Sarawak
Caves, rainforest parks and orangutan rehabilitation in Borneo, in a state whose capital has a Chinatown and a fort built in 1871.
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Sarawak is the largest of Malaysia's 13 states, on the northwest coast of Borneo in East Malaysia. Its area is almost equal to Peninsular Malaysia, so most trips focus on one or two parts of the state. Kuching, the state capital and largest city, is the usual first base. Gunung Mulu National Park, a World Heritage Site with major cave systems, draws visitors who want caves and rainforest. Niah National Park, with its caves, lies about 110 km southwest of Miri.
Sarawak has an equatorial climate, tropical rainforests and a very wide range of animal and plant species. Semenggoh Nature Reserve and Matang Wildlife Centre near Kuching are known for orangutan rehabilitation programs. The Iban are the largest ethnic group, and Chinese, Malay, Bidayuh and Melanau communities also shape daily life. The northeast monsoon, from November to February, brings heavy rain, while the southwest monsoon, from March to October, brings somewhat less.
Sarawak in five
- Book a domestic flight to MuluMulu's airport serves domestic routes within Malaysia, so book the flight to the caves before you travel. Check the schedule before you plan the cave days.Gunung Mulu National Park
- Base in Kuching or MiriKuching is the state capital and has the largest airport in Sarawak. Miri is about 110 km from Niah National Park, so it suits a trip to the caves in the north.Miri
- Use buses; there are no passenger trainsThe old railway line closed in 1959, and Sarawak has no passenger railway. Buses are the main public transport, and interstate services reach Sabah, Brunei and Pontianak.Getting around
- Pack warm clothes for the highlandsCoastal daytime temperatures reach about 32°C, while highland areas can drop to about 11°C at night, so pack warm clothing for interior trips.
- Plan river travel to BarioBario, Ba'kelalan and Usun Apau are highland villages near the Kalimantan border, reached by air or river. Confirm your route before you book a room.
Neighborhoods
Kuching
Miri
Gunung Mulu National Park
Caves, limestone pinnacles and rainforest trails draw visitors to Gunung Mulu National Park in Sarawak, Malaysia.
Things to do in Sarawak
See all attractions in Sarawak
Need to know
- Currency
- Malaysian ringgit (MYR)
- Entry
- Many passports enter Malaysia visa-free; check the entry scheme for your passport before you fly Read more
- Emergency
- 999 for police, fire or ambulance; 112 also works on mobile
- Tipping
- Not expected in most places; some bills include a service charge
- Time
- UTC+8, no daylight saving
Weather by month
- Good
- Poor
- JanuaryHeavy rain (northeast monsoon)
- FebruaryHeavy rain (northeast monsoon)
- MarchSouthwest monsoon, less rain
- AprilLess rain
- MayLess rain
- JuneLess rain
- JulyLess rain
- AugustLess rain
- SeptemberLess rain
- OctoberLess rain
- NovemberHeavy rain (northeast monsoon)
- DecemberHeavy rain (northeast monsoon)
Right now in Sarawak
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
24
- Feels like
- 29°
- Humidity
- 99%
- Wind
- 5 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 100%
Sarawak
04:40 AM
Tuesday, November 3
- Today33°23°100%Tuesday: Rain. High 33°, Low 23°. Chance of rain 100%.
- Wed32°23°95%Wednesday: Drizzle. High 32°, Low 23°. Chance of rain 95%.
- Thu31°23°100%Thursday: Thunderstorms. High 31°, Low 23°. Chance of rain 100%.
- Fri32°23°100%Friday: Thunderstorms. High 32°, Low 23°. Chance of rain 100%.
- Sat32°22°100%Saturday: Thunderstorms. High 32°, Low 22°. Chance of rain 100%.
- Sun32°22°100%Sunday: Rain. High 32°, Low 22°. Chance of rain 100%.
- Mon32°22°100%Monday: Rain. High 32°, Low 22°. Chance of rain 100%.
Updated 01:34 AM local time · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Money
Mid-market rate1 USD = 4.057 MYR
Rates from Nov 2, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API
Day trips by train
- Gunung Mulu National ParkDomestic flight, so book the route firstA World Heritage site with the Sarawak Chamber, Deer Cave and Clearwater Cave.Read the guide
- Niah National ParkAbout 110 km southwest of MiriCaves with evidence of human settlement about 40,000 years ago, the earliest known in Sarawak.
- Santubong archaeological siteNear Kuching; check road timeChinese ceramics from the 8th to 13th centuries show it was once a seaport.
Before you go to Sarawak
Rules for Sarawak, checked
- Sarawak controls immigration into the state, so check the entry scheme for your passport at imigresen.gov.my before you book.Source
- Orangutans, green sea turtles, flying lemurs and piping hornbills are protected under Sarawak law, so do not take or harm them.
- Native Customary Rights land is protected by law, so ask a village host before you walk onto village land.
Plan around Sarawak
Sarawak in a wider Malaysia route
Read the guideKuchingThe state capital and largest city
Read the guideMiriA coastal town about 110 km from Niah National Park
Read the guideGunung Mulu National ParkWorld Heritage caves and a rainforest park
Read the guideGetting around SarawakBuses, rivers and flights between the towns
Read the guideVisas and entryEntry rules for Malaysia and Sarawak
Read the guideSarawak FAQ
Is Sarawak worth visiting?
Yes, if you want caves, rainforest and river travel. Gunung Mulu National Park is a World Heritage Site. Plan time for road and river journeys between towns.
How do you get to Gunung Mulu National Park?
Take a domestic flight to Mulu's airport, which serves domestic routes within Malaysia. Book the flight before you travel, since the cave days depend on it.
Is Kuching or Miri better as a base?
Kuching suits a first trip, since it is the state capital and largest city, with the largest airport. Miri suits trips to the north, where Niah National Park lies about 110 km southwest of Miri.
What is the best time to visit Sarawak?
March to October is the southwest monsoon season, with somewhat less rain. November to February is the northeast monsoon, which brings heavy rain.
Can you see orangutans in Sarawak?
Yes, at Semenggoh Nature Reserve and Matang Wildlife Centre near Kuching, both known for orangutan rehabilitation programs.
Do you need a visa for Sarawak?
Many passports enter Malaysia visa-free. Check the entry scheme for your passport at imigresen.gov.my before you fly, since Sarawak controls immigration into the state.