Kuching Offroad - Day Tours
Kuching Offroad - Day Tours
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One day offroad adventures in the beautiful landscape of the Bau area 20Km from Kuching. The BAU HISTORY TRAIL visits gold mines, historic villages and caves. On the way you will learn about the local history from prehistoric times onward. The TRINGGUS TRAIL visits remote Bidayuh villages (real heads in the head house!) and a 60 minute jungle trek with knowledgeable local guides introduces you to jungle and farm. Depart Kuching 08:45 return 18:00. Both adventures include a Bidayuh style lunch. Finally, if you are looking for Borneo's famed biodiversity, you can find it on THE NIGHTWALK!
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Kuching Offroad - Day Tours
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
5.0
85 reviews
Excellent
77
Very good
8
Average
0
Poor
0
Terrible
0
Louhicky
London, UK2 contributions
Feb 2012 • Friends
We contacted James before our trip and explained that one of us is a wheelchair user and that we hoped to do many typically inaccessible things whilst on the island. He was excellent in response, research, preparation, and finally, in delivering the experience of a lifetime. Knowledgable in all things Borneo, he offered us a perspective that I'm certain most tourist never get. Highly, highly, highly recommended with the warmest regards. Thanks again, James!
Written 2 March 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
WeiLynn
George Town, Malaysia61 contributions
Jun 2016 • Family
My family of 4, including two girls, ages 10 and 7, recently joined James on his Tringgus Trail expedition. It was very much like stepping into an educational National Geographic documentary and experiencing it in real life! It was that interesting and informative. The very well planned and perfectly balanced tour offered us a glimpse into the Bidayuh village life & culture, the historical town of Bau and the bird nest industry, the local market and the jungles and caves of Kuching. Here are some of the highlights:
• Visiting the colourful wet market in Bau – We enjoyed spotting interesting vegetables and fruits that you would typically not find in the markets of Peninsula Malaysia and even with the ones that are familiar, they appear to be somewhat larger and longer here in Sarawak.
• Having the opportunity to visit two Bidayuh villages – We were very privileged to have Peter from the Gumbang village, welcoming us into their Baruk (head-house) where the skulls from the olden days of head-hunting, still hang on display. It was the perfect spot to rest and learn all about the Baruk – its construction and function – as well as the Gawai celebrations.
• Enjoying a jungle trek to the Malaysian-Indonesian border (~40-mins 1 way, with kids… the journey back was faster) – It was quite fun making our way through the jungle where bamboo grow in abundance & is cleverly used to construct the bridges and walkways that we balanced on to make our way over streams and muddy patches. Along the way, we spotted some stingless bees, a huge “elephant ant” & the beautiful ginger flower (bunga kantan) in full bloom.
• Savouring a delicious Bidayuh lunch & playing the “Seyrutong” in a nicely constructed bamboo hut – It was surprisingly cool and airy in the hut that James designed, even under the hot midday sun. We had a very lovely home cooked meal of rice served with paku (fern), loh bak meat roll, bamboo shoots and chicken and some nice sticky dessert prepared by Emma. Emma and James provided live entertainment with the “Seyrutongs” (Bidayuh musical instrument) and let us have a go at it too.
• Exploring the magical Fairy Cave with the expert caver – This would be our second trip to the enchanted, otherworldly cavern, filled with large patches of lush green vegetation growing off the walls and floor. On our first trip a year ago, we explored it by ourselves. This time, on our second trip, with James giving us a lesson on cave geology and pointing out the interesting structures that we had not noticed during our first trip, the magical cave became even more magical! James also took us deeper into the cave, where a signboard warns the casual visitor against entering. In very safe hands, we saw more beautiful stalactites and stalagmites and got all excited when James helped us spot a Tarantula.
• Receiving several beautiful photos of the trip – James has great photography skills, which matches National Geographic standards too! We loved the beautifully composed photos that he took during the trip including the ones in the dark cave, with the aid of a flashlight.
All in all, James makes a fantastic guide, which I conclude are due to (1) his attention to details in designing this comprehensive itinerary (2) his in-depth knowledge and passion in caving, the local culture, history and lots more and (3) the friendships and connections that he has forged with the locals in the villages! Thank you very much James for a fantastic day out!
