Sarawak travel advice
Weather advice
Harriet Whitmarsh, from our supplier, The Great Projects shares her tips on coping with rain showers: “The weather in Sarawak is predictable in terms of temperature, but it can be unpredictable in terms of rainfall – the likelihood is that you will experience a short, sharp shower at some point during your visit. You can easily take cover in the main towns, as the craft shops and stalls there are covered, but it’s also handy to pack a small umbrella because when the rain does come down it comes down heavily. It’s handy to have a good waterproof jacket with a hood for rainforest and national park trails and I’d also recommend taking a cover for your backpack. I always take small sealable plastic bags to put my phone and money in because if it rains when you’re trekking your backpack can get wet in places even with a cover on”
Responsible souvenir advice
Stef Studley, from our partner, Regent Vacations shares her advice on how to buy souvenirs responsibly: “Avoid buying any animal products that are obviously endangered – things like turtle shells and crocodile skins. There is bit of a hidden market for this type of ‘souvenir’ in Sarawak and there’s a big Chinese population, so traditional Chinese medicine has entered the conscience of the State. If tourists show an interest in these products and are willing to pay money for them, the demand will be met with supply, which is never a good thing where animals – endangered or not – are concerned. Stick to buying local handicrafts like woven baskets and bracelets.”Food advice
Harriet Whitmarsh shares her tips on eating in Sarawak: “The most popular food in Sarawak is ‘roti canai’ – an Indian flatbread served with daal, different kinds of curries or mixed sambal with lots of chili. The defining flavours are oyster sauce, sesame and soy and they eat a lot of laksa too, which is a broth is made with a paste of sambal, sour tamarind, galangal, lemongrass, herbs and spices, chicken stock and coconut milk. My favorite thing to eat in Sarawak is what we call ‘morning glory’ here and that they call ‘kangkong’; it’s a leafy green fern and Kuching is the absolute best place to eat it. They cook it in sesame and soy and it’s delicious - you can eat it as a dish in itself easily and things like bean curd are readily available too, so it’s very easy to be a vegetarian.”
Sarawak wildlife & beach vacation
Encounter orangutans and hike through virgin rainforest
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Itinerary advice
Stef Studley shares her advice on choosing the right Sarawak itinerary: “Trekking between lodges in the Batang Ai National Park to help with the orangutan nesting research is a very interesting itinerary for people that want to be a bit more involved with Sarawak’s wildlife, but the accommodation is basic. The other thing that not everyone knows about is staying overnight in Bako National Park; historically, the problem has been that the accommodation in Bako was beyond terrible, but they’ve just built some new accommodation that is a lot better. If you stay overnight, you get so much more time because you don’t have to work with the sea tides to get in and out of the park and you can do early morning and night walks – there is so much wildlife to see and it’s all much more active at dawn and dusk.”Health & safety in Sarawak
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Sarawak tips from our travelers
At Responsible Travel, we think the best people to advise our travelers are often... other travelers. They always return from our tours with packing tips, weather reports, ideas about what to do - and opinions about what not to.
We have selected some of the most useful Sarawak travel tips that our guests have provided over the years to help you make the very most of your vacation - and the space inside your suitcase.
We have selected some of the most useful Sarawak travel tips that our guests have provided over the years to help you make the very most of your vacation - and the space inside your suitcase.
Listen to the guides for guidance and information about the animals. Respect the fact that you're a guest in the home of a variety of wild animals![]()
- Fiona Trolley
The infrastructure and facilities are a lot more westernised than I was expecting, don't go too overboard on packing lots of thing you don't think you can buy. - Kirsty Howland
Take an open mind and enjoy every moment. - Michelle Blois
Take lots of memory for your camera as there will be lots of things to photograph. - Antony Stanton
Be prepared to dress for all weathers from heavy rain to bright sunshine. - Claire Onody
Take an open mind and enjoy every moment. - Michelle Blois
Take lots of memory for your camera as there will be lots of things to photograph. - Antony Stanton
Be prepared to dress for all weathers from heavy rain to bright sunshine. - Claire Onody
Talk to the local people - they have so much passion and many stories to tell.![]()
- Deanne Ward-Thompson
To get the best out of everything it's important to be prompt and prepared. The organisation was very good, so put any cares or concerns to one side and sit back and enjoy. - Jonathan Reed-Lethbridge
It says you'll get an adventure and you do. Don't expect your home comforts here. - Penny Earle
Be as mentally, physically and emotionally healthy as you can so you can put 100% effort into your adventure - it is priceless. - Sherryn Page
Many animals are high up and difficult to see. We knew exactly what we were going to and thought the experience was unbelievable, but some people hadn't expected this and were disappointed. - Gillian Slater
It says you'll get an adventure and you do. Don't expect your home comforts here. - Penny Earle
Be as mentally, physically and emotionally healthy as you can so you can put 100% effort into your adventure - it is priceless. - Sherryn Page
Many animals are high up and difficult to see. We knew exactly what we were going to and thought the experience was unbelievable, but some people hadn't expected this and were disappointed. - Gillian Slater
Responsible Travel would like to thank the Sarawak tourist board for their sponsorship of this guide
More Sarawak articles
Learn the best time to visit Sarawak in terms of the weather with our practical month by month guide.
Learn all you need to know about traveling in Malaysia’s largest state with our useful Sarawak travel guide.
Make the most of your time in Sarawak with our map of highlights and some suggested itineraries.
Exploring the fascinating culture in Sarawak is one of the key reasons you should visit the Land of the Hornbills.
There are an incredible 30 national parks in Sarawak, all of them impressive in very different ways.
Community led conservation projects in Sarawak offer you a memorable experience.
Sarawak wildlife ranges from endangered orangutans to proboscis monkeys and sea turtles.
Discover the picturesque riverside gateway to Sarawak and Malaysian Borneo - Kuching.
Batang Ai National Park is a superb place to see endangered orangutan in the wild.
Sibu is the gateway to the Rajang river basin, which offers a distinct tribal culture.
The fascinating heritage of the Brooke dynasty can be seen across Sarawak.
The culture and heritage of the Lun Bawang people is at the core of Sarawak community tourism.
Traveling in Sarawak with kids involves activities they'll enjoy and learn from at the same time.
Narrowing our favorite Sarawak trips down to just ten was a tricky business, but we finally managed...just.
Wildlife issues are integral to responsible tourism in Sarawak - read on to learn more.
The joys of a short tour to Sarawak are as clear as the waters of its many dive sites.
With over 20 Important Bird Areas and plenty of national parks too, Sarawak is birdwatching bliss.
Sarawak multi activity vacations explore stunning natural landscapes and tribal culture.
Sarawak adventure vacations take you into some of Asia's most spectacular natural landscapes.
Sarawak's Rainforest World Music Festival draws musicians from around the world.
