Gunung Gading National Park not only ranks as one of the best places to see the rafflesia flower in the world, but it’s also rich in reptile, insect, palm, and orchid species. There’s a wooden walkway that passes through the area where the flowers are commonly found, as well as several color-coded hiking trails that vary in distance: Waterfall Trail, Selang Trail, Summit Trail, and Ulu Rayu Trail, which leads you to the Matang Wildlife Centre.
Plenty of tours of Gunung Gading National Park depart from Kuching, and typically include a traditional Malay lunch, as well as time to explore the small town of Lundu.
The park is home to four mountain peaks, so most of the trails involve lots of uphill walking that requires a moderate fitness level.
There are no shops or cafés in the park, so make sure you bring plenty of water and snacks. You can buy supplies and have a bite in Lundu, the town just outside the park.
You can bathe in the streams, so bring your bathing suit if you want a refreshing dip.
There’s a park headquarters for hiking maps and more information about each of the routes.
Gunung Gading National Park is just outside the town of Lundu; it’s a 1.5 hour-drive from Kuching via Route 1/AH150, or you can take the number 3A bus from Kuching Bus Terminal. There’s also a public bus that departs when it’s full from Lundu Bus Station to the entrance of the park. You can also opt to take a tour with round-trip transportation, allowing you to soak up the scenery during the drive.
Luckily, since the rafflesia has no set blooming season, you can spot the flower here any time of year. It takes nine months for a bloom to mature, and the flower—sometimes measuring more than 3 feet (1 meter) in diameter—dies after only four or five days. The driest months to visit are April to September, when the hiking routes are at their most accessible.
There are seven national parks surrounding Kuching, making it a mecca for nature lovers. Bako National Park is the oldest in Sarawak, and features rugged cliffs and white-sand beaches, while the Talang Satang National Park comprises four islands where you can watch turtles laying eggs and making their way into the sea. Kubah National Park, which is closest to the city center, boasts orchids and a stunning array of birdlife.