[MALAYSIA] Sarawak - Kuching Travel Recommendation (4D3N Itinerary)

09:47 Travel Bunny 0 Comments

Kuching is the capital and the most populous city in the state of Sarawak. It is the main gateway for travelers visiting Sarawak and Borneo. There are many tourist attractions in and around Kuching such as Bako National Park, Semenggoh Wildlife Centre and many more.

Getting In:

Since it is a domestic flight, I do not feel the need to book full-service airline for the short journey (approx. 1 hour 50 minutes) from Kuala Lumpur. Malaysia low cost airlines such as Air Asia and MY Airline offers regular flights to Kuching. The air tickets (KUL-KCH) were as low as RM 69 one way per person. I booked Air Asia to Kuching and MY Airline to fly back from Kuching. Both tickets were same price.

MY Airline is a new low cost carrier which began its maiden flight in December 2022. Since it is relatively new, e-boarding service is not yet available when I flied back from Kuching to Kuala Lumpur. I had to print my boarding pass at the check-in counter. Other than that, everything else was pretty similiar to Air Asia.

Kuching International Airport is located 11 km from the city. To get to the city, visitors will have to take a taxi or hail a Grab car. The fare for Grab car was about RM 10 to RM 12 to the hotel that I was staying (about 20-minute ride).

Getting Around:

Kuching city center is compact enough to cover on foot, eg. Kuching Waterfront area. Alternatively, you can also get around by bus, shuttle van and taxi.

River taxi known as Penambang offers daily services at various points along the Kuching Waterfront. The fare starts from RM 1 per trip.

Kuching 4D3N Itinerary:

Day 1: Arriving in Kuching -> Kuching Waterfront
Day 2: Day trip to Bako National Park -> Borneo Cultures Museum
Day 3: Day trip to Semenggoh Wildlife Center -> Jong's Crocodile Farm -> Annah Rais Longhouse & Hot Spring
Day 4: Fort Margherita -> depart from Kuching
* Click on the pink font for further reading.

Accommodation:

It is recommended to stay near Kuching Waterfront as most of the attractions are within walking distance. I stayed at The Meritin Hotel. Its location is near the Cat Statue. There are lots of restaurants and eateries nearby the hotel. 

View from the hotel room. The total cost of Family room (2 double beds) for three nights was RM 723.20 including buffet breakfast. The room was comfortable and clean. Overall, I have no complains about the stay.

Breakfast time is 6.30am to 10am. I'm quite satisfied with the hotel breakfast. They do change the menu slightly every day so you won't be eating the same food in consecutive days.

Places of Interest:

1) Kuching Waterfront

Strolling along Kuching Waterfront which stretches approximately 1.3km along the south bank of Kuching River is one of the top things to do while in Kuching. At night, Kuching Waterfront Darul Hana Musical Fountain which is right in front of the Sarawak State Legislative Building will start its performance from 8.30pm. The performance time is 8.30pm - 8.45pm & 9.30pm - 9.45pm (Mon - Fri) and 8.30pm - 9.30pm (Sat & Sun).

2) Cat Statue

Cat Statue is located at golden traffic triangle of Jalan Tunku Abdul Rahman, in front of a Mc Donald's  and Grand Margherita hotel. Taking photo in front of the cat statue is definitely a touristy thing to do. There are many theories as to the derivation of the name "Kuching". It sounded like "kucing" (cat) in Malay and Sarawakian have adopted the animal as the symbol of their city.

3) Tua Pek Kong temple

Opposite the Chinese History Museum is the eye-catching Tua Pek Kong temple. It is the oldest temple in the city. Being a Chinese ethnic Malaysian myself, I didn't find it too special. It is beautifully lit up at night, worth a short visit if you're interested in Taoist temple.

4) Old Courthouse Kuching

Old Courthouse Kuching is a heritage building now houses a Tourist Information Centre, restaurants, bar and event place. It has a big verandah around it and a garden which is nice to wander around.

5) Borneo Cultures Museum

One should not miss a visit to Borneo Cultures Museum. It is the largest museum in Malaysia and the second largest museum in South East Asia. It is home to over 1,000 artefacts with 30% of the museum feature will be interactive in nature. It is recommended to spend at least an hour at the museum to enjoy its interactive and informative exhibition.

