Bamboo Rafting Kuching

Itinerary

The Bidayuh tribe are famous for their knowledge and use of bamboo. They use it for building materials, water pipes and cooking. In the past the Bidayuh would also use traditional bamboo rafts to navigate down the smaller rivers of their heartland in the Padawan region.

Now you can experience this traditional mode of transport with a day of bamboo rafting on the Sirin River near Kuching. This narrow river winds its way through rainforest, bamboo groves, farmland and passes a number of Bidayuh villages.

The bamboo rafts are 1 metre wide and 7 metres long. They are made of 10 bamboo tubes tied together with bamboo strips and rope. They are basic but functional. Water splashes through the gaps so expect to get wet.

0830 pick up from your hotel. Leave Kuching and drive (approx. 70 mins.) to a Bidayuh village. Stop briefly at a village homestay where you can can leave your spare set of clothes. Then head to the ‘put-in’ point on a pebble beach where your bamboo rafting experience begins.

After a safety briefing board traditional bamboo rafts and start rafting down the rainforest-lined river. Your guide will navigate a series of mini rapids and proceed downriver. If you wish you can join in and help guide the raft along the river.

Around midday stop at a picturesque pebble beach. Here your guides will prepare lunch, set up a BBQ and cook a range of local Bidayuh dishes in bamboo tubes. Join your guide and search for edible jungle products such as ferns or bamboo shoots. After lunch continue rafting downriver. You will pass a number of deeper pools at bends in the river where you can take a dip in the cool waters. Around 1500-1600 hours arrive at the homestay. The exact time will depend on the river level. Get changed into dry clothing and enjoy coffee or tea before saying goodbye to your hosts and returning to Kuching. Arrive back in Kuching around 1700 hours.

What To Bring

• Dry bag / waterproof bag (for camera, phone, etc.). Plastic zip lock bag from the supermarket will also work.
• Footwear that will stay on your feet such as waterproof sandals with straps (no flip flops) or reef booties (or buy a pair of Adidas Kampung (rubber shoes) when in Kuching
• Spare set of clothing
• Swimwear or clothes you don’t mind getting wet (T-shirt and shorts)
• Sun cream
• Baseball cap or sun hat
• A plastic bag for your wet clothes
• Raincoat or poncho
• Mosquito repellent

(Bamboo rafting is also included in our 2 day, 1 night Peraya Homestay tour).