The best museums Borneo

Founded in 1891 by rajah Charles Brooke and renowned as one of the finest exhibitions in Southeast Asia, this museum boasts an exceptional ethnographic collection. At the rajah's invitation, anthropologist Alfred Wallace, a contemporary of Charles Darwin, worked for two years to open the museum. Following Sarawak's independence in 1963, naturalist and archaeologist Tom Harrison, then on secondment to the museum, contributed to its renown when he discovered a 39,000-year-old skull in the Niah cave in the center of the region.

On the second floor, photographs dating from the late ^19th and early ^20th centuries show the various Dayak tribes in traditional dress. Primitive arts and crafts from the longhouses are also represented: trophy skulls from the days of the headhunters, masks worn for harvest festivals, fertility rites, spiritual dances and funeral ceremonies. Those with a sinister appearance, revolting eyes and oversized ears are reserved for macabre dances.

A gallery features kramen, precious wooden totems carved and erected by the Orang Ulu at the entrance to their homes to protect them from evil spirits. Some of these traditions still survive today, such as basket-making and certain animist beliefs. So, before staying in a longhouse with a tribe, a visit to the Sarawak Museum is essential for a better understanding of these precious cultures.

This pink building, constructed in 1912, served as a court of justice for the Chinese community until 1921, when it became the Chinese Chamber of Commerce in Kuching. Today, the Chinese History Museum traces the life of Sarawak's various Chinese communities from the early ^19th century to the era of the White Rajahs. On display are musical instruments, beautiful ceramics from the Ming dynasty, jade handicrafts and various works of art. If you enjoy your visit, don't hesitate to make a donation as you leave the museum.

This small history museum will tell you all you need to know about Pulau Labuan, its mining adventure, the influence of the Sultanate of Brunei, the British presence, the Second World War and the Japanese invasion, and its status as an autonomous province. The second floor focuses on the socio-economic links between Labuan's various ethnic groups: Brunei Malays, Kedayans, Kadazans, Chinese and Indians. The museum is housed in a former colonial building, dating from the 1950s, used by the British administration.

Nestled on a small hill in the city center, Fort Alice was built in 1864 by rajah Brooke to exert control over the Batang Lupar River, where Rentap, an Iban chief, resisted Brooke's reign and led numerous raids against his army. Named after Brooke's wife, the fort, built entirely of ironwood , served as a defensive structure. Following extensive renovation work, the fort has been home to the Sri Aman Heritage Museum since 2017.