Annah Rais Longhouse

Annah Rais is a Bidayuh community in the hills south of Kuching, known for its long wooden houses raised on stilts and for welcoming visitors who want to see how life works in a traditional village. Unlike purpose-built showcases, this is a place where people live, and the longhouse is a string of family apartments joined by a long shared veranda. A guide introduces you to the layout, the history of the Bidayuh, and the rhythm of village life, and visitors are usually invited to taste local specialities and walk around the village. The tour usually includes a stop at the round headhouse, or baruk, where the community once kept trophy skulls and where the village still holds meetings and ceremonies. You learn how the Bidayuh rice harvest festival, Gawai, is celebrated, how bamboo is used for building and cooking, and how families manage land and livelihoods that are changing quickly. Some tours add a short jungle walk or a visit to a nearby hot spring, which is a welcome treat after a warm day.

The drive from Kuching takes about an hour and a half, through suburbs, plantations and then forested hills. The journey is part of the experience, as the road passes small farms, fruit stalls and roadside shops. On arrival, a villager typically leads the group into the longhouse, where you remove your shoes, sit on woven mats and are offered tuak, a traditional rice wine, or a soft drink if you prefer.

Cooking demonstrations commonly include chicken or pork cooked in bamboo, with rice cooked in the same way. The food is simple, fresh and smoky, and many visitors list it among the best meals of their trip.

The Bidayuh are one of the major indigenous peoples of Sarawak, and they live mainly in the hills around Kuching and across the border in Kalimantan. Their longhouses are built on tall posts and feature wide verandas that serve as shared living rooms. Some of the architecture has been updated with modern roofing and electricity, and many younger residents work in towns, so visitors may see satellite dishes alongside carved doors.

A good guide will talk openly about these changes, as well as about traditions that remain, such as the festivals, the weaving and the oral histories.

A few courtesies help the visit go well. Dress modestly, with covered shoulders and knees, and take your shoes off at the entrance. Ask before photographing residents, especially the elderly, and consider buying a handicraft or a drink to support the community. Carry cash, since there is usually no card payment in the village. Wear light clothing and bring swimwear if the tour includes the hot spring, along with a towel and a change of clothes.

Weekends can be busier, and during the Gawai festival period villagers may be away or celebrating, so ask your operator whether visits run normally. For many travellers the afternoon here becomes the cultural highlight of the whole trip, because it replaces observation with conversation. Ask questions freely, since hosts are used to curious visitors and often share stories about festivals, farming and family life that no sign could capture.