Miri, Sarawak, Malaysia

A weekend getaway for only S$200

📌 By Jakub Mikula | June 23, 2017

TIP: flying from Johor Bahru is often cheaper than flying from Singapore. Consider Senai International Airport for a budged trip ;)

Escape the crowd and immerse yourself in nature of this coastal city. Take a walk on the beach or explore a huge system of caves in Niah National Parks. Be prepared for an unforgettable sunset overlooking the South China Sea.

• accommodation: Dillenia Guest House (amazing place for a budget trip, I stayed in a 6-bed dormitory) ~30 MYR/night
• flight: AirAsia (Johor Bahru - Miri) ~300 MYR
• transportation: bus, uber, grab, taxi, in total ~200-300 MYR
• places of interest: Miri Marina, Tajnong Lobang Beach, Niah Caves, Canada Hill, Luak Esplanade

Detailed costs for a budget trip are listed at the end of the post (Budget Trip from Singapore/Johor Bahru) ;)

I visited Miri on one of the longer weekends during the Hari Raya period. Miri is located on the southern Malaysian island Sarawak and considering its location relative to Singapore it becomes a perfect weekend getaway. The city has become highly accesible with short direct flights from Singapore or Johor Bahru. I flew from Johor Bahru only because it was cheaper. Usually, I spend a night at Double K hostel and take a taxi early in the morning to Senai International Airport. Good to consider this option especially for local flights ;)

Places to Visit

1. Miri Marina

This small bay is easy to walk to if you stay nearby. It comprises of a park and a seahorse statue which it has become quite famous for. It also seems to be the perfect spot for enjoying the sunset or just chilling at one of the benches with a glass of fresh fruit juice or coconut water you can buy there. Really nice place to relax and enjoy the view over the ocean (fig.2).

• HOW TO GET THERE: Walking is the perfect option as there is a sidewalk all the way to the park. I saw many people jogging there. On your way, you can also visit the Marina Park. The time when I was there the park was still being under construction, but almost finished. It looked magnificent and with a beautiful beach (fig.1).

2. Tajnong Lobang Beach

This is the place from where I watched the sunset (fig.3, fig.4). First, I considered Miri Marina, but it was still quite early, so I decided to walk and explore the area a bit more. It took me approximately an hour to get to the Tanjong Beach from Miri Marina. The beach stretches up to the Tanjung Lobang Sea Cliff. You can walk all the way there while watching the sun glittering on the water with flaming hues mixing in the sky.

• HOW TO GET THERE: Again, walking is the perfect option if you don’t stay too far. Otherwise you may consider an uber (you can get to KFC which is just next to the beach). I decided for walking that took about an hour from Miri Marina. The weather does not feel so humid as in Singapore and relatively low light polution makes the walk really enjoyable.

3. Niah Caves

The Niah Caves (fig.5, fig.6) is a complex of caves located in the Sarawak national park. A small part of the complex where the earliest excavations took place has now become a museum, meaning the site is fenced, but you can see through the fence. The caves are definitely the best place to visit if you stay only for a weekend. I myself was surprised how large the complex is. The sun penetrates deep inside; however, it allows the vegetation to flourish only near the entrance. The sound of bats flying above your head and the pitch-black darkness in the deepest corners in which you often need a torch; with all the sounds echoing from the cave walls were far beyond my expectations. I really enjoyed the place. In the deepest and the darkest corners you may easily spot the large cave crickets… .

• HOW TO GET THERE: I stayed at Dillenia Guest House, which is quite in the city centre. I woke up at 7am to have a quick breakfast and headed to the nearest bus station to take a city bus (1.5 MYR) to the Bus Terminal (Terminal Bus Pujut). If you also do so, you need to get out near the Boulevard Shopping Complex (you can see it from the bus). From there you walk to the petrol station on the other side of the road. The bus terminal is behind the petrol station. I was lucky to get there just in time. The bus was leaving at 9am. The journey to Batu Niah will take no more than two hours (and it costs ~10-12 MYR). From there you need to take a private transport (~30 MYR) to get to the caves. This is very easy as many drivers are waiting near the parking area and offer you to take you to the caves once you approach. The food at the junction is amazing (Ngu’s Garden Food Park). Make sure you have your lunch there! 😊 With the private transport, you get directly to the entrance of the national park where you have to register and pay the park fee (20 MYR). The last step is to cross the river (Sungai Niah) by a longboat which costs 1 MYR. From there you follow the beautiful trail, most of it built as a boardwalk. The trail is very easy to walk on even for children or elderly people and it takes approximately 1 hour to reach the caves. Along the trail you can often see limestone cliffs or small caves near a small river flowing along. Many people continue the boardwalk to the furthest entrance of the caves, but you can already enter in the west mouth at the very beginning just walking up along the excavation site. You can get inside and take various routes. Have fun exploring! :)

4. Canada Hill

This is the perfect place to be at early in the morning. You can enjoy the beautiful sunrise (fig.7) from one side and an amazing view overlooking the South China Sea from the other side. I was happily surprised (while taking my pictures) to have inspired many drivers passing by to stop and take the sunrise pictures too ;) There is also a petroleum museum there on the hill which I was told is worth visiting. However, I went to the hill on Monday morning and the museum is closed on Mondays.

• HOW TO GET THERE: As most of the time, I simply walked. I woke up at 5am to have a quick breakfast and reached the hill by 6am. It took not more than half an hour from Dillenia Guest House. The sun started to show up at 6:18am. I found the best spot just at the crossroad (fig.8), but I did not explore too much. From there I took an uber to Luak Esplanade.

5. Luak Esplanade

…the last place I visited during my trip on Monday. My flight was later in the afternoon. I went to the beach just after watching the sunrise directly from the Canada Hill with an uber. The perfect place to walk in the water, or even to take a swim. There are showers, toilets and changing rooms there. Many people started to gather already in the morning with the family and friends for a BBQ on the beach. The only annoying thing were the sand flies; especially in the morning. They bite and leave itchy places on your body, much more itchy and intense than mosquitos… Wish I could also see the sunset from this beach… maybe next time :)

• HOW TO GET THERE: It was the last destination I visited just before my flight back to Johor Bahru; so short in time, I took an uber from Canada Hill. From the beach, I took another uber to the airport. Very convenient and cheap.

Budged trip from Johor Bahru,

Are you on a budget trip? Consider flying from Johor Bahru instead of Singapore. Book your accommodation at Double K hostel if you need to spend a night and take a taxi directly to the airport.

Flight: ~300 MYR (Singapore/Johor Bahru)

Transportation in Miri:

Accommodation in Miri: ~30 MYR/night

Food in Miri: ~30 MYR/day

Total estimated costs for three days: ~500-600 MYR

If you find this post useful you can use the map below to book your next accommodation (anywhere) through the affiliated link and I will receive a small commission ;) Thank you!