Air

Modern jet aircraft connect Sarawak with the outside world and connect the main centers within the State while smaller turbo-prop planes make once remote settlements easily accessible for the visitor.

Kuching International Airport has direct flights to Kuala Lumpur, Singapore, Bandar Seri Begawan and Perth in Western Australia and to Hong Kong via Kota Kinabalu.

There are also direct flights from Kuala Lumpur to Miri and Sibu, from Johor Bahru to Kuching, and from Kota Kinabalu and Labuan to Kuching and Bintulu.

Road

Bus, Indonesia - There are two daily bus services between Kuching and Pontianak. Journey time is roughly 10 hours. Bus, Brunei - There are five daily bus services between Miri and Kuala Belait (2 hours), with onward connections to Bandar Sri Begawan, plus a direct mini-bus service between Miri and Bandar Sri Begawan(4 hours) twice daily.

Self Drive - Visitors may enter Sarawak from Brunei or Indonesia using their own vehicles or rental vehicles, provided they have valid international insurance cover. An international drivers licence is advisable.

GETTING AROUND KUCHING

Air

MAS operates frequent flights between Kuching, Sibu, Bintulu and Miri. Contact your local MAS office or travel agent for full details. MAS Rural Air Service flies Twin Otters to a host of rural airfields, including Miri-Bario (for the Kelabit Highlands), Miri-Mulu (for Gunung Mulu National Park) and Sibu-Kapit-Belaga (for the Rejang River).
A number of air charter companies can offer tailor-made solutions to visitors' travel needs. If you are travelling in a group, this needn't be too expensive. Please e-mail us for further details.

Road

There is an extensive bus network linking most of the major towns, including Kuching, Sibu, Sarikei, Sri Aman, Bintulu and Miri. Gunung Gading, Kubah, Niah Caves and Lambir Hills National Parks are easily accessible by public bus services, as is Semenggok Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre.

Bus travel in Sarawak is generally economical, comfortable and reliable. Taxis are easily found outside the large hotels or at taxi stands in all the major towns. Fares are reasonable, but should always be agreed in advance.

With the rapidly improving condition of Sarawak's road network,self-drive rental cars are a good alternative to public transport. Reputable operators can be found in most major towns.

Water

Express Boats - These powerful boats, which often resemble wingless aircraft, are the main means of travel on the major rivers and between the coastal towns. Express boat services are available to most of the major inland destinations, and as well as being fast and economical, they offer an excellent opportunity to enjoy the scenery and meet the locals.

Longboats and Sampans - Local river travel is usually in smaller craft. Small wooden longboats are the equivalent of buses and taxis in upriver areas, and visitors to longhouses will normally experience the pleasures of upriver travel in one. In Kuching, wooden sampans, known locally as tambangs, are used as river taxis and are an excellent way of discovering the Kuching river front