1. Explore Mulu National Park
Location: Marudi District, Miri Division, Sarawak, Malaysia
The caves here are genuinely jaw-dropping but it wasn’t just for its beauty that Mulu was recognised. The park is also a significant natural habitat, full of wildlife not easily found elsewhere. If you think that Mulu National Park is your ‘typical’ trek and snap, it isn’t! There’s a lot to do here. From adventure caving to kayaking to visiting native settlements and waterfalls, there’s a lot of Mulu to take in. And if you do decide to make the trip out here, you have to catch the bats leaving at sunrise. It’s a sight to behold.
Getting here: MAS runs flights many days a week from Kuching, Miri and Kota Kinabalu to Mulu.
Traveller Tip: Make reservations in advance as there are few beds inside Mulu National Park and during the peak season ( June-September) the place is normally booked complete. Of course, there’s the Mulu resort, but it will be a more expensive choice. To make your stay more informative and affordable, consider subscribing to a tour group or plan!
2. Bako National Park, Kuching
Location: Bako National Park, Kuching, Sarawak
This national park is the oldest national park. Bako has a wide range of plants and varieties of plants, and one of the draws here is this. In Bako, you can find almost all forms of plants present in Borneo. Almost 275 uncommon proboscis monkeys occur, and they are found only in Borneo. The best time to see wildlife in Bako is after dawn and before dusk, when the animals are active.
Accommodation:
There is a chalet in Bako National Park if you want to sleep here. However, the accommodation is a comfortable base for an overnight stay.
Appropriate Activities:
Various extreme activities can be carried out here. You can travel to see the beauty of nature. In Bako consists of 16 color-coded forest trails that offer a variety of options for walking and hiking. Those who like a challenge can choose to hike the forest all day or join an overnight camping expedition, while those who do not like extreme activities can choose to walk on the forest trail.
3. Fairy Cave, Bau Sarawak
Location: Bau Sarawak
Operation hour: everyday 8:30am – 4pm
Some say the cave used to house Japanese soldiers hiding from persecution during the war. Others tell the tale of magical fairies, protecting orphaned children living within. The limestone cave is certainly beautiful if not a bit eerie. This is in part due to the locals who have placed prayer items at the foot of several deity-like rock formations within the cave itself.
Getting here: This beautiful cave is situated about 40 kilometres from Kuching, a 45 minute drive away. Public transport does not come all the way out here but most tour companies do.
Traveller tip: The paths within the cave are often slippery and parts of it may be quite dark so remember to bring good footwear and torches. If you’re interested in rock-climbing however, you could always get in touch with Climb Asend, part of the local rock-climbing community.