Opening Hours: 
Saturday, Sunday, Public Holidays - 9:30 am - 4:30 pm
Last admission at 4pm
Monday to Friday - 9:00 am - 4:45 pm
Admission fee: 
Sarawakian
12 Years Old & Below – Free
13 – 17 Years Old & Student With ID – RM 5
18 – 60 Years Old (Adult) – RM 10
61 Years Old & Above (Senior Citizen) – RM 5
Disabled Person – Free
Group of 10 or more persons – RM 8/per person
Annual Pass – RM 100
Non – Sarawakian
12 Years Old & Below – Free
13 – 17 Years Old & Student With ID – RM 5
18 – 60 Years Old (Adult) – RM 20
61 Years Old & Above (Senior Citizen) – RM 10
Disabled Person – Free
Group of 10 or more persons – RM 16/per person
Annual Pass – RM 100
Foreigner
12 Years Old & Below – RM 20
13 – 17 Years Old & Student With ID – RM 25
18 – 60 Years Old (Adult) – RM 50
61 Years Old & Above (Senior Citizen) – RM 25
Disabled Person – Free
Group of 10 or more persons – RM 40/per person
Annual Pass – RM 100
Website: https://museum.sarawak.gov.my/page-0-209-169-Borneo-Cultures-Museum.html

6) Fort Margherita

Fort Margherita was built by James Brooke in 1879 to guard the entrance to the port from the attacks by pirates. It is named after Brooke's beloved wife, Ranee of Sarawak. The fort is now a tourist attraction in Kuching. Climb up to the top of the tower for a panoramic view of the city.

Opening hours: 9.00 a.m. - 4.45 p.m. (Monday - Sunday and Public Holidays). Last entry 4.15 p.m.
Admission fee: 
Malaysian: Adult RM 10, Child (7-12) RM 5
Foreigner: Adult RM 20, Child (7-12) RM 10
Child under 7 FOC

7) Cat Museum

Visitors will find a range of exhibits, photos, feline art and cat souvenirs in this World's first museum dedicated to cat. The museum is located on the Lobby floor of Kuching North City Hall Headquarters. I did not have time to visit it though. If you are not a cat lover, you can skip this.

Opening hours: 9.00 a.m. - 5p.m. (Monday - Sunday except Public Holidays).
Admission fee: Adult RM 3, Child (3-12) RM 2, Child under 3 FOC

Food:

1) Sarawak Laksa

Antony Bourdain called it "The breakfast of the Gods". So this definitely a must-try while in Kuching. Served with shrimp, chicken, fried egg. beansprout, shrimp paste and lime, I really like the flavorful broth of the noodles. RM 8 per bowl.

2) Kolo Mee

Kolo Mee is a dry noodle traditionally served with char siew and minced pork. The one I tried also came with shrimps. The halal version is served with chicken slice instead of pork. To be honest, I prefer the Sarawak Laksa. RM 8 per bowl.

3) Pork Satay

My sons love the pork satay with peanut sauce. The meat is tender and juicy. It is less common in West Malaysia. 

Tried the three dishes above at a Chinese food court called Lao Ya Keng (阳春台茶室) on Carpenter Street. The food court even has a small temple inside and a Chinese temple opposite the road. Take note that some stalls closes early around 3.30pm. It was the most authentic Sarawakian meal I had while in Kuching. You can also try Kueh Chap here.

4) Seafood

If you're visiting Bako National Park, do not miss having lunch at Bako Seafood Restaurant. It is located nearby the Bako jetty. Do come here early if you have no reservation as the restaurant is popular among local and tourists. We ordered some of the popular dishes of the restaurant including deep fried squid, sea clam soup with homemade fish balls, steamed prawns and signature seafood tofu. The seafood was really fresh and the portion was generous. The bill came up to be RM 125 including drinks. They accept only cash or Boost Pay.

5) Kek Lapis

Kek Lapis (thousand layer cake) is a famous cake in Kuching. Many tourists including myself purchase it and bring home as gifts for family and friends. The shop that I bought kek lapis from is Kek Lapis Mama Su on the Main Bazaar Street. The kek lapis price range from RM 13 to RM 15 in this shop. You can taste different flavours of the cake before buying. They accept TouchNGo e-wallet as payment. The cake tasted delicious, moist and not too sweet.

