Mah Meri Cultural Village
Mah Meri Cultural Village
3.5
About
Mah Meri is one of the 18 indigenous tribe of Malaysia. Famed for their mask dance and the wooden sculptures, the Mah Meri have a unique social system of metrimony. Marriage is by family arrangement but the couple have the right to refuse during the seven rituals which the couple will have to undergo.Divorce is sinful but a kind of polyandry is permitted.Enjoy the seafood delicacies and have a hand at learning how to make origami flowers from palm leaves.
Suggest edits to improve what we show.
Improve this listingTours & experiences
Explore different ways to experience this place.
What is Travelers’ Choice?
Tripadvisor gives a Travelers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travelers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.
Top ways to experience Mah Meri Cultural Village and nearby attractions
The area
Address
Reach out directly
Best nearby
Restaurants
2 within 3 miles
Contribute
Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
3.5
15 reviews
Excellent
5
Very good
4
Average
3
Poor
2
Terrible
1
Sandi B
Schertz, TX162 contributions
Nov 2022
We went to the village as an excursion with Viking cruises. Sorry, but I was less than impressed. We were met at the gate by a representative, who even said he wasn’t from that tribe. He had us standing, in the sun outside for around 20 minutes, while he talked so low we couldn’t even hear him. Once we walked inside…very little to see and more standing around listening to him talk. Our guide finally asked him to use a microphone.
The wedding dance consisted of them dressing up 6 people from our group and more or less dancing around in a circle. It didn’t look like a true ritual dance.
There were a few carved masks to look at and they provided a very nice lunch for our group.
Felt like a poor excursion choice, in my opinion.
The wedding dance consisted of them dressing up 6 people from our group and more or less dancing around in a circle. It didn’t look like a true ritual dance.
There were a few carved masks to look at and they provided a very nice lunch for our group.
Felt like a poor excursion choice, in my opinion.
Written November 15, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jan M
Honolulu, HI232 contributions
Nov 2022
We cruise ship guests were one of the first guests to Mah Meri Cultural Village since they reopened from the pandemic. The head masked man greeted us with a chant and the village girls presented us with woven headbands and lime juice. The village elder sprinkled rice water on our hands and the village girls sprinkled scented water on our feet before we entered. We wandered around the garden and some tried their hand at slingshot. There were demonstrations of making thatch for walls and roofs. The man who was carving wood is deaf and the village helped his livelihood. When we found out that he played the violin, a guest asked him to play for her. She gave him a small tip afterward and the astonished smile on his face was priceless! The small museum was nice and interesting. The young girls demonstrated and taught us how to weave palm leaves into decorations. The mock wedding ceremony informed us of their rituals and ceremonies. A nicely prepared lunch was a treat as they served delicacies such as grilled octopus, shrimp, and chicken sate, rice, curries, and fresh native fruit such as dragonfruit and guava. There is a small gift shop there. Buy your souvenirs here and not at the port terminal as our bus tour guide recommended. Support the village! She must be getting a commission---nothing at the terminal shops.
Some reviewers were disappointed, but, I felt it was an enriching experience that supports the local villages to keep their culture and arts amidst our Western centrism modernized views.
Some reviewers were disappointed, but, I felt it was an enriching experience that supports the local villages to keep their culture and arts amidst our Western centrism modernized views.
Written November 24, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
GCL2013600
Singapore, Singapore65 contributions
Apr 2015 • Friends
The cultural village was poorly managed by a guy named Rashid. When we called him on his cellphone to check on a tour package that they offered on their webpage, he requested us to make a booking via their webpage. after the booking was made, there was no reply and no response at all.
On the day of our visit, after driving for more than 2 hours and arrived at the Mah Meri Cultural Village and found out that Rashid didn't inform the workers about our booking at all, and without booking, there wasn't any preparation for the itinerary as listed on their webpage. it was a complete waste of our time.
The workers at the Mah Meri Cultural Village asked us to pay RM5 as entrance fee instead. The place was very small (only took less than 5 minutes to complete one round), very rundown and literally got nothing to see at all. the workers were paid and sat around doing nothing.
Totally disappointed with this place and it's a waste of government resources.
