Nearly every traveller to Sarawak arrives by plane, and the capital Kuching provides the most convenient entry point. Although most of the flights originate domestically from Kuala Lumpur or Kota Kinabalu, there are a couple of direct international flights from Hong Kong and Perth. Within Sarawak itself, Kuching handles daily flights from Miri, Sibu and Bintulu. Malaysian Airlines and AirAsia provide the majority of services.

Kuching’s small airport has been undergoing some well-needed upgrades, helping to keep Sarawak on course to becoming one of the star destinations in Southeast Asia. Visitors will find basic but essential amenities in the terminal, such as a currency exchange kiosk, restaurants and shops. Taxis provide the only means of transportation from the airport to your destination and use a coupon system priced according to zones. Taxi coupons can be bought at the desk outside the Arrivals hall.

Sarawak shares land borders with Indonesian Kalimantan, Malaysian Sabah and the State of Brunei, all of which have open borders for international travellers. Sarawak is a big place, and its roads are rather primitive compared to other parts of Malaysia. Internal flights offer the quickest and most convenient way to get from one end of the state to the other. A one-hour flight from Kuching in the west to Miri in the east takes a gruelling 14 hours by bus. Malaysia Airlines, AirAsia and MASWings provide rural flights, which mainly run between Kuching, Bintulu, Sibu and Miri.

Direct international buses operate from Pontianak in Indonesia to Kuching, as well as Kota Kinabalu in Sabah to Lawas in the northeastern part of Sarawak. Travellers coming from Brunei can catch a direct bus to Miri. Most of the towns in Sarawak are connected by express buses, though distances between cities are invariably long and travelling conditions can vary widely depending on the weather, road conditions and other uncontrollable factors.

The dozens of large rivers which cover Sarawak provide another convenient form of transport. Although boats are mainly used by locals, they offer a more adventurous way to travel around the region. Faster than buses and much cheaper than planes, there is a risk factor with captains commonly speeding between debris and sand bars. The most popular boat routes run between Kuching and Sibu, and Sibu and Kapit. Driving yourself in Sarawak in a rented car is not recommended.

Most of Sarawak’s larger towns have taxis and local buses which service both the city centre and the surrounding rural districts. Taxis don’t use meters, so be sure and settle on the fare before starting off. Simply flag one down when you need a ride. Drivers can also be hired for the day if you want to do some sightseeing. Kuching is best explored by foot, especially the riverside area and Chinatown, the two main tourist districts.