Top 10 Campsites in Sarawak You Can't Miss (2026)

I've been camping across Malaysia for over 10 years now — and Sarawak keeps pulling me back. Not because it's easy to get to, but because nothing else quite compares. I've personally visited and written full reviews of every campsite on this list, so when I say these spots are worth your time, I mean it from actual experience, not from scrolling Google Maps at 2am.

Camping in Sarawak is a different world from the Peninsula. You've got proper rainforest that hasn't been tamed, rivers so clear you can see the bottom, beaches with zero crowds, and highland villages where the mist rolls in before you've finished your morning coffee. Whether you're a family looking for a chill weekend spot near Kuching, a hardcore trekker eyeing something like Mulu, or someone who just wants a beach campsite Sarawak-style without the fuss — this list covers all of it.

These are my personal picks for 2026. Some are proper campsites, some are more of a stay-and-experience situation, and one is honestly more of a day trip — but all of them are worth knowing about if you're planning time in Sarawak.

• 91 Beach Campsite Miri
• EnChant Retreat & Glamping Telok Melano
• Lepau Uten Long Urun
• Bako National Park
• Fairy Caves Bau, Sarawak
• Y Riverside Padawan
• T-Pen Campsite Serian
• Camp 5, Mulu National Park
• KIYAU Stay & Campsite, Kampung Sapit
• Sunrise View Village Stay, Kampung Sapit

1. 91 Beach Campsite Miri

Beach camping in Sarawak doesn't get talked about enough, and 91 Beach Campsite is the one I keep recommending when people ask. You're not looking at the beach from a distance — you pitch your tent and you are right there on it. Sunset over the water, sea breeze through the night, moonlight when you step out to pee at 3am. It's the full package. The crowd here leans family-friendly, which also means it's generally well-organised — not chaotic. If you're in Miri and skipping this, you're genuinely doing it wrong.

Best for: Families, couples, beach lovers · Standout: True beachfront pitching, Miri sunsets right from your campsite

Read my full 91 Beach Campsite Miri review →

2. EnChant Retreat & Glamping Telok Melano

Telok Melano is way out near Sematan, right at the edge of the Sarawak-Kalimantan border — and most Malaysians from the Peninsula have literally never heard of it. EnChant Retreat puts you right by that beach in pre-set glamping tents and domes, so don't show up expecting to pitch your own. But if you want a proper beachside escape with golden sand in the morning and actual dark skies at night, this delivers. One reviewer went twice and said she'd go back again — that kind of word of mouth means something. Good for couples, families, and even corporate groups.

Best for: Couples, families, glamping crowd · Standout: Zero light pollution, proper dark skies, secluded beach near Kalimantan border

Read my full EnChant Retreat & Glamping Telok Melano review →

3. Lepau Uten Long Urun

Belaga is not somewhere you end up by accident — you have to actually want to go there. Lepau Uten Long Urun sits deep in central Sarawak, along the Batang Belaga river, surrounded by thick jungle on all sides with the kind of quiet that reminds you how loud city life actually is. You've got the option of tent camping or homestay, so it works for different setups. What sets this place apart though is the owner — genuinely welcoming in a way that's rare, especially somewhere this remote. Hours from Bintulu or Sibu, but worth every kilometre.

Best for: Nature lovers, road trippers, people wanting to properly unplug · Standout: Riverside jungle setting in Belaga, warm non-transactional hosting

Read my full Lepau Uten Long Urun review →

4. Bako National Park

Bako is Sarawak's oldest national park and honestly, if you're only doing a day trip, you're leaving too much behind. The boat ride into the bay — sea stacks, sandstone cliffs, jungle pressing right up to the shore — sets the tone immediately. Then you've got proboscis monkeys hanging around the HQ area like they own the place, bearded pigs wandering past your accommodation, lizards doing their thing. Overnight stays are booked through the Sarawak Forestry site — no random tent pitching, proper rooms and chalets. This is wild Sarawak in a concentrated, accessible form.

