A great 3 days in Kuching
Malaysia | Jun 21 - Jun 24, 2023

Sarah
Sarah G.
New Zealand | Reviewed on Jun 25, 2023

It was really easy to plan our trip with Nick and he made everything seamless. Even at the last minute when our flight was disrupted, he managed to change our Orangutan trip so we didn't miss out.
We wouldn't stay at the Ranee Boutique Hotel again. The room itself was OK but the breakfast is very average - weak orange juice, weak filter coffee, only bananas if you wanted fruit for breakfast (most other places at least have watermelon, pineapple or papaya.
It also advertises that there's a bar but there isn't. We wouldn't want to stay in a Hilton or Pullman but somewhere with a bit more ambiance and better breakfast would have enhanced everything.
On the plus side, all our organised tours were great. John was an excellent guide, as was Farhah who took us on the cycle tour and we felt very lucky to see proboscis monkeys, silver leaf monkeys and the orangutans (though no dolphins).
All in all, I'd definitely recommend Kimkim and we would book with them again as the itinerary felt well balanced and still gave us free time to explore on our own.
Some other companies like yours do suggested other things to do while in an area and some recommended restaurants so if you were to enhance anything then this could be something to add - just a suggestion based on our experience in the tourism industry.

Hotel Review
Ranee Boutique Suites

The rooms are fine for a short stay with a safe and daily bottled water. We thought the breakfast was very average with a poor selection of continental options.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Great location on the riverside in Kuching near the Chinese and Indian area - good access to a variety of restaurants.
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Reviews
Semenggoh Orangutan Centre Visit
Semenggoh Orangutan Centre Visit
Kuching

Loved this trip and seeing the orangutans. It is quite commercialised with a lot of people visiting at the same time, however, seeing these amazing animals in the wild was a wonderful experience. There are set feeding times each day so you have to fit in with these for a chance to see the orangutans and the park does warn that you are less likely to see them in fruit season. We saw 6 orangutans in all including a large male and a mother with baby.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Rangers had walkie talkies to communicate where the orangutans had appeared
Transport
Best of Kuching Cycling Tour
Best of Kuching Cycling Tour
Kuching

Farhah was an excellent guide and took us around a great variety of areas. Being able to have good e-bikes made it easy for us to experience this trip although it is pretty much all on the flat so we needn't have worried. We had plenty of time to get off and take photos while she explained the history and significance of each of our stops. We visited back lanes, the spice market and the local produce market as well as historic places which made for an interesting variety. Highly recommend

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
E bikes were good quality and easy to use
Bako National Park Daytrip
Bako National Park Daytrip
Kuching

Loved our trip to the National Park. John is really informative. We were able to see proboscis monkeys and do an add on trip around the shore line to see the rock erosion and rock stacks nearby.

Quality of Experience
Food
John took us for an authentic noodle lunch - very inexpensive
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Mangrove & Dolphins Cruise
Mangrove & Dolphins Cruise
Kuching

We really enjoyed being out on the water for this tour. You will join a small group to do the trip even if you start out with a private guide. We didn't see dolphins or crocodiles but did get a glimpse of a proboscis monkey and a group of silver leaf monkeys. A snack - fruit, cake and biscuits along with water are provided on the trip which was good as we didn't get back to Kuching until around 8:30 pm

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Really enthusiastic and vey informative about the local fishing village and the area we visited. They so wanted us to see the wildlife, even if it was a bit elusive on our trip
Transport
Arrival Transfer from Kuching Airport to Hotel
Arrival Transfer from Kuching Airport to Hotel
Kuching

All good. John was at the airport to welcome us

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Departure Transfer to the Kuching Airport
Departure Transfer to the Kuching Airport
Kuching

All good - John dropped us directly to the airport after we'd seen the orangutans

Local specialist: Nick Jansen
Nick
Nick Jansen
Local specialist in Malaysia | Replied on Jun 26, 2023

Hey Sarah,

Thanks for your review and detailed feedback. I am happy to read you managed to see quite a lot of wildlife and had a good time in Kuching and surroundings. I'll make sure to pass on your comments to Farhah and John - they'll be happy to read your comments.

I will take note on your feedback regarding the Ranee Boutique Suites. This is valuable feedback - thanks for this.

If there is anything we can do for you in the future, feel free to reach out!

Nick