4D3N in Kuching: How I Explored This Muslim-Friendly Gem in Malaysia

Have you ever been to Kuching, Sarawak? Kamek pernah (I have). And I’ll be honest, it was even more incredible than I had imagined it to be! Want to know how Kuching got its name and what are the city’s must-visit attractions and must-try foods? Keep on scrolling as I’m about to unravel the best of Kuching in this article.

Ultimate 4D3N Muslim-Friendly Itinerary in Kuching, Sarawak

Day 1: Dewan Majlis Bandaraya Kuching Selatan → Brooke Gallery at Fort Margherita → Mom’s Laksa → Hilton Kuching → KopiCut → Kuching Waterfront

It took me around an hour and a half to fly from Senai International Airport (JHB) to Kuching International Airport (KCH) with AirAsia. Though the early morning flight had me yawning all the way from the gate to the aisle, their tasty Halal Santan Inflight Menu: Grilled Peri Chicken with Jollof Rice, kept me up the entire trip!

The plane finally landed at Kuching International Airport around 9.00am. FYI, the airport is located approximately 11 kilometres south of Kuching City Centre. And because of that, the ideal destination to head first would be the Dewan Majlis Bandaraya Kuching Selatan. Here, our awesome tour guide, Kak Lin, brought me and the rest of the team to the hall’s Pictorial Gallery & Resource Centre.

Dewan Majlis Bandaraya Kuching Selatan (Pictorial Gallery & Resource Centre)

Did you know that the shape of the hall’s roof was inspired by the city’s official flower: canna lily, turned upside down?

Sik kenal, maka sik cinta (If you don’t know, you don’t love). That said, it’s best to dive deeper into Kuching’s history before we explore the city even further. What caught my attention the most was when Kak Lin started talking about the history of Sungai Kuching. The name actually originates from the “mata kucing” fruit, which means “cat’s eye” in Malay.

There were a lot of “mata kucing” trees on a hill of the river’s eastern bank called Bukit Mata Kucing. This gave its name to the hill and subsequently, the river at its foot! So, if you think the name has something to do with cats, think again. Other than that, you can also browse through the vintage photos of Kuching in the 1800s (that you won’t find elsewhere), fascinating stories of Sarawak’s heroes such as Rosli Dhoby, and so much more.

One with the whole team before we depart to our second destination (hint: It’s white and looks like a castle).

Brooke Gallery at Fort Margherita

Located 15 minutes away by car from the city hall is Brooke Gallery at Fort Margherita. I could clearly see a white, castle-like building from where we parked and it looked even better up close. Step inside and the Brooke Gallery will greet you with open doors. The place carefully depicts the history of Sarawak and its ‘White Rajahs’ (white kings) and the birth and development of Sarawak during the Brooke era.

From left: the spiral staircase; the tallest flagpole view from the rooftop; the execution courtyard

There’s a set of spiral stairs that connects all the floors which eventually leads to the rooftop of the building. From there, I saw the tallest flag in Malaysia and Southeast Asia, the majestic Sarawak State Legislative Assembly Building, a 360-degree vista of the Sarawak River, and the state’s gorgeous city skyline. Kacak mena pemandangan dekat sitok (the views here are so pretty)!

Also, before leaving, I had the chance to drop by the special execution courtyard inside the fort, where criminals and pirates were executed shivers.

Mom’s Laksa

Third photo: The Laksa Ambal Udang Sotong in dish-cussion.

You’ve never really been to Kuching until you’ve tasted laksa sarawak (I didn’t make the rule). I was lucky enough to savour one of the best at the Muslim-owned Mom’s Laksa Jalan Haji Taha. Not only was the portion generous, but the taste could turn anyone into a regular customer in an instant.

The signature menu here is the Laksa Ambal Udang Sotong. In case you’re wondering, ambal is a siput buluh or bamboo clam, a type of edible, elongated-shelled snail that is a popular seafood delicacy in Sarawak. Try it! Or if you don’t prefer a bamboo clam in your dish, you can try ordering their Laksa Pattaya instead. Definitely worth every penny.

P.S. You can also find laksa sarawak paste and instant kolo mee being sold here — a perfect souvenir to bring home to your loved ones!

