Kuching Destination Guide

Kuching is also famous for its stunning sunsets. Many a tourist has said it is "one of the most beautiful in the world”. Kuching’s charming riverside towns, buildings and historical sites speak of its colourful and enchanted past. While the locals have adopted modern lifestyles for the amenities and conveniences, they still retain their warmth, friendliness and hospitality.

Kuching is a lively and beautiful town on a river with the inky-blue Santubong and Matang mountains forming a stunning backdrop.

This Kuching Destination Guide gives a rundown of the exciting Kuching highlights you can expect to see while visiting this lovely town. While many of these sites can be seen independently you may find it more convenient, and more educational to take a Kuching tour with a local company. For general travel information check out our Malaysia Country Guide.

Things to see & do in Kuching

Follow the links to the right or scroll further down the page for details on some of the many interesting tourist attractions in Kuching:

About 175 years old, this longhouse belongs to the Bidayuh tribe. A visit to this place allows tourists to catch a glimpse of the way of life followed here. Annah Rais longhouse is approximately 65 km from Kuching, so one could do either a day trip or stay overnight and explore the beautiful tropical rainforest that surrounds the area. This is the nearest authentic longhouse that is accessible from Kuching, which, to this day, preserves the traditional Borneo longhouse structure.

Only an hour’s drive from Kuching city, ‘Green Mountain Temple’ has been patronized by both the local Buddhists and other communities of Sarawak. Officially located in Muara Tebas, the temple sits atop a hill. The temple was strategically constructed by the Chinese on top of a hill facing the sea to, perhaps, maximize on the ideal Fung Shui. The Malay Kampong houses are in the foothills.

Just 35 km from Kuching, Damai Beach Resort is quite popular among tourists. It is the ideal place for those who like to relax and laze by the beach. The resort also has a wide range of facilities for recreation, and land and water sports.

Besides Damai Beach Resort, Damai, which is 40 minutes from Kuching, has pristine jungles, sandy beaches and several leisure activities. Together, the three resorts offer a range of activities such as jungle trekking, water sports and also some cultural options.

One of the largest breeding farms in Malaysia, with a population of over 1000, Jong’s Crocodile Farm is just 29 km from Kuching city. That’s about a comfortable 40-minute drive through the picturesque countryside.
Set amidst lush greenery and tropical fruit trees, the farm is designed in such a way that it resembles the natural habitat of crocodiles. It is also home to other creatures such as civets, bear cats, pythons, deer, gibbons and hornbills, besides crocodiles.

Kuching is a city full of museums. There is the Chinese Museum, Sarawak Museum and the Kuching Cat Museum, which is quite popular among tourists visiting Kuching. Other interesting sites and landmarks are Fort Margherita, Astana (which is the King's former palace), Main Bazaar and Tua Pek Kong temple. A riverside esplanade, the Kuching waterfront is right next to the city’s big Kuching hotels and commercial heartland. Opposite the waterfront are old shops that sell craft and antique items.

Semenggoh Wildlife Centre is where tourists can spot orangutans. The best time to visit the wildlife centre is either 9 am or 3 pm, when the orangutans come out from the surrounding jungle to the feeding platform led by the leader of the group, a giant orangutan. The best way to get here is to hire a taxi at Kuching. It’s a comfortable 30-minute drive.

The other national parks, Bako and Kuching Wetlands National Park are also popular tourist destinations near Kuching.

Kuching is also famous for its stunning sunsets. Many a tourist has said it is "one of the most beautiful in the world”. Kuching’s charming riverside towns, buildings and historical sites speak of its colourful and enchanted past. While the locals have adopted modern lifestyles for the amenities and conveniences, they still retain their warmth, friendliness and hospitality.

A land of rolling terrain, majestic mountains and many rivers, Sarawak is affectionately known as the ‘Land of Natural Wonders and Friendly Hornbills'. Spanning 124,000 sq km, Sarawak is Malaysia's largest state. It is also known as a ‘Land of Superlatives' - the state has the world's biggest cave passage and natural chamber, the world's largest flower (the Rafflesia), the country's longest river and substantial evidence of the earliest known existence of man in this part of the world. If those are not reasons enough for Sarawak to figure prominently among the must-see places, there's more. The diverse ethnic communities and their rich cultural heritage, the many wildlife sanctuaries and national parks give the state unfailing appeal and beckon those seeking adventure and thrills amidst nature!

A showcase of Sarawak’s culture and traditions, the award-winning Sarawak Culture Village is in fact popularly referred to as the ’Living Museum’. It offers excellent insight into the lifestyle of the local people. Set over 17 acres, it has replica buildings, which represent Sarawak’s seven major ethnic groups. Each building has members of one of the groups in traditional attire, performing day-to-day activities. There is also a narrator who describes the goings-on. Also on display are works of art and dance performances. There is a handicrafts shop and good restaurant too.

The village is just a 5-minute walk from Damai Beach Resort, or a 40-minute drive from Kuching. It is open to the public everyday, from 9 am to 5.30 pm. The dance performances happen at 11.30 am and 4.30 pm at the village theatre.

Those who visit Sarawak Cultural Village also usually go to Camp Permai, which is just next door. The camp organises outdoor activities such as leadership training programmes and sea sports such as sailing, kayaking, raft expeditions and wind surfing. It offers comfortable accommodation options, with a choice between tree houses and log cabins.

This weekend market gets the locals really busy selling and buying everything from fruits and vegetable to fish, souvenirs, clothes, local foods and just about anything that is produced locally. It's a great opportunity to observe an authentic market and also get a glimpse into the lives of the local people. About 99% of the people here are locals; this was never meant to be a ‘tourist spot’. However, tourists must not miss out on a visit to this site. Besides getting to know what the local people do on weekends, one can also do some shopping.