©Lonely Planet Publications Pty Ltd SarawakAREA 124,450 SQ KM Includes ¨ Why Go? Kuching ............122 Sarawak makes access to Borneo’s natural wonders and cul- Bako National tural riches a breeze. From Kuching, the island’s most so- Park ...............139 phisticated and dynamic city, pristine rainforests – where Kubah National you can spot orangutans, proboscis monkeys, crocodiles and Park ...............147 the world’s largest flower, the Rafflesia – can be visited on Sibu ...............156 day trips, with plenty of time in the evening for a delicious Batang Rejang ......160 meal and a drink by Kuching’s waterfront. More adven- turous travellers can take a ‘flying coffin’ riverboat up the Bintulu .............165 ‘Amazon of Borneo’, the Batang Rejang, on their way east to Miri ................171 hike from longhouse to longhouse in the cool environs of Gunung Mulu the Kelabit Highlands, or to the spectacular bat caves and National Park .......178 extraordinary rock formations of Gunung Mulu Nation- Kelabit Highlands ....184 al Park. Everywhere you go, you’ll encounter the warmth, Limbang Division ....191 unforced friendliness and sense of humour that make the people of Malaysia’s most culturally diverse state such de- lightful hosts. Best Places to Eat ¨ Dyak (p133) When to Go ¨ Top Spot Food Court Kuching (p133) °C/°F Te mp Rainfall inches/mm ¨ Summit Café (p175) 40/104 32/800 ¨ Bla Bla Bla (p134) 30/86 24/600 ¨ Choon Hui (p132) 20/68 16/400 10/50 8/200 Best Places to 0/32 0 Stay J FDM A M J J A S O N ¨ Batik Boutique Hotel Jul Local bands Jul–Sep It’s tour- Nov–Jan Rough (p131) and international ist high season, so seas can make ¨ Dillenia Guesthouse (p174) artists jam at book flights and coastal boat travel Kuching’s Rainfor- treks early. difficult or impos- ¨ Threehouse B&B (p130) est World Music sible. ¨ Nanga Shanti (p144) Festival. 120 0 60 km 0 40 miles SARAWAK SARAWAK S O U T H C H I N A H ighligh S E A T S Mukah Ba Matu Dalat Bat tang a ng Hwy Daro Ig Borneo n an Bawang Pa Mukah Assan Sibu Tanjung Datu National Park Nibong Pulau Kuching Wetlands Sarikei Kanowit Talang-Talang Pulau National Park Batang Telok Satang Julau Melano Talang-Satang Santubong Song National Park Peninsula Sematan Bako s Kubah National Park atiba Biawak- National ai K ng Aruk Park Su Lundu Maludam Gunung Gading Kuching National National Park Bau Park rang Wind Cave & Semenggoh Betong Sk Batang Ai Fairy Cave Nature Reserve National Park Tringgus Kampung Benuk Batang LuparBatang Gunung Annah Rais Batang Ai Sri Aman Region Batang Ai Bengoh Gunung Serian Sungai Reservoir KALIMANTAN (966m) Tebedu Borneo Hwy Penrissen Sadong Pan Engkilili Pontianak (275km) Tebedu-Entikong Lubuk Antu I N D O N E S I A Sarawak Highlights 1 Watching semi-wild flower, atGunung Gading proboscis monkeys in Bako orangutans swing through the National Park (p152). National Park (p139) or canopy at Semenggoh Nature 3 Strolling the Waterfront Kuching Wetlands National Reserve (p145). Promenade in Kuching Park (p145). 2 Seeing the elusive (p122). 5 Watching the jungle glide Rafflesia, the world’s largest 4 Spotting endangered by as you make your way into .