Backpacking in Borneo: Your Guide to Kuching, Malaysia (2025)

Kuching, the capital of Sarawak in Malaysian Borneo, a must-visit destination when you’re backpacking in Borneo. Known as the ‘gateway to Borneo’, its eco-tourism initiatives and cultural heritage have seen its popularity increase with international tourists. I was lucky enough to spend several days here during my three weeks in Malaysia, including seeing the orangutans in the jungle. Here’s your ultimate guide to exploring Kuching on a backpacker’s budget.

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Where to Stay in Kuching

As I only had a few days of backpacking in Borneo, I chose to visit Kuching in Sarawak. This is a good base to see two of the island’s highlights – Semenggoh Nature Reserve and Bako National Park. Kuching has a range of budget-friendly accommodations perfect for backpackers. Here are some top recommendations:

• Marco Polo Guesthouse: A family-run hostel with friendly hosts, clean facilities and a communal kitchen.
• Upspot Kuching Waterfront Premium Hostel: Located near the waterfront, guests can enjoy amenities like a PS5 and a co-working space within the property. 
• Swanling Kuching: With comfortable air-conditioned rooms, guests love the warm-hearted and friendly staff and the great location.

Backpackers are recommended to choose accommodation close to the Kuching Waterfront, as it’s convenient for getting around and also has great nightlife. Explore the map below to see the prices and availability for your dates:

Top Things to Do in Kuching

1. Explore the Kuching Waterfront

The Kuching Waterfront is the heart of the city and a great place to start your journey. This scenic promenade stretches along the Sarawak River and is lined with local eateries, craft markets, and historic landmarks like the Astana Palace and Fort Margherita. In the evenings, the waterfront comes alive with vibrant street performances and stunning views of the illuminated Darul Hana Bridge.

2. Visit the Sarawak Museum

Dive into Sarawak’s rich history and culture at the Sarawak Museum, one of Malaysia’s oldest and most renowned museums. The exhibits cover everything from Borneo’s unique wildlife to its indigenous communities, offering a fascinating glimpse into the region’s past.

3. Check Out the Cat Museum

Kuching means “cat” in Malay, and the city lives up to its name with its quirky Cat Museum. Located on a hilltop in the North Kuching City Hall, this unique museum is dedicated to all things feline, with exhibits ranging from cultural depictions of cats to fun memorabilia.

4. Wander Through Chinatown

Kuching’s Chinatown is a lively area filled with traditional shophouses, local eateries, and colorful street art. Be sure to visit Carpenter Street for authentic Sarawakian dishes like kolo mee and explore the many souvenir shops offering handcrafted goods.

Discover Kuching by bike on this best of Kuching: Heritage & Kampong Bike Tour.

5. Take a Sunset River Cruise

One of the best ways to experience Kuching is by taking a sunset cruise on the Sarawak River. These affordable boat rides offer stunning views of the city skyline, traditional Malay villages, and lush riverbanks as the sun sets over the horizon.

Day Trips from Kuching

1. Bako National Park

Just a short boat ride from Kuching, Bako National Park is a must-visit for nature enthusiasts. This park is famous for its diverse ecosystems, from mangroves to rainforests, and its incredible wildlife.

When we arrived at Bako National Park following an hour long bus ride and boat trip, it was raining. Kuching had been prone to torrential downpours lasting for hours over the last couple of days and this was no exception. However, it didn’t spoil our fun.

Book your day trip to Bako National Park here.

What to Do:

• Spot proboscis monkeys, unique to Borneo, along with bearded pigs and monitor lizards.
• Hike trails that lead to secluded beaches and stunning cliff views.
• Marvel at the park’s signature sea stacks and rock formations.

Take a Hike

When the showers finally eased we decided to attempt one of the park’s many treks – a short escapade to a secluded beach cove.

Clambering over rocks and stepping through huge tree roots, we were surrounded by an abundance of jungle life, thirstily soaking up the rainwater.

Huge leaves, exotic red flowers and armies of ants; there was so much to see. When we reached the bay – a lonely and beautiful place – it felt like we’d crash landed from a plane onto a deserted island and would have to fend for ourselves.

Luckily, all we had to do to return from the depths of this Borneo nature was to walk through the well-marked jungle trek and head for the café.

However, even here, we were not safe from the whims of the wildlife, as the park’s resident long tailed macaques would race up and greedily grab whatever food or wrapping was not carefully hidden away. At one point we even saw one open the café doors and head inside to make off with packets of Oreos. Clever critters.

Borneo nature night trek

That evening, I hesitantly signed up for a Borneo nature night trek (I’m not a big fan of the dark).