• Visiting the colourful wet market in Bau – We enjoyed spotting interesting vegetables and fruits that you would typically not find in the markets of Peninsula Malaysia and even with the ones that are familiar, they appear to be somewhat larger and longer here in Sarawak.
• Having the opportunity to visit two Bidayuh villages – We were very privileged to have Peter from the Gumbang village, welcoming us into their Baruk (head-house) where the skulls from the olden days of head-hunting, still hang on display. It was the perfect spot to rest and learn all about the Baruk – its construction and function – as well as the Gawai celebrations.
• Enjoying a jungle trek to the Malaysian-Indonesian border (~40-mins 1 way, with kids… the journey back was faster) – It was quite fun making our way through the jungle where bamboo grow in abundance & is cleverly used to construct the bridges and walkways that we balanced on to make our way over streams and muddy patches. Along the way, we spotted some stingless bees, a huge “elephant ant” & the beautiful ginger flower (bunga kantan) in full bloom.
• Savouring a delicious Bidayuh lunch & playing the “Seyrutong” in a nicely constructed bamboo hut – It was surprisingly cool and airy in the hut that James designed, even under the hot midday sun. We had a very lovely home cooked meal of rice served with paku (fern), loh bak meat roll, bamboo shoots and chicken and some nice sticky dessert prepared by Emma. Emma and James provided live entertainment with the “Seyrutongs” (Bidayuh musical instrument) and let us have a go at it too.
• Exploring the magical Fairy Cave with the expert caver – This would be our second trip to the enchanted, otherworldly cavern, filled with large patches of lush green vegetation growing off the walls and floor. On our first trip a year ago, we explored it by ourselves. This time, on our second trip, with James giving us a lesson on cave geology and pointing out the interesting structures that we had not noticed during our first trip, the magical cave became even more magical! James also took us deeper into the cave, where a signboard warns the casual visitor against entering. In very safe hands, we saw more beautiful stalactites and stalagmites and got all excited when James helped us spot a Tarantula.
• Receiving several beautiful photos of the trip – James has great photography skills, which matches National Geographic standards too! We loved the beautifully composed photos that he took during the trip including the ones in the dark cave, with the aid of a flashlight.
All in all, James makes a fantastic guide, which I conclude are due to (1) his attention to details in designing this comprehensive itinerary (2) his in-depth knowledge and passion in caving, the local culture, history and lots more and (3) the friendships and connections that he has forged with the locals in the villages! Thank you very much James for a fantastic day out!
Written 16 June 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Weili W
Melbourne, Australia17 contributions
Jan 2016 • Family
My mom and I had a great day out with James one Saturday in January 2016. We checked out so many places we wouldn't otherwise have access to.
Being from Peninsular Malaysia, not everything was foreign to us. And yet we discovered so much more in our own part of the world ... the red/ orange fleshed durian and interesting ferns, fruits and vegetables we had never seen before in the Bau market, birds nest cleaned, packaged and bought directly from the friendly lady trader, the courage it took to go up (and down) the steep steps of the Fairy Cave, driving past an abandoned gold mine, a Bidayuh lunch seemingly in the middle of nowhere....
For the Malaysians reading this ... we always talk about being global citizens. Maybe its also time we explored our own backyard and supported local tourism. You'll be surprised at the beautiful sights and sounds in our own home.
Being from Peninsular Malaysia, not everything was foreign to us. And yet we discovered so much more in our own part of the world ... the red/ orange fleshed durian and interesting ferns, fruits and vegetables we had never seen before in the Bau market, birds nest cleaned, packaged and bought directly from the friendly lady trader, the courage it took to go up (and down) the steep steps of the Fairy Cave, driving past an abandoned gold mine, a Bidayuh lunch seemingly in the middle of nowhere....
For the Malaysians reading this ... we always talk about being global citizens. Maybe its also time we explored our own backyard and supported local tourism. You'll be surprised at the beautiful sights and sounds in our own home.
Written 14 January 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
amberlmw
KL27 contributions
Jan 2016
We booked the Tringgus tour with James on January 2016, which comprises of a day trip to a local produce market (pasar tani), a short hike to the Indonesian border and back, lunch with a local family, and a trip to the Fairy cave and an abandon gold mine.
In this tour, you'll learn a lot of insider knowledge about the lifestyle of the locals. Being a Malaysian, the trip to a local produce market was nothing extraordinary, but Jame's knowledge about the local produces and his familiarity with the local traders were definitely an eye opener experience to me. He knew quite a bit of the local slang and it was amusing and entertaining to watch him banter with the friendly locals.
