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    Sarawak Cultural Village
    Tys / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 3.0

    Malaysia

    Sarawak Cultural Village

    Point of InterestCulture

    The Sarawak Cultural Village, located at the foot of Gunung Santubong, approximately 35 kilometers north of Kuching, is an open-air museum featuring the traditional houses of Sarawak's main ethnic groups.

    by Felix Gillen

    1. Home
    3. Destinations
    5. Malaysia
    7. Sarawak
    9. Sarawak Cultural Village
    The Sarawak Cultural Village, located at the foot of Gunung Santubong, approximately 35 kilometers north of Kuching, is an open-air museum featuring the traditional houses of Sarawak's main ethnic groups. Twice daily, there is a cultural show with music and dances.Cultural Show: usually at 11:30 AM and 4 PM, approx. 45 minutes; please check current times and admission prices beforehandFestival: The Rainforest World Music Festival takes place here at the end of June

    Sehenswürdigkeiten

    Discover the most important sights and attractions

    Sarawak Cultural Village Lotus Pond

    1Sarawak Cultural Village Lotus Pond

    The Lotus Pond lies in the cultural village, with traditional houses of Sarawak's ethnic groups grouped around it on the circular path. In the background, Gunung Santubong rises.
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    Malay House

    2Malay House

    The Malay House is one of the seven traditional houses in the Cultural Village, alongside those of the Bidayuh, Iban, Orang Ulu, Penan, Melanau, and Chinese.
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    Sago Processing Hut

    3Sago Processing Hut

    This hut in the Cultural Village demonstrates how sago, the starch from the sago palm's pith, is processed.
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    Essen & Trinken

    Ethnic Groups and Music

    Each house represents an ethnic group of Sarawak: Bidayuh, Iban, Orang Ulu, Penan, Melanau, Malays, and Chinese. Thus, you can compare in one place the different ways longhouses, stilt houses, and townhouses of the individual groups are constructed.The village is the venue for the Rainforest World Music Festival, where musicians from all over the world perform against the backdrop of Gunung Santubong. In 2026, it took place from June 26 to 28.

    Access

    From Kuching, the easiest way to reach the village is by Grab, taxi, or rental car via the road to Santubong and Damai. Many tour operators in Kuching offer half-day trips. At the site, you'll explore on foot.

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    Nearby

    Bako National Park

    Bako National Park

    The Bako National Park, at the tip of a peninsula north of Kuching, is Sarawak's oldest and a manageable 27 square kilometers. On short hiking trails, you'll spot proboscis monkeys, bearded pigs, and pitcher plants; along the coast, sea-sculpted sandstone cliffs. All just over an hour's journey by bus and boat from Kuching.Tip: Most animals are active early mornings or late afternoonsEquipment: Sturdy shoes and at least two liters of water; paths can be steep and root-filledSwimming: Prohibited at beaches due to saltwater crocodiles and jellyfish
    Kuching

    Kuching

    Kuching, the capital of the Malaysian state of Sarawak in western Borneo, is a compact city on the Sarawak River, featuring buildings from the White Rajahs era, Chinese shop houses, and a long waterfront promenade. It is the best starting point for orangutans, proboscis monkeys, and the national parks in western Borneo.In the city: Waterfront, Main Bazaar, Borneo Cultures Museum, Fort MargheritaExcursions: Bako National Park, orangutans at Semenggoh Wildlife Centre, Sarawak Cultural VillageTravel time: year-round; most rain falls from November to February
    Sarawak

    Sarawak

    Sarawak in western Borneo is Malaysia's largest state. Here you'll find the Mulu and Niah Caves (both UNESCO-listed), Bako National Park's proboscis monkeys, Semenggoh's semi-wild orangutans, and Iban longhouses. The capital Kuching, on the Sarawak River, is the starting point.
    Semenggoh Wildlife Centre

    Semenggoh Wildlife Centre

    At the Semenggoh Wildlife Centre, about 20 to 25 kilometers south of Kuching, rehabilitated orangutans roam freely in the reserve's forest. Twice daily, rangers offer fruit at a feeding platform; whether and how many animals visit is up to them.Feeding Times: mornings from 9 to 10 AM and afternoons from 3 PM for about half an hourAdmission: 10 RM for foreign adults, 5 RM for childrenNote: Sightings are not guaranteed, especially when the forest offers abundant food
    Batang Ai National Park

    Batang Ai National Park

    The Batang Ai National Park is located approximately 250 kilometers east of Kuching, beside a large reservoir in the interior of Sarawak. Orangutans, gibbons, and hornbills live in the rainforest, and around the lake, Iban live in longhouses, which you can visit on tours.Getting there: a long drive from Kuching to the reservoir, then onwards by longboatTip: Day trips and overnight stays in longhouses can be booked through local tour operators

    Sources & method

    • Photos: Wikimedia Commons, Google Maps. Each photo carries its credit.
    • Place data such as addresses and ratings comes from Google Maps.
    • The content is based on web research from public, traceable sources. How the content is made · The role of AI