6) Midin

Midin is a local fiddlehead fern picked from the wild and used as vegetable. It is usually stirred fried with shrimp paste. I didn't try this dish though.

7) Kueh Chap

Kueh Chap is a mix of 'Keuh' (flat rice noodles) cooked in a pork stew consisting of 'Chap' (various pork innards and pork meat). I personally don't eat any animal innards, so I skip trying this.

Shopping:

The Main Bazaar Street is the best place to shop for souvenirs and handicrafts in Kuching. Popular souvenirs include straw woven bags, bead bracelets, wood crafts, printed T-shirts and etc. The souvenir shops closes around 6pm. 

The India Street is another place that is great for shopping. It was closed to vehicular traffic and converted into a pedestrian mall in 1992.

Day Trips from Kuching:

Kuching is a great base to explore nature and wildlife surrounding the city. There is a total of seven national parks of varied sizes within a reasonable distance from the city. The national park that I chose to go to was Bako National Park. Below are day trips suggestion from Kuching: 

1) Bako National Park

Despite its compact size, Bako National Park (37 km from Kuching to Bako Jetty Terminal and a 20-minutes boat ride to the park) has much to offer. It is home to the endangered Proboscis Monkey. Bornean bearded pigs often roam about the beach. I even spotted some around the Park HQ building. Part of the fun of visiting this national park is the journey itself whereby all visitors must ride a boat from river to open ocean in order to reach the national park. Depending on weather and sea condition, visitors have the opportunity to see the dramatic sea stacks by boat. If not, the sea stacks can be seen by following hiking trail No. 5 & 6. Click here for further reading.

Opening hours: 8am - 5pm daily
National Park Admission fees: 
Malaysian - RM 10 for adult, RM 5 for senior/disabled, RM 3 for child, FOC for child below 6
Non-Malaysian -  RM 20 for adult, RM 10 for disabled, RM 7 for child, FOC for child below 6
Official website: https://bakonationalpark.my/

2) Semenggoh Wildlife Centre

Semenggoh Wildlife Centre is located at a distance of 30-minutes drive from Kuching. It is an orangutan sanctuary and nature reserve in Kuching. During feeding times (twice a day), the semi-wild orangutans might show up and provide visitors an unique opportunity to see them at close range. There is no guarantee to see these interesting creatures but it is highly likely.

From the ticketing booth (the main entrance) it is a 20-minute walk to the orangutan feeding area. Alternatively, you can purchase the buggy ticket (RM10) and ride on the buggy for about 10 minutes to the orangutan feeding area. Do come here earlier than the designated feeding time (9am or 3pm) if possible as the rangers started calling for the orangutan earlier. Click here for further reading.

Opening hours: Open daily 8am - 10am & 2pm - 4pm
Orangutan feeding time: 9am - 10am & 3pm - 4pm 
Admission fee: 
Foreigner: Adult & senior RM 10, Disabled RM 5, Child age 6 - 17 RM5, Child below 6 free 
Local: Adult RM 5, Senior citizen & disabled RM 3, Child age 6 - 17 (local) RM2, Child below 6 free 
Buggy ride (return): RM10 per person
Website: https://semenggoh.my/

3) Jong's Crocodile Farm

Jong's Crocodile Farm is located at a distance of 45-minutes drive from Kuching. It is recommended to plan your visit to Semenggoh Wildlife Centre first (20-minutes drive away) as the timing will be just right to visit Crocodile Farm right after the orangutans feeding time (9am & 2pm). The crocodile feeding time starts at 11am and 3pm. Visitors have the chance to hold a baby crocodile and feed farm animals. Click here for further reading.

Opening hours: 
open daily 9am – 5pm (Monday to Sunday including Public Holiday), 4.30pm last admission
Feeding Time:
Crocodile: 11am & 3pm
Arapaima: 11.30am & 3.30pm
Admission fee:
Malaysian (myKad /myKid): Adult: RM 20, Children 3 to 11 years old RM 10, Children below 3: FOC, OKU with OKU card: FOC.
Non-Malaysian: Adult RM 25, Children RM 15
Website: https://www.jongscrocodile.com/

4) Annah Rais Longhouse & Hot Spring

Annah Rais Longhouse & Hot Spring is one of the oldest Bidayuh Longhouse. It is one of the nearest and easiest longhouses to access as it is located 60km from Kuching city. Annah Rais Hot Springs is located just 3km from Annah Rais village. So it is recommended to visit both sites at the same time. Click here for further reading.

