KIYAU Stay & Campsite, Kampung Sapit — The Village Above the Clouds in Sarawak

The Vibe

Kampung Sapit sits way up in the hills of Padawan, about an hour from Kuching. The locals call it the village above the clouds — and on a clear morning, you'll see why. The mist rolls in low, the jungle is dense, and the silence hits you the moment you step out of the car. No traffic noise, no city buzz. Just birds, wind, and the occasional rooster from somewhere downhill.

KIYAU Stay & Campsite is a small, community-run spot here. You can pitch your own tent or rent one of their dome tents if you don't have gear. The hosts are genuinely warm — the kind of people who greet you like you're a long-lost relative. They also do home-cooked meals as an add-on, and honestly that alone is worth the trip. Local Bidayuh food, big portions, proper sedap.

This isn't a polished glamping resort. Manage your expectations going in. Think of it as a rustic, hosted nature stay — budget-friendly, remote, and very real. The kind of place you bring family, pack board games and a guitar, and just breathe for a couple of days.

Getting There

From Kuching, head towards Padawan via the Pan Borneo Highway. From there it's about an hour's drive up through Kota Padawan to Kampung Sapit. The address is along Jalan Puncak Borneo — punch it into Google Maps (CID: 9014197519157309088) and follow it up.

The road is cemented which is reassuring, but the last stretch uphill is steep and can get slippery, especially when wet. One reviewer drove a Myvi and made it — but they also saw larger vehicles stuck on the roadside. Low clearance cars might struggle. Go slow on the final climb.

Strongly recommend you call ahead at 013-926 8699 and ask about their shuttle arrangement. They can organise transport up and down from a lower pick-up point where you can leave your car overnight. Don't skip this if you're unsure about the road.

What to Expect

This place is remote in the best way. The surroundings are lush Sarawak jungle with sweeping elevated views — on clear nights, the sky is insane. Stars everywhere. On cloudy nights, the mist wraps around you like you're inside a cloud. Either way, the atmosphere is something else.

The campsite is quiet. Not "quiet for Sarawak" — genuinely quiet. Good for families, couples, or small groups wanting to disconnect. Not suited for people expecting resort-level facilities or Instagram-perfect dome tent setups. The infrastructure is basic.

There are mosquitoes. A lot of them. Bring coils AND repellent — reviewers specifically mention they can bite through clothing. Don't underestimate this.

If you're bringing your own tent, the TAHAN Pavillion Shelter Tent is a solid choice here — full-height, enclosed when you need it, and it keeps the mozzies out properly unlike the dome tents on-site which apparently have a gap at the doorframe.

Facilities

Accommodation

Dome tents available for rent. Budget-level — functional but not glamping-standard. There's a notable gap at the doorframe that lets in mosquitoes and kills the privacy. If you have your own tent, bring it.

Toilets & Bathrooms

Basic. Flush the toilet by filling a bucket. Shower is a plastic tap. It works, but don't expect anything more.

Food

Home-cooked meals available as a paid add-on. Multiple reviewers say the food is genuinely good and portions are generous. Highly recommend booking this in advance — it's one of the highlights of the whole trip.

Parking

You can park at a lower pick-up point and arrange transport up with the hosts. Overnight parking available there. Don't risk your car on that steep final section if you're not confident.

Electricity

Not mentioned in reviews. Assume limited or none. Bring a powerbank and a good lantern. The TAHAN Luminate Multifunction Lantern doubles as a powerbank — useful when you're this far off the grid.

What Campers Are Saying

FAIEZ ALI, who made the drive up from Kuching, described it as a roller coaster ride that ends at a secluded village above the clouds. He says pack food, drinks, board games and a guitar — which honestly tells you everything about the vibe here. Slow living, no rushing.

Chloe Yong called it a hidden gem in Sarawak — the views, the food, the hospitality. She specifically flagged the transport tip: arrange with the host to be picked up from the bottom rather than driving your own car up the hill road. Smart move.

One camper who stayed in the dome tent flagged a few legitimate issues — the unsealed gap at the doorframe letting in mosquitoes, basic bathroom setup (bucket flush, plastic tap), and some lizard droppings on surfaces that hadn't been cleaned before arrival. At the price point it's understandable, but worth knowing so you're not surprised.

Wil Ly, who also stayed in the dome tent, noted that the view is "quite magnificent" and that the site caters more to budget travellers. They saw larger vehicles slip on the uphill section — their Myvi made it, but it was a close call. The cemented road helps, but the incline at the end is not a joke.

Bat simply said: very quiet, very relaxing. Avoid rainy season if you want to enjoy the night sky. That's solid advice — cloud cover and rain will block out the star-gazing that makes this place special.

TAHAN Tip

Time your visit for dry season — roughly between April and September for Sarawak. Rainy season not only clouds out the sky but also makes that uphill road genuinely dangerous. Come during a clear stretch and the night sky at Kampung Sapit is one of the best you'll get anywhere near Kuching. Also — don't skip the add-on meals. Call ahead to arrange it when you book. Once you're up there, there's nowhere else to eat.

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.

You Might Also Like

• Sunrise View Village Stay Kampung Sapit — another community stay in the same village, worth comparing before you book.
• Bako National Park Campsite — Sarawak's most iconic overnight nature spot, a completely different experience but equally raw and real.