Heritage Trail to Iban Longhouse
Borneo- Iban Longhouses
2nt escorted tour from
£ 499pp
Iban Longhouses
A unique opportunity to spend time with local tribes
In Sarawak, the Iban tribes people form the largest percentage of Sarawak’ s population and in times past were reputed to be the most formidable headhunters on Borneo. Today, they are generous, hospitable and placid people with a deep spiritual connection to the rainforest. Unlike other tribes who hunt and move around every few days, the Iban are settlers who live in communal longhouses lying along the main rivers and their tributaries. Often housing as many as 20 or 30 families, the longhouses are usually wooden structures built on stilts, with one side sectioned off into a row of separate rooms and the other used as an open social area. This amazing short tour provides a real insight into tribal life and allows you to interact with your hosts as you learn about their daily lives. A stay in a longhouse makes for an unforgettable experience which is sure to live long in the memory.
Seri Simanggang
3H Sri Aman
Make yourself at home at this 158 room hotel, which is centrally situated within the market town of Sri Aman, close to the main attractions. Facilities at the hotel include a restaurant, while each of the deluxe rooms feature a modern decor and provide a shower and free WiFi, ensuring you can keep in touch with everyone at home.
Iban Longhouse
UNIQUE
This unique property offers simple but clean facilities at the longhouse with accommodation in a communal room. Bedding and towels are provided with a separate block offering cold showers and toilets, set in the jungle. Bamboo walls mean there is little privacy and with no electricity, a torch is recommended and perhaps earplugs.
Getting there: Travel to the longhouses involves a journey along the river by longboat, which usually takes around 45 minutes.
Best time to go: As the longhouses are within the rainforest you may well experience some rain. Drier months tend to be between March-October.
Heritage Trail to Iban Longhouse
2nt escorted tour by air-conditioned car
unique experience • insight to tribal life • communal longhouse stay
DAY 1 Kuching / Sri Aman
Travel by road( 4 hours) to Sri Aman Division, stopping to visit a native market in Serian and, if time allows, also a pepper plantation before reaching Lachau, a small up-country Chinese village, where you enjoy lunch. Continue to Sri Aman and this afternoon, take a guided stroll around Sri Aman town, visiting Fort Alice and the century old Tze Yin Khor Chinese temple.
DAY 2 Sri Aman / Iban Longhouse
After breakfast, join your guide for a visit to a nearby native market. Later, travel onwards by road for 1½ hours and then board a longboat for a 45 minute journey along the river to the longhouse. If weather permits you’ ll stop enroute so your Iban guide can cook you lunch. On arrival at the longhouse meet the Ibans and their families and this evening join them as they prepare dinner. Later, you’ ll be treated to a war dance in full ceremonial regalia.
DAY 3 Iban Longhouse / Kuching
After breakfast, join in a blowpipe demonstration with your guide before saying goodbye to the Ibans. Transfer by longboat to the jetty and continue by road back to Kuching, with a stop enroute for lunch.
After your tour, why not add on a visit to the Semenggoh Orang-Utan Centre?
Please ask for details.
What you need to know:
Daily departures from Kuching. Minimum of two passengers.
Seri Simanggang in Sri Aman for 1 night; and Iban longhouse for 1 night.
Breakfast & lunch. Dinner is also included on day 2.
The price shown includes return travel from Kuching, two nights accommodation, boat transfer, activities at the longhouse, entrance fees and services of an English speaking guide.
Note: A good level of fitness is required for the tour especially on day 2 and is therefore, not recommended for the less mobile.
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