Best time to visit Sarawak
The only thing warmer than Sarawak's year round climate is the unforced friendliness of its impossibly welcoming locals
A truly tropical state, the temperature in Sarawak hovers between 27-32°C year-round, with frequent rains replenishing its verdant jungles. Those here to hike the rainforest trails, or watch for wildlife should be aware that they will be doing so in hot weather with very little breeze. Apr-Sept are drier months of the year, and generally considered the best time to visit Sarawak, but showers can occur at any time. Thankfully, the whole of Sarawak is sheltered from the worst of SE Asia’s weather.
Sarawak Weather Chart
MIN °C
MAX °C
RAIN (mm)
JAN
22
30
690
FEB
22
30
530
MAR
22
31
350
APR
22
32
290
MAY
24
34
230
JUN
22
32
200
JUL
22
31
190
AUG
22
31
210
SEP
22
31
280
OCT
22
31
320
NOV
22
31
350
DEC
22
31
490
Our Sarawak Vacations
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A wildlife and Cultural Vacation to Singapore and Sarawak
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Borneo 8 day tour, the wild heart of Borneo
A unique experience in the untouched, beautiful Sarawak.
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£855
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Borneo wildlife cycling vacation
Ultimate Borneo wildlife experience on two wheels
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MYR 8242
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Sarawak and Singapore vacation
Discover beautiful Sarawak with a 2 night Singapore stopover
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£1720
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Borneo wildlife vacation, Sarawak
A light trekking and jungle adventure vacation in Sarawak
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Wild Borneo vacation, private departure
Highlights of Malaysian Borneo including a homestay
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€3780
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Sarawak family vacation
An action-packed vacation got the whole family to enjoy!
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£898
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Luxury beach vacation in Borneo & Orangutans
Relaxation in one of nature's most picturesque settings
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£1915
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Borneo overland tour, Sarawak, Sabah & Brunei
Exotic Trans-Borneo Rainforest Discovery, including Brunei
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Orangutan conservation vacation in Borneo
Meet Iban tribes and encounter orangutans in Borneo
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£1195
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Sarawak rainforest cycling tour, Borneo
Discover the sights, sounds & taste of authentic Sarawak
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MYR 6600
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Sarawak and Sabah vacation, tailor made
Tailor made Sarawak and Sabah adventure vacation
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Orangutan volunteering in Borneo
Volunteer at an orangutan rehabilitation center in Borneo
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£795 to £1995
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Sarawak Rainforest music festival vacation
Explore Malaysia's diverse flavours and gastronomic delights
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US $2016 to US $2330
11 days
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Borneo tailor made tour
A Borneo vacation tailormade for the adventurous traveler.
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£2139
12 days
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Sabah & Sarawak vacation in Borneo
Wildlife, jungles, culture and idyllic beaches
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Borneo cycling vacation, Headhunters Heartland
An epic ride into The Iban Heartland
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Borneo wildlife vacation
Showcasing the best of Borneo - wildlife, rainforests and tropical beaches
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Orangutans and Ibans tour to Borneo
Vast jungles of Sabah and Sarawak & Iban Headhunter tribe
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£3750
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Iban longhouse experience in Sarawak, Malaysia
Take a 3 Day Tour to be part of the Iban Tribe!
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£595
3 days
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Borneo tour, Orangutans and Iban
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Sarawak vacation, wildlife adventure
Tailor-made wildlife and turtle vacation to Sarawak
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US $2395
14 days
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Borneo vacation, Sarawak highlights
Wildlife, Orangutans, longhouse stay & beach in Sarawak
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Sarawak 5 day cultural tour
Explore Sarawak’s remote and fascinating coastal region
From
MYR 3568 to MYR 5201
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Sarawak off the beaten track tour
Explore Remote Sarawak’s Coastal and Interior Region
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MYR 3646 to MYR 5814
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Highlights of Borneo group tour
Small-group culture and wildlife tour of Borneo
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US $3115
12 days
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Borneo small group adventure vacation
A 12-day Borneo tour to Sabah and Sarawak
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Sarawak, month by month
Our top Sarawak Vacation
Sarawak wildlife & beach vacation
Encounter an orangutan & hike through virgin rainforest
From
US $1773 to US $2250
10 days
ex flights
Small group travel:
2019: 6 Jun, 20 Jun, 4 Jul, 11 Jul, 25 Jul, 1 Aug, 8 Aug, 29 Aug, 12 Sep, 26 Sep, 10 Oct, 24 Oct, 21 Nov, 5 Dec, 19 Dec, 26 Dec
2020: 2 Jan, 30 Jan, 20 Feb, 5 Mar, 19 Mar, 26 Mar, 2 Apr, 9 Apr, 16 Apr, 23 Apr, 7 May, 21 May, 4 Jun, 18 Jun, 2 Jul, 9 Jul, 16 Jul, 30 Jul, 6 Aug, 13 Aug, 20 Aug, 27 Aug, 3 Sep, 10 Sep, 24 Sep, 8 Oct, 22 Oct, 19 Nov, 3 Dec, 17 Dec, 24 Dec
2019: 6 Jun, 20 Jun, 4 Jul, 11 Jul, 25 Jul, 1 Aug, 8 Aug, 29 Aug, 12 Sep, 26 Sep, 10 Oct, 24 Oct, 21 Nov, 5 Dec, 19 Dec, 26 Dec
2020: 2 Jan, 30 Jan, 20 Feb, 5 Mar, 19 Mar, 26 Mar, 2 Apr, 9 Apr, 16 Apr, 23 Apr, 7 May, 21 May, 4 Jun, 18 Jun, 2 Jul, 9 Jul, 16 Jul, 30 Jul, 6 Aug, 13 Aug, 20 Aug, 27 Aug, 3 Sep, 10 Sep, 24 Sep, 8 Oct, 22 Oct, 19 Nov, 3 Dec, 17 Dec, 24 Dec
Travel Team
If you'd like to chat about Sarawak or need help finding a vacation to suit you we're very happy to help.
