If you want to visit a modern Asian city surrounded by tropical jungles, then it’s time to go to Kuching, Malaysia. Located on the banks of a picturesque river, the capital of the Malaysian state of Sarawak is a unique combination of the latest architectural buildings and structures of the colonial era, parks and bustling markets, historical temples and luxury hotels.
It is often difficult for tourists to decide which city is best to stay in — Kuching or Kota Kinabalu. And many of them still make a choice in favor of the first option. After all, the city of Kuching with its numerous night clubs and shopping centers, a variety of cultural attractions and unique nature reserves is an unexpected find for most travelers.
General information
Geographically, Malaysia is divided into two parts: peninsular, located next to Thailand, and island, adjacent to Indonesia and Brunei. It was on the island section of the country (Borneo Island) that the city of Kuching grew up. Located 32 km from the South China Sea, it is one of the ten largest cities in Malaysia, with a population of 570 thousand people. Most of the residents of the capital Sarawak profess Islam, but here you can often meet representatives of Buddhism and Christianity. The city’s population is a mix of Malays, Chinese, Dayaks and Indians.
Kuching means “cat” in Malay, which is why it is often called cat city. Moreover, the local population really loves cats and expresses their respect to them in the form of various symbols: in the vicinity you can find many stone sculptures and graffiti depicting this animal. Kuching even has a Cat Museum. This love for these creatures is explained by the beliefs of local residents, who believe that the cat brings happiness and harmony to life.
Sarawak State is quite isolated from the peninsular part of Malaysia. Upon arrival here, you will receive an additional stamp in your passport. Here, even the language is slightly different from the generally accepted one: the locals speak a special dialect of Malay. In general, Kuching is quite a lively and clean city, from which you can start your journey in Malaysia.
Price for accommodation and meals
Kuching in Malaysia can be praised for the high level of development of its tourist infrastructure. Hotels, restaurants and night clubs for every taste and pocket are waiting for tourists almost at every turn.
Hotels
Along with luxury hotels, there are cheap hostels and guesthouses in the city, where prices for a night in a double room range from $11-15. In Kuching, there are also many three-star hotels that set the cost of living in the range of $25-50 per night for two. At the same time, some concepts include free breakfasts in the prices indicated.
Food
In Sarawak’s capital, you will find many cafes and restaurants serving both local cuisine and Chinese, Indonesian, Japanese and Indian dishes. At the same time, Malay treats in this city are slightly different from the generally accepted dishes in Malaysia. Only here you will be able to taste the real Sarawak Laksa stew-a dish made from a mixture of seafood, vegetables and fruits, generously seasoned with hot sauce.
Special attention should be paid to the curious salad “umai” of chilled fish with onions and chili peppers, drizzled with lime juice. And, of course, in Kuching, as in any other Asian city, lunch is not complete without noodles: in the local version, it is supplemented with meatballs and meat slices.
No doubt, in the city surroundings you can find restaurants with the usual European cuisine, as well as a variety of pizzerias and fast food outlets. In order to taste high-quality delicious dishes, we recommend visiting the following establishments:
- Indah Cafe Art & Event Space
- Lepau Restaurant
- Munch Cafe
- Zinc Restaurant and Bar
- Top Spot Food Court
- Balkanico Pizza
A snack in an inexpensive cafe will cost $2.5 per person, and for a three-course lunch for two in a mid-level restaurant, you will have to pay $15. You can have a snack in fast food here for $3,7. Prices for drinks in the cafe:
- Imported beer (0.33) – $3.6
- A cup of cappuccino – $2.5
- Pepsi (0.33) – $0.6
- Water (0.33) – $0.35
Kota Kinabalu-attractions, prices and features of the city
Attractions and entertainment
If you happen to visit Kuching, then you will definitely not be bored: after all, the city is rich in attractions and offers a lot of entertainment activities that will be a pleasant decoration of the trip. What are the first cultural and historical sites to visit here?
