Franz ElizVisiting Miri? Don’t forget to visit Niah National Park. There you’ll find Niah Caves, beautiful historical caves that often get overlooked. While the caves aren’t as big or as popular as the Mulu Caves, a UNESCO World Heritage site, they’re worth visiting.
While visitors can get a tour from a local travel agency, they may also arrange their transport on their own. Getting to the national park is easy, even without a guide. And the national park is doable in only a few hours. But visitors are always welcome to spend a night at the park’s chalets if they like.
Exploring the area took me between 2 and 3 hours, and I had a great experience. Keep reading as I discuss the attraction further. Let’s go.
About Niah Cave
Niah is home to one of the world’s biggest cave entrances and burial sites of the Palaeolithic and Neolithic eras. Scientific findings suggested that Niah was inhabited by prehistoric people from at least around 40 millennia ago.
Apart from its historical findings, people travel to the park to experience its lush jungles, peaceful environment, and everything within it.
I had the chance to explore Niah several years ago; it was good. The place wasn’t crowded at the time, probably because most people prefer to visit the park in the morning or evening when the weather is cooler.
Getting there
Tourists usually fly to the Miri International Airport and stay in the city centre. From the city centre, they can get a car and drive, take a bus or taxi, or go with a tour agent.
If you’re considering taking a taxi or a bus, read the guide below:
Travelling by Taxi
Take a taxi from the city centre to Niah National Park. The journey may take about 1 hour and 30 minutes. Consider getting a Grab ride for a more affordable option, as it’s usually cheaper.
Travelling by bus
From the city centre, take bus number 33A to Pujut Corner Bus Terminal. You can take any bus heading to Bintulu, Sibu, or Kuching. Tell the bus driver/bus conductor that you want to get off by the Niah rest stop.
Exploring Niah National Park
The Niah National Park features two caves: the Great Cave and the Painted Cave. Before reaching the caves, travellers take a 45-minute jungle walk. There are trails for them to walk on. So travellers can have a light and easy walk as they enjoy their surroundings.
Keep the following tips in mind:
- Wear proper footwear, preferably hiking boots or footwear with a good grip. The trails can get quite slippery, especially after the rain.
- Take a boat to cross a river near the park’s main entrance. The fare is RM1 per person. But from 5.30 pm onwards, the boat fare costs RM1.50.
- Be careful when crossing the river. There are crocodiles in it.
- Don’t swim in the river, as it’s strictly prohibited. As discussed, the river has crocodiles – don’t be an easy meal.
After crossing the river, walk straight and enjoy the beautiful jungle view. You’ll notice several chalets on your right. They were unoccupied when I was there.
As you walk through the park, enjoy the sounds of nature, and if you’re lucky, you might see flying lizards and hornbills.
Is There an Entrance Fee?
There’s an entrance fee for exploring Niah National Park. Below are the prices:
MALAYSIANS
| Category | Price (RM) |
| Adult (18–59 years old) | 10 |
| Senior citizens (60 years old and above) | 5 |
| Disabled (6 years old and above) | 5 |
| Children (6–17 years old) | 3 |
NON-MALAYSIANS
| Category | Price (RM) |
| Adult (18 years old and above) | 20 |
| Disabled (6 years old and above) | 5 |
| Children (6–17 years old) | 7 |
For more information on ticket pricing and more, visit Niah National Park’s website.
Discovering Niah Caves
Exploring the Niah National Park involves discovering different caves, all with their own uniqueness and history. Keep walking on the trail to get to the Great Cave.
Trader’s Cave
Before reaching the Great Cave, you’ll first stop by Trader’s Cave. The cave is famous for its bird nests, typically collected and sold at the local market.
You’ll encounter roofless huts made of ironwood. These huts were once used by bird nest collectors (also traders) as shelters during the harvest period. The cave was basically named after the traders. While collecting bird nests is risky, it’s a job that has been practised for generations.
Walk further, and you’ll find a big cave entrance, opening over 60 m high and 25 m wide. As you explore even deeper, you’ll reach a much bigger chamber where you’ll be mesmerised by the cave’s unique stalactites. Get your camera ready for a shot to remember!
Gan Kira (Moon Cave)
After Trader’s Cave, you’ll then arrive at the Padang, a big chamber where you’ll see sunlight shining from the cave’s holes.
Keep walking until you reach Gan Kira (Moon Cave), a dark passage where torchlight will be much needed to admire the stunning rock formations. While you can use your phone to light the way, I recommend you to carry torch light with quality lighting, too. The area can get slippery, so you don’t want to risk losing your phone should you trip.
Painted Cave
After walking through Gan Kira, you’ll walk on a plank trail that leads you back into the rainforest. I was relieved to see sunlight again. Continue walking until you reach Painted Cave. The cave got its name after its paintings. It was also where the ‘death-ships’ were discovered.
You won’t be able to see the ships’ contents because they’re in the good hands of the Sarawak Museum. However, you can still see some of the empty death-ships and blurry cave paintings.
Is the Niah National Park Worth a Visit?
The Niah National Park is not a very touristy place. As discussed earlier, there weren’t many people when I was there, probably because most of them visited the park early in the morning.
But overall, I think the Niah National Park is worth a visit. The jungle walk is therapeutic, and the national park’s entrance fee is affordable. Despite more maintenance efforts needed, this national park is a lovely place for people to get closer to nature and explore the home of early humans in Southeast Asia.
Spend a Night in the Iban Longhouse for a Memorable Borneo Experience
There’s an Iban longhouse called Rumah (House) Patrick Libau at the park. It’s a homestay for those who prefer to spend a night in the park. Visitors can socialise with the Iban people and learn more about their way of life. Consider spending the night there if this interests you. To get to the longhouse, take the Tanggap trail.
Before taking the Tanggap trail, you may see local sellers selling beads and local souvenirs at the park. They also sell snacks and drinks.
Would I Revisit Niah National Park?
Overall, it was a wonderful trip for me. Some people may tell you that you better not waste your time at the Niah National Park and head straight to the Mulu National Park. I’d say visit Niah National Park if you have the time – and visit it before going to Mulu.
Some people were disappointed upon visiting the national park after visiting Mulu. That’s understandable. I noticed that Niah National Park wasn’t well-maintained during my last visit.
But it’s important to determine what you’re after on your trip.
If you’re hoping to see historical things of the Great Cave and Painted Cave, there’s nothing much left to see now. However, I recommend visiting this attraction to enjoy the park’s beautiful caves and jungles.
Also, let’s not forget that Niah is one of the birthplaces of civilisation. The oldest modern human remains of Southeast Asia were, after all, found there. Furthermore, Niah National Park is a good attraction to visit if you don’t have much time to spend in Miri – maybe you’re there for a day or a couple of hours only.
I would revisit National Niah Park next time when I have the chance to visit Miri again. Hopefully, I’ll get to revisit it with friends and family. Of course, a trip to Mulu Caves would be nice, too.
