Kampong Tour

Ride Past Traditional Malay Stilt Houses
Ride on a Traditional Sampan Boat
Great for Families

The only tour that reaches the heart of the Malay ‘kampongs’ (villages) on the north bank of the Sarawak River in Kuching! Join us for a morning tour to discover the side of Kuching that tourists rarely see. Cruise across the Sarawak River on a ‘sampan’ boat and discover new flavors at the open-air market Kubah Ria. The market is a must for weekend visitors!

Tour Highlights

Explore the hidden gems of Kuching, rarely visited by tourists.
Take a sampan boat across the Sarawak River.
Discover the kampong people’s way of life & ride past traditional Malay wooden stilt houses.
Visit the vibrant, open-air market of Kubah Ria, a must-visit (but little known) sight on the tour.
Learn about and taste exotic fruits and vegetables and shop for local, artisan treats.
Sample local delicacies such as snake meat and sago worms!

Click the Tabs to Find Out More

Overview

Trip Details

Price

  • Weekend:
    • Adult (12+): MYR 150.00
    • Children (3-11): MYR 75.00
  • Weekday:
    • Adult (12+): MYR 150.00
    • Children (3-11): MYR 75.00

Departure Time

8:00 AM


Meeting Point

Paradesa Borneo office


Availability

Year-round:

  • Weekend: Saturday & Sunday
  • Weekday: Monday to Friday

Duration

  • Weekend: 3.5 hours (with more time to spend at the market)
  • Weekday: 3 hours

Group Size

2-16 persons


Difficulty Level

Peanuts (easy)


Included

  • Local English-speaking guide
  • Bike (MTB for adult 27.5 wheel” diameter XS,S,M,L,XL. Kid’s bike, Infant Tag-along bike & Baby seat suitable for all kids size)
  • Helmet
  • Boat fees
  • Food/local fruit samples and a refreshment
  • Rain ponchos are provided in the event of rain
  • A great time!

Not Included

Transportation from the hotel to the starting point


What to Bring

  • Extra cash for additional street food and drinks, local souvenirs, and personal shopping
  • Insect repellent, sunscreen, a towel, antiseptic, a change of clothes, and a plastic bag to keep electronics dry
  • Wear light, comfortable shoes and clothes

About Your Guide

  • Our passionate, local English-speaking tour leaders take great pride in their heritage (as well as their own personal stories) and are experts on Borneo’s history, culture, and natural wonders
  • One guide will serve up to a maximum of 8 guests
What You'll Do

Think you’ve seen all the sights and visited all the museums in Kuching? Try taking our unique bike tour to explore the other side of Kuching, rarely visited by outsiders!

With a local tour guide, Kuching’s hidden gems are easy to explore, like the Malay kampongs lining the banks of the great Sarawak River! Take a sampan boat across the river and experience first hand how the kampong folks live by visiting a traditional Malay wooden stilt house full of historical stories to tell!

Along the way, you can explore the vibrant and exotic open-air market of Kubah Ria. Marvel at the variety of colors of tropical fresh fruits and vegetables, shop for local handicrafts at non-tourist prices and discover a whole range of jungle produce including unique wild ferns, exotic vegetables, and orchid plants. For the slightly more adventurous, there is always snake meat and sago worms on offer to test the limit of one’s tolerance! The market is a must-visit, especially for weekend visitors.

Good to Know

  • Reservations are recommended to avoid disappointment
  • No helmet, no ride
  • Rain or shine we always ride
  • We include a pre-tour safety briefing and mandatory equipment checks
  • A selection of good quality kids’ bikes of various sizes, baby seats (rear-mounted for above 9 months old), and child bike trailers are available
  • 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)

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People on bicycles ride in front of a mosque on a Kuching tour.
A man helps the guide load bikes into the sampan boat on the Kuching tour.
a beautiful mosque lit from below against a pink sunset on the kampong Kuching tour.