day Batang Ai Headhunter’s Longhouse Discovery

Experience the legacy of the Ibans, the indigenous people of Borneo once feared for their headhunting prowess, on this 3-day, 2-night journey into the heart of the Headhunter’s heartland to one of the last remote Iban longhouses at the Batang Lupar headwaters, 150 km east of Kuching beyond Batang Ai lake. Immerse yourself in longhouse living and gain insight into the Iban way of life amid the area’s stunning natural landscapes. Accessible only by chartered boat, the longhouse provides a genuine glimpse into upriver Iban culture and their evolving communal spirit in the face of modernity. Enjoy traditional cuisine washed down with “tuak,” a potent local rice wine, and spend the nights in basic longhouse accommodation. It’s a unique opportunity to appreciate their enduring cultural legacy amidst the beauty of their homeland.

DAY 1 – KUCHING / BATANG AI IBAN LONGHOUSE
Departure: Leave your hotel for Batang Ai on a 4-hour drive, passing through a scenic countryside of rice fields, rubber, cocoa, pepper, and oil palm plantations, which intermingle with luxuriant tropical rainforest, rivers, and mountain ranges.
Serian Market: Stop at Serian, a predominantly Dayak trading town, to explore the market full of wild jungle produce and an opportunity for you to purchase some last-minute sundry shopping for your longhouse trip.
Lunch: Enjoy lunch at the outpost town of Lachau, a stone’s throw away from the Sarawak – Kalimantan, Indonesia international border.
Arrival at Batang Ai Hydro Lake: Proceed for an approximate 40-minute to 1-hour boat ride, depending on river conditions. Board a native longboat across the tranquil lake and upriver, passing through scenic views, rice fields, fish farms, and clear water to reach an Iban longhouse.
Longhouse Welcome: Disembark and be welcomed by your hosts. Settle in, relax, and explore the longhouse at your own pace while discovering its people and surroundings.
Evening Activities: Enjoy a native dinner prepared by your guide. Join and socialize with the longhouse folks at the Ruai (common area corridor) for storytelling and rounds of tuak, the homemade rice wine.
Overnight: Stay in the longhouse or in dormitory-style accommodation built for visitors.
Meals: Lunch & Dinner

DAY 2 – BATANG AI IBAN LONGHOUSE – NATURE WALK / RIVER LUNCH 

Breakfast: Start your day with a local breakfast.
Nature Walk: Embark on a 1-hour+ nature walk to visit native farms and the surrounding jungle.
Lunch: Enjoy a traditional riverside BBQ lunch on the riverbank under the forest canopy, with food cooked in bamboo over a makeshift jungle BBQ pit. Bring your swimwear for a refreshing swim in the river. Relax, swim, or simply enjoy the rainforest surroundings.
Longboat Riverine: After lunch, enjoy a scenic boat ride along upriver tributaries, passing longhouse villages, farms, and jungle. Observe remote rural life along the riverbanks.
NB: Weather conditions and the water level may force our guides to modify the route. For example, trekking activities might be affected during heavy thunderstorms.
Village Exploration: Return to the longhouse and delve into the nearby farms and vegetable gardens. Gain insights into traditional agricultural practices such as pounding paddy (depending on the harvesting season). Engage with the local community to deepen your understanding of their way of life.
Evening: Participate in the evening merriment of longhouse community life.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

DAY 3 – BATANG AI IBAN LONGHOUSE / KUCHING

Breakfast: Enjoy a final breakfast in the longhouse.
Farewell:Say goodbye to your hosts and travel downriver to the Batang Ai Lake jetty for your journey back to the city.
Lunch: Have lunch at a local café en route.
Return to Kuching: Continue your journey to the city and get dropped off at your hotel at approximately 16:30.
Meals:Breakfast & Lunch

What is a Longhouse?
A longhouse is a traditional wooden or bamboo structure built on stilts, typically situated along a riverbank. It is a distinctive architectural form that serves as the communal living space for the Iban community. The longhouse is composed of a row of separate family rooms, known as bilik, which are sectioned off along a long, open social area and meeting space called the ruai. The length of a longhouse is determined by the number of family rooms it has, which can range from just a few to several dozen. The longhouse accommodates multiple families living together under one roof, fostering a close-knit community lifestyle. It acts as the central hub of social and cultural activities, where residents gather for ceremonies, festivals, and daily interactions. While modernity has introduced new construction materials and decorative elements, the traditional layout and communal living aspects of the longhouse remain unchanged. This blend of tradition and modernity allows the Iban people to preserve their cultural heritage while adapting to contemporary needs. For more information about longhouse culture in Sarawak, visit Longhouse Culture in Sarawak.

About Batang Ai’s Iban Culture
Batang Ai, situated in the interior of Sarawak, lies within the heartland of the Iban people. While this region embraces modernity, it steadfastly preserves its unique longhouse heritage. Many residents of the longhouses now lead urban lifestyles, but those who remain are deeply rooted in full-time farming. Consequently, hosting tourists is not their primary duty, making it a privilege for visitors to glimpse into their daily lives, including customs, traditional practices, and strong communal bonds. The Iban are renowned for their warm hospitality and willingness to share their customs with visitors. This immersive experience provides a rare opportunity to grasp and appreciate the enduring cultural legacy of the Iban people amidst the natural beauty of their homeland.

Potential Orangutan Sightings

Given its proximity to Batang Ai National Park, there is a rare chance that visitors might spot orangutans venturing near the longhouse villages. However, wild orangutans are free-roaming and tend to avoid human habitats, so sightings are infrequent. They can occasionally be seen near the farms close to the longhouse, during boat rides, or treks in the area.

For those keen on increasing their chances of encountering orangutans, we recommend two options:

1. Semenggoh Orangutan Sanctuary: Visit this sanctuary before your trip or even on the way to Batang Ai to see orangutans in a semi-wild environment (subject to availability).
2. Extended Inland Trek: Join a tailor-made 4D3N Longhouse Experience with Orangutan Sighting Trek, which offers a more immersive journey upriver and into the interior, closer to the orangutan habitat. Please note that this option involves tougher trekking conditions and basic accommodation.

While these extended trips improve the likelihood of sightings, we cannot guarantee encounters with orangutans. For more information or to extend your trip, please contact us.

• Reservation required at least 2 days in advance
• Suitable for families and visitors of all ages.
• This tour is available with a minimum of 2 pax to go. Should you be only 1 person, we will wait for at least one other to join the tour to guarantee the departure.
• We recommend guests bring your own refillable water bottles and avoid using one-off plastic water bottles.
• During our tours, we recycle wherever possible, and try to keep our waste as low as possible. We discourage the use of plastic bags, and suggest that you bring your own dry bag or small waterproof backpack.
• Check out OUR RESPONSIBLE TOURISM COMMITMENT.(opens in a new tab)