MY · Sarawak · 2.90°N 112.08°E

mukah

Melanau heartland: umai, sago and the Kaul festival by the sea.

Best time
April, when the Kaul festival is usually held. Otherwise any time; it's wettest from around November to February.
How long
1–2 days
Getting there
Fly from KL to Sibu (about 2 hours), then about 2–2.5 hours by road. Short flights also link Mukah with Kuching and Miri.
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MY · Sarawakmukah2.90°N 112.08°Egowherelah.com
Dear group chat,Melanau heartland: umai, sago and the Kaul festival by the sea.— gowherelahTo: whoever’s drivingMukahMY, Sarawak
KLmukah
≈ 1,154 km from KL, as the crow flies
Mukah, Sarawak, Malaysia

Photo: Steve130295 · CC BY-SA 4.0

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Photos: Wikimedia Commons, credited on each.

A breezy coastal town and the heart of Melanau culture, on Sarawak's central coast. The Melanau are known for sago and for umai, and the town is at its liveliest during the Kaul festival by the sea.

Makan

  1. UmaiRaw fish sliced thin and tossed with lime, chilli and shallots, the Melanau signature dish.Map ↗
  2. Sago pearlsSmall toasted sago balls, eaten with umai or on their own.Map ↗
  3. TebaloiThin, crunchy sago and coconut biscuits, the classic thing to bring home.Map ↗
  4. LinutSticky sago starch, twirled on sticks and dipped in sour or spicy sauces.Map ↗

Things to do

  1. Kaul festivalThe Melanau thanksgiving to the spirits of the sea, with offerings, shared food and the tibow, a giant swing.Map ↗
  2. Kampung TellianA Melanau village of wooden stilt houses along the river, just outside the town centre.Map ↗
  3. Lamin DanaA traditional Melanau tall house in Tellian, run as a cultural lodge where you can see sago being made.Map ↗
  4. Mukah beachA long beach for evening walks and sunsets.Map ↗

Good to know

  • Kaul dates shift each year, so check before you book.
  • Umai is raw fish. Eat it fresh, from a busy place.

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