Why Niah is Unlike Any Other National Park

Taman Negara Niah is extraordinary on two counts: natural and historical. On the natural side, the Great Cave is one of the largest cave chambers in the world, home to millions of bats and swiftlets whose nests — harvested for bird's nest soup — have supported local communities for centuries. On the historical side, excavations in the 1950s and 1960s revealed evidence of human habitation stretching back 40,000 years, making Niah one of the most significant archaeological sites in all of Southeast Asia.

Park Entry Requirements

Niah National Park is managed by the Sarawak Forestry Corporation (SFC). Entry requires a permit, and non-Malaysian visitors require an additional national park permit for entry into Sarawak's protected areas.

  • Entry fee (Malaysian citizens): approximately MYR 10
  • Entry fee (international visitors): approximately MYR 20
  • Opening hours: 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM daily (last entry to the caves is typically 4:00 PM)

Getting to Niah

Niah National Park is located in Miri Division, approximately 110 km south of Miri and 3.5 hours by road from Miri. The nearest town is Batu Niah, 3 km from the park entrance. See our full getting there guide for transport options from Miri and beyond.

The Three Essential Experiences

  1. Walk the boardwalk to the Great Cave: The 3.2 km plank walkway through the rainforest leads to the vast cave entrance — an unmissable experience in itself.
  2. Explore the Painted Cave: A 30-minute extension beyond the Great Cave leads to Kain Hitam — the most sacred site in Niah, with iron oxide rock art dating back 1,000–2,500 years.
  3. Watch the bat exodus: At dusk, millions of bats stream out of the Great Cave in one of nature's most dramatic spectacles. This can only be witnessed by overnight visitors who are in the cave area at sunset.

What to Bring

  • Torch or headlamp (essential for exploring the cave)
  • Sturdy closed-toe shoes (the cave floor is uneven and slippery)
  • Long trousers (guano on the cave floor; some sections are slippery)
  • Insect repellent
  • MYR cash for entry fees and cafeteria
  • Camera (no flash photography in sensitive archaeological areas)