Sarawak Gawai Dayak Open House & Parade (3D2N Package) - Full Package

3D2N Package Highlights 

● Experience the authentic culture of Sarawak with our Gawai Open House tour from June 7th-9th. 
● Experience the traditional Ngabang Gawai (harvest festival) at Matop Longhouse, a historic 28-door longhouse built on massive belian (ironwood) pillars located along the Paku River.
● Witness the spectacular traditional Gawai Parade at the Betong Parade Ground. 
● Stay for two nights in a modern Iban longhouse with shared bathroom facilities and enjoy authentic hospitality like no other. You will receive a traditional welcome followed by refreshments with savory kuih (local cakes) and other delicacies.  There will also be demonstrations of handicraft and kuih making. 
● Enjoy a guided tour that includes visits to Fort Alice in Sri Aman, and Fort Lily in Betong. 
● Our package includes 2 dinners, 1 lunch, and 2 breakfasts. All transfers will be done by a 40-seaters bus, accompanied by an English-speaking tour guide. Please note that alcoholic drinks are not included but can be purchased at the longhouse.

Price Details

3D2N Package with Transport

• RM800.00 / pax
• Full Longhouse Gawai package, including transport
• Early bird discount before 14th April 2024 for first 15 customers (-RM50 Off) Insert discount code PBGWSS

Includes:

2 nights longhouse shared accommodation (2 – 5 per room with shared bathroom), 2 Dinners, 1 lunch & 2 Breakfasts, 40-Seater bus transfer, English speaking tour guide, visit Fort Lily and Fort Alice

Excludes:

Alcoholic drinks (available for purchase at the longhouses) 

What to Bring? 

• Towel
• Sarong
• Ear Plugs
• Insect repellent
• Bathing suit
• Torch light
• Personal amenities such as toothbrush and toothpaste, Soap and shampoo are provided.
• Comfortable walking shoes
• Hat Umbrella

About the PROGRAMME

Gawai Open House 3 Days / 2 Nights ( 7 - 9 June) Programme

TOUR CONTENT

Experience authentic Sarawakian culture and immerse yourself in the festive atmosphere of a traditional Gawai (harvest festival) Open House with our 3-day, 2-night tour package. Start your journey by boarding a comfortable bus from Kuching. There will be stops at Serian for a break and for lunch at Lachau before arriving at the contemporary Rumah Panjang (Longhouse) Engkranji. Dinner will be local-style in the longhouse with the rest of the evening free to enjoy the hospitality of your hosts. The next day, wake up to breakfast in the longhouse before heading to the Betong Padang (Parade ground) to witness the grand Gawai Parade. After the parade spectacle featuring all the communities, enjoy some free time to explore the food and handicraft stalls at Dewan Rentap. There will also be a guided tour of Fort Lily. Return to Engkeranji longhouse for lunch and a chance to relax and prepare for the evening festival. In the late afternoon, guests will be transferred to the impressive Matop longhouse (a 28-door longhouse built on massive belian (ironwood) pillars where a traditional welcome by the community awaits. This will be followed by a traditional Ngabang Gawai ceremony and performances of Miring (prayer offerings) and welcome dance. There will be a variety of local festival foods presented including cakes, drinks, pansu (bamboo-cooked rice), chicken and much more. The open house means that you are welcome to visit everyone (or as many as you are able) in the longhouse. You will be warmly welcomed by the host and expected to accept their hospitality (i.e. food and drinks). The visiting can go on all night long, but we will bid farewell to our hosts and return to Engkranji longhouse. On the final day of the tour, enjoy breakfast in the longhouse before departing for Sri Aman and the historic Fort Alice. Lunch is on your own in Sri Aman town before returning to Kuching in the afternoon. Join us on this unforgettable cultural experience and celebrate the Gawai Open House like a true local. Book now and make memories that will last a lifetime! Limited to 80 pax only!

WHAT TO EXPECT

Experience the Gawai festival like a local at the Rumah Engkeranji Longhouse Homestay (2 nights).

Rumah Engkeranji Longhouse, a contemporary longhouse in Betong, near the Pan Borneo Highway, is where your homestay journey begins. 

Upon arrival, enjoy a warm welcome with tea, coffee, and kuih (local cakes) before meeting your hosts and checking into your bilik (room). You will be staying as a guest of one of the longhouse residents, inside their longhouse unit in an open dormitory-style lodging.  

In a true dayak style homestay experience, you will be hosted by a family and will be sharing the host’s guest area and rooms, as well as bathroom facilities, with the other Gawai guests. The number you will share with will depend on the number of guests and the room availability. Sleeping arrangements will be on the floor with a single person mattress, pillows and blankets. Fans are available in all sleeping quarters. Depending on the host unit facilities, the bathroom facilities are basic with WC and cold showers (and in some cases a traditional ‘mandi’ consisting of a large wash bucket and scoop for bathing). The sleeping quarters and bathroom facilities are clean and comfortable and drinking water is available at all times.

On the second day, there will be the grand Gawai Parade at Betong in the morning. There will be plenty of opportunities to sample local food and handicrafts at this big event. Return to the longhouse for lunch and a chance to relax before traveling to Matop longhouse where a traditional welcome awaits. Matop is an impressive longhouse built on massive belian poles. You will be welcomed to the longhouse and invited to participate in the Gawai festivities. After the longhouse dinner on the Ruai of the longhouse (common verandah area), guests will be able to participate in the Gawai festival fun, leisure and drinks. Return to Engkeranji longhouse for overnight.

On the final day, breakfast will be served in the longhouse before we say goodbye to the hosts and proceed to Sri Aman for a visit to Fort Alice. Lunch is on your own, before the bus departs for the journey back to Kuching.