The 18th edition of Sarawak’s Rainforest World Music Festival (RWMF) takes place on the weekend of 7th to 9th of August 2015 (Friday to Sunday) at Sarawak Cultural Village in Damai, an hour’s drive or so from the heart of Sarawak, Kuching.

Event: Rainforest World Music Festival 2015

Venue: Sarawak Cultural Village, Damai, Sarawak, West Malaysia

Dates: 7-9 August 2015

About the Festival

Program highlights with daytime Workshops as well as daily performances can be found here. You can buy a one day ticket or a season pass for one or for the family. Check out these travel packages too!

Three sessions of simultaneous workshops will be held daily from 2-5 pm at three different venues within the Sarawak Cultural Village. It is best to read up the program well beforehand to decide what workshops to choose, and to get there early to secure a seat - yes it does get crowded! However, it is also possible to do a "workshop crawl" - drift from one workshop to another while the session is still on. No, it's not considered rude to leave one to go to another, as long as you don't block the cameras pointed at the stage. Read Gaia Discovery preview of this festival.

Getting There

If you book up early, you can stay close to the festival area, at Damai Beach Resort, Damai Puri Resort & Spa, and Permai Rainforest Resort (10 mins walk). For less pricey options, city hotels are a good idea. There will be shuttle buses to take you to the festival grounds. This link tells you the pick up points and time to Rainforest World Music Festival 2015. Don't be late for the shuttle that is essentially a 45-minute busride! Otherwise hail a cab, and be prepared to pay big bucks.

BY AIR

Modern jet aircraft connect Sarawak with the outside world and connect the main centres within the State while smaller turbo-prop planes make once remote settlements easily accessible for the visitor. Kuching International Airport has direct flights to Kuala Lumpur, Singapore, Bandar Seri Begawan and to Hong Kong via Kota Kinabalu.

There are also direct flights from Kuala Lumpur to Miri and Sibu, from Johor Bahru to Kuching, and from Kota Kinabalu and Labuan to Kuching and Bintulu.

BY ROAD

Bus, Indonesia - There are two daily bus services between Kuching and Pontianak. Journey time is roughly 10 hours.

Bus, Brunei - There are five daily bus services between Miri and Kuala Belait (2 hours), with onward connections to Bandar Sri Begawan, plus a direct mini-bus service between Miri and Bandar Sri Begawan(4 hours) twice daily.

Self Drive - Visitors may enter Sarawak from Brunei or Indonesia using their own vehicles or rental vehicles, provided they have valid international insurance cover. An international driver's licence is advisable.

Cycling - Bring your own, as there is no bike for hire at the premises.

Camping at the festival grounds - Not allowed, sadly. At least there's beer and wine sold.