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Top 5 things to do in Kuching

1. Hiking at Mount Santubong

A 45min drive away from the city centre, it takes about 3-4 hours to hike to the peak of this luscious mountain adorned with waterfalls.

Legend has it that the two beautiful sisters and princesses from heaven, Santubong and Sejinjang, were turned into these mountains as a punishment by their father when he learned that they waged a bitter fight over marrying the prince Serapi.

Santubong was famous for weaving gorgeous adornments while Sejinjang's fame came from pounding rice to make it, well...heavenly!

Another fun fact is that specimens collected from these mountains helped lead to the discovery of the theory of evolution by natural selection. You've heard of Darwin, Charles was emailed a copy of his manuscript by the famous British Naturalist Alfred Wallace in 1855 after he spent time collecting specimens from these very mountains.

2. Heritage walk

Wander the quaint town of Kuching on a half day heritage walk while learning about the recent history and sampling local dishes from a range of ethnic groups. Try the famous Sarawak laksa and explore streets that have remained virtually unchanged for 100 years.

3. Sepilok Wildlife Park

Spend time with the cutest orphaned and confiscated orangutans being rehabilitated here.

During a visit you will learn about the programme of re-adjustment to the wild and see a daily feeding session.

The creation of reserves such as Kabili-Sepilok reduces the impact of deforestation on orangutans, and as a result fewer young apes fall victim to the now-illegal trade in pets.

4. Sarawak museum

The Sarawak Museum, straddling both sides of Jln Tun Abang Haji Openg, has one of the best collections in Southeast Asia.

The old wing, opened in 1891, is designed in the style of a Normandy town-house. It houses an exceptional ethnographic collection, some good natural history displays and a section on the oil industry in Sarawak. The exhibition of traditional wood-carvings on the first floor is magnificent.

The new wing across the footbridge is used for events and exhibitions In the Museum grounds there is an Aquarium, the Botanical Gardens and the Heroes’ Memorial.

5. Annah Rais longhouse

Kampung Annah Rais is a large Bidayuh village centred around a centuries-old bamboo longhouse, one of the finest still in existence. The Bidayuh make up about 8% of Sarawak’s population and were formerly known as Land Dayaks. They are gracious hosts and village is the perfect place to discover Bidayuh culture and learn about their fascinating way of life.