Hilton Kuching

After the tasty lunch, I finally checked into my luxurious room at Hilton Kuching. Aside from its cushiony soft bed, I could never get enough of its window views! Think: a bird’s eye view of Kuching Waterfront that looks even more magnificent during the night. heart eyes

KopiCut

After maghrib prayers, the team and I were brought to a nearby cafe called KopiCut. The place was literally opposite Hilton Kuching, so we walked there for less than three minutes. FYI, one of its founders is Mr. Nordin Razali, a newly retired AirAsia flight attendant (who doesn’t look like his age at all). The cafe features a one-of-a-kind concept where you get to enjoy good coffee and food and great haircuts too!

Here, I tried their famous Kopi Tak Tun Tuang and it was the best decision ever. You’ll be served a glass of coffee ice blocks with a cup of warm, foamy milk on the side. All you need to do is pour the milk on top of the ice blocks and see the magic take place! I also had a taste of their signature Rice Corned Beef, and the minced meat blended so well with the fried rice – I’m not drooling, you are.

Fun fact: The drink is said to get its name from a song made famous by Upiak Isil — Tak Tun Tuang.

Kuching Waterfront

After the hearty dinner, we visited the stunning Kuching Waterfront, an 11-minute walk from KopiCut. I truly enjoyed my time strolling along the paved walkway accompanied by the glimmering lights and the soothing sound of sape played by a street performer.

Also, it’s a must to take a walk along the Darul Hana Bridge while here. Did you know that the bridge is shaped like the letter "S" to represent Sarawak? Plus, the bridge's two towers are designed to look like the rhinoceros hornbill — a thoughtful architectural gem indeed.

What made the night even better was when we witnessed the beautiful Darul Hana Musical Fountain. The fountain show features a variety of water displays, including gas flames and a water screen, accompanied by colourful neon lights and music. Truly an enchanting sight to behold!

Day 2: Semenggoh Wildlife Centre → Annah Rais Longhouse → Royal Kuching Cruise → Topspot (Stall no. 25)

Semenggoh Wildlife Centre

After an early breakfast at the hotel, I kicked off my second day in Kuching by visiting the famous Semenggoh Wildlife Centre, known for its successful orangutan rehabilitation program. I had no idea that the sighting of orangutans there was based on luck and there’s no guarantee that you’ll be able to see one on your visit.

Thankfully, luck was on our side that day. We witnessed not only one or two but seven orangutans altogether! They finally came out during the feeding session, serving some acrobatic moves in their furry brown coat.

FYI, all the orangutans here have their own names and carefully kept biographies. The orangutan on the right, for instance, is called Anakku. The oldest one there is Seduku, a 52-year-old female orangutan that’s still alive and kicking. BTW, remember to keep your voice down at all times as loud noises will scare the orangutans.

HalalZilla Tip: Make sure to keep a six to seven metres distance from the orangutans and do not stand underneath them to avoid getting peed or pooped by the creatures.

Annah Rais Longhouse

Left photo: a grandma drying square-sliced tapioca; right photo: the jemuran or clothesline at the longhouse

Next stop: Annah Rais Longhouse, one of my favourite spots from the entire trip! It took around a 43-minute drive from Semenggoh to get to this well-preserved, centuries-old longhouse. The place is made from belian (or ironwood) and bamboo; and is home to over 80 Bidayuh families.

One of the highlights there was its Panggah or The Headhouse. The place literally lives up to its name as it houses the “trophies” or skulls of enemies captured during the headhunting era. Yup, we’re talking about real skulls here.

My favourite part of the visit was the making of manok pansoh or chicken cooked in a bamboo stalk. Some of the main ingredients include chicken, ginger, garlic, galangal, lemongrass, and tepus or wild ginger.

Mix all of the ingredients in a bamboo stalk and fill it with water which later will become the soup. Afterwards, place the bamboo on fire for about 20 minutes before the manok pansoh is fully cooked.

The freshly cooked manok pansoh paired with nasi beras merah (brown rice) was hands down the best thing I’ve tasted in Kuching. No cap. It’s like an upgraded version of chicken soup but with richer flavour and personality, if that even makes sense. In short, masakannya nang nyaman (the dish was super delicious)!

Another interesting experience I had was watching Bidayuh traditional dances, accompanied by a unique Pratuokng melody played by Arthur, a well-respected traditional musician at the longhouse. I could’ve just sat by and watched the performance quietly, but the next thing I knew, I was already dancing in a circle like a shy bird trying to spread its wings for the first time. Do it for the plot, they said.

Royal Kuching Cruise

What better way to spend the evening in Kuching than to sail the Sarawak River on the Royal Kuching Cruise for sunset watching? The catamaran cruise departed at 5.30pm and brought us on a one-and-a-half-hour journey that combined scenic views, cultural immersion, and historical insights all-in-one.

