Lundu: Festival Culture and Hiking Trails

Lundu’s distinctive features include the annual Pesta Lundu, Chap Goh Mei processions, and nearby Gunung Gading National Park with its hiking trails. For planning your trip, it helps to distinguish between the two: the festivals and processions take place in town, while the national park adds a nearby nature and hiking option. If you’re looking for a hotel in Lundu, you can first decide whether a cultural event or hiking trails and summit destinations will be the main reason for your trip.

Culture and Festivals in Lundu

Pesta Lundu takes place annually, with the regatta on the Batang Kayan River as its highlight.

At the 2026 Lundu Heritage Square Festival in Townsquare Lundu, performers from Malay, Chinese, Bidayuh, Salako, and Iban communities took part. These five communities give the festival a culturally diverse character; this distinguishes its focus on performances from the regatta, which is the highlight of Pesta Lundu.

Another cultural highlight is the Chap Goh Mei procession, during which temple representatives sit on chairs placed on swords. This ritual is called “perarakan terapung” (“floating procession”). The name captures the unusual image in two words and helps distinguish this particular type of procession from the performances at the Heritage Square Festival.

The procession schedule also varies by festival day. On the 14th day of Chinese New Year, members of lion dance associations parade through Lundu from 3 p.m. in a ritual procession accompanied by Chinese drums. On the 15th day, a larger procession begins at 10 a.m., with additional temples from the surrounding area taking part. The procession takes place twice that day; the continuation begins at 6 p.m. This comparison highlights the difference between the procession on the 14th day and the larger, two-part procession on the 15th. When planning, the festival day is therefore just as important as the time: the larger procession with the additional temples takes place on the 15th day. If Chap Goh Mei determines when you travel, check the current schedule in advance.

Gunung Gading National Park: Rafflesia and Hiking Trails

Located near Lundu, Gunung Gading National Park was established in 1983 specifically to protect the Rafflesia, the world’s largest flower. Its special connection to the Rafflesia and its hiking trails complement the cultural experiences in town with opportunities to enjoy nature and get active.

The trails include a challenging hike to the summit of Mount Gading (965 m), as well as the Waterfall Trail, which leads to Waterfalls 1, 3, and 7. This gives you two different kinds of destinations: a climb explicitly described as challenging to a named summit, and a trail with several waterfalls as its destinations. This comparison can help you decide whether you’re more interested in a summit or waterfalls when visiting the park.

Discover more destinations: Niah, Lutong, Bintulu, Kapit, Sibu, Miri, Bekenu, Sri Aman

For the main travel overview: Sarawak.