The tour to the local villages, & hike to the Indonesian border was the highlight for us. His knowledge about their lifestyles, history, and culture puts what we learned in history lessons to shame. It was a very enlightening experience interacting with the locals, and to have a first hand view of their lifestyle which I believe you would not get from a commercial tour agent. We had lunch in a 'pondok' made entirely from bamboo, designed by James himself outside a local's house, and this was one of the most authentic lunches we had in Kuching.
His energy levels did not waver throughout the entire tour, bounding up 5 flights of stairs to the entrance of the Fairy caves. Fairy caves is beautiful, and once again his knowledge about nature and caving astounded us. He brought us to almost every nook and cranny of the cave, showing us the typical insects and animals that lives in the cave. Touring this cave is a must with James, as one will not be able to appreciate the beauty and history of nature if you're not a caver.
In short, we highly recommend the tours by James (Kuching Offroad) to both Malaysian and overseas travelers to Kuching. The Tringgus trail was an eye-opening experience, as it managed to combined both culture and nature into one day trip. We learned so much about Kuching (even more so than in our Malaysian History and Geography lessons) in such a short period of time. Granted the package price may be a little steep, but it is worth every single penny.
So if you're looking for a not-so-typical Kuching tour with a personal touch, Jame's the man to go to. Trust us, you will not be disappointed.
In this tour, you'll learn a lot of insider knowledge about the lifestyle of the locals. Being a Malaysian, the trip to a local produce market was nothing extraordinary, but Jame's knowledge about the local produces and his familiarity with the local traders were definitely an eye opener experience to me. He knew quite a bit of the local slang and it was amusing and entertaining to watch him banter with the friendly locals.
The tour to the local villages, & hike to the Indonesian border was the highlight for us. His knowledge about their lifestyles, history, and culture puts what we learned in history lessons to shame. It was a very enlightening experience interacting with the locals, and to have a first hand view of their lifestyle which I believe you would not get from a commercial tour agent. We had lunch in a 'pondok' made entirely from bamboo, designed by James himself outside a local's house, and this was one of the most authentic lunches we had in Kuching.
His energy levels did not waver throughout the entire tour, bounding up 5 flights of stairs to the entrance of the Fairy caves. Fairy caves is beautiful, and once again his knowledge about nature and caving astounded us. He brought us to almost every nook and cranny of the cave, showing us the typical insects and animals that lives in the cave. Touring this cave is a must with James, as one will not be able to appreciate the beauty and history of nature if you're not a caver.
In short, we highly recommend the tours by James (Kuching Offroad) to both Malaysian and overseas travelers to Kuching. The Tringgus trail was an eye-opening experience, as it managed to combined both culture and nature into one day trip. We learned so much about Kuching (even more so than in our Malaysian History and Geography lessons) in such a short period of time. Granted the package price may be a little steep, but it is worth every single penny.
So if you're looking for a not-so-typical Kuching tour with a personal touch, Jame's the man to go to. Trust us, you will not be disappointed.
Written 1 February 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hilary R
Busselton, Australia29 contributions
Oct 2014 • Family
The Tringgus Trail Tour with James is a must!. His rapport with the local people, together with his knowledge of the flora and fauna is outstanding. Trekking up to the Indonesian border with Peter was a hit with our 10 year old Grandson who has not stopped talking about it. A lovely lunch of local delicacies presented by Emily and her cooling Rosella cordial was welcome.
James is a fountain of knowledge about Sarawak and the Kuching area and continually kept my husband, grandson and self entertained throughout our day long tour. The jungle hiking and fairy caves were not a problem for my 82 year old husband, so have a go.
We all felt that James gave much more than other tour guides give.
Well done James, we will be back!
James is a fountain of knowledge about Sarawak and the Kuching area and continually kept my husband, grandson and self entertained throughout our day long tour. The jungle hiking and fairy caves were not a problem for my 82 year old husband, so have a go.
We all felt that James gave much more than other tour guides give.
Well done James, we will be back!
Written 2 November 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Many thanks Hilary for a lovely review. I don't think I have had 12.5 out of 10 for anything... ever! I hope that C is still talking about the day he went out into head hunting country and survived! Your husband is amazing. Not only did he do the full route without a fuss, he didn't shed a drop of sweat and arrived back in Kuching looking like he'd spent the day in the a/c! Hats Off!!!
