Mulu Caves National Park is one of the longest networks of caves in the world. Here lies the world’s largest underground chamber, the Sarawak Chamber, capable of accommodating forty Boeing 747 airplanes. In Mulu, you will also find the world’s biggest cave passage, Deer Cave, which can fit five cathedrals the size of Saint Paul’s in London. Another key attraction is Clear Water Cave, the longest cave in Southeast Asia. The massive caves here are home to millions of bats and cave swiftlets that swarm out into the jungle in great clouds every evening at dusk! The outdoorsy type will be pleasantly surprised by some of the best examples of tropical limestone weathering in the world, including enormous razor-sharp pinnacles, deep-cut canyons, appropriately named The Pinnacles. There are tough but rewarding multi-day hikes available from the resort. A guide and porter are recommended. | |
Tips | |
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How to get there? | |
By Air Malaysia Airlines operates three daily flights from Miri into Mulu (30 minute flight). Recently, an airline called FAX, which is a subsidiary of Air Asia, has started flying to Mulu as well. By Boat You can also take the express boat from Kuala Baram (three hours) to Marudi. From Marudi, take a commercial express boat to Kuala Apoh or Long Panai on the Tutoh River (a tributary of the Baram River). The express departs Marudi at noon daily and returns to Marudi in the early morning of the next day. The trip takes about three hours. | |
Who to contact ? | |
For more information, please visit www.mulupark.com/ | |
Accommodation Overview | |
Besides the main resort at the centre of the park (Royal Mulu Resort), there are also hostels, cabins and even an air-conditioned longhouse to choose from. | |
Niah National Park
Over 400km up the coast from Kuching, hidden in the forests of Miri, are the Niah Caves. The park covers a vast swathe of 3,140 hectares of peat swamp, dipterocarp forests, as well as the massive limestone outcroppings within which the giant Niah caves are concealed. The caves consist of one big cave (The Great Cave) and some smaller caves. In 1958, archeologists discovered evidence of human occupation of the caves dating back some 40,000 years. Rock paintings were found in what has become known as the Painted Cave, and the discovery of several small canoe-like coffins (death ships) indicate that this site was once used as a burial ground. | |
Key Tips | |
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How to get there | |
By Road and River The Park is accessible by road from Miri or Bintulu. It takes about 2 hours from Miri and 3 hours from Bintulu to Batu Niah. From Batu Niah, it is a short boat trip to the Park Headquarters. | |
Who to contact | |
For more information, please contact Sarawak Tourism Office Tel: +6082-246 575 / 775 Email: mtpbkch@tourism.gov.my | |
Accommodation Overview | |
Here, there are options for camping, chalets, a hostel and even a homestay programme. | |
sarawak "land of the hornbills"
The name 'Borneo' has long meant magic to travellers, and if you skip Sarawak, you'll miss something special. The state has a superb system of national parks, beautiful beaches and a diverse thriving tribal culture whose hospitality to strangers is unmatched. Situated on the north-western coast of Borneo, the Land of Hornbills beckons the visitor with its rich rainforests, intricate weave of rivers, pepper plantations, and the diverse cultures of its indigenous people.
Sarawak shares its borders with Indonesia's Kalimantan province in the south and Brunei and Sabah in the north-east. Sarawak is Malaysia's largest state, covering an area of 124, 450 sq.km. with one of the most pleasant cities in all of Asia, Kuching, as its capital.
Two-thirds of its land is covered in rainforests and its population of 1.7 million is made up of 23 ethnic groups. Sarawak's indigenous peoples have a strong sense of identity and have made their mark in government, education and the media. A unique history has given Sarawak a character of its own, distinct yet very much a part of Malaysia.