A trip to Kuching is incomplete without a tour to the countryside. There are numerous attractions and unspoiled beaches around waiting to be discovered.
I recommend taking a journey to the small town of Lundu. It's about a 90-minute drive from Kuching on fairly decent roads. There is a bus that goes here, also, and it takes around 2+ hours. There are a couple budget-style hotels in Lundu, and I don’t think you would need a reservation. I expect the rates to be RM30.
You will pass several pepper plantations on the way there--black and white table pepper--and see a plethora of native flora. There are also several stalls, seemingly in the middle of nowhere, selling native fruits. I highly recommend taking time to stop at one of these places. They almost always carry the small local bananas, and chances are, they were picked the same day. Don’t pass up rambutans, which are a fruit that is red on the outside, but the inside has the taste and texture of a green grape. Some people love durian, "the king of all fruits," but I never learned to like them. They are VERY, VERY sweet and VERY, VERY smelly. Expect prices to only be a few RM for each of these items, and the people will be very friendly but may not speak English.
You will then come to a small river crossing. You have to take a ferry across there; it adds to the fun of the experience and only takes a few minutes. If the wait is longer, there are also food and beverage stalls on each side and bathroom facilities. The river itself is only around 100 feet wide, and they are working on putting a bridge up. On the Kuching side of the bridge, there is also an Anglican church up on the hill for those interested.
Once you cross the bridge, you are almost there. The town of Lundu itself is fairly small but still is divided up into ethnic areas. You will see a typical Malay village and a typical Iban village. I spend a lot of time in the Iban side, as I have in-laws who live there.
The town itself has a few shopping areas, and on the weekend, they have a market selling vegetables, meats, and various other items. If you come here, expect to be the only Westerner in the village. Don’t let that scare you, though, as the people are very nice. They will all stare, and many will want to talk to you, but it’s only out of curiosity. Feel free to strike up a conversation with some of them, and expect many of the people around the 40-year-old mark to speak at least some English.
Lundu is the gateway to some great attractions. The most popular destination is Gunung Gading National Park, home of the Rafflesia, the world's largest flower. Blooms of this flower can reach diameters of over one meter. There is a small entrance fee, but I believe it is free after 5pm or so. The park also has facilities you can rent to stay in and is generally well-maintained. There are hiking trails that go up a small mountain, and hiking them gives you a chance to do some jungle trekking in a relatively easy way. There is nothing really hard about the trails, but the elderly or those in poor health should avoid them. I have seen overweight 65-year-olds do the trails without problems, though. Just remember that it is very hot and humid, so you will be quite sweaty by the end. That’s not as big of a problem as it sounds because at the bottom of the trail is a natural-spring swimming area. You can play in the stream of a large, deep pool at the end. The water is quite cool and refreshing. It's still good to pack an extra shirt and some deodorant in a small backpack for the end of the trail and after the stream.
There are also two nice, almost always deserted beaches by Lundu, Pandan, and Siar beaches. Since most tourists don’t come this way and beaches aren’t that special to the locals, you can get some real privacy here. You can access them by bus from Lundu, or if you have a car, driving there is a simple matter. There are a few chalets for rent there, but I am not sure of the prices. They are simple structures and have good locations right on the beaches. I have never seen anyone in them, though, and wouldn’t know who to contact. I’m sure someone in Lundu could tell you.
A little further away, about 30 minutes, you will find my favorite beach, Sematan. This is an awesome little beach. There is a nice little protected swimming area between two large rock formations, so the undertow isn’t bad at all. This place, too, is always deserted.
There is also a nice little locally owned drink and snack bar that sells things at very reasonable prices. Expect to pay about $0.25 for a can of Coke. You can also get fresh coconuts to drink for just a few RM and ice cream treats for the same price. They will allow you to sit under the covered back or front awning for as long as you want, also. The beach itself is a nice, smooth coral sand. You can walk quite a ways before you come to any kind of house or settlement. You can park within 10 feet of the actual beach, and there are bathroom facilities right there, although they are locked sometimes.
Overall, if your idea of fun is exploring nature and unspoiled beaches, this may be a journey for you.