kuching in 3 days, 2 nights
The old town and the waterfront on the first day, a morning by boat to Bako National Park on the second, and Sarawak laksa followed by the orangutans at Semenggoh before the flight home.
Day 1 Old town and the waterfront
- Morning
- Fly from KL, about 1 hour 45 minutes, and check in near the waterfront.
- Lunch
- Kolo mee at a kopitiam near the old town: springy noodles in shallot oil with char siu.
- Afternoon
- Walk Main Bazaar and Carpenter Street, the old shophouse streets along and behind the waterfront, for antiques and handicrafts.
- Evening
- Walk the waterfront at sunset and cross the Darul Hana bridge over the river and back.
- Night
- Dinner at a Sarawakian restaurant: midin stir-fried with belacan, and ayam pansuh cooked in bamboo.
Day 2 Bako by boat
- Morning
- Leave early: it's about 45 minutes by car to the Bako jetty, then about 20 minutes by boat. Walk one of the shorter trails and look for proboscis monkeys around the park HQ and the beach.
- Lunch
- Eat at the park canteen near the HQ, or bring a packed lunch. Keep food out of reach of the macaques.
- Afternoon
- Take the boat back before the tide drops, then rest at the hotel.
- Evening
- Seafood dinner at Top Spot, the rooftop food court off Jalan Padungan.
Day 3 Laksa and orangutans
- Morning
- Sarawak laksa for breakfast, then drive about 40 minutes south to Semenggoh Wildlife Centre for the morning feeding. Stay quiet and keep your distance if the orangutans come in.
- Lunch
- Back in town for a last bowl of kolo mee, and pick up kek lapis to take home.
- Afternoon
- Fly home. The airport is about 20 minutes from the city centre.
Good to know
- Sarawak runs its own immigration checks, so bring your MyKad even though it's a domestic flight.
- Bako's boats depend on the tide, and you may wade ashore. Wear sandals, go early and agree a pick-up time with the boatman.
- Orangutan sightings at Semenggoh aren't guaranteed, especially in fruiting season.