This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our Disclosure Policy for more information.
When we were planning our trip to southeast Asia, we were definitely focused on maintaining semi-budget travel status. The way we do semi-budget travel, though, is to leave room for a splurge here and there. And when we’re considering what that “here and there” might be, tops on our list is looking for unique, authentic, local experiences.
A large part of our trip would be visiting our friends in Kuching, Malaysia, which is on the island of Borneo. We already had one major authentic Borneo experience on our itinerary…Gawai! Then, when we discovered Saloma Villagestay, we knew we had found another authentic Borneo adventure.
Saloma Villagestay offers multi-day tours, where you will actually lodge at Saloma’s house. Since we had a hotel in town, we opted for the daytrip. We still got to experience Saloma’s hospitality in her home, even though we were just there for the day.
Want to experience authentic Sarawak culture? Look no further than this Bidayuh village day trip, with orangutans, jungle, longhouses, and more!
Saloma Villagestay Borneo Daytrip
The price of our day trip included:
- All-day transportation, with pick-up and drop-off at our hotel in Kuching
- Admission to Semenggoh Wildlife Centre
- Snack stop on the way to Saloma’s house
- Guided tour of Bidayuh kampung longhouses
- Lunch at Saloma’s house
- Guided jungle trek and waterfall swim
- Dinner at Saloma’s house
Semenggoh Wildlife Centre
Saloma herself picked us up at our hotel in Kuching. Our first stop was at Semenggoh Wildlife Centre, where our entry fee was included as part of the daytrip.
The main reason to visit Semenggoh is to see the orangutans in their natural habitat, and we were not disappointed! Flora and fauna are both in abundance!
Snack Stop
Continuing on our way further south from Kuching, we stopped for a snack at a place seemingly in the middle of nowhere. Saloma, however, knows exactly where she’s going! We consumed freshly made roti and ice cold teh tarik (oh man, now I’m hungry!) that made for the perfect snack. Our snack was also included as part of the daytrip.
Saloma Homestay: Bidayuh Immersion
Back on the road, heading even further south, we finally arrived at the area where Saloma’s house is located. At this point, we were fairly close to the Malaysia/Indonesia border. We took a walk through a Bidayuh longhouse village. The Bidayuh are one of the people groups in Kuching, and Saloma is proud to be a Bidayuh!
Bidayuh Kampung Longhouses
We saw real, in-use kampung (villages), hung out in legit longhouses, and walked across bamboo bridges.
Saloma Villagestay House
You might have a path from the street to your front door at home. This is the path from the street to Saloma’s front door…a bamboo bridge!
Once you cross the bamboo bridge, the entrance to the house is up a narrow, extremely steep staircase. So much fun!
Traditional Bidayuh Food
Once inside, we relaxed on the veranda, while an authentic Bidayuh lunch was being prepared for us. Couches and hammocks were on hand, as well as a western bathroom. Saloma also hosts multi-day trips with overnight stays in her home.
Traditional Bidayuh food uses a lot of veggies, and at Saloma Villagestay, all the food served is either grown locally on the family farm or collected/sourced from the jungle/wild.
Saloma Villagestay: Jungle Trek & Waterfall Swim
After lunch, we geared up for our jungle trek. This jungle trek is about as authentic Borneo as it gets! We literally walked a narrow path through thick jungle, including multiple bamboo bridges along the way.
Our jungle trek took us to a waterfall, where we had the opportunity to swim in a water hole underneath a waterfall!
When the weather on this particular May 30 is Max Temp = 91°F and Average Humidity = 84%, a waterfall swim sounds really great.
Time to Relax & Enjoy Authentic Bidayuh Dinner
After hiking back to Saloma’s house, we had some more time to just hang out and relax on the veranda before dinner time. Dinner was another amazing authentic Bidayuh meal.
One of the desserts we were served is a delicate homemade sweet shredded wheat-type confection. Sweet crispy stuff, for short. I don’t know what it’s really called, but we had it twice in Kuching, and I love it! I didn’t get the greatest pic of it, but it looks like this.
Back to Kuching
After dinner, it was time to head back to Kuching for the night. Saloma drove us back to our hotel after dark. We had left the hotel at 8:15 a.m. and got back around 9:00 p.m. We were extremely tired. Younger Daughter actually fell asleep standing up (feet on ground, torso on bed)!
Without a doubt, however, our Saloma Village Stay daytrip was one of the major highlights of our time on Borneo. It was great spending the day with Bidayuh people & experiencing everything. Orangutans, jungle, and longhouses…oh my! Sarawak culture and authentic Borneo at its best!
Check out another unique international day trip!
What’s your favorite daytrip adventure? Please share in the comments below!
OG: 08182018
STARTS WITH
A GREAT BUDGET!
ALL GREAT SEMI-BUDGET TRAVEL
It's easy! I will show you how with a FREE trip planning tool.
