When it comes to Gawai Dayak, Sarawak’s harvest festival (June 1 and 2), you’ll want to set your eyes on Betong. Not to be confused with the mountainous town of the same name in Thailand, this Betong is a historical place in the Betong Division in Sarawak.
The town, located about a three-hour drive away from the capital city Kuching, will once again host the Gawai festivities held by the Sarawak Tourism Federation (STF).
On June 6, the STF Gawai Dayak Open House & Parade 2026 will take place at a longhouse called Rumah Veriland in Engkeranji, Layar.
As one of Sarawak’s main cultural attractions during Visit Malaysia 2026, the open house is expected to draw tourists to the town, providing the opportunity to share knowledge about local cultures and traditions.
You can enjoy traditional food, cultural performances and other activities. Highlights include exhibitions, a handicraft bazaar and a special Gawai-Kaamatan concert.
Layar itself is an area known for longhouses. While traditionally meant as dwellings only for the villagers, now some of them are operating as homestays, too. This means you can stay with the locals if you’re interested in a longhouse experience.
Aside from Layar and its longhouses, there are other interesting places in Betong that you can visit.
Bukit Sadok
Standing at an elevation of 831m above sea level, Bukit Sadok carries historical significance for the people of Betong. It was on this mountain that Iban warrior, Rentap, set up a fortress during his resistance against the reign of the Brooke family in the 19th century.
Today, a replica of the cannon used by Rentap can be found at Bukit Sadok. By 2028, a replica of his fortress will also be present here.
Its historical side is an added incentive for you to hike to the peak, where you’ll get a glimpse of Betong’s past while taking in the panoramic view of its present – a quaint place boasting verdant landscapes.
Fort Lily
Among the many fortresses built during the Brooke era, there is one that remains standing to this day in Betong.
Known as Fort Lily (sometimes spelt Fort Lili), it was built in 1858 to commemorate the handover of Betong from the Sultan of Brunei to Sarawak’s second Rajah, Charles Brooke. Later, it was used as a fortress to defend against attacks from Rentap, according to the Sarawak Museum Department.
Made from belian timber, with nipah roof that has since been replaced with belian shingles, the fortress currently serves as a museum. You can visit it to learn more about Betong’s history.
Betong Market
One of the best ways to learn what locals really eat is by visiting the markets that they frequent. Betong Market or Pasar Betong is exactly where you can go for this.
The market sells everything from fresh produce to local dishes, like mee dawai (crispy tomato noodles), kolok mee (springy egg noodles) and Sarawak laksa.
Once your hunger is satiated, you can wander around the market looking for traditional handicraft that you can bring home as a souvenir or two.
Maludam National Park
For you nature lovers, you won’t want to miss a visit to Maludam National Park. According to the Sarawak Forestry Corporation, the park was gazetted to protect the peat swamp habitat of several monkey species.
Red-banded langur, proboscis monkey, silvered langur and long-tailed macaque are among the monkeys that you might just spot here when you take the river safari, which travels along Sungai Maludam up to Lubok Mangkuk.
For bird-watchers, you’ll want to look out specifically for the black hornbill and oriental pied hornbill.
The dry season, March to September, is the suggested period for visits, as less rainfall means you’ll have an easier time exploring the park.
