Overview
Simunjan is a sleepy frontier town in Sarawak's interior where 19th-century British coal mining left an unusual legacy. The town holds historical significance as the place where naturalist Alfred Russel Wallace stayed while collecting specimens for The Malay Archipelago, and where Chinese laborers brought by the James Brooke-era British eventually intermarried with the local Iban.
Budget Travel · Day Trips · History · Nature
Before you go
Connectivity
Free community Internet at PPIK behind main shops with 4 computers, daytime only. Internet gaming shop in backstreet as backup.
Money
ATM available at the bank in town. Carry sufficient cash as options are limited.
Packing
Bring insect repellent, sturdy shoes for jungle trekking to mines, and flashlight for exploring old mining infrastructure.
Safety
Coal mine caves are dangerous and off-limits. Many locals avoid the mines due to ghost stories from Japanese occupation era.
Transport
Vans to Serian (RM15) and Kuching depart from town square midday via Nora (019-8398112). White vans to Sri Aman junction (RM10) available in morning.