After spending a day or two in Sarawak’s riverside capital Kuching getting some cultural foundation at the museums, start making your forays into this region’s vast wonderland. Make an excursion to one of the many longhouse communities, then hit the luscious beaches hidden in Bako National Park. Sibu is another good hub, with the towering Batang Rejang Mountain and Similajau National Park. Miri is the base for trekking into the cool reaches of the Kelabit Highlands and for quick jaunts into neighbouring Brunei. There’s literally a lifetime of amazing sites in Sarawak, so you better get started.

Bako National Park
Sarawak’s oldest park is a wonderland of strange plants, unbelievably massive trees and some of the world’s most exotic wildlife. Since it’s located just 30 minutes drive from Kuching, it’s easily accessible and well-developed. Sights such as bearded pigs and the bizarre proboscis monkey make this a top site.

Batang Ai National Park
This small but comprehensive park features some of Sarawak’s nicest rainforest within striking distance of Kuching. Wildlife includes local stars such as the hornbill, gibbons and orangutans, while longhouse tours are also a highlight here. Jungle treks, fishing trips and many other activities can be arranged within this exciting park.

Gunung Mulu National Park
If caves strike your fancy, you won’t want to miss a trip to the superlative Gunung Mulu, home to the planet’s largest cavern (Deer Cave), Southeast Asia’s longest cave (Clearwater Cave), and the most expansive natural chamber on earth (Sarawak Chamber). Some 18 caves await adventurous travellers in all levels of intensity. Tours are easily arranged in the town of Mulu.

Kuching
Widely considered one of the most attractive capitals in Southeast Asia, this city is a rich blend of history and modern evolution. The Sarawak River divides the city in two, with a Chinese-dominated commercial area on one bank and a distinctly Malay district on the other. Architectural relics of the White Raja era line the riverside, which is also home to a colourful bazaar. Plenty of great food and good hotels make Kuching an ideal base from which to start exploring Sarawak.

Niah Caves National Park
Between Miri and Bintulu is one of Sarawak’s smallest but most national famous parks. If you didn’t get enough underground adventure in Gunung Mulu, the Niah Caves rank among the region’s most popular attractions. At the centre of the park is the impressive Great Cave, a staggering cavern that is among the largest in the world. Prehistoric cave paintings and ancient coffins are a highlight of the Painted Cave. Located about 70 miles (115kms) south of Miri.

Santubong Fishing Village
More than just an amazing beach resort, Santubong has a wealth of ancient Hindu and Buddhist sites dating back thousands of years. Once a major centre of trade in the 7th century due to the vast gold deposits found in the area, this town has one of the best blends of history and outdoor recreation in Sarawak.

Browse the goods at Kuching’s wonderful Sunday Open Market. This colourful and intoxicating weekly market is perhaps the best single spot in Sarawak to find authentic quality handicrafts from the indigenous tribes. Beautiful textiles, beadwork, woodcarvings, and bamboo and rattan products are abundant and inexpensive here. Whether you want to buy or simply browse, the beauty of the creations will likely prove too tempting for your wallet.

Check out the world’s largest flower at Gunung Gading National Park. Just two hours drive west of Kuching is this vast park which covers 10,265 acres. The special highlight of Gunung Gading is the rare rafflesia, an unbelievably huge flower - the size of a refrigerator - which blooms periodically throughout the year. The surrounding rainforest with its seven stunning waterfalls and some of Sarawak’s most pristine untapped beaches also help to make this park an excellent destination.

Cruise one of the many rivers which crisscross Sarawak. Rivers are the transportation lifeline of Sarawak, used extensively by natives to travel between remote parts of the region. The Skrang River is one of the most popular for cruising due to its calm waters and mild rapids which carry travellers to the Iban longhouses which dot the riverbanks deep in the rainforest. The Iban are among the friendliest and most welcoming of Sarawak’s indigenous people.

Explore the underground majesty of Sarawak’s extensive cave networks. You don’t need to be an avid spelunker to enjoy an excursion into a limestone cave. Sarawak has some of the planet’s largest and most beautiful caverns, and many are well-developed for safe exploration. Gunung Mulu National Park has the greatest array of caving choices, but Niah Caves are a close second. Guided tours are geared towards every level of adventurous traveler; don’t miss this unique chance to see the underside of our world.

Follow in the footsteps of headhunters deep into the jungle at Gunung Mulu National Park. One of Sarawak’s best promoted and developed parks is full of amazing sights including the surreal Pinnacles, a stone forest of knifelike jagged limestone peaks towering high above the rainforest. Excellent caving, trekking and wildlife viewing are also highlights, and the best way to experience it all is by walking along the traditional tribal war path known as Headhunters’ Trail.

Get intimate with the natives on a longhouse tour. An excellent tour infrastructure exists to guide visitors to the villages of some of the region’s many indigenous tribes. These trips can last from a quick overnight stay to a two-week intensive exploration. A number of longhouses are located right next to Kuching, making for easy access. If you have the time however, try and visit one of the remote longhouses as the experience will be more intimate and less crowded. Eating, sleeping and enjoying traditional activities with a tribe always ranks high among travellers’ memories of Sarawak.

Hang out with your distant cousins at the Semenggoh Orangutan Sanctuary. Some of Sarawak’s most personable stars are the cute and intelligent orangutans which live throughout the region. Semenggoh is a rehabilitation centre for orphaned orangutans and other endangered wildlife. Visitors have the chance for hands-on play with these charismatic creatures, a unique experience.