Kuching-Pontianak-Singkawang Cross-Border Loop
Enter West Kalimantan from Sarawak via Entikong, and return to Kuching via the Aruk border crossing
This loop connects two land border crossings: travel by bus from Kuching via Entikong to Pontianak, cruise the river and visit the Sultan's Palace, head north to spend two nights in Singkawang, return to Kuching via the Aruk border crossing, and see the orangutans at Semenggoh on the final day. The route can be completed entirely by public bus, but travel times are long and some schedule information may be outdated. Ideal for Kuching visitors and backpackers who want to explore Chinese-heritage towns along the way.
The border crossings and Singkawang get very crowded around the Lantern Festival; bus tickets and accommodation must be booked well in advance.
Day by day
Day 1 · Kuching to Pontianak via Entikong
Take a cross-border bus from Kuching Sentral, passing through the Entikong border crossing to Pontianak, taking about 8–10 hours.
Confirm in advance whether Indonesian visas are accepted at this border crossing.
Stay: Pontianak
Day 2 · Pontianak Palace and the Kapuas River
Pontianak
Explore the city by chartered car or ride-hailing service, and take a river boat cruise for about 2 hours in the evening.
Stay: Pontianak
Day 3 · North to Singkawang via the Old Streets
Singkawang（Vihara Tri Dharma Bumi Raya、Masjid Raya Singkawang、Singkawang Chinatown）
Take a shared or chartered car for about 3–4 hours, passing the Equator Monument and Mempawah, arriving in Singkawang after midday.
Stay: Singkawang City Centre
Day 4 · Ancestral Homes and Pasir Panjang
Singkawang（Tjhia Family House、Sinar Terang Dragon Kiln、Pasir Panjang Beach）
Explore the city by chartered car; the one-way trip to Pasir Panjang takes about half an hour, returning to the city in the evening.
Stay: Singkawang City Centre
Day 5 · Return to Kuching via the Aruk Border Crossing
Take an early morning cross-border bus from Singkawang to Kuching via Aruk, taking about 7 hours, lunch included.
Schedule information is from 2024; double-check before purchasing tickets.
Stay: Waterfront and Old Town
Day 6 · Semenggoh and the Borneo Cultures Museum
Kuching（Semenggoh Wildlife Centre、Borneo Cultures Museum）
Take a chartered car for about 40 minutes to Semenggoh for the morning feeding session, then return to the city to visit the museum.
Feeding times at Semenggoh are fixed, and orangutan sightings are not guaranteed.