Taman Negara Gunung Mulu / Mulu Caves National Park
Mulu Caves National Park is home to one of the longest networks of caves in the world. Here lies the worlds largest underground chamber, the Sarawak Chamber, capable of accommodating forty Boeing 747 airplanes. In Mulu, you will also find one of the worlds biggest cave passage, Deer Cave, which can fit five cathedrals the size of Saint Pauls 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
Niah National Park / Taman Negara Niah
Niah National Park the scenery is spectacular and breathtaking . The area is a center of human settlement as early as 40,000 years ago , and has one of the largest cave entrance in the world, the Paleolithic and Neolithic cemeteries and wood carvings, frescoes iron-age . Cave paintings are situated near the house wall paintings that tell a boat trip off the head of life after death , including the remnants of the wreckage "death ships" that are scattered on the floor of the cave - boat-shaped coffins (its contents were transferred to the Sarawak Museum ) . The surrounding area is also decorated by thick forest and is home to many species of plants and wildlife.
Until now , the caves remain as an important place for people from the local community , such as birds' nests and guano collection to be important for their economic resources . Niah Caves is a very pleasant place if you want to stay here a few days, although some of the major attractions are open during the day for visitors. Niah National Park is located in Sungai Niah , about 3 km from the small town of Batu Niah , Miri 110km southwest . The park has a visitor center and a nice stay , and very easy to walk around it in the presence of plankwalk network throughout the park . A pair of good walking shoes and a flashlight are essential items that should be taken
Gunung Gading National Park / Taman Negara Gunung Gading
Gunung Gading is home to the world's largest flower, the rafflesia, which can grow up to one metre in diameter. When in bloom the flower gives off a nasty smell which attracts flies and other insects. The rafflesia has no specific season but the rainy season provides better blooming frequencies. It takes nine months to mature and flowering lasts only 4 or 5 days before dying.
Seeing a blooming rafflesia is certainly the highlight of a trip to Gunung Gading, but the Park and the whole Lundu area are well worth visiting anyway. The rugged mountain peaks that make up the Park provide a scenic backdrop to the nearby town of Lundu, and the nearby beaches at Pandan and Siar. Gunung Gading also has some enjoyable walks and a challenging jungle trek
Lampir Hill National Park / Taman Negara Bukit Lampir
The Lampir Hill National Park is located along the Miri-Bintulu road, about 30km south of Miri Town. With area about 6,952 hectares, it was gazetted and opened to public on 1975. The park is consists of the central portion of the Lambir Hills, a rugged east-west trending sandstone escarpment with a maximum height of 465 meters, has an outstanding regional and global conservation significance for its extraordinary species-rich forest which is ideal for botanist and researchers throughout the world.
1,050 different species of tree out of 7,000 total species and over 1,000 species of insect life are found within the small sample area of 52ha. The park covered with more than half of the area with rich natural mixed Dipterocarp forest, where huge, tall Dipterocarp trees such as Kapur, Meranti, Kempas and Selangan Batu. Shorter trees like Rhu Bukit, Selunsur Bukit, low shrubs, pitcher plants and orchids are found in the Kerangas forest. Apart from the various tree species, the park is very rich in other plant species such as ferns, gingers, vines, palms, mushrooms, moss and lichen, flowering and fruiting shrub trees, climbers and creepers. The fungi of Lampir hill are numerous and remarkable, this including the phosphorescent (illuminate) species that glows in the dark. Animals like bats, monkeys, pangolins and barking deer are those found as well and more than 150 species of birds have been recorded.
Batang Ai National Park / Taman Negara Batang Ai
Batang Ai National Park is located in the Sri Aman Division of Sarawak, in eastern Malaysia on the island of Borneo. It is located in Lubok Antu, some 250 kilometers east of Kuching. The Park is located at Sarawak about 250km from Kuching City with a covering area of 24,040 hectares of rainforest and the artificial lake. The lake is also the Sarawak's only artificial lake, which stretches up to Skrang, Lemanak, Engkari and Ai Valleys. The artificial lake now acts as a water dam that feed to the Batang Ai Hydro Electric Complex to generate the electricity for Sarawak's use. Batang Ai National Park was gazetted as a protected area in early 1991.
Visitors can take a boat ride upriver from the dam, about an hour's of boat ride to see beautiful lowland mixed dipterocarp forest, with drooping trees overhanging the rivers. The rivers are fast flowing, clear and very refreshing. The water level gets quite low during the dry seasons where visitors normally have to help push their boats upstream. Here, the main mode of communication is river transport.
The park is home to many protected species like the Orang Utan, hornbills and gibbons. Other major attraction upriver is the Iban longhouse. This longhouse gives the authentic atmosphere as most of the longhouse dwellers still practise their traditional lifestyle. The Ibans produce local handicrafts, like their 'Pua Kumbu', rattan backpacks 'selabit', rattan mats and even gourd for collecting water. Please note that, if you are staying in Iban longhouse, you need to be aware of local Iban customs so as not to offend anybody.