We took our torches and followed the guides to see what nocturnal creatures we could spot. It was fantastic.

Huge green stick insects, spiny black and white bugs, cute kingfishers asleep on branches, tiny poisonous tree frogs, jumping spiders – which also made us all jump; we saw the lot – even a green viper, Borneo’s third most venomous snake after the cobra and the sea snake.

Spying on them under the glow of our torches made it seem almost dreamlike and their colours even more vivid.

Budget Tip: The boat ride to Bako is affordable when shared with other travellers. Stay overnight in the park’s basic lodges for a more immersive experience – this is what I did with friends from my hostel.

2. Semenggoh Wildlife Centre

Located just 30 minutes from Kuching, the Semenggoh Wildlife Centre offers one of the best chances to see orangutans in a semi-wild environment.

Semenggoh Nature Reserve was founded in 1975 to specialise in the care of endangered animals – most famously, orangutans – who had been found injured or orphaned, with a view to releasing them back into the wild. Nowadays it focuses on studying the behaviour and biology of the orangutan and is home to graduates from the highly successful rehabilitation programme.

What to Expect:

• Visit during feeding times (morning or afternoon) for the highest chance of spotting orangutans.
• Learn about conservation efforts to rehabilitate and protect these endangered primates.
• Walk through lush rainforest trails and listen to expert guides share fascinating insights about the orangutans.

Budget Tip: Take a local bus or join a shared taxi to keep transport costs low – this is what I did.

Orangutan feeding time

At this Semenggoh wildlife centre, feeding time happens twice a day.

As we walked into the forest, we were reminded that we were entering the orang utans’ home so we should therefore be quiet and respectful.

With the exception of a couple of people who, inexplicably, answered their phones during the visit and proceeded to have a chat, everyone was in awe-inspired silence. The only words were whispers of “look – here comes another one”, as trees bent under the weight of a powerfully muscular male making his way over for breakfast.

Safe to say, he would attempt to fit as many bananas as he could into his mouth, before heading up a tree to feast on his pickings, casually letting the peel fall to the forest floor like a nonchalant teenager dropping chewing gum litter.

I wondered how he felt having an audience watching his meal times every day, but it certainly didn’t seem to bother him as he tucked into his fruit.

Next up, we explore the best food in Borneo for us humans to munch on.

What to Eat in Kuching

Kuching, like the rest of Malaysia, is a food lover’s paradise, with affordable and flavourful dishes at every corner. When you’re backpacking in Borneo you’d be mad to miss:

• Sarawak Laksa: A spicy, coconut-based noodle soup topped with prawns and chicken.
• Kolo Mee: Springy egg noodles tossed in a light sauce and served with minced pork or beef.
• Midin Fern Salad: A crunchy, fresh stir-fried fern found only in Sarawak.
• Manok Pansoh: A traditional Iban dish of chicken cooked in bamboo with lemongrass and herbs.

Budget Tip: Head to local hawker stalls and food courts, like Top Spot Food Court, for a feast that won’t break the bank – I highly recommend the laksa.

Getting from Kuala Lumpur to Kuching

Kuching, located in Sarawak on the island of Borneo, is not connected to Peninsular Malaysia by land. However, getting from Kuala Lumpur to Kuching is straightforward and affordable. Here’s how to make the journey:

Flights from Kuala Lumpur

There are many cheap flights from Kuala Lumpur to Kuching available daily. The journey takes about 1 hour and 45 minutes.

Arriving in Kuching

Once you arrive at Kuching International Airport, getting to the city center is easy:

• By taxi: Expect to pay around MYR 20–30 ($4–7).
• By bus: Public buses operate between the airport and city centre, but they are infrequent.
• By private transfer: Enjoy a comfortable transfer from Kuching International Airport to your hostel. Your driver will pick you up when your flight arrives. Book yours in advance here.

Final thoughts on backpacking in Borneo

Backpacking in Borneo isn’t complete without a stop in Kuching. This charming city offers a perfect mix of culture, wildlife, and adventure, all at an affordable price for budget-conscious travellers. From its lively waterfront to nearby national parks and wildlife centres, Kuching is the ideal base for exploring Sarawak’s natural and cultural treasures.

In only a short time in the diverse and beautiful Borneo nature, I saw so much. This was to be followed by an expedition to the Perhentian Islands where I learned to scuba dive, opening up the ocean’s underwater riches to me for the first time. Malaysia’s nature and wildlife was truly magical.

So pack your bags and get ready to experience the best of Kuching, Borneo’s backpacker haven!

Now, find out the best 3-week itinerary for backpacking Malaysia.