Joint Kaamatan Gawai Festival

7 DAYS / 6 NIGHT in KOTA KINABALU & KUCHING

(28 MAY – 3 JUNE, every year)

Day 1 (28^th May)

Arrival at Kota Kinabalu airport and transfer to Imperial hotel (3 star). After lunch we proceed to Donnggongon Tamu Besar (Native market) whereby you are able to see all different type of jungle product on sale. Exotic item like “tutumbakon” (sea worm), “butod” (sago grubs), “hidung” (fresh water eel), locally grown vegetables, seafood, local delicacies, traditional costumes, traditional herbs, and local instruments. Return to Kota Kinabalu city and you can stroll along the waterfront or visit the exotic Filipino market. Ask your guide to bring you to Kampung Lelayan for exotic dinner with traditional dances performed by the indigenous tribe of Sabah. We overnight at Imperial Hotel.

Day 2 (29^th May)

This morning we depart at 0845hrs to Monsopiad (House of Skulls) where a lot of activities like taste betel nuts and traditional cigarettes, shooting with traditional blow pipe (monopuk), Catapult (lastik), Stilt walk (tampanau), Sago grating (mamagalus), Sago grub (butod), rice wine making and tasting, visit legendary haouse of skulls Massive “monolith”, Gintutun Monsopiad exhibition gallery, visit original Kadazan house “Hamin Tinandai” to view the traditional Handicraft making “Henna” tattoo. In the afternoon you can go to Manukan Island for snorkeling and swimming or enjoy the sport activities at the island. We overnight at Imperial Hotel.

Day 3 (30^th May)

This day is the day of KAAMATAN festival. We depart at noon yo KDCA where the celebration centre held. The official launching by the Paramount Chief of the Kadazandusuns begin at the Rungus Longhouse. The unique traditional dress wear by the indigenous tribe attract a lot of photographers. You are visiting from one longhouse to another at the showcase. Rungus Longhouse – coconut festival featuring coconut products, Tobilung house feature the maise festival – Traditional fire making. Papar Tongunggak festival featuring cultural artifact – Tambunan featuring layoh (ginger) and poring (bamboo) festival Lotud Monginomulok (rice leavening) ceremony, the guol (yam) and koningau (cinnamon) festival at the Lobu house and the rumbio (sago palm) festival at Dusun Tatana house. TIndal house – a punti or banana festival, showcasing the various preparation blessing ceremony. Bisaya house feature a kulintangan (traditional gongs) festival – Penampang Kadazan house showcases the Momohobok ceremony and pineapple festival. Liwan house festures cabbages festival – Murut house featuring Lansaran or local trampoline, Murut manugatip dance and blowpipe demonstration at Murut house festival. Kuijau Keningau house feature the best of Kadazan food such as hinava, bambangan, sambal mangga and tahau, pakis, tivak, aromatic gourd soup and sada pinarasakan or steam fish. Traditional sport and local artiste concert performance Beauty pageant “Unduk Ngadau” Gala Night (Main Highlights). Return late in the evening to your hotel.

Download Magic Kaamatan Gawai Harvest Festival 7D6N Here >>

Day 4 (31^st May)

In the morning you can do your final shopping or relaxing before check out and transfer to BKI Airport for your flight departs onMH3153 1350hrs/ 1640hrs. Arrival at Kuching airport and meet your local Iban guide. You will be transfer to Mongkos Home stay where your’re most welcome by the Iban people. Today is the New Year Ever of Gawai Dayak where you are able to see the real highlight of the ritual blessing ad entertained with a lot of activities like Gong music and traditional dances. The “Bidumbak & Bipipis” (Cleansing of feet ceremony), refreshment with rice wine and local festival delicacies”Pinchuon, Bibileh, Bisampak & Bisalai” (slaughtering, chopping & smoking of fresh meat) Is the highlight of the day. Dinner at “Ramin Pingabang” in the longhouse. “Main Banci, Main Tinten, Main Kirunchong” (Bamboo flutes and all other bamboo musical instruments) entertained by the Iban tribe in the evning. “Miriyam” shooting to the officiate the Gawai Festival. Overnight at Mogkos Homestay.

Day 5 (1^st June)

After breakfast witness the “Palan Gawai” (Festival Centre for Ritual Blessing). And we will go out “Ngabang” (visiting house to house). After lunch we proceed to visit Semenngoh Orang Utan centre to see the feeding of the wild orang utan and we return to Kuching city. Stroll along the waterfront and the main bazaar or take sunset cruise along the Sarawak River. We overnight at Habour View Hotel (3 star)

Day 6 (2^nd June)

This morning we proceed for an exurcion to Bako National Park where you are able to see monitor Lizard, wild boar and Proboscis monkey. You are able to take Lintang trail to see flora and fauna.We returnlate in the afternoon to Bako jetty and travel overland to Kuching. We overnight at Habour View Hotel.

Day 7 (3^rd June)

Free till transfer to the Kuching airport for onward travel home.

PACKAGE PRICE: USD608 PER PERSON BASED ON TWINSHARE

SINGLE SUPPLEMENT: USD175

The price includes: all transfer, meals as stated, entry permit and fees, accommodaionas stated and English speaking guide.

Requirement for the trip: Raincoat, Torchlight, insect repellent and toilet and bath kit for homestay.

Download Magic Kaamatan Gawai Harvest Festival 7D6N Here >>