Left photo: the lower deck; right photo: the upper deck

The catamaran consists of a lower deck with floor-to-ceiling windows and an open rooftop deck. But, since sunset viewing is what we’re after, we chose the latter when cruising with them.

Nothing could go wrong when you kicked off the journey with colourful slices of kek lapis Sarawak (Sarawak layered cake) on your table. Aside from tasty refreshments, we were also served beautiful live performances of Iban traditional dances with soothing sape music in the background.

I could clearly listen to the audio (in English) explaining the history of each landmark we passed by. One of them, which I remember the most, was the Pending Bridge, a four-kilometre dual carriage toll bridge, as we literally sailed beneath it along the cruise. Other prominent landmarks you should keep your eyes out on include the Astana, Kuching State Mosque, Old Court House, Fort Margherita, and the charming stilt houses.

All in all, the sunset views were simply stunning. This, paired with the rustling sound of water and the sape melody — perfect!

Topspot (stall no. 25)

When hungry in Kuching (at night), head to Topspot Bukit Mata Seafood No. 25 for the best experience — we did that and had no regrets. The semi-open-air restaurant is located on Jalan Padungan and stall no. 25 is the place to order from if you’re craving fresh seafood dishes with cheap prices.

Leftmost photo: the Halal certificate earned by stall no. 25; middle photo: us, savouring the giant oyster pancake; rightmost photo: the full set of seafood dishes with ric

FYI, most of the restaurants at Topspot are Halal-certified, but stall no. 25 is the champion when it comes to taste. It was my first time eating a giant Oyster Pancake and the taste was chef’s kiss. Their Prawn Buttermilk, Sotong Kicap, and Midin Tumis Belacan are also recommended in case you have no idea what to order on your first visit — take my word for it!

Day 3: Bako National Park → Mamasu Kek Lapis Sarawak Factory → Dewan Sri Bunga Rampai (Majlis Kebudayaan Melayu Sarawak)

Bako National Park

I woke up as early as 5.00am in the morning and had a packed breakfast on a bus as we needed to head to Bako Terminal at six. Yup, you need to get on a half an hour's journey by speedboat from the terminal to Bako National Park. Guess what? We even caught a glimpse of a male proboscis monkey on our way to the park, but my phone camera didn’t do it justice sigh.

HalalZilla Tip: It’s best to wear the “kampong adidas” shoes when going to Bako National Park. The rubber shoes come with no seams and they’re waterproof, mud-resistant, durable and have excellent grip. You can buy it for less than RM10 per pair at the local markets.

Left photo: Mr. Tion bringing us to the Mangrove Trail; right photo: us, walking along the boardwalk of the Pit Swamp Forest

We were first brought to the Mangrove Trail of the national park by Mr. Tion, our tour guide for the day. He explained that they’re actively replanting them as the trees supply the most oxygen in the area.

Afterwards, we walked along the boardwalk of the Pit Swamp Forest where we encountered some giant Mengkuang Trees and Durian Hantu Tree. According to Mr. Tion, trees that surpass 80 years old in the national park are usually dead even though the stems are still standing. Fascinating!

Now to our third and most awaited checkpoint: the jungle trekking trail! The trek was beginner-friendly in my opinion, you just need to trek at your own pace and step on the safest ground that you think will do it for you. Along the way, we encountered a fallen tree and some curious freshwater catfish.

Leftmost photo: the wild boars ploughing the ground; middle photo: a proboscis monkey on a tree; rightmost photo: a resting Wragler’s Pit Viper

Here are some of the animals caught on camera before, during, and after the trekking. It’s a bit surprising to see the wild boars at this national park behave as tame as street cats in my hometown. They could walk side by side with humans in a calm manner, unlike the ones I often see back home where they would scatter at the sights of men.

The beautiful scenery of Bako National Park. If you look closely, you can see the remnant of the iconic “Cobra Head Sea Stack” that collapsed early this year.

And that’s pretty much how I conquered Bako National Park. Talk about an exciting experience that’ll make you wish you’d exercise more before you go (lol)!

Mamasu Kek Lapis Sarawak Factory

Lowkey wish you could smell these photos.

At noon, we visited the factory of the best kek lapis Sarawak in the state: Mamasu Kek Lapis Sarawak! It’s such an honour to be able to witness the process of making this national delight from scratch and seeing the professional bakers behind it.

FYI, each kek lapis consists of 15 layers and each layer takes an average of 15 minutes to bake. One cake roughly takes about one and a half hours to bake, but it’s actually the flavours of the cake that determine how long each needs to be baked.

