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USD $272.00
2-Day Private Tour from Kuching: Cultural Experience in Serubah Village
Sarawak, Malaysia
Immerse yourself in the traditional Sarawak lifestyle on this 2-day private cultural tour from Kuching to the village of Serubah. With a private guide, visit a Serubah longhouse (a typical Malaysian house built on stilts and shared by families) and meet native Iban people, original inhabitants of the island of Borneo. See another side of Malaysia as you discover their indigenous way of life, including hunting with blowpipes. Learn about how they reconcile native customs with modern-day conveniences, like electricity and the internet, and spend the night in a village guesthouse!
Day 1: Kuching – Serubah (L,D) After pickup from your Kuching hotel in a private, air-conditioned minivan or bus, relax on the three-hour drive through the lush green countryside and enjoy scenic views of paddy fields and rugged, jungle-clad mountains. Along the way, stop at a native farmers’ market in the town of Serian that offers a variety of jungle produce, including the fruit that Serian is famous for – durians! Follow your guide on a tour of a typical black pepper garden, where you will also see carnivorous pitcher plants. Enjoy lunch at a small roadside bazaar before continuing your journey. Arrive at the Lemanak River jetty in mid-afternoon. Admire views of the jungle on either side of the Lemanak River as you travel by longboat to the village of Serubah, where the locals – the indigenous Iban people – live in traditional Borneo longhouses. With the help of your guide, learn about the daily Iban lifestyle and see how some longhouses are equipped with modern facilities like electricity and water supply. Sit down for a traditional Iban dinner, made with fresh produce, and then take part in an after-dinner cultural experience: an evening filled with traditional dancing, music, games and a glass or two of tuak (rice wine) with the longhouse chief. When you’ve had enough fun, retire for the night in your guesthouse, where you will truly gain your authentic experience of how village locals live. Sleep in your dormitory-style accommodation (one room for your private group) on a mattress placed on the floor, surrounded by a mosquito net. Overnight: Traditional guesthouse with modern facilities in Serubah village
Day 2: Serubah – Kuching (B, L) After breakfast, discover more of the Iban heritage as you watch a blowpipe demonstration; the Iban use these instruments to hunt wild animals. You can even try shooting one yourself! Then, follow your guide and Iban trackers on a short walk through the forest, learning about the traditional uses of rainforest plants. Bid farewell to your new friends and re-board the longboat for the return trip to the Lemanak jetty. Then drive back to Kuching, stopping for lunch along the way at a popular Sarawak restaurant.
Fun trip, definitely is what it sounds like so not for the feint hearted. Long drive there and back, longhouse is the real deal, however not very clean which was expected, but not to the degree it was. Lack of activities on arrival but fabulous guide named sibu. Bring bed sheets and pillow case
Review by: Alejandro, September 2013
That has been the biggest experience I have ever had in my years travelling around the world.
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