Extending Your Niah Visit

Niah National Park sits at the heart of Miri Division, within easy reach of several other outstanding natural and cultural destinations. A 2–3 day itinerary combining Niah with the following attractions makes an excellent Sarawak adventure.

Lambir Hills National Park (30 km from Niah)

Lambir Hills is a compact but extraordinarily biodiverse park approximately 30 km north of Niah. The park's mixed dipterocarp forest has been the subject of intensive scientific research for decades, contributing significantly to our understanding of tropical forest ecology.

Highlights include the Latak Waterfall (a 25 m cascade with a swimming hole, 30-minute walk from the entrance), multiple well-marked hiking trails of varying difficulty, and exceptional birdwatching. Accommodation is available at the park headquarters.

Loagan Bunut National Park (100 km from Niah)

Loagan Bunut protects Sarawak's largest natural lake — a unique peat swamp lake that expands and contracts dramatically with seasonal rainfall. When water levels drop, the exposed mudflat becomes a feeding ground for thousands of migratory wading birds, making it one of Sarawak's premier birdwatching destinations.

The traditional Penan fishing method of selambau — using a bamboo fish trap in the retreating waters — is still practised here and can be observed from the park's observation platform. A guided boat tour of the lake is highly recommended.

Miri City

Miri is Sarawak's second-largest city, built on oil wealth. Key attractions include:

  • Petroleum Museum (Museum Petroleum): Fascinating exhibits on Sarawak's oil industry, housed in a striking building atop Canada Hill
  • Miri waterfront: Excellent seafood restaurants and evening markets
  • Bintang Megamall area: Shopping and entertainment hub
  • Coco Cabana: Trendy beachside dining and bar area popular with locals

Gunung Mulu National Park (4–5 hours from Miri)

For visitors with more time, Gunung Mulu National Park — a UNESCO World Heritage Site — is accessible by plane from Miri (30 minutes) or by a combination of road and river transport. Mulu offers the world's largest cave chamber (Sarawak Chamber), the Pinnacles rock formations, and multi-day jungle trekking on the Headhunters' Trail.