3D2N Nanga Sumpa Jungle Lodge,
Longhouse Experience in Batang Ai,
Kuching, Sarawak, Borneo
The Nanga Sumpa longhouse is a living example of an Iban community who have embraced a form of respectful, low volume, tourism where visitors meet the local Iban on equal terms and the local people are free to blend their traditional way of life with the benefits of contemporary living.
Nanga Sumpa Jungle Lodge
Enquiry / Booking Form
Itinerary
Day 01 / Kuching – Ulu Ai – Nanga Sumpa Jungle Lodge (-/L/D)
Pick up at Kuching hotel and depart by air-conditioned van for Batang Ai reservoir (4½ hours). Journey through rural Sarawak, passing pepper gardens, cocoa and rubber plantation. En-route, a few stops will be made. Visit the colorful native market in Serian town where a variety of jungle produce such as edible ferns, bamboo shoots and unusual tropical fruit are on display. Visit a pepper garden and stop by to view wild orchids and several species of pitcher plants. Lunch en route. Upon arrival at the Batang Ai reservoir, proceed by longboat (1-2 hours) upriver to Nanga Sumpa Jungle Lodge. After dinner proceed to the longhouse across the river. Relax on the Ruai (common verandah) and spend time with the Iban people. Interact with the community; learn about their culture and enjoy some local rice wine. Overnight at the lodge.
Day 02 / Nanga Sumpa Jungle Lodge – Enseluai Waterfall (B/L/D)
Following breakfast, hike the jungle trails along the river and continue upriver by longboat. Our destination is the scenic Enseluai Waterfall. Time to relax, swim, explore the rainforest and have lunch or try fishing Iban-style. Return to the lodge. Dinner is served in the lodge with local delicacies to enhance the meal. After dinner, visit to the longhouse. Woven blankets and handicrafts are available for display upon request and may be purchased directly from the longhouse people. Overnight at the lodge.
Day 03 / Ulu Ai – Kuching (B/L/-)
Following breakfast, depart down river by longboat, then overland. Lunch en route. Proceed to Kuching to check-in hotel.
Note Leeches are found in this area. Insect repellent is effective against leeches.
Land Cost join-in basis
Prices per person in SGD dollars
- SGD $599 Twin
Validity
- Mar 01 – Dec 31, 2012
Inclusions
- Return overland transfers
- Accommodation in longhouse-style Jungle Lodge
- Tours with English-speaking Guide
- All meals as indicated in itinerary (B=Breakfast, L=Lunch, D=Dinner)
Exclusions
- All **flights and airport taxes
- Pre and post-tour accommodation in Kuching
- MYR $20 surcharge for one-way pick up/drop off at Damai hotels
- Insurance
- Personal expenditure like soft/hard beverages, tipping for guide/driver, etc.
**Please check with us for attractive tour-based return airfare to Kuching, Sarawak.
Note
In order to keep our prices down this tour is operated on the principle that you may be touring with a small group of other travellers. Please check with us the pick-up time for the tour departure (these times are generally fixed); details will be reconfirmed to you before you start your tour.
We can, of course, organise this as a private group for a group starting with 02 persons. Please check with us for prices.
Validity
- Mar 01 – Dec 31, 2012
Click here to read AsiaOne’s travel article about Nanga Sumpa.
A visit to a longhouse is often the highlight of a trip to Sarawak, offering a glimpse into the lifestyle of the various tribes who have for generations lived in the remote interior of Borneo. While there are many areas in Sarawak where longhouses can be visited, Ulu Ai is one of the best.
What makes Ulu Ai so special is the natural environment and stunning scenery. Clean rivers and jungle streams, refreshing waterfalls and undisturbed tracts of rainforest allow you to combine a range of outdoor activities with a longhouse visit.
In 1986 Borneo Adventure approached the Iban community at Nanga Sumpa and asked them if they would like to cooperate with us in bringing visitors to their village. The longhouse was receptive to the idea but requested that we build a lodge nearby rather than have visitors stay in the longhouse itself.
Under the guidance of the village headman, a tourism committee was formed within the longhouse to ensure fair play and that there was an even distribution of work within the community. Today, Ulu Ai is recognised as one of the region’s best examples of village-based tourism and our operations and partnership with the community at Nanga Sumpa have won a number of awards.
Borneo Adventure’s tours and activities at Ulu Ai are centred on our Nanga Sumpa Lodge. The lodge serves as a base for a range of nature-based activities and excursions and offers visitors the chance of learning about the culture and lifestyle of the Iban community who live in the adjacent longhouse.
Located approximately a 1½ hour longboat ride from the Batang Ai Lake, Nanga Sumpa Lodge provides clean lodging with western-style toilets, mosquito netting, mattresses and clean bedding. Meals are prepared in the lodge and feature fresh jungle vegetables and other local delicacies.
Nanga Sumpa is a jungle lodge located in a relatively remote area of Borneo. The facilities reflect the remote location and are somewhat basic. Many of our guests don’t mind this as the beauty of the area and the Iban people are the real attractions. However, we appreciate that the accommodation may not be as luxurious as some travellers require. If you are looking for a bit more luxury the Batang Ai Longhouse Resort by Hilton offers hotel standard facilities and air-conditioned rooms.
Activities during your stay at the Nanga Sumpa include travelling further upriver by longboat to have a swim at a waterfall; visiting the longhouse and surrounding farms; participating in the daily activities of the Iban people; and jungle trekking on trails that take you along streams and through farmlands to primary rainforest. Orangutan live in the Ulu Ai area and sometimes it is possible to see the “man of the forest” in its natural environment.
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