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 budget trip ;)

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

• accommodation: Dillenia Guest House (an 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 long weekends during the Hari Raya period. Miri is located in Sarawak, Malaysia, and given its distance from Singapore, it makes a perfect weekend getaway. The city has become highly accessible 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. It is worth considering this option, especially for regional flights ;)

Places to Visit

1. Miri Marina

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

• HOW TO GET THERE: Walking is the best 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 Marina Park. When I was there, the park was still under construction, but it was almost finished. It looked magnificent, with a beautiful beach (fig.1).

2. Tajnong Lobang Beach

This is the place where I watched the sunset (fig.3, fig.4). At 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 Tanjong Beach from Miri Marina. The beach stretches all the way to the Tanjung Lobang Sea Cliff. You can walk the entire way while watching the sun glitter on the water, with fiery hues spreading across the sky.

• HOW TO GET THERE: Again, walking is the best option if you are not staying too far away. Otherwise, you may consider an uber (you can get to KFC which is right next to the beach). I decided to walk, which took about an hour from Miri Marina. The weather does not feel as humid as in Singapore, and the relatively low light pollution makes the walk really enjoyable.

3. Niah Caves

The Niah Caves (fig.5, fig.6) are a complex of caves located in a 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 off, but you can see through the fence. The caves are definitely the best place to visit if you are staying only for a weekend. I was surprised by how large the complex is. The sun penetrates deep inside; however, it allows vegetation to flourish only near the entrance. The sound of bats flying above your head and the pitch-black darkness in the deepest corners, where 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 darkest corners, you may easily spot large cave crickets… .

• HOW TO GET THERE: I stayed at Dillenia Guest House, which is right in the city centre. I woke up at 7am, had a quick breakfast, and headed to the nearest bus stop to take a city bus (1.5 MYR) to the Bus Terminal (Terminal Bus Pujut). If you do the same, you need to get off near the Boulevard Shopping Complex (you can see it from the bus). From there, 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 takes no more than two hours (and it costs ~10-12 MYR). From there, you need to take private transport (~30 MYR) to get to the caves. This is very easy, as many drivers wait near the parking area and offer 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 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 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 alongside. Many people continue the boardwalk to the furthest entrance of the caves, but you can already enter at the west mouth at the very beginning by walking up along the excavation site. You can go inside and take various routes. Have fun exploring! :)

4. Canada Hill

This is the perfect place to be early in the morning. You can enjoy a beautiful sunrise (fig.7) from one side and an amazing view overlooking the South China Sea from the other side. I was pleasantly surprised (while taking my pictures) to inspire many drivers passing by to stop and take sunrise photos too ;) There is also a petroleum museum 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, had a quick breakfast, and reached the hill by 6am. It took no more than half an hour from Dillenia Guest House. The sun started to show up at 6:18am. I found the best spot right at the crossroads (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 right after watching the sunrise from Canada Hill, taking an uber. It is the perfect place to walk in the water, or even to go for a swim. There are showers, toilets, and changing rooms there. Many people started to gather already in the morning with family and friends for a BBQ on the beach. The only annoying thing was the sand flies, especially in the morning. They bite and leave itchy spots on your body, much itchier and more intense than mosquito bites… I 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; short on time, I took an uber from Canada Hill. From the beach, I took another uber to the airport. Very convenient and cheap.

Budget trip from Johor Bahru,

Are you travelling on a budget? 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!