Malaysia’s largest state is the rainforest-saturated region of Borneo known as Sarawak. Indonesia’s Kalimantan provinces, the eastern state of Malaysian Sabah and the small kingdom of Brunei share this massive island, but it’s Sarawak that receives the most attention. Almost as large as the entire peninsula of Malaysia, Sarawak is a land of impenetrable jungle, dense mountains, long rivers and some of the planet’s most bizarre and fascinating wildlife.

This is the land of the legendary White Rajas, orangutans and the elusive hornbill. Visitors to this ‘land of the lost’ will discover the world’s largest flower, Rafflesia arnoldii; insect-eating plants; flying squirrels; and tiny deer the size of housecats. Most of these exotic creatures live deep in the unpopulated interior of Sarawak, but with 10 national parks and four wildlife reserves, intrepid travellers can get right into the thick of things without too much effort.

A few of the parks are located just outside the capital Kuching for those short on time, but if you want some serious adventure head to one of Sarawak’s many rivers to the northern reaches of the province. Here ancient cave systems, remote parks and rarely seen indigenous tribes await.

Just as amazing as the nature are the 27 different indigenous groups which call Sarawak home. Head hunters and cannibals are (mostly) a thing of the past. Nowadays the wonderfully colourful and traditional tribes that live along the rivers and in the jungle provide once-in-a-lifetime opportunities to see a facet of humanity that is quickly disappearing. The long, wide rivers of Sarawak provide access to the popular longhouse treks, where explorers can stay with a tribe and experience life from their uniquely natural point of view.

Nearly every visitor to Sarawak starts their adventure in the capital Kuching, a small but strikingly sophisticated urban enclave. This is a good place to introduce yourself to the wonders of Sarawak through the city’s museums, historical attractions and cultural exhibitions. This is also where you can plan your first excursion into the wilds of this region of Borneo. Half of Sarawak’s population is made up of indigenous people, with Malays, Indians, Chinese and a smattering of Europeans making up the rest.

Accommodation in the national parks includes comfortable chalets, which can be booked through the National Parks and Wildlife office in advance. The capital offers a wide selection of mid-range and upscale hotels, many of which are within walking distance of the main sights.

There is just enough infrastructure in Sarawak to make travelling relatively comfortable. Apart from treks into the national parks, travellers can check out coastal villages such as Pandan and Sematan or the beaches of Bako National Park. Simply catch a flight into Kuching from a regional hub and get started. Get here quick: Sarawak is one of the last great mysterious places on the planet.

Sarawak first came to the attention of Westerners in 1839, when the English adventurer James Brooke made his way to this untravelled corner of Southeast Asia, known as Borneo. After a long period of wandering, Brooke met the Sultan of Brunei who told him of the myriad tribes living in the south of his kingdom that were constantly warring with each other and his small sultanate. This ceaseless fighting disrupted the peace of the sultan’s kingdom, but he could not control them.