5 Day Kuching Cultural Experiences

5D/4N: Kuching →Sri Aman

Highlights

• World’s largest cave entrances
• An iconic UNESCO World Heritage Site
• Orang Utan sanctuary
• Tribal hospitality

Customise the tour

• Explore Niah National Park, a major centre of human settlement as early as 40,000 years ago, and featuring one of the world’s largest cave entrances, Palaeolithic and Neolithic burial sites and iron-age cave paintings.
• Visit Mulu National Park, an iconic UNESCO World Heritage Area boasting stunning natural beauty – mountains, combined with large river systems, tropical rainforest and huge caves.
• Extend your tour with a wildlife search in Sukau, seek out Proboscis Monkeys, Orangutans, Pigmy Elephants, and much more.
• Extend your vacation in Peninsular Malaysia

ITINERARY

DAY 1: KUCHING
Arrival in Kuching! Meet & Greet– Transfer to the hotel - Rest of day free at own leisure – Overnight stay at the hotel
In case of arrival in the morning, you may opt to book the walking city tour “Walk The White Rajah Trail” (not included in the package).

DAY 2: KUCHING – SEMENGGOH ORANG UTAN – SRI AMAN(B/L)
Early Breakfast - Depart to the Semenggoh Nature Reserve. The entire facility occupies an area of 740 acres and acts as a sanctuary for orangutans that have been rescued from captivity and young orphaned primates. There are daily scheduled feeding times. However, sightings of these primates during feeding times are not guaranteed because the orangutans roam freely within the nature reserve –After your visit to the Orangutan Centre, continue the journey by air-conditioned vehicle to Sri Aman Division–Along the way, visit the native market in Serian, pass by rice fields and visit a pepper plantation (if time does not permit to stop on the way, a stop is made on the way back from Sri Aman)–The last stop is at Lachau, a small up-country Chinese village, for lunch, before proceeding to Sri Aman–Upon arrival at Sri Aman, you will be checked into your Seri Simanggang hotel –In the afternoon, take a guided stroll of Sri Aman town, visit Fort Alice (closed every Monday’s) and the century-old Tze Yin Khor Chinese temple located on the bank of the Lupar River –Overnight at Seri Simanggang. (Estimated driving time/distance: 4 hours, 193 kilometres)

DAY 3: SRI AMAN – IBAN LONGHOUSE – SRI AMAN(B/L)
Breakfast – Get ready for your departure by air-conditioned vehicle to the Iban longhouse. The journey by road takes approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes–Upon arrival at the jetty, board a native longboat for about a 45-minute journey to the longhouse – Take a guided tour around the longhouse and meet the villagers and their families. The Iban will sound their gongs and perform their traditional war dance in full ceremonial regalia. If you are invited to join in.....don't be shy....it is fun...even if you cannot understand their language. Before you leave, find time to taste their rice wine called "tuak". A native lunch is served either by the riverbank, if the weather permits, or in the longhouse. After lunch, say goodbye to the Ibanfolk–Retrace your journey by boat and then by air-conditioned vehicle back to the Seri Simanggang hotel. Rest of the afternoon will be free at leisure.

SRI AMAN TIDAL BORE
Benak is a term that is used to describe the tidal bore, a phenomenon that occurs when huge bodies of water rush upriver against the current, thus forming tidal waves as high as three meters. This marvel of nature has never been truly understood, although the mechanism of its passage and size are fairly predictable. There are no more than 60 known places in the world where this tidal wonder occurs, and BatangLupar River in Sri Aman, is one of them. It is also ranked fourth among the top tidal bores in the world. Here in Sri Aman, the tidal bore is a daily occurrence with waves that can rise up to almost five metres high, especially during a King Tide.

If the timing of your stay at Sri Aman coincides with this tidal bore occurring (twice daily at different times), you can enjoy watching this natural phenomenon by taking a short walk from your hotel to the BatangLupar waterfront –Overnight at Seri Simanggang, Deluxe Room.

DAY 4: SRI AMAN – KUCHING (B/L)
Breakfast –Transfer backto Kuching with lunch en route (Estimated total driving time/distance: 4 hours, 193 km)

DAY 5: BAKO NATIONAL PARK TOUR – TRANSFER TO AIRPORT / EXTEND STAY(B/L)
Breakfast – Check-out of hotel –Depart for a day tour of Bako National Park. This is the oldest national park in Sarawak and offers the perfect introduction to Sarawak’s forest and wildlife. The park is located at the northern tip of MuaraTebas peninsula. It is reached by a 30-minute drive in an air-conditioned vehicle and another 20 minutes by boat. The park has an area of 27 km2 of primary forest with an abundance of botanical treasures made up of 25 types of vegetation. Amongst the huge variety of plant life, the carnivorous pitcher plant can be found here as well. Bako’s mangrove forest is home to the odd-nosed proboscis monkey, found only in Borneo. Other wildlife species found here are the long-tailed macaques, silver leaf monkeys, monitor lizards and bearded pigs. There are a number of trails, which you could venture on to explore this fascinating park. A packed lunch is included – Return to Kuching in the afternoon and transfer to Kuching International Airport for your evening flight to your next destination or to Kuching city to extend your stay.

NOTE:
• Boat transfers & activities in the longhouse will be on shared basis in order to minimise impacts on the natural environment or if other circumstances require so.
• Please travel light for the overnight at the longhouse. Suitcases can be stored at your hotel in Kuching.
• Due to primitive conditions in the longhouse, be prepared for some discomfort. You will be accommodated in the community area of the longhouse with no privacy. A mattress, mosquito net, pillow, blanket and clean linen will be provided. Simple sanitary facilities are available. Pets like cats and dogs might be encountered in the communal hall of the longhouse and livestock such as chicken or pigs are roaming freely within the longhouse compound.
• It is customary to bring some gifts for the Iban longhouse people, which can be divided by the number of families. Our guide can assist you during one of the stops en route to buy some suitable presents. This custom is only applicable to Iban longhouse tours.

COST INCLUDES:

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Join-in inclusions
• Accommodation in shared Twin/Double room in air-condition (AC) and private bathroom
• 1-night accommodation (Bako Park) in shared twin room with fan and private bathroom
• Meals as stated in the programme B= breakfast, L= lunch, D= dinner
• Transfers and tours in air-conditioned vehicle
• Transfers and tours with English-speaking guide
• Entrance fees and/or boat fees as stated in the programme
• Drinking water available on the vehicles

Budget inclusions
• Accommodation in shared Twin/Double room in air-condition (AC) and private bathroom
• 1-night accommodation (Bako Park) in shared twin room with fan and private bathroom
• Meals as stated in the programme B= breakfast, L= lunch, D= dinner
• Transfers and tours in air-conditioned vehicle
• Transfers and tours with English-speaking guide
• Entrance fees and/or boat fees as stated in the programme
• Drinking water available on the vehicles

COST EXCLUDES:

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• Domestic airfare and/or International airfare to/from Malaysia (quoted separately, if requested)
• Optional tours
• Surcharges for other language guides
• Personal travel insurance
• Personal expenditure, such as drinks, souvenirs, laundry, camera fees, communications, postage, gratuities etc.
• Meals and services other than mentioned in the programme
• Drinks with meals
• Early check-in and late check-out at hotels, if not mentioned in the programme
• Gifts for the longhouse

ACCOMMODATION OVERVIEW