Attractions
- City embankment. Kuching’s business card is located in the heart of the city. The place is suitable for unhurried hiking, offering views of the city’s landscapes. Here you can go for a boat ride or a speedboat ride.
- Chinese temple of Tua Pek Kong. Built by the first Chinese colonists, the most valuable cultural monument is located right in the center of the city embankment. The hospitable staff of the temple will help you perform the traditional ritual-to light incense and thereby attract financial luck.
- Kuching Mosque. Beautiful pink mosque, especially attractive in night light. It is located in the very center, a five-minute walk from the embankment.
- Carpenter Street. A secluded historical location with a rich selection of bars and restaurants. The street is quite calm, so it is good for tourist walks.
- The main monument to cats. It is also located in the very center of the embankment near the Margarita Hotel. Especially beautiful shots on the background of the monument can be captured during sunset.
- Sarawak State Government Assembly Building in Malaysia. The ultramodern structure stands out from the general architectural background. The building is especially beautiful in the evening hours, when its golden illumination turns on. You can get here by boat, crossing to the opposite shore from the central embankment.
Entertainments
Bako National Park
This is one of the most unique places in Malaysia, where everyone can explore the nature of the jungle and get to know its inhabitants. The extensive Bako Trail system consists of 16 color-coded jungle paths that offer a wide variety of hiking options. Outdoor enthusiasts can opt for full-day jungle hikes or overnight hikes, while those who prefer to relax can opt for a short walk through the forest.
The star of Bako National Park is undoubtedly the nose monkey, a pot-bellied rainforest comedian. But the star has an auxiliary composition: lion-tailed macaque, Maned thin-bodied or silver langur, monitor lizards and squirrels, as well as flying lemurs that glide from tree to tree.
The park is located 38 km from Kuching, and it is quite easy to get there. Find bus # 1 at the parking lot to Bako village (runs every hour), which drops passengers off at the pier, and then move to the boat, ready to take tourists to the designated point for $10.
The entrance fee to the reserve is 20 ringgit for adults and 7 for children from 6 to 18 years old (up to 6 years old is free).
For more information about this and other national parks in the Sarawak region of Malaysia, please visit the official website: https://sarawakforestry.com/.
Semenggoh Nature Reserve
Back in 1975, it was founded as a shelter for orangutans who were injured, orphaned, or kept in captivity as illegal pets. Currently, the center serves as a habitat for orangutans, as well as a place where visitors can get acquainted with rare endangered species. This wildlife center is home to a thriving population of healthy adolescent and young adult semi-feral orangutans. Most of the time they roam the forest, but they are taught to return to the center during feeding, where they can get food from the caretakers.
The center is located 24 km from Kuching, and you can get here by bus for $1 (6, 6A, 6B, 6C) from Chin Lian Long station.
- The park is open in the morning from 8: 00 to 10: 00 and in the afternoon from 14: 00 to 16: 00.
- The entrance fee is 10 ringgit for adults and 5 ringgit for children aged 6-18.
- Official website: https://semenggoh.my/.
Jong’s Crocodile Farm & Zoo
It is a full-fledged zoo, where different species of crocodiles, birds and fish live, as well as the world’s smallest Malay bear. The main attraction of the farm is the crocodile feeding show, which takes place twice a day-at 11: 00 and 15: 00. The park is located 20 km south-east of the city.
- The ticket price for an adult is RM 24, for a child – RM 12.
- Opening hours:9: 00-17: 00 daily.
- Website: www.jongscrocodile.com.
Sarawak Cultural Village
This is a picturesque area with rivers and ponds, where visitors can get acquainted with the way of life of the Malays. On the territory there are 8 houses with typical interiors, where women bake, spin and play national instruments. This is a kind of live installation museum, where a dance performance is also held twice a day (at 11: 00 and 16: 00). Here you can shoot arrows and play the local game “top”. The village is located about 30 km north of Kuching, and the most convenient way to get here is by taxi.
