The Top Four Attractions In Northern Sarawak

Sarawak, land of the hornbills, has the biggest forest area in Malaysia and has the most natural resources compared to other states. Their cities and towns are very well developed with flyovers, shopping centers, fast food chains etc. Despite of all these development in cities and towns, most of the rural areas are yet untouched and difficult to access unless by boat or plane. There are several places in Northern Sarawak that you must visit when you come and we are going to introduce to you some of them.

Borneo Tropical Rainforest Resort

Borneo Rainforest Resort is the best place for a family holiday or company trip. It is also a good place of retreat for city-zen from traffic jams, commuters, crowds and even hand phones. Yes, your high technology smart phones will not work here, because just as its name had spelled it, this resort is located in the forest. The resort is decorated with many types of heliconia and other flowers. The resort has facilities especially designed for company retreat and other group games. The resort is furnished with outdoor water park, sports center, jungle trekking, night walk etc. You can also go sightseeing to their domestic animal farm and fruits plantation with a big cart pulled by a truck.

How do you get there: It is about one and a half hour drive from Miri towards south, with about 30 minutes rocky road drive at the last section of the journey. When you see a vast difference of the scenery, you know you had arrived.

Where can you stay: You can either make it a one day trip or stay in at a reasonable price. They provide double-stories water chalets, hostel, campsite, or standard rooms that is attached to the main building.

Tips: You are recommended to stay in the water chalet to have a different feel from the normal hotel rooms. Try to get the second floor, it is better. Also, try to get up as early as possible to enjoy all the facilities because most of the outdoor activities are closed at 5pm for security reason.

Niah National Park

The prehistoric human remains and cave painting makes Niah National Park a must visit if you come to Sarawak. It is naturally decorated with limestones and beautiful rock formation caused by water dripping. Many Neolithic tools used by the ancients were found here. Niah cave is also famous for its swiftlets nest, which is used as chinese tradition medicine. In the evening, you can see swiftlets roaming at the cave and of numerous of bats flying out to look for food. Its located at Gunung Subis, near to a small town called Batu Niah.

How do you get there: You will need to hire a taxi or rent a car in order to get to the entry point of Niah National Park. It is about 2 hours drive from Miri. You are required to purchase an entry ticket to Niah National Park and catch a boat to cross a river.

Where can you stay: Though they are chalets at the Niah Cave national park, you are recommended to stay at Batu Niah for easy accessibility.

Tips: The boat that can bring to the opposite river bank can also bring you for a short boat ride on the river or crocodile spotting in the night.

Gunung Mulu National Park

A recent declaration by UNESCO as a world heritage makes it worthwhile for you to pay Gunung Mulu National Park a visit. If that does not interest you, even its breathtaking rock formation at the surrounding area and within the cave will amazed you at God's wonderful creation. Mulu cave is one of the famous spot at the park and is believed to be the biggest cave in the world. Its enormous pit is sheltered by a virgin forest and few pinnacle that stood on high. For the natural lovers, surely this trip will not disappoint you.

How to get there: You can get there by taking MASwings on selected days. You can also try to take a 12 hours of boat ride if you want to explore the interior of Northern Sarawak along the river.

Where do you stay: You can either stay at the Gunung Mulu National Park, Royal Mulu Resort or other local homestay.

Tips: If you are a rock climber, you can join expedition to explore into inner depth of the Mulu caves.

Bario

If you find all the above are too adventurous or too much activities and you just want to relax yourself, you can come to Bario, a place you can find peace. Bario is a valley of Kelabit Highlands, at a high altitude with 1000m above sea level and has a wide plateau that allows the locals to plant padi. It is a serene and tranquil village where you can hear birds chirping in the morning and crickets in the night. The morning dew and the evening mist tells of the freshness of its air. The people of Bario mainly are Kelabits, one of the indigenous of Sarawak. Their main activities are farming, hunting, fishing and salt producing using the water they extracted from the salt spring.

How to get there: Though there is logging road to Bario but you are recommended to take a plane from Miri with MasWings.

Where do you stay: The people of Bario provides simple homestay where you can lodge in. Local delicacies are included in what you paid for.

Tips: Remember to purchase the famous Bario highland rice and salt before you leave! It's the best rice you can ever find on earth.

Now, What are you waiting for? Since the school holiday is still on, you can plan your trip with your family to one of these places to enjoy! If you'd like to enjoy more savings, check out our best travel deals to help you plan your well-deserved holiday.