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Bario is a small village located in the Kelabit Highlands, a beautiful mountain valley in the northeast side of Sarawaka. It is the best place to get away from the hustle city lifestyle. Most tourists visit the place to have peace in mind and also because they fancy jungle trekking.The highlands are home to the Kelabit people, one of Borneo's smallest ethnic tribes.
Tranquil scene in Bario (Source: Wikipedia)
Bario is a place with great tourism potential but not widely known yet. Therefore, today let Asia King Travel help you explore this village.
The name "Bario" comes from Kelabit language and means "wind". Before World War II, accessing the Central Highlands of Borneo was a challenging endeavor. Kelabits were heavily involved in headhunting practices over a century ago. Post-World War II, Australian missionary Hudson Southwell established a new route from Lawas to Ba Kelalan and into the Kelabit Highlands via Pa Trap.
Kelabit people (Source: Berita Harian)
Over time, Malaysia has paid attention to Bario and developed more services and infrastructure such as schools, hospitals,... to adapt local’s lives. Recently, tourism has developed and attracted more tourists because of the unspoiled beauty and hospitality of the locals. Now, they are well-known for their friendliness and unique culture, earning Bario the title ‘Land of a Hundred Handshakes’.
The most popular tourist attraction in Pa Umor is the salt spring. The traditional Bario salt is ideal for cooking vegetables and also to preserve meat. Local salt production is still done in a traditional way but on a small scale due to lack of natural resources. You can buy it for MYR15 at the hut or around MYR 20 to MYR 40 outside Bario.
A step in the traditional salt making process (Source: Flickr)
It is a commodity of high value not only to the Kelabits, but it is becoming popular outside of Bario, as well. Visitors like to buy this well-known salt because of their admiration for the traditional skill, art, and presentation of this salt product.
In these farms, the primary crop is grapes. However, they cultivate other fruits, including chilies, golden melons, apples, dragon fruits, durians, and pineapples. The person in charge stated that the grapes grown here are mainly hybrid species from different countries. They are conducting further research and tests to determine the species that best suits the climate of Bario and produces the highest quality grapes.
One of the best things to do is to be involved in the cultural performance by the local people. The performance is usually held in the longhouse so that the cultural experience is more intense.
A performance by the Kelabit people (Source: Wanderlust)
The performance is very engaging. It includes traditional songs and dances, both individual and group performances. You can take an opportunity to learn and connect with the local culture. Overall, it is a wonderful experience to immerse yourself in the local practices and way of life.
A unique photography location in Bario (Source: Johor Kaki)
An old plane wreck has become a popular tourist attraction due to its unique and picturesque scenery in Bario. You'll still be able to see the full-bodied structure of the plane wreckage without the interior. It is cut into three sections and visitors are always curious about the story behind the plane wreck.
Pa’Ramapuh Waterfall (Source: Travel with My Lens)
This is an interesting activity not to be missed for those who love trekking. It takes about an hour to reach the waterfall, the path is quite muddy and has many obstacles so you need to have good health and an experienced guide. But when you reach the waterfall you will admire the beautiful waterfall.
Visiting the longhouse is one of the top things to do in Bario. Bario Asal Lembaga LongHouse is the oldest longhouse with 23 doors built in a traditional architectural style. It is over 60 years old and is the first modern longhouse. In the old days, the traditional longhouses were built on stilts.
People are cooking on the firepit in the longhouse of Bario (Source: Alamy)
In the longhouse, you could see how it is still alive with so many memories through the old pics and so many other stuff hung on the wall. There's even one corner where you could find the combo of a modern and traditional kitchen.
Bario is actually known for its food festival that is held annually around June or July. The food festival, which the local people call Pesta Nukenan, is a three-day event that showcases the food and cultural heritage of the Kelabit Highlands.
Pesta Nukenan-an exciting food festival in Bario (Source: Windowseat)
This period is considered Bario's peak-season, so if you want to enjoy the most of Bario, do your research about this annual event and book everything in advance.
There are 2 ways of getting to Bario: by air and by road.
The most popular method is to fly to Bario from Miri. The flight time is only about 45 minutes and you can enjoy a breathtaking view of the surrounding areas during the flight.
Bario airport (Source: Backyard Tour)
But if you have a bit more time as well as an adventurous streak, take a road trip through the oldest rainforest in the world. The roads leading up to the highlands can get really bumpy and muddy as these are old logging roads. Only 4 wheel drive vehicles can brave these roads and you are required to use a licensed driver to get there.
Bario is a hidden gem in the highlands of Sarawak, offering a unique blend of natural beauty and cultural heritage. This place is not only a heaven for eco-tourists and nature enthusiasts but also a place where travelers can immerse themselves in the traditional lifestyle of the Kelabit people.
Bario provides a unique and rewarding travel experience with its beautiful landscapes and rich local culture. It's an ideal spot for those wanting to discover Malaysia’s hidden gems and immerse themselves in the traditions of the Kelabit Highlands.
Read more: Northwest coast Malaysia tour 10 days: Remote Sarawak Exploration
