From the moment the longboat whisks you across the artificial lake, along the Batang Ai River into the forest, Batang Ai National Park feels a world away from modern-day Kuching. It’s part of a protected Borneo rainforest that spills across the Malaysian border into Indonesia and is home to Iban longhouses, wild orangutans, gibbons, langurs, and hornbills.
Five marked trails—ranging from an easy mile-long (2-kilometer) stroll to a challenging 5-mile (8-kilometer) hike—reveal towering dipterocarp trees, ancient Iban burial grounds, and rushing streams, not to mention the wildlife. The park is hard to reach independently, accommodation is tough to arrange, and guides are required for hiking, so it's best to visit on a tour: these often include Iban cultural activities, from making blowpipes to watching traditional dances.
Batang Ai is a great choice for anyone looking for a wilderness experience and an encounter with Iban culture and traditions.
There’s no accommodation, food, or drinking water in the park: currently, the only accommodation options are Iban longhouses.
Bring practical shoes—sneakers are fine—bug spray, and sun protection for your hike.
Given that it takes around six hours to reach the park from Kuching, most travelers stay at least two nights.
Batang Ai National Park is not a suitable destination for travelers with mobility issues.
Batang Ai National Park is accessed by boat from Batang Ai Hydro Lake, an artificial lake about a 180-mile (290-kilometer) drive southeast of Kuching: the ride takes about two hours. There’s no public longboat and no practical public transit, so most travelers visit on a tour that includes transfers.
Batang Ai National Park is open from morning until late afternoon, seven days a week, 365 days a year, and it’s never busy. Borneo is hot and humid year-round, but try to avoid December through February when the weather is at its wettest.
Critically endangered, orangutans are found only on Borneo and Sumatra, but seeing them in the wild can be a hit-or-miss affair. Rehabilitation centers help injured or orphaned orangutans adapt to forest life and live semi-wild. Good choices include Sarawak’s Semenggoh Nature Reserve, about a 12-mile (20-kilometer) drive from Kuching, and Sabah’s Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre, about a 15-mile (25-kilometer) drive from Sandakan: be sure to visit around feeding time.