- The entrance fee is RM 54 if purchased on the website and 60 if purchased at the ticket office, for children — RM 27 (30 at the ticket office).
- Opening hours: 9: 00-17: 00.
- Website: https://scv.com.my/.
Fairy Caves
A huge grotto, formed in a limestone mountain, is located at an altitude of 20 meters above ground level. A very beautiful and majestic cave in Malaysia is a must-see. The property is located behind the village of Bau, 30 km from Kuching. You can get here by taxi or by rented transport.
- The entrance fee is RM 5.
- Opening hours: 8: 30 -16: 00.
Beaches
Although Kuching itself is not washed by sea waters, its proximity to the South China Sea provides tourists with the opportunity to relax on the picturesque beaches, some of the best in Malaysia.
Damai Beach
Opens the top beaches of Kuching in Malaysia. At the height of the season, hundreds of tourists from all over the world rest here. It is located about 30 km north of the city. On the periphery of the beach there are three luxury hotels, restaurants and cafes where you can always have a snack after swimming and sunbathing. During the rainy season, there are large waves and a cluster of jellyfish.
But with the end of bad weather, the beach blooms and appears before tourists in all its glory. Its clear white sand, clear blue waters, framed by tropical palm trees, create a paradisiacal atmosphere for vacationers. This is a very beautiful and convenient beach for a vacation, but due to its popularity, it is quite crowded.
Santubong Beach
Less well-known among the beaches of Kuching, it is located 25 km north of the city and 6 km south of Damai Beach. The small popularity of Santubong is explained by the poor choice of housing on its territory: there are no hotels here, but there are a couple of guesthouses. There are no fancy restaurants in the vicinity of the beach, but there are several cafes that will not let you go hungry. Light sand, beautiful turquoise water, calmness and the absence of crowds of tourists-that’s what really makes this place valuable.
Talang Talang Islands
The sandy beaches of Palau Talan Besar and Palau Talang Kesil, located a 30-minute drive from the coast of Sematan in southwestern Sarawak, surprise not only with their clear waters, but also with their rich underwater world. This is a real paradise for divers and divers, as well as for lovers of hotel holidays. The islands have become a haven for green turtles listed in the Red Book. The developed tourist infrastructure of this area allows you to comfortably enjoy an exotic holiday.
Weather and climate
Since Kuching is located in the southern latitudes, its climate is characterized by a mild equatorial character. Throughout the year, the temperature in the city remains approximately at the same level. The average daytime temperature ranges from 30-33 °C, and the nighttime temperature ranges from 23-24 °C. However, the period from November to February is considered the rainy season. Therefore, the period from March to October is considered more suitable for visiting Kuching, Malaysia.
| Month | Average daytime temperature | Average temperature at night | Water temperature | Number of sunny days | Daylight length | Number of rainy days |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 30,4 °C | 23,8 °C | 28,5 °C | 3 | 12 | 6 |
| february | 30 °C | 23,5 °C | 28,1 °C | 3 | 12,1 | 7 |
| March | 31 °C | 23,7 °C | 28,8 °C | 7 | 12,1 | 6 |
| april | 32 °C | 24 °C | 29,5 °C | 7 | 12,1 | 7 |
| May | 32,7 °C | 24,5 °C | 30,1 °C | 11 | 12,2 | 6 |
| June | 33 °C | 24,3 °C | 30,2 °C | 11 | 12,2 | 4 |
| July | 33 °C | 24 °C | 30 °C | 14 | 12,2 | 3 |
| august | 33 °C | 24,5 °C | 29,8 °C | 10 | 12,1 | 7 |
| september | 33 °C | 24,6 °C | 29,4 °C | 10 | 12,1 | 8 |
| october | 32,7 °C | 24,4 °C | 29,5 °C | 9 | 12,1 | 10 |
| November | 31,6 °C | 24,2 °C | 29,6 °C | 4 | 12 | 14 |
| december | 31 °C | 24 °C | 29 °C | 4 | 12 | 11 |
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