Sera Longhouse

Bepungas moa or mungas moa - washing of the face. You wash your face when it’s your travel on that river for the first time. This ensures your safety/health because you are in unknown territory.

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“In the early 90s, Iban tattooing was nearly gone. People thought I was crazy to bring it back, asking why I didn’t just do the modern stuff.” – Ernesto Kalum, owner of @borneoheadhunterstattoo Founded in 1998, Borneo Headhunters began with one purpose; to preserve the integrity of Iban traditional tattooing at a time when it had almost faded from practice. What was once viewed in a negative light has since become into a powerful expression of identity, belonging and culture. For Ernesto, keeping the designs as close to their original as possible – 95% to 100% unchanged – is the only way the art survives. “Once you dilute it, like coffee, the taste disappears,” he says. Alongside him is his brother, Robin, who joined the studio in 2006 and has spent nearly two decades tattooing. From the bungai, marking the beginning of one’s jalai (journey), to full traditional sleeves and backs, each piece is a process and lifelong commitment. At Hilton Kuching, we believe in celebrating culture through connection – to people, place, and purpose. This is heritage, inked with meaning. #HiltonKuching #CoolCats #CommunityFeature

Guest review:

I always struggle coming back to Australia after journeys like this one. I am incredibly thankful for my Australian heritage but Borneo much like my mum's homeland Vanuatu has an island approach to living with makes my heart ache to leave.
I can't imagine what heartache my mum must have felt to leave her island home more than 50 years ago. To raise a child away from family and all that she knew. To start her journey on foreign soil
You gain a confronting and yet comforting sense of your own cultural identity when understanding yourself through the eyes of others. There are questions asked, answers given and the truth in what you discover is crystal clear.
Safe travels everyone.

The Sera Longhouse stay (along with the other components of the customized trip such as Kuching) was life-changing and came at a time in my life when I didn't realize just how important this kind of journey was. The fish cooked in bamboo when we arrived at the longhouse by boat was easily one of the best meals I've ever eaten (in my life, not as in 'one of the best meals of the trip'!) and to be able to watch the girls of the homestay put it all together (albeit late in the night because the boat was late, and this is how things happen over there) was one of the many experiences I just found myself astounded that I was in this space / with these people / at this time and ever so grateful for.

-Michaela

Guest review:

I always struggle coming back to Australia after journeys like this one. I am incredibly thankful for my Australian heritage but Borneo much like my mum's homeland Vanuatu has an island approach to living with makes my heart ache to leave.
I can't imagine what heartache my mum must have felt to leave her island home more than 50 years ago. To raise a child away from family and all that she knew. To start her journey on foreign soil
You gain a confronting and yet comforting sense of your own cultural identity when understanding yourself through the eyes of others. There are questions asked, answers given and the truth in what you discover is crystal clear.
Safe travels everyone.

The Sera Longhouse stay (along with the other components of the customized trip such as Kuching) was life-changing and came at a time in my life when I didn't realize just how important this kind of journey was. The fish cooked in bamboo when we arrived at the longhouse by boat was easily one of the best meals I've ever eaten (in my life, not as in 'one of the best meals of the trip'!) and to be able to watch the girls of the homestay put it all together (albeit late in the night because the boat was late, and this is how things happen over there) was one of the many experiences I just found myself astounded that I was in this space / with these people / at this time and ever so grateful for.

-Michaela

The beauty of this old wooden longhouse is briefly captured by the setting sun ☀️… and then … another level of beauty is revealed when the morning sun rises tomorrow 🌱

Your generosity and joy connect us. You give the gift of your time, knowledge, family and cultural connections and your enthusiasm and sense of fun is a lightness that lifts people.

We haven’t stopped telling people about our fabulous stay. We learnt so much about Iban culture, our hosts were fantastic and we can’t wait to return for Gawai Festival in 2026. Thank you. - Morag, New Zealand.

The ladies are heading to the jungle area at the back of the homestay to collect paku (fern tips for cooking) … I love it when we get to paddle old school style instead of use a motor modern style. My mother, like all Iban, is excellent at paddling. As a child she paddled with her father on this river a little bit further down, to go set a net across the small side river to catch prawn.

PS it’s always a good time when the ladies get together!

Our guests from England and New Zealand fit right into longhouse life from day 1!!! Five nights in the Sera region, staying at two longhouses. We look forward to hosting them again during the next Gawai festival in May 2026 🙏🏼

A half day side trip from Kuching - Bengoh Dam area, lunch and hike to Susung waterfall (stop for a swim at Curtain waterfall on the way). A fantastic experience thanks to our friends at AJ Borneo!

Our guests from England and New Zealand loved exploring Kuching with their Sera Longhouse host before heading off to Bintulu/Sebauh to spend 4 days at two longhouses.