Kuching City Tour

The tour departs at either 9.00 AM or 2.00 PM. You will be able to meet and greet our friendly English-speaking driver at the hotel lobby and proceed for the tour.

The White Rajahs were a dynastic monarchy of the British Brooke family, who founded and ruled the Kingdom of Sarawak, located on the North West coast of the island of Borneo, from 1841 to 1946. The first ruler was an Englishman James Brooke. As a reward for helping the Sultanate of Brunei fight piracy and insurgency among the indigenous peoples, he was granted the province of Kuching which was known as Sarawak Asal (Original Sarawak) in 1841 and received independent kingdom status.

Don’t miss the Square Tower at the edge of the Waterfront as you stroll along the south bank of Sarawak River. From the top of the tower you can view the same spectacular vistas of Mounts Santubong and Serapi that enchanted such illustrious visitors as Somerset Maugham. It was originally meant as a prison when it was built in 1879. It later became a fortress but it never fired a shot in any conflict, unlike its wooden predecessor which was burnt down in the 1857 Gold Miners’ Rebellion.

The imposing palace on the north bank across the river from the Waterfront was laid out in the style of an English manor house. It is the third and last residence built by the Brooke Rajahs and was occupied by the reigning Rajah until the Japanese Occupation in 1941. Today, Astana Kuching is the official residence of the Governor of Sarawak, and therefore not opened to visitors. However, during Hari Raya (Aid-Fitr) celebration, the gate will be open to welcome visitors in the best tradition of Malaysia Open House practice.

The Kuching Old Courthouse is a historical courthouse in Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia.

Kuching is also called ‘Cats City’ or ‘City of Cats’ for nothing. The cat statues gives a unique feel to the city, they are also nice photography subjects. This white cat is the Kuching South City Council Cat Statue, it was built in the 90s and is the first ever cat statue in Kuching. For me, it is the nicest and friendliest looking of all. It sits in front of the Little China Town along Jalan Padungan and looks like it is welcoming visitors with its waving hand

If you ever wanted to visit an old Chinese temple, this is it. Sitting on a foothill and commanding the view over the river and Main Bazaar, the ornately decorated Tua Pek Kong Temple, which was one of the few buildings that survived the 1884 Great Fire of Kuching, is said to have the best Feng Shui location in the city. It is believed to date back to 1843 and has been on official records since 1876. Various traditional festivals are held here every year, including the famous Wang Kang Festival to commemorate the dead.

Previously the State Mosque of Sarawak and an integral part of the Kuching landscape, the Kuching Mosque; affectionately known as ‘Masjid Lama’ (Old Mosque), the present structure was built in 1968 to replace an original wooden one built in 1852. Best seen from the river, its gilded cupolas make it one of the city’s most striking landmarks, particularly at sunset.

Note: Visitors to mosques are requested to dress respectfully and remove their shoes. Non-Muslims may not enter during prayer times.

Kuching Waterfront, which lines the south bank of Sarawak River, is THE place to sample the city’s cosmopolitan vibes. During the daytime, it offers scenic views of the Astana, Fort Margherita and the Malay kampungs across the river; but night-time is when it really comes alive! It seems like half of the city is out meeting friends, watching a show, or just shooting the breeze. For something different, why not try jetty-hopping along the river on the local Penambang boats, and savour the different sights, sounds (and delicacies!) between the two riverbanks.

Darul Hana Golden Bridge is one of the most popular places of attraction among local and tourist. With a modern design, the bridge has link to Kuching Waterfront with the north side of the river and make it easier to make a visit to Astana Building or Orchid Garden. For those who love to take pictures, standing here in the bridge during the sunset or in the evening when all the lights up will make your photo really stunning.

Fort Margherita was built in 1879 to guard Kuching’s river approaches from pirates. In the old days, a canon shot was fired from here every evening to mark the end of the government work day. Named after Charles Brooke’s wife, Ranee Margaret, it is an unmistakable landmark along Sarawak River. As the Fort is situated within the police training barracks, visitors may be asked for some form of ID.