3D3N Kuching Itinerary – An Adventure-Filled City just 90 Minutes from Singapore
- Travel Essentials
- Arrive in Kuching at night
- Spot orangutans at Semenggoh Wildlife Centre
- Kayak down the Sungai Sarawak Stream
- Annah Rais Longhouse
- Meals
- Explore the Fairy Cave
- Hike in Bako National Park
- Meals
- More of Bako National Park
- Meals
- Street Art Murals
- Waterfront
- Foot Massage at Mirage
- Direct flights From Singapore to Kuching
- Malaysia
- Useful Phrases in Bahasa Malayu
- Other Useful Info
- For more travel visuals, follow us on IG @TheTravelIntern
Surrounded by a concrete jungle day in and out, I often yearn for the outdoors and nature. With only 3 days to spare for a short getaway, I found just the perfect place to stretch out my limbs and get the adrenaline pumping.
In East Malaysia, there lies a lesser-known outdoor adventure playground disguised as a food paradise waiting for people to explore. Malay for “cat”, the city of Kuching has more than its cats that captivates.

Cradled by the dense rainforests of Borneo, Kuching flaunts her ecologically-rich flora and fauna, with a myriad of mini adventures for outdoor lovers. The best part is that it’s only a 90-minute flight away! A perfect quick getaway to get active and reconnect with nature.
Here’s our 3 days itinerary packed with outdoor and nature activities for the adventurous traveller.

Travel Essentials
Currency: Ringgit. SIM Card: 3/4G SIM Cards are easily available at the Kuching International Airport. If you have an existing (and unexpired) Malaysian SIM Card Western Malaysia, those will work in Kuching too.
Getting Around: Grab and Uber are aplenty in Kuching. Rates are cheaper than regular taxis.
*Pro-tip: Ask your local Grab drivers for recommendations. They often have loads of suggestions, from things to do to their favourite food haunts.
Arrive in Kuching at night
Upon arrival in Kuching at 9:55pm, we checked into our cosy accommodation, the Kuching Waterfront Lodge — a refurbished Chinese shophouse that looks almost like a museum with retained vintage furniture.

Credit: kuchingwaterfrontlodge.com
Kuching Waterfront Lodge Cost: Double room – RM90
Address: 15, Bishopsgate Street, Main Bazaar, 93000 Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia

As the night was still young, we headed to the retro-inspired The Barber Café & Bar for some food and drinks to fuel up for our adventures the next morning.
Drinks at The Barber Café & Bar Address: 74 Wayang Street, 93100 Kuching
Opening Hours: 4pm – 1:30am (Tue–Fri), 5pm – 1:30am (Sat & Sun), Closed on Mon.
If you prefer local delicacies such as kolo mee or sarawak laksa, there’s the 24-hour Open Air Market food centre that’s known for its good food that’s available round-the-clock, just the perfect spot for late-night supper!
24-hour food at Open Air Market
Address: Open Air Market, Jalan Power, 93000 Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia
Day 1
Spot orangutans at Semenggoh Wildlife Centre

Native to Borneo, the Bornean Orangutan is an endangered species of apes that have their habitat threatened by rapid urbanisation. Here you can find semi-wild orangutans that visit for extra food during the dry season.
We booked a tour package (Package C) with The Rucksack Rainforest Kayaking, which included a 2-way pickup from our accommodation to Semenggoh Wildlife Centre. The package also includes kayaking down Sungai Sarawak Kiri, a Longhouse tour, and lunch.

Do note that orangutan sightings are lower during the following months – between November to February when it’s the Monsoon seasons, and also during the fruiting months of March to June.
*Pro-tip: Bring along a pair of binoculars or cameras with good zoom lens, as the viewing platform is a distance away from where the orangutans hang.
Address: Jalan Tun Abang Haji Openg, Kuching 93000, Malaysia
Opening Hours: 8:30 am to 5 pm (visitors must leave by 4:45 pm)
Kayak down the Sungai Sarawak Stream




*Pro-tip (or note to future self): Booties will be the best footwear for a kayaking trip, not flip-flops.
Annah Rais Longhouse![east malaysia, malaysia, 3d3n kuching itinerary – an adventure-filled city just 90 minutes from singapore]()


A cage hung from the ceiling with a display of real human skulls — centuries-old prized possessions of headhunters who came home victorious from their fights
The Annah Rais Longhouse is home to the indigenous head-hunting tribal community of Sarawak. In case you’re wondering about the legitimacy of head-hunters in Sabah and Sarawak, yes, head-hunters are real, but head-hunting is no longer practised today.


It’s hard to imagine that this lazy village was once home to people of such colourful albeit gruesome traditions and practices in the past. While the village still houses the community, parts of it have been commercialised as a tourist attraction. There’s not much to do here, so if you’re rushing for time, we recommend getting the other packages.
Cost: RM288 per pax for our Kayak and Tour Package C
Meals

Sarawak Laksa from Chong Choon Cafe
Breakfast at Chong Choon Cafe Address: 275 Jalan Chan Chin Ann, 93100 Kuching
Opening Hours: 630am to 12pm (Closed on Tue)
Lunch at Bidayuh Village
Dinner at RJ Ayam Bakar Address: 291 Jalan Abell, 93100 Kuching
Opening Hours: 10am – 2am daily
Day 2
Explore the Fairy Cave
![east malaysia, malaysia, 3d3n kuching itinerary – an adventure-filled city just 90 minutes from singapore]()

While it’s not difficult to get Grab or Uber in Kuching, you may need to find a private driver to drive you to Bau — a region one-hour away from Kuching city centre. We left the contact details of our friendly private driver below, so help us say hi (Edelyn and Hendric) if you find him. 😀
Bau is famous for the Fairy Cave (Gua Kapor/Gua Pari), a limestone cave with an interesting stalagmite structure at the entrance that resembles a Chinese deity, hence the name “Fairy Caves”.