Bako National Park / Taman Negara Bako
Sarawak's oldest national park was established in 1957, covers a modest 27 sq. km., and is about 37km from Kuching. It's known for its extraordinary natural scenery, habitats, plants and wild life. Its most significant features are secluded coves and rugged rocky headlands with magnificent steep cliffs that overlook the South China Sea. The sea spray, wave action and the wind have also carved out magnificent sea arches and sea stacks at the base of the cliffs, some rearing above the waves like a mighty serpent's head.
The attractive sandstone formations appear pink with iron patterns on the cliff. Further inland, waterfalls tumble down into freshwater pools in a tranquil and idyllic jungle setting. Bako contains an incredible variety of plant species and vegetation types, and this is one of the parks great attractions. At Bako it is possible to see almost every type of vegetation found
Bako is also home to approximately 275 rare proboscis monkeys, found only in Borneo. The best times for seeing wildlife at Bako are just after dawn and just before dusk, when the animals are at their most active. Bako is a fascinating place for bird watching, as over 150 species have been recorded here. Bakos extensive trail system is made up of 16 colour-coded jungle trails which offer a range of walking and hiking options. The fit and adventurous can opt for full- day jungle hikes or overnight camping expeditions, whilst those who prefer to take it easy can opt for a relaxing forest walk.
Kuching Town / Bandar Kuching
Described as one of the most attractive cities in Southeast Asia, Kuching is the State capital. It is a city rich in history, and modern day Kuching is a delightful blend of modern structures and old-world charm. Kuching is divided by the Sarawak River; the south is a commercial residential area, dominated by Chinese, while the north shore is predominantly Malay in character, with old kampong houses lining the river. The two parts of the city are very different in character and even have separate mayors and separate town halls
Kuching means 'cat' in Malay and there are a number of suggestions as to how Sarawak's capital acquired the name. Local legend has it that James Brooke (see section on 'history'), pointing towards the settlement across the river, enquired what it was called. Whoever he asked, mistakenly thought he was pointing at a passing cat. If that seems a little far-fetched, the Sarawak Museum offers a few more plausible alternatives, the most likely of which is that the town may have originally have been known as Cochin – port – a word commonly used across India and Indochina.
Sarawak Cultural Village / Perkampungan Budaya Sarawak
Known as the 'Living Museum', the Cultural Village was set up to preserve and showcase Sarawak's cultural heritage. Located at Pantai Damai, Santubong, just 32km from the state capital, Kuching, it is the perfect place to get introduced to local culture and lifestyle. Sprawled across 17 acres, there are about 150 people living in the village, demonstrating traditional daily activities from Sarawak's diverse tribes like the processing of sago and the making of handicrafts. They wear traditional costumes and also put on dances for visitors.
The village residents provide information on their various traditional cultures and lifestyles. You can see replicas of buildings that represent every major ethnic group in Sarawak; longhouses of the Iban, Bidayuh and Orang Ulu, a Melanau tall-house and a Chinese farm house among others. The village also has a theatre, where you can enjoy multicultural dance performances. Besides this, there is a restaurant and handicraft shop. You can even get married at the Sarawak Cultural Village, in traditional Iban, Malay, Bidayuh or Orang Ulu style.
The Iban longhouse has separate rooms placed side by side, all of which open to a long communal hall, used for leisurely activities like wood carving and basket weaving. Guests are often invited to attend nightly ceremonies and drink a potent rice wine, tuak, which the Iban make themselves. Comfortable guesthouses are also available for visitors.
Jong's Crocodile Farm / Taman Buaya Jong's
Situated at 18 Miles (29km) Kuching/ Serian Highway, a 20 minute leisure drive from Kuching Town, the capital of Sarawak, Land of Hornbills, boasts one of the largest and the only crocodile breeding farm in the country.
Set amidst the charming backdrop of tall tropical trees, lush vegetation and local fruit trees lies this unique farm with over a thousand crocodiles bred in captivity. The farm provides a perfect sanctuary for the reptiles, saving the species from extinction. There are huge and deep concrete ponds and natural breeding grounds for the crocodiles to mate and multiply. Visitors are able to gaze at the snapping jaws, cold menacing eyes, sharp pointed teeth and powerful lashing tails of the crocs within short distance yet safe because of the metal fence.
Apart from crocodiles there are also numerous rare species of birds and animals found only in the Borneo Island. Visitors can have the enchanting experience of walking freely among the monkeys, leopard-cats, sunbears, bearcats, pheasants, civets, barking deers, sambar deers, turtles, fruit bats, monitor lizards, pythons and even hornbills.
Bungai Beach / Pantai Bungai
Location: Miri, About 1 hour drive from Miri and situated near Kampung Bungai in Bekenu is Bungai Beach. Bungai Beach is popular with beachgoers who appreciate its pristine beach, clear waters, and the beauty of the untouched surroundings. Its relatively secluded and a great spot to get away from the hustle and bustle of the city.