Written 9 November 2014
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
vincentrosa
Singapore, Singapore1 contribution
Oct 2017 • Family
I can only recommend this tour. James is very knowledgeable and passionate about... well about pretty much everything related to Sarawak.
It was fantastic to get the chance to talk to Bidayuh people such as James (whose life story is also fascinating). I went there with my 9-year old son who, I think, will remember this trip for a long time.
It was fantastic to get the chance to talk to Bidayuh people such as James (whose life story is also fascinating). I went there with my 9-year old son who, I think, will remember this trip for a long time.
Written 29 October 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
stuffmatters
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia930 contributions
Mar 2017 • Solo
The Tringuss trail is the one must do activity in Kuching once you have done (or decide not to do) the opportunity to interact with Orang Utan and Proboscis.
James, the guide provides a superb very full day for you to better understand the history, culture and geology of Sarawak through various visits, interactions with villagers and excellent explanations. It is very good value for the experiences you get.
The tour starts with some superb recorded background on history and key moments in Sarawak history delivered at the appropriate moments by a recording whilst James saves his voice and concentrates on driving to the first stop in Suniawan to visit a Birds nest seller and better understand the birds nest process and supply chain.
Next stop is Bau market, a superb introduction to the fruits, fish & veggies of the region and one of the best laid out markets I've been to, despite living in the region.
We then moved on to see a Baruk, a skull house, few of which remain following conversion of many villages from animism to Christianity. Peter, a retired school teacher from the village explained the rituals
The next activity was a jungle trek to the Indonesian border, and for those less mobile a shorter walk was on offer including the opportunity to talk to Peter about his village and culture.
There then followed one of the best lunches I've had on a tour in Malaysia. It was in a private house in a lovely location at the bottom of the valley and comprised pork rendang, chicken and bamboo, mountain rice & veggie. Delicious! Opportunity was then given to play a local bamboo instrument.
The next highlight was the fairy cave visit. James is a semi-professional spelunker, passionate (and a little obsessed) about caves. One of his other sidelines is caving specific holidays which I'm sure would be great fun for those so inclined....
Our trip involved the inevitable climb up to the cave entrance (there are lots of steps) then helmets and lights on to explore further. The cave and its formations are spectacular. Unlike most tourists who will stay in the naturally well lit cave, James will take you in to the dark to see geological formations, flesh eating centipedes (at a suitable distance) bats, rare lizards and birds nests whilst the sounds of the birds echo sounder punctuate the quiet. A superb visit.
James is very sensitive to individuals abilities however so make clear to him in advance any limitations you might have
Weather intervened for our last major stop resulting in a walk in the rain at a Tringuss village to see a local bridge & local agriculture including a rubber processing plant
We then headed back to Kuching via a gold mine area along an off-road section ending up at the Tasik Baru lake before returning to Kuching at 645 pm ish from an 830 start
James takes a few photos throughout the day which he will send to you the next day so you also have a fun reminder of your trip.
This is pretty well as close to a no brainer must do trip that I've ever done and is excellent value for money. I would certainly do it again next visit. Enjoy!
James, the guide provides a superb very full day for you to better understand the history, culture and geology of Sarawak through various visits, interactions with villagers and excellent explanations. It is very good value for the experiences you get.
The tour starts with some superb recorded background on history and key moments in Sarawak history delivered at the appropriate moments by a recording whilst James saves his voice and concentrates on driving to the first stop in Suniawan to visit a Birds nest seller and better understand the birds nest process and supply chain.
Next stop is Bau market, a superb introduction to the fruits, fish & veggies of the region and one of the best laid out markets I've been to, despite living in the region.
We then moved on to see a Baruk, a skull house, few of which remain following conversion of many villages from animism to Christianity. Peter, a retired school teacher from the village explained the rituals
The next activity was a jungle trek to the Indonesian border, and for those less mobile a shorter walk was on offer including the opportunity to talk to Peter about his village and culture.
There then followed one of the best lunches I've had on a tour in Malaysia. It was in a private house in a lovely location at the bottom of the valley and comprised pork rendang, chicken and bamboo, mountain rice & veggie. Delicious! Opportunity was then given to play a local bamboo instrument.
