Bau

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Bau Travel Essentials

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Ideal duration: 1-2 Days

Best Time: May to September Read More

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"Home to the descendants of Bidayuh tribes"

Bau Tourism

Bau is located in Malaysia’s largest state of Sarawak, about 26km southwest of Kuching. It is a small town with a natural frontier of limestone mountains. It is primarily known for its Bidayuh Culture as the descendants of the Bidayuh Tribes reside here. Bau is packed with natural beauty from caves to explore, rivers to swim in and mountains to climb. It is also a good access point to visit the famous Wind and Fairy Caves.

Among the popular places to visit in Bau is the Blue Lake which formed naturally with water accumulating in a mine. Venturesome people would love to explore the show caves of Wind Cave and Fairy Cave in Bau. These caves are huge and adventurous with ferns and rocks inside them. You can also visit the Serikin Market located 15 km from Bau in Bidayuh town of Serekin. The market is set up by indonesian sellers on weekends and is famous among tourists and locals.

One of Bau’s other attractions is Bung Jagoi. Tourists can have a homespun stay at Bung Jagoi which is the oldest of all the settlements in Bau. It is now a heritage and ecotourism site. The village is preserved and represents the life of Bidayuh people over years. It gives a glimpse into the past of the people and the local guides explain the history. Several homestay programs are available around the area.

Things to do in Bau

1. Serikin Weekend Market

Serikin Weekend Market
Situated near the border of Malaysia and Indonesia in Bau, the Serikin Weekend Market attracts several people who wish to purchase goods from Indonesian sellers. These sellers come from Kalimantan on (Read More)their bikes. Since there is no customs post here, the Indonesian goods become available at competitive prices. Some of the items that are sold at the Serikin Weekend Market include fabrics, handicrafts, antiques, rattan furniture and clothes. Further, authentic Bornean food is also available here.

2. Wind Cave

Wind Cave
Wind Cave is a popular limestone cave formation, located 50km from Kuching and 5km southwest of Bau. The Wind Caves are a network of underground streams and are a local favourite sight. The highlight (Read More)of these caves are the multiple species of bats - including the Dusky Fruit bats and the queer formations all across the three tunnels caused by the river tears since thousands of years. This rocky land, on the banks of the Sarawak River, has 3 tunnels that let you explore across the cave.

3. Blue Lake

Blue Lake
The Blue Lake, also known as Tasik Biru, is located at a distance of 35 km from the Kuching City centre in Bau. This lake was once an open-pit gold mine. However, since the gold mine got flooded, it w (Read More)as converted into an artificial lake. Tasik Biru is a scintillating turquoise lake and is about 91 meters deep. The scenic lake has deep and sharp edges and is surrounded by greenery. A floating platform is also constructed at the lake which allows visitors to get closer to the water. Although people can take part in a few water sport activities at the lake, the water is unsuitable for drinking since it contains arsenic contaminants.

More on Bau Travel

Need to Know

  • Since Bau is just a town and not much developed, it is advised to carry cash as there are hardly any ATMs around. Cash is a more acceptable form of exchange. 
  • It is suggested that you carry snacks and torch while traveling as they are not available at most of the tourist spots.
  • As Bau consists mainly of villages as tribal people, there is no WiFi service around except for a very few hotels. You can purchase a portable dongle from Kuching City or can bring it from home.

Food in Bau

Kopitiams which are traditional coffee shops are popular for food. In Bau, they are designed as food courts and offer local foods and drinks at affordable prices. Being a home to Bidayuh tribe, the area is not much developed. The villages also have home based small restaurants with meals and snacks for tourists. Siniawan Night Market is also popular among tourists and locals. It comes live at 5 PM and closes around 11 PM at night on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. It is packed with local food and local handicrafts to buy from.

History of Bau

Bau is known for gold mining. The word “Bau” itself means new and the town came to be known as “new town” for the Chinese migrants who came to Bau to mine gold. Though people are generally proficient in english, their native language is Bau Bidayuh and it is always better to know a few words and phrases before making a trip here.

Best Time to Visit Bau

How to Reach Bau

How to Reach Overview

Bau is located just one hour’s drive from Kuching, the most populated and capital city of Sarawak State of Malaysia. The distance of 35 km between Kuching and Bau can easily be covered by buses which are readily available at frequent intervals. Taxis charging RM 85 to RM 100 are also available.

Local transport in Bau

Hire a taxi to explore Bau which is affordable and the fastest way to get around. Car rentals are also available to travel around. Rentals start from RM 40 per day. 

Bau Photos

Bau
The Blue Lake, also known as Tasik Biru

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