On the day of our visit, after driving for more than 2 hours and arrived at the Mah Meri Cultural Village and found out that Rashid didn't inform the workers about our booking at all, and without booking, there wasn't any preparation for the itinerary as listed on their webpage. it was a complete waste of our time.
The workers at the Mah Meri Cultural Village asked us to pay RM5 as entrance fee instead. The place was very small (only took less than 5 minutes to complete one round), very rundown and literally got nothing to see at all. the workers were paid and sat around doing nothing.
Totally disappointed with this place and it's a waste of government resources.
Written May 13, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
duncan_KS
George Town, Malaysia72 contributions
Mar 2018 • Family
Our visit to Mah Meri Cultural Village was unplanned. We knew that booking is required to ensure availability of dance and other demonstrations and we just tried our luck as walk-in visitor.
During our visit, we were very lucky to tag along with local university student, so we managed to join the group to witness their wedding ceremony demonstration and cultural dance. It is very interesting experience and eye opener to us on understanding this group of Malaysia aborigine tribe that not well know by majority Malaysian.
The area for the village is not big but you can spend good time to explore the gallery to understand each story behind their masks, learn to blow pipe or even try on their costume.
Effective October 2017, the cultural Village opens on Saturday, Sunday and Public holiday. It is better to book it ahead to avoid disappointment as dance or demonstration might not be happened without any booking was made.
This is definitely worth a visit to understand their rich culture and excellent craftmanship. Selangor tourism department should help to do more publicity on this cultural Village.
During our visit, we were very lucky to tag along with local university student, so we managed to join the group to witness their wedding ceremony demonstration and cultural dance. It is very interesting experience and eye opener to us on understanding this group of Malaysia aborigine tribe that not well know by majority Malaysian.
The area for the village is not big but you can spend good time to explore the gallery to understand each story behind their masks, learn to blow pipe or even try on their costume.
Effective October 2017, the cultural Village opens on Saturday, Sunday and Public holiday. It is better to book it ahead to avoid disappointment as dance or demonstration might not be happened without any booking was made.
This is definitely worth a visit to understand their rich culture and excellent craftmanship. Selangor tourism department should help to do more publicity on this cultural Village.
Written March 28, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Peter R
Boston, MA2,146 contributions
Dec 2019
A tour to this is indigenous cultural center is about a hour's drive from the Port Klang. The tribe members wear costumes consisting of wooden masks and palm leaf skirts. Many ceremonies were performed including a mock wedding of one couple. They also show their proficiency at origami with palm leaves, wood carving and puzzle making/solving. There is also a small museum tour included with some interesting information. After the wedding ceremony, which was a lot of fun, there was a delicious lunch. Great experience and a hidden gem in my opinion
Written December 15, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
kenneth_hodge
Southampton, UK123 contributions
Mar 2019 • Couples
We were shown how a wedding ceremony was conducted and it was amazing - the questions asked of the bride and groom are very personal and would raise a few eyebrows in the UK - well worth a visit
Written March 19, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jo-Ann
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia17,186 contributions
Mar 2018 • Couples
Coming from Sabah, I know native people are usually warm and friendly. When we arrived at this cultural village, a girl came to collect RM7 per person. Then she showed my the activities for today. I asked if the dance or wood carving would be on as scheduled. She said today nothing except the gallery is open. Today is Saturday! And no activities, it was still RM7 per pax! Daylight robbery!!! I guess they will only entertain groups of tourists and not walk-ins. Well we are tourists too, just local. Very disappointed. We left after 20 minutes and a few pictures.
Written March 24, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dory Dory
22 contributions
Feb 2019 • Friends
The guide was very nice with his knowdlege. Having 1 day in village with happy activities such as play in a traditional wedding. Every people in here are very friendly. Through the sharing of guide we can understand more about them.
Written February 27, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
louislooi
Sheffield, UK28 contributions
Mar 2016 • Friends
I was lucky enough to visit when there was a massive group of international school students around, thus I was able to tag along. Otherwise, I believe this place might be quiet in the weekdays if there wasn't any tour buses. The location is not accessible without using a car and surrounded by Sime Darby oil palm estates. Well, it is an Orang Asli (aborigine) settlement, thus it is understandable for the lack of connectivity.
