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London to Sarawak: Kuching and Bako National Park

London → Kuching → Bako National Park

Kuching
"Kuching Sarawak Dewan-Undangan-Negeri-Sarawak-01.jpg" by CEphoto, Uwe Aranas, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons· licence
Kuching Skyline (Kuching)
Photo: Mike86 at English Wikipedia, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Riverside city, proboscis monkeys & longhouses Best season (general guide): Apr–Sep

Sarawak, on Borneo, has rainforest, wildlife and many cultures. This route spends four nights in Kuching and two in Bako National Park. From London you'll connect via Kuala Lumpur or Singapore to Kuching. Kuching is a calm city on the Sarawak River, with a waterfront promenade and old shophouses. Semenggoh Nature Reserve, outside the city, is home to semi-wild orangutans, often seen at feeding times.

How to pace it: Spend days one to four in Kuching: day one, the waterfront; day two, Semenggoh orangutans; day three, Sarawak Cultural Village; day four, markets and laksa. Then spend days five and six at Bako National Park: day five, boat to Bako; day six, jungle trails and night walk.

The Sarawak Cultural Village shows traditional houses of the region's peoples, and it hosts the Rainforest World Music Festival. Bako, the state's oldest national park, is reached by boat. Its trails pass beaches, cliffs and forest, and proboscis monkeys live here. Sarawak laksa, a spicy noodle soup, is the breakfast of choice. April to September is generally drier.

Good to know: Stay overnight in Bako for a night walk. Bring water, insect repellent and good shoes.

Kuching's waterfront is the centre of town life in the evenings, with food stalls and views of the river. Boats to Bako depend on the tide, so check the timetable at the jetty the day before. In the park, accommodation is basic, and it books up, so reserve ahead through the park office. Stay on marked trails and don't feed the monkeys or macaques, which can be aggressive. Kuching's markets are a good place to try local fruit and snacks. The rainy months can bring heavy showers, so pack a light rain jacket and quick-drying clothes.

Canada advises normal precautions in Malaysia (advisory updated 9 Oct 2026); its high-caution area on the east coast of Sabah is far from Sarawak. The US rates Malaysia Level 1 (issued 22 Feb 2026).

On a final evening in Kuching, a short river crossing by small boat gives a different view of the town lights.

Suggested outline

  1. London

    Start

  2. Kuching

    By air · 4 nights suggested

    A relaxed riverside city.

  3. Bako National Park

    By road and boat · 2 nights suggested

    Coastal rainforest with proboscis monkeys.

    Bako National Park
    "797 - Bako NationalparkPANORAMA.JPG" by Huettepe, CC BY-SA 3.0 de, via Wikimedia Commons· licence

Day by day

  1. Day 1 · Kuching — Arrive; the waterfront· London → Kuching (by air) — long-haul; may arrive the next calendar day
  2. Day 2 · Kuching — Semenggoh orangutans
  3. Day 3 · Kuching — Sarawak Cultural Village
  4. Day 4 · Kuching — Markets and laksa
  5. Day 5 · Bako National Park — Boat to Bako· Kuching → Bako National Park (by road and boat)
  6. Day 6 · Bako National Park — Jungle trails and night walk
  7. Day 7 · Bako National Park — Travel home from Bako National Park· Bako National Park → Kuching (by road and boat), then Kuching → London (by air)

A suggested pace only; expedition days are set by the operator.

Flights, leg by leg

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Kuching

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Bako National Park

Nearest airport: Kuching Search fares · Kuching ↗

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