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Borneo Longhouses: The Beating Heart of Sarawak & Sabah’s Indigenous Heritage

By Tobbias Mutunga

The Common Pulse | August 2025


If you want to experience the soul of Borneo beyond its lush rainforests and winding rivers, you have to step inside a longhouse. These traditional communal homes, found in Sarawak and Sabah, are more than just architectural marvels, they are the heartbeat of indigenous culture, where stories, rituals, and community life continue to thrive.


What is a Longhouse?

A longhouse is exactly what its name suggests: one long wooden structure built on stilts, stretching anywhere from 100 to 300 meters. Each family occupies a private section, but they share a central open hall called the ruai. This space is where everything happens, festivals, nightly gatherings, music, and the passing down of oral traditions.

For the Iban, Bidayuh, and other Dayak communities in Sarawak, as well as the Rungus in Sabah, the longhouse is not just a home. It is the symbol of unity and identity, a place where the concept of gotong-royong (collective effort) is lived daily.

Stepping Into Tradition

Visiting a longhouse is like stepping into another rhythm of life. Shoes are removed before entering, and you’re welcomed with smiles, local rice wine (tuak), and stories told by elders who remember both colonial encounters and ancestral legends.

You’ll often hear the steady beat of gongs or see handwoven pua kumbu textiles draped along walls. Meals are communal, with dishes like smoked river fish, bamboo-cooked rice, and jungle greens shared among guests.

Festivals That Bring Longhouses Alive

The best time to experience a longhouse is during traditional festivals.

  • Gawai Dayak (Sarawak) – Celebrated in June, this harvest festival is marked by music, warrior dances, and rituals of thanksgiving.

  • Kaamatan (Sabah) – The Kadazan-Dusun people honor the rice spirit with dance, feasting, and traditional games.

During these times, the longhouse transforms into a place of nonstop celebration, where guests are not outsiders, but temporary members of the family.

Why Longhouses Matter Today

In modern Malaysia, many indigenous youth move to towns and cities, but the longhouse still serves as an anchor. It keeps traditions alive, tattooing, storytelling, music, and rituals that would otherwise fade away. Tourists who visit responsibly also contribute to sustaining this cultural heritage.

Some longhouses are now open to eco-tourism, where you can stay overnight, sleep on woven mats, and learn daily activities like fishing, weaving, or farming. It’s not a polished hotel experience, it’s raw, real, and deeply human.

How to Visit

  • Sarawak: The Iban longhouses along the Batang Ai River and Skrang River are among the most accessible. Tours often include riverboat rides and homestays.

  • Sabah: The Rungus longhouses near Kudat offer authentic stays, often paired with traditional craft workshops.


Remember: respect is key. Always ask before taking photos, be open to sharing meals, and embrace the community’s way of life.

Borneo longhouses aren’t just wooden structures, they are living museums of Malaysia’s indigenous heritage. To visit one is to witness a way of life that values community, storytelling, and respect for nature.

It’s an experience that stays with you long after you leave, reminding you that culture is not only preserved in books and museums, but in the daily lives of people who continue to live it.


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