The next highlight was the fairy cave visit. James is a semi-professional spelunker, passionate (and a little obsessed) about caves. One of his other sidelines is caving specific holidays which I'm sure would be great fun for those so inclined....
Our trip involved the inevitable climb up to the cave entrance (there are lots of steps) then helmets and lights on to explore further. The cave and its formations are spectacular. Unlike most tourists who will stay in the naturally well lit cave, James will take you in to the dark to see geological formations, flesh eating centipedes (at a suitable distance) bats, rare lizards and birds nests whilst the sounds of the birds echo sounder punctuate the quiet. A superb visit.
James is very sensitive to individuals abilities however so make clear to him in advance any limitations you might have
Weather intervened for our last major stop resulting in a walk in the rain at a Tringuss village to see a local bridge & local agriculture including a rubber processing plant
We then headed back to Kuching via a gold mine area along an off-road section ending up at the Tasik Baru lake before returning to Kuching at 645 pm ish from an 830 start
James takes a few photos throughout the day which he will send to you the next day so you also have a fun reminder of your trip.
This is pretty well as close to a no brainer must do trip that I've ever done and is excellent value for money. I would certainly do it again next visit. Enjoy!
Written 11 March 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
George131189
Scunthorpe12 contributions
Sept 2016 • Couples
We had a fantastic time with James, opting to do the 'Tringgus trail' package. Communication before booking was swift and easy, and James's accommodating nature meant that we were at ease from the start.
The fairy caves were stunning, and we particularly enjoyed the trek from the local village to the Indonesian border; we felt that James's knowledge of local flora and fauna, coupled with his interesting anecdotes on regional history, really help bring the day to life.
James has a strong group of locals involved in his tour, from those at the market in Bau, to Emma and her delicious lunch, Peter and his insights into headhunting and village customs and the ladies at the bird nest factory.
Strongly recommended - it is a long day (8.30 - 18.30), but it flies by, and we deemed it good value for the amount of Sarawak that we experienced. Suitable for children and older folk too - safety was paramount when in the caves, and James was happy to adapt to suit ourselves.
The fairy caves were stunning, and we particularly enjoyed the trek from the local village to the Indonesian border; we felt that James's knowledge of local flora and fauna, coupled with his interesting anecdotes on regional history, really help bring the day to life.
James has a strong group of locals involved in his tour, from those at the market in Bau, to Emma and her delicious lunch, Peter and his insights into headhunting and village customs and the ladies at the bird nest factory.
Strongly recommended - it is a long day (8.30 - 18.30), but it flies by, and we deemed it good value for the amount of Sarawak that we experienced. Suitable for children and older folk too - safety was paramount when in the caves, and James was happy to adapt to suit ourselves.
Written 3 September 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jim L
80 contributions
Jul 2016 • Couples
We took the Tringgus trail today, lots of nature and culture nicely alternated. Bikepianopete actually said it all in his review. James indeed is a very knowledgeable and entertaining man and we really recommend going a trip with him, you won't be sorry! He knows a lot of locals and they seem to genuinely like him, for us contributing to this great experience.
Written 12 July 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
hula-girl12
Stuttgart58 contributions
Feb 2016 • Couples
Not your average day tour and James is definitely not your average guide. He is so knowledgable about the area and definitely knows some great locals.
Next time, I'm going on the food tour with James.
Highly recommend the Tringus Trail to anyone who wants a day that involves food, a bit of history & culture and a trek to Indonesia!
Next time, I'm going on the food tour with James.
Highly recommend the Tringus Trail to anyone who wants a day that involves food, a bit of history & culture and a trek to Indonesia!
Written 26 March 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Yoon W
Kuala Ketil, Malaysia
What tours are offered to people with limited mobility
Written 13 February 2025
Yoon W
Kuala Ketil, Malaysia
Do you organise tours for handicapped people in wheelchairs?
Written 13 February 2025
How do I book this tour? Should I book ahead of time or can I do it closer to the day? Looks like very end of October, start of November we will be there? What kind of clothing and footwear.
James
Written 27 August 2016
Hi Shelley. Please email to the email address on the website. its kuchingoffroad and we use gmail. I am not allowed to post the email address here.
Thanks
James
Written 29 August 2016
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*Likely to sell out: Based on Viator’s booking data and information from the provider from the past 30 days, it seems likely this experience will sell out through Viator, a Tripadvisor company.