Kuching Bike & Cook

Take a detour from the city life to explore the rural part of Kuching, then get hands-on lessons in Sarawakian cuisine! Go for a morning ride to explore centuries-old villages along the banks of Sarawak River. Take in the tranquil atmosphere and picturesque sights, then immerse yourselves in the wonderful world of Sarawakian cuisine with a hands-on cooking class!

The morning ride takes you to the Malay Kampongs lining the banks of the great Sarawak River. Just minutes from the city centre is a stretch of idyllic villages--the third oldest Malay settlement in Kuching, dating back centuries. Known for their skills with ships and boats, the Malay people of old loved to build their homes near water.

As we ride into the first village just beyond the Old State Mosque, the city noises start to fade as the soothing calmness of village life takes over. Old wooden houses on stilts line both sides of the road, with more modern homes blending in equally as well in the quiet neighborhood. There are seven villages altogether on this side of the river, starting from Kampung Bintangor closest to the urban centre, to Kampung Kudei just a stone’s throw from the Satok Bridge, which takes you to the other side.

After Kampung Kudei, we head up onto the Satok Bridge and cross the river on it, to our next stop—the Satok Market. This is one of the main markets in Kuching offering fresh produce for sale, as well as a plethora of animal products, mainly fish. Afterwards, we ride on through another stretch of villages which leads to a jetty.

From the jetty, we get aboard a river taxi known locally as ‘sampan’ or ‘perahu tambang’, a centuries-old but still popular mode of transport for going back and forth between both sides of the river. Take in the scenery, observe the contrast between urban and rural Kuching just across from each other--as you cruise to Haji Omar jetty, a short walk across the street from our start point. Once we’re on the other side, it’s time for the highlight of the tour!

The kitchen is where the magic happens! After exploring the rural parts of Kuching and seeing where the ingredients in Sarawak’s delightful cuisine come from, it’s time to cook! Learn to prepare Sarawak laksa chicken along with the famed jungle fern, as well as kerabu (the local way of preparing salad), meant to be enjoyed with rice--a staple element in our cuisine. Chop, blend and stir; then tuck in to your heart’s content!