Best for: Wildlife lovers, overnight nature stays, people flying in to Kuching · Standout: Free-roaming proboscis monkeys and bearded pigs, dramatic sea stack scenery

Read my full Bako National Park review →

5. Fairy Caves Bau, Sarawak

Let me be straight with you — Fairy Caves is not a campsite. No tent pitching, no overnight stays. This is a limestone cave system outside Bau town, pure day-trip territory. But if you're on a Sarawak road trip and have half a day free, it absolutely earns a stop. Don't let the name fool you — inside it's moody, dramatic, and genuinely impressive. Massive caverns, tight passages, steep ladders, and a dark trail section where your phone torch is not going to be enough. You earn the view here. Worth building into your itinerary if you're coming through Kuching.

Best for: Day-trippers, road trippers passing through Kuching · Standout: Dark cave trails, steep ladder sections, serious limestone rock formations

Read my full Fairy Caves Bau review →

6. Y Riverside Padawan

About 30 minutes outside Kuching and the vibe is completely different — calm river, bamboo pathways, tanjus right by the water, BBQ pits, and the constant sound of flowing water in the background. The river is shallow enough that kids can splash around without you panicking, which is exactly the kind of detail parents actually care about. Mei Ling the host is one of those people who hands you a bin bag, tells you what's good in the area, and genuinely wants you to leave the place the way you found it. This is NOT a hardcore camping spot — it's mellow, kampung-feel, and perfect for families who want nature without the stress.

Best for: Families, beginners, weekend escapes from Kuching · Standout: Shallow clear river safe for kids, kampung atmosphere with proper host energy

Read my full Y Riverside Padawan review →

7. T-Pen Campsite Serian

T-Pen sits in Mongkos, about an hour from Serian town — the kind of place locals have been enjoying quietly while everyone else queues at the more famous spots. No fancy signboards, no Instagram setups, just clean air, clear river water, and good river views that make the one-hour drive feel very worth it. The atmosphere is cosy and not overly commercialised, which is honestly a relief. If you're after something off the radar without going too remote, T-Pen hits that sweet spot nicely.

Best for: Families, off-radar campers, river lovers · Standout: Crystal clear river, relaxed non-commercialised atmosphere in Mongkos

Read my full T-Pen Campsite Serian review →

8. Camp 5, Mulu National Park

You don't drive to Camp 5 — you take a long boat up the river and then hike 9km through the jungle to get there. By the time you arrive, you've properly earned it. This is one of the most remote camps in all of Malaysia, and the base camp energy is real — most people are here to summit The Pinnacles the next day, one of Borneo's most legendary hikes. On any given night you might be sharing the kitchen with trekkers from Germany, Australia, Japan — it's genuinely international. Not for the casual camper, but if you're up for it, there's nothing else like it in Sarawak.

Best for: Serious trekkers, adventure travellers, Pinnacles summit attempts · Standout: 9km jungle approach, remote rainforest basecamp, international crowd of hardcore hikers

Read my full Camp 5 Mulu National Park review →

9. KIYAU Stay & Campsite, Kampung Sapit

Kampung Sapit is up in the hills of Padawan, about an hour from Kuching, and on a clear morning the mist rolls in low enough that you understand why locals call it the village above the clouds. KIYAU is a small community-run spot — you can pitch your own tent or rent a dome tent if you don't have gear. The hosts greet you like a long-lost relative, and the home-cooked Bidayuh food they offer as an add-on is genuinely sedap, big portions, worth it on its own. Don't expect a polished glamping resort — but if you want highland quiet, real hospitality, and cloud views an hour from Kuching, this delivers.

