Although most travelers in Borneo visit the northern province of Sabah, there is much to explore in Sarawak as well. In fact, from the fine town of Miri, you can take a day trip to the Niah Caves. Here you can take a wonderful hike to the dark caves in the cave. Below is all about Miri and the Niah caves, practical information and what to bring with you.
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Miri
Miri is not as big a city as Kota Kinabalu or Kuching. As a result, Miri is a lot cozier and social. The Ming café in particular is crowded every night. Friends and travelers gather here for drinks or to watch sports on the two large screens.
There are several shopping centers downtown. When you need new clothes or just want to check out some fun shopping, this is the place to be. There are also several Western restaurants in these malls, for when you get tired of Asian food for a while.
There are two places where you can watch the spectacular sunset in Miri. The first is at Pantai Tanjun Lobang beach. It is not a beach where you can sunbathe in the afternoon. This is because during the day the tide is high and crocodiles can swim here. In the afternoon, the tide goes out and all the people gather here to watch the orange-yellow sun sink into the sea.
The second place to watch the sunset is on top of the hill at Canada Hill. Here is a large Miri sign. Just like being in Hollywood 🙂
Niah Caves
From Miri, you can take a bus to the town of Batu Niah. It is recommended that you book your tickets in advance through 12GO.Asia. In fact, through 12GO.Asia you can see exactly what time and from which station the bus leaves and what time you will arrive.
Tip: View all information on transportation in Borneo here.
The bus from Miri to Niah takes 1.5 to 2 hours. You’ll arrive at Batu Niah, a covered market where you can score a good local breakfast. It is another 15-minute drive from Batu Niah to the entrance of Niah national park. There are no Grabs or cabs available, only private transfers through the “helpful” locals. It is not easy haggling on this private transfer and you pay way too much for this short ride. We had to pay 40 RM (€8). That’s double the price a Grab would charge. Unfortunately, you have no choice but to accept and pay for this.
The entrance ticket to Niah national park costs 20 RM per person (€4). You are first transferred by boat and then the hike starts. You can do these without a guide. It is a long road of 3 kilometers over bridges and good paths. Here you marvel at the beautiful forests and green nature. After 3 kilometers you will arrive at the cave. This is where you put your headlamp.
After 600 meters, the cave gets smaller and it is suddenly pitch black. This section contains many bats and huge grasshoppers. We did not like this part anymore and turned around. Still, the walk was also worthwhile this way. Towards the caves you see a lot of beautiful nature, trees and forests.
Packing list Niah Caves
There are some items you should not forget to bring with you to the Niah Caves.
- Headlamp. You will need these in the dark cave
- Plenty of water. A minimum of 2 liters per person
- Fruit / granola bars
- Sunscreen
- Deet. You get completely stung by mosquitoes during the walk to the cave.
How to get to Miri
There are daily flights to Miri from Singapore, Malaysia and Kuala Lumpur. If you are already in Borneo, you can take a domestic flight to Miri from Kota Kinabalu or Sandakan. From Kota Kinabalu, you can also take a bus to Miri. Check 12GO.Asia for the best itinerary.
Continue your journey through Borneo to the Kinabatangan River or explore the jungle of Deramakot. Check out the 2-week round trip in Borneo for additional inspiration.
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