From Wikitravel

Belaga is a small town on the Rejang River in Malaysia's province of Sarawak. Whilst the village can be explored in well under an hour, most visitors arrive in Belaga in order to explore the many longhouses as well as the interior of Borneo. There are a few tour operators which are established in the town, however the town is very well connected with the tribes-people and finding a local guide shouldn't be very difficult.

[edit] Get in

[edit] By Boat

Most people arrive in Belaga by boat from Kapit (and further downstream, Sibu). Boats leave from Kapit at 9am and cost RM30 (5 hours). It is a very scenic boat ride, and if you are in need of some fresh air the boat roof is a good place to take in the jungle river banks.

[edit] By Plane

Belaga has a tiny airstrip a few kilometers downstream from the village, which FAX flies twice weekly.

[edit] By 4x4

The long, windy and unkept road from Bintulu can be accessed by 4x4 (5 hours, RM50 - min 2pax). This can avoid backtracking by boat to reach Sibu in order to get to the coast. Jeeps normally leave early at 8am, but since they can be commissioned easily, they are flexible. Speak to your guide or one of the shops which advertise land transport.

[edit] Get around

Belaga is small enough to walk around in twenty minutes. For trips further afield, hire a longboat for a ride up/down river.

[edit][add listing] See

[edit][add listing] Do

• Longhouse tours. Belaga is one of the best places to do trips to see the longhouses. Indigenous tribes are typically welcoming to tourists and very hospitable. Expect to be shown different styles of villages (old and new), as well as traditional costumes, dances, foods (jungle fern, wild boar), manufacturing methods, local rice farms etc. Most of the children, when not at school are fascinated by Westerners and will tag along for the fun and games. Be prepared to take some gifts for the tribes people (mainly for the children) as a show of appreciation to their hospitality. These should be given to the chieftain who will later distribute them.

• Belaga Regatta/Traditional games/Belaga Rainforest Challenge Trail. Every year from 23rd-27th July. Features all the indigenous tribes and longhouse people in a week long event of games and an inter-longhouse regatta challenge.

[edit] Tours

Longhouse tours are split up into the following categories:

• Longhouse visits, and sleeping typically in the chieftain's house
• Longhouse visits, jungle trekking and camping
• Longhouse visits, short jungle trek followed by sleeping in the longhouse

One excellent tour operator is:

• Worldwide Exploration Travel & Tour Services, Lot 168 Jalan Penghulu Hang Nyipa, 96900 Belaga, Sarawak (from the boat jetty, ascend the stairs, turn left and walk to the end of the main street), Mr Andreas Bato: 019 372 2972 / 086 461 884 / 086 461 754 (niestabato@gmail.com).

Prices as at January 2008 are listed below (all quoted in Malaysian Ringgit), although with some haggling discounts will be found.

	1 pax	2-3 pax	4-8 pax	9+ pax
2D1N Longhouse	400++	300++	240++	160++
2D1N Camping	440++	360++	280++	200++
2D1N Trekking	420++	340++	260++	180++
3D2N Longhouse	500++	340++	280++	200++
3D2N Camping	560++	400++	320++	260++
3D2N Trekking	540++	380++	300++	220++
Longhouse Day trip	180++	100++	80++	60++

[edit][add listing] Buy

Most of the longhouses in the area will sell locally made souvenirs, such as beads, necklaces and sometimes even traditional clothes and items. There isn't much on offer in Belaga village itself, aside from some old coins and op-shop variety items.

[edit][add listing] Eat

All of the restaurants in Belaga are of a comparable quality and price. Take your pick or ask a local.

[edit][add listing] Sleep

• B&B Worldwide Exploration, No. 4 Belaga Bazaar 96900 Belaga. Run by the excellent Anddreas Bato of Worldwide expeditions RM18.  edit

• Hotel Belaga, 14 Main Bazaar, ☎ 461 244. One of the more popular places with backpackers, although not the best value for money. RM30-50.  edit

• Hotel Sing Soon Huat, 26-27 New Bazaar, ☎ 461 307. A cheaper, better alternative to Hotel Belaga. Behind the main bazaar so it's also a little quieter. Ask for the rooms on the second floor, as they are nicer. RM20-RM35.  edit

[edit] Contact

• There is a small internet cafe inside the Malaysian Airlines office, although the prices are expensive and the internet connection a terrible snail paced dial-up.

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