11 Longhouses, One Unforgettable Sarawak Experience
The inaugural gathering brought together culture, adventure and community spirit, offering visitors a closer look at life in Sarawak’s interior.
ULU ENTABAI, 28 October 2026 — Sometimes, the best way to discover Sarawak is to leave the city behind, follow the road into the interior and let the local communities tell their stories.
That was the spirit of the inaugural Sarawak Interior Experience (SIE) – Ulu Entabai Edition 2026, held on 24 and 25 October at Rumah Sang, where 11 longhouse communities came together for two days of cultural exchange, outdoor adventure and community celebration.
Jointly organised by Koperasi Bintang Tujuh Sarawak Berhad (KB7) and PRM 4x4, the event brought together 60 vehicles and more than 600 concertgoers, putting the people and traditions of Ulu Entabai at the heart of the experience.
For visitors, the journey began long before reaching the venue. A convoy of four-wheel-drive vehicles travelled approximately 140 kilometres from Sibu through Pakan into Ulu Entabai, turning the journey itself into part of the adventure.
Once there, visitors were welcomed into a setting where culture and nature went hand in hand. Traditional Iban customary observances, including miring, naku kenyalang and naku antu pala, offered a glimpse into cultural practices passed down through generations.
At Gerai Warisan, local crafts provided another opportunity to discover the skills, stories and traditions behind the community’s creations. The gathering also featured storytelling sessions by the Sarawak Storytellers Association, creating space for visitors to connect with the region through stories and shared experiences.
For those looking to get closer to nature, riverbank camping alongside their 4x4 vehicles, a river trail walk and the Sistem Tagang Ikan Semah experience offered a different perspective of life in the interior.
The event also extended beyond tourism and entertainment. KPJ Sibu Medical Centre provided healthcare outreach, while Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS) contributed documentation and research, adding health and knowledge-sharing components to the community gathering.
As night fell, the atmosphere shifted to music and celebration with Concert Under the Stars, featuring local performers Melissa Francis and Depha Masterpiece. Lucky draws added to the festivities, bringing participants together for an evening of entertainment beneath the Ulu Entabai sky.
The event was officiated by its patron, YB Dato’ Rolland Duat, the Meluan assemblyman, who has highlighted the potential of SIE to introduce more people to the interior’s unique culture, way of life and natural beauty while creating economic opportunities for local communities.
For KB7 president Ellis Sebai Bandak, bringing the 11 longhouse communities together reflected the deeper purpose behind the initiative.
“Culture survives through participation. Nature survives through relationship. Our future depends on both. Nothing survives alone,” she said.
That message captures what makes community-led tourism meaningful: visitors do not simply arrive to see a destination, but have the opportunity to learn from the people who give it its identity.
By bringing longhouse communities, tourism activities, local crafts and cultural experiences together, SIE also creates opportunities for residents to participate in the visitor economy while sharing their heritage on their own terms.
With its first edition now completed, the organisers hope to establish Sarawak Interior Experience as an annual event, giving more people the opportunity to discover the communities, landscapes and traditions that make Sarawak’s interior special.
Because sometimes, the most memorable journeys are not just about how far we travel, but the people we meet and the stories we carry home.
