MY · Sarawak · 1.13°N 111.88°E

batang ai

Longboat across a dam lake to Iban longhouses and wild orangutans.

Best time
Any time of year. It's wettest from around November to February, when the trails get muddy.
How long
3 days, 2 nights
Getting there
Fly from KL to Kuching (about 1 hour 45 minutes), then about 4–5 hours by road to the jetty at the dam. From there it's about 40 minutes by longboat to the park HQ.
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MY · Sarawakbatang ai1.13°N 111.88°Egowherelah.com
Dear group chat,Longboat across a dam lake to Iban longhouses and wild orangutans.— gowherelahTo: whoever’s drivingBatang AiMY, Sarawak
KLbatang ai
≈ 1,154 km from KL, as the crow flies
Short walk up behind Hilton Batang Ai will lead to this view.

Photo: Hashvina · CC BY-SA 4.0

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Photos: Wikimedia Commons, credited on each.

A national park around the lake created by the Batang Ai hydroelectric dam, in Iban country near the Kalimantan border. You reach it by longboat, and the forests hold wild orangutans, gibbons and hornbills, with Iban longhouses along the rivers.

Makan

  1. Ayam pansuhChicken cooked in bamboo over a fire, often served at longhouses.Map ↗
  2. MidinCrunchy jungle fern stir-fried with garlic or belacan, a Sarawak staple.Map ↗
  3. TuakIban rice wine, offered to guests. It's fine to decline politely.Map ↗

Things to do

  1. Longboat across the lakeThe ride past drowned valleys and forested ridges is the start of the adventure.Map ↗
  2. Orangutan treksGuided treks into forest with one of Sarawak's bigger wild orangutan populations. Sightings aren't guaranteed.Map ↗
  3. Iban longhouse staySpend a night at a longhouse, share a meal and see daily life on the river.Map ↗
  4. Jungle riversSwim and picnic in clear streams upriver of the lake.Map ↗

Good to know

  • Book through a resort or tour operator with licensed local guides. There are few facilities in the park.
  • At a longhouse, take your shoes off at the door, bring a small gift and ask before photographing people.
  • Bring leech socks, rain gear and a dry bag for the boat.

Last checked October 2026. Things change, so check opening times, fees and transport before you go.