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Traveloka SG

20 Sep 2019 - 5 min read

The Culvert Hotel Resort: The Santubong gateway to jungle and sea

Dreaming of traveling to a place where you’re surrounded by nothing else but nature? You can find this and more in Santubong, Sarawak. The resort town, which is located about 30km from Sarawak’s capital city Kuching, is the perfect place for tropical nature activities. Thinking whether you should hike the mountains or dive with sea turtles? Why choose when you can have both!

Tucked on a cliff in Santubong, The Culvert Hotel Resort covers all your adventurous needs. Yes, you’ll be sleeping inside of a concrete drainage pipe, but don’t worry if it doesn’t sound like your idea of luxury, as The Culvert has found a way to make the experience positively dreamy.

With charming decorative touches and irresistible Instagram-worthy spots all around the resort, you’ll definitely want to explore every corner. Read on further as we show you around!

A serene getaway

Having recently opened its doors in 2017, The Culvert Hotel Resort aims to create the perfect rainforest getaway without disruption. And we’ve got to say, the results are quite impressive. This eco-friendly resort showcases an open and breezy design so you can enjoy nature as much as possible (this also means you’ll need to pack a mosquito repellent!). There are 43 refurbished concrete culverts around the resort and we stayed in a Deluxe Double room that overlooks the sea.

While the industrial-style room might be a bit compact, it has all the details to serve a weary traveller. No inch goes unutilized as the queen-sized bed which perfectly fits the width of the pipe doubles as an under-bed storage. The room is equipped with an air-conditioning unit, and thoughtful items like slippers and a tote bag that you can use around the grounds. If you’re not feeling like hanging outdoors, there’s also a fully charged tablet for you to watch a Netflix show or play games on.

And if you need fast Internet to upload your on-point vacation photos, worry not — there’s a complimentary resort-wide Wi-Fi access available to guests.

The bathroom is separated by a sliding wooden door and is equipped with a complete set of toiletries. So no worries if you don’t bring any! It was actually quite impressive how the room could fit both a bed and a spacious bathroom in such a small space!

Surrounded by nature

The Culvert has not one, but TWO swimming pools. One is located beside the restaurant, and another on the cliffs overlooking the beach. During the day, the swimming pools are stunning turquoise mirrors reflecting the tall, lush trees all around. It’s seriously Instagrammable, with plenty of deck chairs, big swings and a colorful poolside bar designed for your comfort.

You can also find a sauna on the property, but if you’re running as hot as we were, the pool might be a more cooling choice. In addition, the beach is just a short walk down the steps, and since it’s a private beach, you might have it all to yourself!

If you’re feeling hungry and don’t want to leave the resort, the resort’s Tanju’ Cafe and Bistro has everything you need. From authentic local dishes to international favorites, their experienced chefs will satisfy any of your food cravings! Breakfast is also served here. The breakfast buffet spread offers a range of local and continental breakfast — from fried rice to sausages to salad. You can fill up those tummies for an adventure day out!

Ready to take the plunge? Then, make a splash and book The Culvert Hotel Resort for your next time out!

See and Do

Santubong is filled with natural wonders and tourist attractions galore. If you’re short on ideas on what to do while you’re in Santubong, here are a few of our favorites:

Dive at Satang Island

If you think there are no water activities in Santubong, then you’re in for a treat. Comprising of two islands, Satang Besar and Satang Kecil, most diving activities take place around Satang Besar where coral reef fringes two thirds of the island’s edge and submerged boulders lay on the other. There are a variety of corals and marine life which can be found on the reef around the island. Remember to bring your camera to capture all the cool and colorful sea creatures you’ll be bumping into!

Hike Mount Santubong

Get out in nature and challenge yourself to hike the legendary Mount Santubong. The mountain, which is located 810m above sea level, offers a stunning view of the South China Sea from the summit. While hiking up the mountain, take in the beauty of Mount Santubong and if you are lucky, you’ll catch a glimpse of Santubong’s mischievous wildlife!

Enjoy authentic Orang Ulu cuisine at Lepau

No trip to Santubong is complete without sampling traditional Sarawak cuisine. We highly recommend having authentic Orang Ulu cuisine at Lepau, which is roughly translated as “farm hut” in Kayan language. Located about 30km from Santubong, Lepau serves a variety of local native cuisine within its hut-like structure. Some of the must tries include the restaurant’s signature dish ayam pansuh (chicken soup cooked in bamboo), umai (sliced raw fish with a mixture of onions, chillies, salt and lime juice) and midin (stir-fried wild jungle fern with garlic, chili, and/or shrimp paste. Mmm… yummy!

Find it here:

95 Jalan Ban Hock, Kuching

Contact: 012-884 5383

Opening hours: 11.00am – 2.30pm, 6.00pm – 11.00pm (closed on Sunday)

With such a wide range of accommodation options across the country, it can be a challenge to pick the one that’s best for you. To be in the know when it comes to Malaysia’s stand-out stays, keep your eyes peeled for Traveloka’s ‘Super Stays’ posts, a bi-weekly hotel special featuring our top picks!

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