It is not a very big place and it nestled within the Mah Meri settlement. Probably a good 1 to 2 hours will be more than enough, with most time spent in the Exhibition Centre admiring their history and tribal statues, each was craved delicately with Mah Meri's fine craftsmanship, which is Unesco certified. They do sell some handcrafted souvenirs if you like it.
If you come in a big group, you can contact the centre authority to prearranged some activities, such as craft learning and even traditional tribe wedding dance. Of course, it comes with different price tags which I am not sure.
Every year they will have two massive events and it attracts lots of tourists in the February -Puja Beach Ritual, and March -Ancestor Day.
If you come by a car, you can continue your journey to drive along Jalan Pulau Carey, there is another Orang Asli settlement -Perkampungan Orang Asli Sungai Judah, which you can drive in for a quick visit. The settlers are likely living in poverty with very simple house, often wooden with minimal furniture. Further up to the end of Jalan Pulau Carey, you will reach a bench with great Malacca Straits view. Some people do fish there.
It is not a very big place and it nestled within the Mah Meri settlement. Probably a good 1 to 2 hours will be more than enough, with most time spent in the Exhibition Centre admiring their history and tribal statues, each was craved delicately with Mah Meri's fine craftsmanship, which is Unesco certified. They do sell some handcrafted souvenirs if you like it.
If you come in a big group, you can contact the centre authority to prearranged some activities, such as craft learning and even traditional tribe wedding dance. Of course, it comes with different price tags which I am not sure.
Every year they will have two massive events and it attracts lots of tourists in the February -Puja Beach Ritual, and March -Ancestor Day.
If you come by a car, you can continue your journey to drive along Jalan Pulau Carey, there is another Orang Asli settlement -Perkampungan Orang Asli Sungai Judah, which you can drive in for a quick visit. The settlers are likely living in poverty with very simple house, often wooden with minimal furniture. Further up to the end of Jalan Pulau Carey, you will reach a bench with great Malacca Straits view. Some people do fish there.
Written April 10, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
tiraaaa
Penang Island, Malaysia19 contributions
Mar 2016 • Friends
Visit Mah Meri Cultural Village has been one of my best lifetime experience that cannot buy with money. I been there during Spirit's Day celebration to experience their culture. i feel really excite yet nervous to been there. Mah Meri people very friendly and nice, they welcome all the tourist and local people. The Mah Meri people have their own unique culture and belief in the spirits world and famous with their wooden craftwork. They are well known for their own anyaman from nipah or pandanus weaving that every single have their own meaning. Every each of wooden craft has a different story of the spirit world and shaped their belied and cultural. For me it's such a honor to me because i had a chance to interview the village chief of Kampung Sungai Bumbum Sidin Anak Bujang or known as Tok Batin. he shared with me few stories about their cultural, belief and spirit's day. Besides that, i also been experience get blessing from Tok Pawang and he asked me about what i want or wishes for this year, this is one of their cultural it is depend to you either want to try or not. There are also have dance performance , the tourist can join if their want. For me, if i have a chance again for sure i will come again.
Written March 20, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Are all the attractions available on a Sunday
Written September 8, 2018
siennylovesdrawing
Malaysia
114 contributions
Hi there, would like to suggest your end to communicate to them via their official fb page 1st. From my own visiting experience, we actually confirm with their availability before we visited them. This is to avoid disappointment while travel far to Mah Meri village for your visit
Hope my suggestion above is helpful to your visiting planning then
Have a wonderful Mah Meri cultures visit for you soon
Cheers
siennylovesdrawing
Written October 7, 2018
Yes I would like to know more about this attraction. For example, time and days of the dance shows etc.
Written August 23, 2018
Showing results 1-2 of 2
*Likely to sell out: Based on Viator’s booking data and information from the provider from the past 30 days, it seems likely this experience will sell out through Viator, a Tripadvisor company.
Is this your Tripadvisor listing?
Own or manage this property? Claim your listing for free to respond to reviews, update your profile and much more.
Claim your listing