Left photo: the sacred kitchen where the batter was prepared; right photo: delectable, assorted kek lapis Sarawak for us to try

Not only were we given the chance to try the layering process ourselves, but they also allowed us to taste their assorted kek lapis Sarawak. And yes, their bestsellers included: Belacan, Lumut, and Masam Manis. How I wish I could bring home all of their chocolate-based cakes. Well, maybe next time!

Dewan Sri Bunga Rampai (Majlis Kebudayaan Melayu Sarawak)

The groom (left), the assistant (middle), and the bride (right).

During the evening, we were fully dressed in our kacak Baju Melayu and Baju Kurung at Dewan Sri Bunga Rampai Banquet Hall for Majlis Kebudayaan Melayu Sarawak. The main highlight of the night was the “Eating Nasi Temuan (Temuan Rice)” event. FYI, eating “Nasi Temuan” is symbolic of the first meeting between the groom and the bride.

They will first sit facing each other with the groom on the left and the bride on the right. The assistant who will help open the lid of the rice container will sit in the middle. BTW, there will be three rounds in this competition:

Round 1 - Feed rice to own mouth

Round 2 - Feed rice to own mouth

Round 3 - Feed rice to each other’s mouths

Whoever feeds the fastest and wins more rounds will be crowned as the winner! The game was amusing especially when seeing our friends trying it for the first time.

HalalZilla Fact: The red piece of cloth worn by the bride is called “keringkam,” a type of traditional headwear worn by women in Sarawak.

After the Nasi Temuan demo, we had the best time savouring Sarawak’s famous Nasi Pengilan or Nasi Kenduri with all sorts of tasty traditional side dishes. And since our tummies wee full, all there was left to do was to dance the night away the traditional way.

P.S. If you saw me dancing in real life, you might as well say “go away.”

Day 4: Semadang Kayaking → Great Cat of Kuching at Jalan Padungan → Home sweet home

Semadang Kayaking

It’s my last day in Kuching and little did I know that It’d be the best day of my entire trip! I’ve never tried kayaking but I always wanted to. And the fact that I was given the chance to do just that was pure awesomeness.

HalalZilla Tip: You will need to fill in a form first thing once you arrive. Whatever it is, make sure to include your email address as they will send a Google Drive link consisting of your awesome pics during the adventure (you will love them for real)!

The calm before the storm.

After a thorough briefing from the guide in charge, we had to carry our kayaks to the starting point. The moment we started paddling I knew my method was off and our kayak started to drift to the left, near a bamboo tree (a hazard!).

The next thing I knew I was gasping for oxygen from under the water and started panicking. Not to be dramatic, but at that moment, I thought “this is it” (LOL). Aside from the bamboo trees and the kayak that drifted before my eyes, my whole life also started flashing in front of me.

Gwenchana~

It was at that moment when I suddenly remembered what the instructor said during the briefing. I need to straighten my body to be able to float! So I did just that and the rest was history. Luckily one of my friends was able to grab my life jacket and I ended up kayaking with him until the end.

P.S. To my previous partner: Please forgive me. cries

There were three checkpoints during the journey. The first one was the hidden waterfall that required us to get off our kayaks and walk among the slippery rocks to get to the heavenly vista. The second one was the fish feeding point whereas the third one was the last stop where we had to carry our kayaks up the slope.

And in between the second and the last stops, we had to hurdle a pretty strong current that had us all grow biceps in a day. But no worries, we all managed to overcome it like a pro!

Great Cat of Kuching at Jalan Padungan

The Great Cat, already dressed up for Christmas!

Yes, this was our last stop before our flight: The Great Cat of Kuching. The iconic 2.5-metre white cat statue was known for being dressed up for festivals and representing the city's racial harmony. It's located on a traffic island at the eastern end of Jalan Padungan, just outside the Chinese ceremonial gate. Kak Lin told us it’s a must to visit this statue or else, it’s as if you’ve never been to Kuching at all!

Home sweet home

Before I knew it, it was already time to go home. So I bid goodbye to my friends, hoping we’ll meet again someday. I boarded the AirAsia flight to Johor Bahru and had their tasty Pak Nasser’s Nasi Lemak for dinner. Yummy!

All in all, I had a great time in Kuching and the trip happened to be better than I imagined. Aside from the water of the Semadang River that I carried in my lungs, I also brought back beautiful memories that I’ll cherish forever. Can’t wait to return to Sarawak and explore more of its gems soon!

Brought to you by Sarawak Tourism Board.