Best for: Budget campers, Bidayuh cultural experience, highland seekers · Standout: Home-cooked Bidayuh meals, community-run warmth, cloud-level morning views

Read my full KIYAU Stay & Campsite Kampung Sapit review →

10. Sunrise View Village Stay, Kampung Sapit

This one is for people who don't mind earning their campsite. You hike up 80 to 100 metres of steps to reach Sunrise View Village Stay in Kampung Sapit, and when you get there you're literally inside the clouds — not as a figure of speech, actually inside them. When the mist clears, you get a full sea of clouds rolling across the valley below. It's a Bidayuh longhouse community stay, small and very personal, run by a host who clearly puts his heart into it. Expect cold nights — we're talking 18°C with wind — so pack accordingly. No big crowds, no strangers blasting music. Just you, the wind, and the clouds.

Best for: Mountain lovers, cloud chasers, highland camping · Standout: Sea of clouds view from the campsite, 18°C cold nights, intimate Bidayuh longhouse setting

Read my full Sunrise View Village Stay Kampung Sapit review →

What to Pack for Camping in Sarawak

Sarawak camping covers a lot of ground — beach, jungle, river, highland — so your packing list really depends on where you're going. That said, here are the basics that apply across most of these spots:

• Rain gear — Sarawak is proper tropical. Even in dry season, afternoon showers happen. A good rain poncho and dry bags for your electronics are non-negotiable.
• Insect repellent — Jungle spots like Lepau Uten and Camp 5 especially. Don't skip this.
• Warm layers for highlands — KIYAU and Sunrise View Village Stay both sit in the hills at Kampung Sapit. Nights hit 18°C with wind. A proper sleeping bag matters here. The TAHAN HexLink Sleeping Bag is rated for 18°C–25°C, which is exactly that highland sweet spot — and it converts to a blanket if the night is milder.
• A good sleeping pad — Ground camping is real. If you want to wake up without your back complaining, the TAHAN Panthera Inflatable Sleeping Pad is worth it — 10cm thick, built-in foot pump, integrated pillow. Especially useful for family spots like Y Riverside and T-Pen.
• Torch or headlamp with extra batteries — For cave visits like Fairy Caves, your phone torch genuinely won't be enough. Bring a proper one.
• Dry bags or waterproof cases — River crossings and boat rides (hello, Bako and Mulu) mean wet gear if you're not careful.
• Cash — Remote spots like Lepau Uten and Kampung Sapit are unlikely to have card machines. Bring enough ringgit.

FAQ

When is the best time to camp in Sarawak?

Generally, the dry season from May to September is your safest bet for camping in Sarawak — less rain, better trail conditions, calmer seas for beach spots like 91 Beach Campsite and Telok Melano. That said, Sarawak is equatorial, so rain can happen any time. Camp 5 and Mulu in particular can get wet at any season — check conditions before you commit to that 9km jungle hike.

Which Sarawak campsites are good for beginners?

Y Riverside Padawan is probably the most beginner-friendly on this list — it's 30 minutes from Kuching, the river is calm and shallow, and the host Mei Ling is genuinely helpful. KIYAU Stay in Kampung Sapit is also manageable for first-timers who want a highland experience without going too remote. Both spots are accessible and not intimidating for people new to camping.

Which campsite in Sarawak is best for families with kids?

91 Beach Campsite Miri is great for families — proper beachfront, family crowd, well-organised. Y Riverside Padawan is another strong pick because the river is shallow enough for kids to safely play in. T-Pen Campsite in Serian also draws family crowds and has that relaxed riverside feel that works well with children in tow.

Do I need to book in advance for Sarawak campsites?

For Bako National Park, yes — booking through the Sarawak Forestry site is required and spots fill up, especially on weekends and school holidays. Camp 5 in Mulu also requires advance planning given the logistics involved (long boat plus 9km trek). For smaller community spots like KIYAU and Sunrise View Village Stay in Kampung Sapit, it's always worth reaching out ahead of time since these are small operations. Better safe than showing up to a full site.

Mike has been camping across Malaysia for over 10 years — from jungle treks in Taman Negara to beach camps in Perhentian. He writes about it so you don't have to find out the hard way. Follow along on TAHAN Outdoor's blog for honest campsite reviews, every week.