Sampan, Sunset, & Tuak

Come along with us on this unique food and drink walking tour of Sarawak’s capital, Kuching. Delve into the culture of ‘tuak’, authentic, tribal rice wine. Sample Borneo’s variety of delicious street snacks and learn about the ethnically diverse society that has contributed to these flavors. Explore Kuching’s fascinating history with your local guide, and to top it all off, watch the sunset from a sampan boat on the Sarawak River.

Just arrived in Kuching? Don’t leave this charming city without experiencing this unique local food and drink tour.

This three-hour tour takes you through Kuching’s heritage trail and its surrounding ‘kampongs’ (villages) on both sides of the Sarawak River, to indulge in a variety of popular authentic Sarawak local street snacks and drinks!

Kuching showcases some of the best street snacks in Borneo, reflecting its multi-cultural background, boasting Iban, Malay, Chinese, and Indian flavors in its street food. There’s no better way to taste the cultural diversity. You’ll have the opportunity to taste some of the famous Sarawak street snacks such as ‘kek lapis’ (multi-layered color cake), ‘tebaloi’ (sago biscuit), ‘rojak’ (Malaysian salad), ‘gula-apong’ ice cream and other traditional snacks that are on sale that day. 

The tour starts in the late afternoon with a stroll through the hustle and bustle of Sarawak’s Old Quarter with your local guide. Unearth the best street snacks and authentic tribal rice wine in town, and meet some friendly locals along the way. Your guide is a local foodie who will ensure you’re generously supplied with sweet and savory treats as you learn about traditional Borneo snacks by stopping at famed food spots only known to the locals. 

Take in some history as you wander old city streets and pass preserved heritage sites. You will learn about the legacy of the English White Rajahs that ruled over this land from the 1800s and how their colorful story intertwined with Sarawak’s for more than 100 years.

After the heritage walk, take a relaxing cruise on a traditional sampan boat. View the magnificent sunset on the Sarawak River and see local life unfold along its banks. This will give you a taste of how Kuchingite commute each day across the two halves of the city! Along the cruise, drop into one of the traditional Malay cake houses to sample the abundance of products available. 

Saving the best for last, we drop into a local favorite bar to sample a range of tribal rice wines, tuak, and local nibbles before merrily ending the tour.

• Reservation recommended
• Rain or shine we always walk! 
• Suitable for families and visitors of all ages
• ‘Tuak’ rice wine can only be served to adults aged 18 and over
• 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)