Mari Mari Cultural Village Tour
Sabah, Malaysia
Trip Type: Cultural Tours
Duration: 4 hours
Delve into the culture and traditions of Sabah’s tribal inhabitants on a tour of Mari Mari Cultural Village in Kota Kinabalu. Winding your way through the jungle village, get a glimpse of a fascinating sliver of Malaysian history as you watch tribal dances, learn about Borneo's various indigenous groups, participate in cultural demonstrations and discover traces of the island's infamous headhunters. Enjoy lunch, tea or dinner — depending on the tour selected — and the services of a knowledgeable guide, with round-trip hotel transport included.
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Delve into the culture and traditions of Sabah’s tribal inhabitants on a tour of Mari Mari Cultural Village in Kota Kinabalu. Winding your way through the jungle village, get a glimpse of a fascinating sliver of Malaysian history as you watch tribal dances, learn about Borneo's various indigenous groups, participate in cultural demonstrations and discover traces of the island's infamous headhunters. Enjoy lunch, tea or dinner — depending on the tour selected — and the services of a knowledgeable guide, with round-trip hotel transport included.
After pickup from your hotel, get comfortable in your shared minivan and head to Mari Mari Cultural Village, located deep in the rainforest about 25 minutes from central Kota Kinabalu. This village is like an open-air museum, dotted with various tribal dwellings and demonstration stations to give you insight into the history, traditions and lifestyle of Borneo's five main indigenous groups.
During your 4-hour tour, see how the island's inhabitants once lived as rice farmers (Kadazan-Dusun), longhouse residents (Rungus), hunters and fisherman (Lundayeh), cowboys and sea gypsies (Bajau), and the notoriously feared headhunters (Murut). Learn about traditional construction techniques as you observe megaliths, handcrafted buildings and a hanging bridge, and get a first-hand look at cultural customs such as fire starting, cooking and hunting. At the House of Skulls, find relics from Murut's headhunting days, including swords, costumes and even 42 ancient human skulls.
Enjoy a welcome drink of locally made rice wine before the highlight of your tour: an educational dance show and demonstration. In-house guides — who are descendants of the indigenous people — share stories about how their ancestors lived, and you can participate in a few of the rituals and traditions, including bamboo shooting!
Depending on the tour time you select, you'll enjoy lunch, afternoon tea and snacks, or dinner before returning to your hotel.
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