What happens when in Sarawak
Harriet Whitmarsh, from our supplier The Great Traveler, shares her opinion on the best time to visit Sarawak: “The temperature in Sarawak is consistent and sits between 27 and 31 year-round, but November to February is the monsoon season, so rain is heavier, though the whole of Sarawak is subject to rainforest conditions, so it can rain at any given time. Outside of November and February, rain is a lot less frequent and it’s a lot lighter, but there is a high chance that it will rain at some point during your stay and when it does it will be a proper tropical rainforest shower, but almost instantly the clouds seem to part, the sun comes out, and it’s over as quick as it began. Apart from the monsoon, there isn’t really another distinctive season and the whole length of Sarawak plus most of Borneo is predictable like that.”
Festivals & events in Sarawak
Rainforest World Music Festival.
This jungle boogie takes place every year during the first half of July. Gorge yourself on local Dayak delicacies, wander round welcoming longhouses, and dance til dawn to sets played by all sorts of world music artists including, of course, headline act ‘Tarika’, who are seriously big Malaysia way. At the end of the three-day shindig no one has slept and everyone is filthy: it could almost be Glasto.
This jungle boogie takes place every year during the first half of July. Gorge yourself on local Dayak delicacies, wander round welcoming longhouses, and dance til dawn to sets played by all sorts of world music artists including, of course, headline act ‘Tarika’, who are seriously big Malaysia way. At the end of the three-day shindig no one has slept and everyone is filthy: it could almost be Glasto.
Responsible Travel would like to thank the Sarawak tourist board for their sponsorship of this guide
More about Sarawak
If you’re looking to learn all about Malaysia’s largest state then our Sarawak travel guide does just the job with a brief history of Sarawak as well as a 2 minute summary to help you travel like a local on your Sarawak vacation.
Make the most of your time by checking out our interactive map of highlights, travel times and suggested itineraries which will give you a much better idea as to where to go in Sarawak and what to do when you get there.
There's lots of things to do in Sarawak with Mulu National Park, Bako National Park and Gunung National Park all providing trekking and nature trails to help you understand everything from orangutan conservation to living like a local.
If you travel into the Central Highlands of Sarawak you'll find the Lun Bawang people living in a collection of villages known as Ba’kelalan, their culture and heritage at the core of community tourism in Sarawak.
There are some 30 Sarawak national parks, all different, all extraordinary although not all accessible - you have to keep a few secrets to yourself naturally, but our guide explains where to start your journey around the biodiverse beauties.
Sarawak adventure vacations release you into a truly spectacular natural landscape, one of dense rainforest and vibrant green plateaus snaked across by the toffee-coloured waters of the Sarawak River.
If the late, great Ella Fitzgerald were still singing on our mortal coil, she would almost certainly have graced the stage of the Rainforest World Music Festival in Sarawak, one of the most celebrated of its kind in the world.
Community led conservation projects are really a change in Sarawak, and these also provide some of the most fascinating and life affirming experiences for visitors keen to contribute to orangutan conservation efforts.
There are over twenty Important Bird Areas in Sarawak alone - really is birding bliss - and with a plethora of national parks too, the infrastructure allows lots of ways to go bird watching in Sarawak.
Sarawak is a truly unsurpassed destination to see the highly endangered orangutan in the wild in Batang Ai National Park, living symbiotically with the local Iban community which contributes to it's protection.
Exploring the culture in Sarawak is one of the key reasons to visit the Land of the Hornbills - tours here introduce you to riveting tribal customs, the heritage of the Brooke Dynasty, and many colourful festivals.
Discover the picturesque riverside gateway to Sarawak and Malaysian Borneo - Kuching: a romantic, sophisticated city that's just as rich with culture heritage as it is with colourful atmosphere.
It’s easily reached from both Kuala Lumpur and Singapore by air, and there is a great deal to see in a fairly compact area, so the benefits of a short tour to Sarawak are as clear as the waters of its many dive sites.
The illustrious Brooke dynasty heritage can be seen across Sarawak, from the historic wooden forts they built to protect their kingdom, to renowned museums and a beautiful palace by the river.
Sarawak wildlife ranges from the endangered orangutans that are found only here and Sumatra to big-nosed proboscis monkeys, rare Irrawaddy dolphins and sea turtles, found across some 30 protected areas.
Traveling in Sarawak with kids is all about finding things they’ll enjoy and learn from at the same time with cultural villages, Kuching Cat Museum and the Sarawak Caves in Gunung National Park all perfect activities.
If you’re searching for Sarawak travel advice then make sure you pay attention to the tips from our friends - we’ve published a few pearls of wisdom to help you travel safely with kids, and without.
Wildlife & environment issues are integral to responsible tourism in Sarawak - reforestation, volunteering responsibly and positive community tourism are just a few of the areas you’ll need to read about to travel better.
protection
Photo credits: [Page banner: charles taylor] [Temp chart - Sarawak River: Gido]
[RT recommends: Intrepid Navigator]
[Festivals and events: Rainforest World Music Festival]
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