Experience Malaysia’s Living Heritage, One Village at a Time
Malaysia’s multi-ethnic culture and deep-rooted traditions are best experienced in its cultural villages—living museums where heritage comes alive through music, crafts, rituals, and architecture. From Sabah and Sarawak to the heart of the Peninsula, these cultural villages offer authentic experiences that connect you with Malaysia’s diverse past and vibrant present.
Whether you’re a heritage lover, photographer, or family traveler, here are the Top 10 Cultural Villages in Malaysia you should visit.
1. Sarawak Cultural Village – Kuching, Sarawak
Location: Santubong, Kuching
Entry Fee: RM60 (Adult), RM30 (Child)
Website: scv.com.my
Known as the “Living Museum,” this iconic site showcases the traditional homes of seven ethnic groups including the Iban, Bidayuh, Penan, and Melanau. Live dance performances, craft demos, and authentic architecture create an immersive experience.
Highlights: Longhouses, cultural shows, traditional music, and blowpipe demonstrations.
2. Mah Meri Cultural Village – Pulau Carey, Selangor
Location: Pulau Carey
Entry Fee: RM20–RM30
Home to the indigenous Mah Meri tribe, this village is famous for mystical wood carvings and ceremonial dances. Don’t miss their Hari Moyang festival, celebrating ancestral spirits with vibrant costumes and hypnotic rhythms.
Highlights: Wooden mask carving, ancestral rituals, cultural storytelling.
3. Murut Cultural Centre – Tenom, Sabah
Location: Tenom, Interior Division
Entry Fee: RM10–RM20
Experience the culture of the Murut tribe—former headhunters turned cultural guardians. Visitors can explore a replica longhouse and watch energetic war dances.
Highlights: Murut blowpipe demos, traditional attire, bamboo trampolining (Lansaran).
4. Mini Malaysia & ASEAN Cultural Park – Melaka
Location: Ayer Keroh, Melaka
Entry Fee: RM30 (Adult), RM15 (Child)
A one-stop showcase of traditional houses from all 13 Malaysian states and ASEAN nations. Each house is furnished with real artifacts reflecting daily village life.
Highlights: Full-scale heritage houses, ASEAN art, batik painting, local dance shows.
5. Rumah Terengganu – Kuala Terengganu
Location: Jalan Sultan Zainal Abidin, Kuala Terengganu
Entry Fee: RM10
A cultural gallery and workshop space that promotes Terengganu’s coastal heritage—especially known for textiles like batik and songket. A great spot to shop and learn directly from local artisans.
Highlights: Kite making, songket weaving, traditional boat models.
6. Kampung Budaya Kadazandusun – Penampang, Sabah
Location: Penampang (near Kota Kinabalu)
Entry Fee: RM35 (Adult), RM15 (Child)
Sabah’s largest indigenous group, the Kadazandusun, welcomes visitors to their stilt houses, traditional cooking, and harvest festivals. Try the lihing rice wine and join a bamboo dance!
Highlights: Sumazau dance, fire-starting, rice pounding, cultural costumes.
7. Orang Asli Museum & Cultural Village – Gombak, Selangor
Location: Jalan Gombak, Selangor
Entry Fee: RM5–RM10
Explore the diverse cultures of Peninsular Malaysia’s indigenous peoples. The museum and open-air exhibits share tools, traditional medicine, and myths of the Semai, Temuan, and more.
Highlights: Blowpipe demos, indigenous forest walks, museum exhibits.
8. Kampung Cina – Kuala Terengganu
Location: Chinatown, Kuala Terengganu
Entry Fee: Free
This vibrant Peranakan enclave is more of a living heritage district than a typical village, but it’s rich in history and culture. Murals, traditional noodle shops, and Chinese temples line its colorful alleys.
Highlights: Lantern-lit streets, street art, Peranakan cuisine, old shophouses.
9. Kampung Morten – Melaka
Location: Along Melaka River
Entry Fee: Free (Villa Sentosa charges RM5)
A preserved Malay village surrounded by Melaka’s urban sprawl, Kampung Morten features traditional wooden houses and living museums where locals share stories of their heritage.
Highlights: Villa Sentosa, traditional cooking, riverboat views.
10. Kampung Lintang & Pahlawan Village – Bintulu, Sarawak
Location: Bintulu, Sarawak
Entry Fee: RM10
A hidden gem offering authentic experiences with Sarawak’s Iban and Melanau communities. Stay overnight in a longhouse and learn about jungle survival and local legends.
Highlights: Longhouse stays, warrior rituals, sago-making, traditional tools.
Final Thoughts
Malaysia’s cultural villages are more than just attractions—they are living expressions of heritage. Each one offers a deeper connection to local traditions, from warrior dances in Sabah to batik in Terengganu and riverfront kampungs in Melaka. Add these stops to your itinerary and immerse yourself in Malaysia’s cultural soul.
