Your day begins early with a visit to the Semenggoh Wildlife Centre, located 20 kilometers south of Kuching. This nature reserve is the largest orangutan rehabilitation centre in Sarawak. Established in 1975, its mission is to care for injured, orphaned, or formerly captive orangutans. Today, it serves as a semi-wild habitat and an educational hub for visitors on Kuching tours and Sarawak wildlife experiences. You’ll arrive by 9:00 am for the morning feeding session. For one hour, you’ll have the rare chance to observe these great apes up close, while learning about their behavior, habitat, and the conservation efforts underway. Orangutans share 97% of our DNA—making this encounter a humbling glimpse into the animal world.

After your orangutan experience, continue your Sarawak tour at the Sarawak Cultural Village, a living museum near Damai Beach. This 17-acre site introduces you to the many ethnic groups of Sarawak through immersive exhibits and performances. Begin with a cultural show in the air-conditioned theater, featuring traditional dances and music, from graceful Orang Ulu hornbill dances to the energetic ngajat of Iban warriors performed with rainforest instruments and gongs. Following the performance, enjoy an included lunch at Restaurant Budaya, where you’ll sample dishes such as cucumber leaf soup, minced fish, and chopped petai beans with anchovies.

You’ll then have free time to explore the longhouses and traditional homes representing Sarawak’s major ethnic groups. Visit the Bidayuh Longhouse, home to gongs, war drums, and wooden masks, then climb the notched staircase to the Iban Longhouse, where local weaving and music are on display. Stop by the Orang Ulu Longhouse, surrounded by tropical greenery and known for intricate beadwork and sape music. Continue to the Chinese Farmhouse, showcasing pepper gardens and lowland farming architecture, and the towering Melanau Tall House, where you’ll learn about sago processing and ancestral beliefs. End with the Malay House, where you can try games like congkak, and the Penan Hut, where blowpipes are made—you can even try one yourself.

In the late afternoon, drive to the Santubong Boat Club, about 30 minutes away, to embark on a river cruise. This relaxing two-hour journey brings you through the Santubong and Salak Rivers, in search of the rare Irrawaddy dolphin, known for its rounded head and preference for coastal and estuarine waters. While sightings are not guaranteed, Santubong is one of the best places in Sarawak to observe these elusive creatures. As you explore the mangrove-lined waterways, you may also spot crocodiles, otters, water monitor lizards, and a variety of bird and fish species. After the cruise, return to your hotel in Kuching for a well-earned rest.