*Pro-tip: Bring along insect repellent, you can thank us later.
Driver contact: Mr. Cyril Bero (WhatsApp +60109403050) Address:94000 Bau, Sarawak, Malaysia Opening Hours: 8:30 am – 4 pm
Prices: Entrance fee of RM5 per pax
Hike in Bako National Park




We did two different trails in a day and felt really good being in nature, away from technology and other first-world disturbances. Mobile network is limited, so stay alert and be aware of your surroundings. The trails are properly marked, and the paths are obvious, so there shouldn’t be any problems during the hikes.







*Pro-tip: Bring headlamps along to light up the otherwise pitch-black path.
After a fantastic yet exhausting day spent ogling at nature, we headed back to our lodge and crashed for the next eight hours. There’s limited wifi at the headquarters if you need to get connected for whatever reason.

Transportation: Public Bus from city centre to Bako Ferry Terminal — RM3.50 per pax Boat to Bako National Island from Bako Ferry Terminal on Mainland — RM20 per pax (single way)
Private boat from Bako National Park back to Ferry Terminal — RM120 per boat.
Accommodation: 3-bed/4-bed room — RM100 per night Whole lodge with two 3-bedded rooms: RM150 per night
Check out more rooming and bedding options at the official site.
Meals

Bangers and Mash from Feast & Furious Cafe
Breakfast at Feast & Furious Cafe Address: 244 Jalan Tunku Abdul Rahman, 93100 Kuching
Opening Hours: 7:30am – 11:30pm daily
Lunch at Hakka Lui Cha Cost: RM6 for the regular bowl; RM7 for the Large Address:149 Jalan Pisang Barat, 93400 Kuching
Opening hours: 10am to 2pm (Closed on SUN)
Dinner at Bako National Park’s Canteen
Day 3
More of Bako National Park

Thereafter, we hopped onto the next boat out of Bako National Park and made our way back to the city. After a whole day of hiking, we took things slow and sashayed around the city.
Meals

Ta Wan Kung’s kolo mee
Lunch at Ta Wan Kung Address: Lot285, Jalan Datuk Wee Kheng Chiang, 93450 Kuching
Opening Hours: 7am to 1pm daily

Salted Egg fried kway teow from 333 Charcoal Fried Kway Teow

BBQ Pork Rice from 333 Charcoal Fried Kway Teow
Dinner at 333 Charcoal Fried Kway Teow Address: 333 Jalan Chawan 13, Taman Supreme, 93300 Kuching.
Opening Hours: 6pm to 10pm (Closed on SUN)
Check out our food adventure on 13 things to eat in Kuching!
Street Art Murals



Waterfront



At around 5-6pm, bazaars get set up, and kids play with bubbles in front of the setting sun.
Foot Massage at Mirage![east malaysia, malaysia, 3d3n kuching itinerary – an adventure-filled city just 90 minutes from singapore]()

A holiday in South East Asia just isn’t complete without a massage. After all the walking, our sore calf muscles sure deserved one. We went to Mirage Spa for an hour of rejuvenating foot & shoulder massage to soothe those aching muscles!
Price: RM58 for 60mins Address: Lot 151 Sect 48 KTLD, Jalan Padungan Lama, 93100 Kuching
Opening Hours: 10 am – 10 pm (daily)
As the orange yolk sets and fades slowly into the horizon, we made our way to the airport, bidding Kuching goodbye for 3 days of non-stop fun.
Direct flights From Singapore to Kuching
Scoot now flies direct from Singapore to Kuching daily (starting 29 October 2017)! With departure and return arrival timings scheduled in the evening, we found that they are the perfect flights to maximise a quick getaway. Hop on a plane after work, play for 3 full days, return at night, and be ready to get back to work the next day. No need to take additional days of annual leaves just because of awkward flight timings.
Also, with roomy seats comparable to full-service airlines, a flight on Scoot is sure to be a comfortable one!
Malaysia
Similarly to Singapore, Malaysia is a country known for her diverse cultures, languages, and gastronomic experiences. Malaysia also provides endless vacation options no matter if you are looking for a luxury holiday getaway or an immersion in nature.
Useful Phrases in Bahasa Malayu
Hello/Greetings | Apa kabar? |
Thank you | Terima kasih |
Please | Tolong |
Sorry | Ma’af |
Do you speak English? | Boleh anda cakap bahasa Inggeris? |
Good | Bagus |
Other Useful Info
Time zone of Kuching, Sarawak | +8 hours (Same as Singapore) |
Telephone code | +60 |
Currency | RM – Malaysia Ringgit (MYR) |
Power plug | Type G – 240V 50Hz (Same as Singapore) |
For more travel visuals, follow us on IG @TheTravelIntern
A post shared by The Travel Intern (@thetravelintern) on Sep 23, 2017 at 2:21am PDT
This post was brought to you by Scoot.