Mountain and sea
Santubong's forest running down to the beach.
Esther Siaw — CC BY 4.0 · Bernard DUPONT from FRANCE — CC BY-SA 2.0
The best-known beach around Kuching, on the Damai Peninsula at the foot of Mount Santubong, whose forest runs down to the sea, about thirty-five kilometres north of the city. Golden sand and calm water for most of the year, with dense rainforest behind, in a scene that joins sea and mountain. Resorts line the beach facing the sea, and the Sarawak Cultural Village is close by, so many visitors combine the two in one day. From nearby Santubong jetty, evening boat trips through the Kuching Wetlands look for proboscis monkeys, fireflies and sometimes the rare Irrawaddy dolphins, at prices set by the operators. The public stretch of beach is free and open. Swimming is best in the calmer months from about April to September; from November to February the monsoon makes the sea rough. Make it a full day: the Cultural Village in the morning, the beach and lunch in the afternoon, then the boat trip at sunset if you like. Bring sun cream and insect repellent.
Santubong's forest running down to the beach.
The two fit into one day.
Proboscis monkeys and fireflies.
Damai Peninsula, at the foot of Mount Santubong, about 35 km north of Kuching
Yes: the sea is calm in most summer months and the sand is wide, with restaurants and facilities in the nearby resorts. Avoid the monsoon months from November to February.
