Lundu combines cultural events in town with nature nearby. When planning your trip, you can make a clear distinction: focus on Lundu’s festival traditions or on the trails of nearby Gunung Gading National Park. This gives you two different focal points for your trip: local events and a natural area.
Festivals and processions in Lundu
The regatta on the Batang Kayan River is the highlight of the annual Pesta Lundu. Artists from the Malay, Chinese, Bidayuh, Salako, and Iban communities performed at the 2026 Lundu Heritage Square Festival in Townsquare Lundu. These events can be distinguished by their format: a regatta as the highlight of a recurring festival, and a festival featuring performances from five communities. The year 2026 refers to the Heritage Square Festival; Pesta Lundu takes place annually.
A special tradition is the Chap Goh Mei procession. Temple representatives sit on chairs resting on swords. The ritual is called “perarakan terapung,” meaning “floating procession.” The procession events take place over two days of Chinese New Year. On the 14th day, members of lion dance associations parade through Lundu to the sound of Chinese drums, starting at 3 p.m. On the 15th day, a larger procession begins at 10 a.m., with other temples from the surrounding area taking part. It takes place twice that day; the second procession starts at 6 p.m. These times describe the usual schedule. If a festival is the reason for your trip, check the dates for your preferred year.
Nature and hiking trails near Lundu
Located near Lundu, Gunung Gading National Park was established in 1983 specifically to protect the Rafflesia, the world’s largest flower. The park has several hiking trails with different destinations: a challenging hike leads to the summit of Mount Gading, which is 965 m high. The Waterfall Trail leads to waterfalls 1, 3, and 7. The hiking destinations are clearly distinct: a challenging summit hike on the one hand, and a trail to the designated waterfalls on the other. The park’s protection of the Rafflesia also gives it a natural history focus, distinct from the specific hiking destinations.
When choosing a hotel in Lundu, you can first consider whether you want your stay to focus on festival culture in town or the trails of the nearby park. The cultural options include a regatta, performances by different communities, and processions with their own schedule. In the park, you can choose between the challenging trail to Mount Gading and the Waterfall Trail. This allows you to consider Lundu in terms of your travel interests without conflating local events with the park area.
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For the main travel overview: Sarawak.