Annah Rais Longhouse
Opening hours: 9am - 5pm daily
Entrance fee: Adult RM 10, Child (below 12) RM 5
Website: https://longhousehomestay.com/ 

Annah Rais Hotspring 
Opening hours: 8am - 5pm daily
Entrance fee: RM 5 for adult, RM 3 for student (age 7 - 17), child below 6 free

5) Sarawak Cultural Village

Located just 35-minutes drive away from Kuching, this local and cultural village showcase the traditional houses, culture and crafts of indigenous groups which live in Malaysia, specifically Sarawak. Spread across an area of 17 acres, the attractions include Bidayuh Longhouse, Iban Longhouse, Orang Ulu Longhouse, Chinese Farmhouse, Melanau Tall House, Malay House, Penan Hut, Penan Nature Trail, Rainforest Music House, Persada Alam and Persada Ilmu. There are two cultural performances each day, morning show at 11:30 am and afternoon show at 4:00 pm.

Opening hours: 9 a.m. - 5p.m.
Admission fee: RM95 (Adults) / RM85 (buy online), RM60 (Children) / RM55 (buy online)
Website: https://scv.com.my/

6) Gunung Gading National Park

Gunung Gading National Park in Lundu (80 km from Kuching) is famous for being a cradle of Rafflesia flower, the largest flower which smells like rotting flesh. The blossom takes up to 9 months to develop and only lasts around 5 days before it begins to wilt and decompose. To avoid disappointment, do ring up the park HQ (+608-273 5144) to enquire if any flower is in bloom. Visitors can also see waterfalls and remnants of communist insurgency of the 1960's. 

Website: https://gading.my/

7) Kubah National Park

The Matang Range is the site of Kubah National Park (20km from Kuching). Visitors can find rare ferns and orchids and a rich variety of palm, so much so that it is known as "The world of Palms". It is also popular among bird watchers. Visitors can cool off at the waterfalls and clear jungle streams in the jungle.

Website: https://sarawakforestry.com/parks-and-reserves/kubah-national-park/

8) Talang Satang National Park

Talang Satang National Park (30-min boat from Damai Beach) is Sarawak's first marine protected area. The group of islands of the national park are known to be sanctuaries and breeding grounds for Green Turtles and Hawksbill Turtles. Visitors are only allowed to visit Satang Island for day trips. At Talang-Talang Kecil & Talang-Talang Besar island, only those involved in a Sea Turtle volunteer program are allowed. The main turtle nesting seasons is from April to October. 

Website: https://sarawakforestry.com/parks-and-reserves/talang-satang-national-park/

9) Tanjung Datu National Park

Described as "Heaven of Borneo", Tanjung Datu National Park comprises a narrow strip of forested hills and stunning beaches with clear turquoise waters. It was Sarawak's best kept secret due to its remoteness. Previously, the national park was only accessible by boat until a new road was opened in January 2019. Visitors can swim, snorkel or take a stroll on its white sandy beaches. Visitors can also hike following the hiking trails. Hornbills can be sighted at Tanjung Datu and Rafflesia flowers can be sighted growing along the hiking trails. 

Website: https://sarawakforestry.com/parks-and-reserves/tanjung-datu-national-park/

10) Santubong National Park

Santubong National Park (35 km north of Kuching) is a national park contains Mt. Santubong. The main activity is to climb up to Mt. Santubong peak (810 m) and swim at the waterfalls. Take note that there are no accommodation and cafeteria in the park.

Website: https://sarawakforestry.com/parks-and-reserves/santubong-national-park/

11) Kuching Wetlands National Park

Kuching Wetlands National Park (15 km from Kuching and 5 km from Damai Beach) offers an excellent introduction to the mangrove environment and ecosystem. A number of tour operators offer coastal and river cruises in and around the park.