Shared Mangrove & Irrawaddy Dolphin Watching Cruise

Overview

Available languages

English

3 hours

Mobile ticket

Experience a close-up view of the heavily silted mangrove swamp, a haven for its inhabitants of reptilians to crustaceans and fishes such as crocodiles, water monitor lizards, otters, mud skippers, mangrove crabs, prawns, edible jellyfish, shell fish, monkeys and more.

The swamp sustains many different species of trees, the most important being the black and red mangroves. It is used as piling in constructions and is also processed as charcoal.

The Irrawaddy or snubfin dophin, inhabits the rivers, estuaries and shallow coastal areas. The Santubong area remains one of the best places in Sarawak to view this unusual looking marine mammal. When seen, they swim and dive around open waters less than 30 meters deep.

You will need a keen eye to spot the dolphins and they are best seen when they frolic near local fishing boats that are hauling in the catch!

Additional Info

Not recommended for pregnant travelers

Suitable for all physical fitness levels

A minimum of 2 adults per booking is required

Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

What‘s Included

English speaking guide

Boat ride

Hotel pickup and drop off (selected city hotels in Kuching)

Food and drinks

Gratuities

Meeting and Pickup

Pickup points

Select a pickup point

What To Expect

Arrive at Boat Club. Once ready, cruise departs along Santubong River. Wildlife sightings normally takes about 2 hours.

2 hours • Admission Not Applicable

Options

Shared Mangrove & Irrawaddy Dolphin Watching Cruise

Pickup included

Reviews

4.70

10 reviews

Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor

This was an amazing way...
Lauren A,
Sep 21, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00
This was an amazing way to spend the morning! Our guide was amazing and so sweet. We saw a lot of wildlife and they even had some yummy snacks for us.
Fantastic!
Tom A,
Jul 7, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00
Great tour, highly reccomend! Saw many Irawaddy Dolphin, nice cruise along the river, not too crowded.
Fantastic trip - not to be missed !
fionajaneminikin,
May 19, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
Our trip was with CPH travel on 19th May - a Fantastic trip from start to finish, our guide was a very safe driver with excellent local Knowledge comfortable car with good AC. She guided us on what to expect and managed our expectations of nature sightseeing . After a 45 min drive to the jetty we were met by the boat captain who was an excellent wildlife spotter. We saw 1 croc, heaps of endangered Irrawaddy dolphins and a few proboscis Monkeys - even though it was mid morning and very hot. The water was calm and glass like in places. This was a special and very interesting tour.
Loved Kuching
alllifetoenjoy,
Apr 11, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
2.00
We were really disappointed with this trip. No commentary was given during the boat trip. Saw a couple of tails of dolphins. It's not worth the effort. We realise you can't guarantee sightings, but you can be given info. Toilets? Don't ask. Gross. Tatty boat. Tatty waste of money tour. I'd been on a 5* similar tour in Langkawi 10 days earlier. Thoroughly recommend that one!
Excellent trip
Andrew B,
Nov 20, 2024
- Review from Viator
5.00
Excellent trip even if we didn’t see dolphins. Lots of crocodiles and proboscis monkeys and bird life. Adam was very knowledgeable and captain tried hard to find wildlife
Our evening waterway odyssey
Nickynutcase,
Jun 21, 2024
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
A last minute decision to go on this tour with CPH and it was truly fantastic. We were picked up from our hotel and taken on a 45 minute mini bus journey to our starting point. Our guide Adam from CPH was fantastic. His knowledge of the waterways and mangroves we travelled along was incredible. Clearly passionate about the wildlife and indigenous people living along the river he constantly updated us with relevant and fascinating information. Our boat skipper literally went the extra mile to make sure we were completely safe and enjoyed motoring along the water. We saw Irrawaddy Dolphins, Saltwater crocodiles, proboscis monkey's, kingfishers, longtail mackaw monkeys and when the sun went down, we were treated to the delight of fireflies providing an evening light show. The whole experience was fabulous and something my wife and I won't forget. Fantastic.
Dolphin and crocodile watching in the mangrove forest
402johannesl,
Jun 9, 2024
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
We booked quite spontaneously the evening before through Ehwan Ibrahim. We then had a great boat trip with Mr. Ham. We were too early at the pier and it started straight away anyway. The first stop was in the nearby bay to watch Irrawaddy dolphins. We saw a few dolphins, but they are rather shy. We then went on to the mangroves. There we saw a total of 3 crocodiles on the shore. According to the guide, monkeys are more likely to be seen near the shore in the evening at dusk. We were out in the morning and didn't see any. There was good food and water in between. Overall, a very successful trip. After the boat trip, Mr. Ham and his friend drove us to the beautiful Damai Beach upon request.
Amazing boat tour with Ehwan
G8306FClidiab,
Feb 19, 2024
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
We booked a tour with Ehwan Ibrahim (+60 19-878 5088) after seeing his contact details in a Sarawak guide. It was an amazing tour- Ehwan and his boatman did everything to give us the best chance of seeing the wildlife. Despite rain we saw lots of dolphins, proboscis monkeys and a crocodile! It seems like the chance of seeing wildlife is quite high but even if we hadn’t seen anything, the scenery was still beautiful. It was only us on the boat which made it a much better experience than some of the other big company tour boats we saw out on the river. Highly recommend doing this Sarawak river boat tour!
Amazing Experience
MorrisYa13,
Mar 15, 2023
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
The Culvert had booked my husband and I this experience with CPH Travel Agencies. This tour did not disappoint. Our guide Don and captain Jeff were amazing. Don picked us up at 8:45am sharp, from there we headed to the boat. Don was clear that there was no guarantee of seeing dolphins. Regardless we were fortunate enough to experience the dolphins and wildlife of the wetlands and mangroves. The guide and captain were ethical, knowledgeable, and shared interesting legends and history with us while we were on the boat. 10/10 would recommend.
Leisure Boat Cruising
AnitaJo J,
Jun 25, 2018
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
I did this using a local recommended tour service, picked us up in the morning then driven to Santubong area by car approximately 45 minutes. There we boarded a beautiful comfy motorized boat for 15 paxes, then start cruising the water until we passed by Pasir Putih beach where we saw a big crocodile sun bathing on an abandoned oil deck, the boat then slowed down & cruise in the silence near some fishing boats, there we started watching the dolphins mating, the male dolphin put up an aggresive stunts to impress their ladies dolphin, they played around us in some distance, all passengers watched & take pictures & videos in silence, for at least 45 minutes we enjoyed the view. Then we were taken to the swamp area, looking for some Proboncis monkeys, but they are nocturnal creature and did not bother to greet us. Then we stop by a fishing village, the guide showed us how lives roll around in the village, greeted some villagers, seeing the swamp fishes, blue crabs, trying the local honey (Mango honey in season, taste really nice), visit the school, all the while the guide point out which tree bear what fruits and so on....so relax. Then we sail back to the pier, and start to get back to the city again. I enjoyed it so much.