Gunung Mulu National Park is an introduction to a world of thrill and mystic beauty. Witnessing its enormous caves with thousands of bats flying in circles is like watching a scene from a fantasy movie.
While the limestone rocks and karst topography of this UNESCO World Heritage Site have an otherworldly appeal, the dense rainforests and meandering trails tempt you to explore the unexplored.
According to the BBC’s Planet Earth series, the Park is so enormous that it can accommodate 40 Boeing 747 aircraft. This remarkable natural wonder in Malaysian Borneo, which spans an area of 529 sq. km, is equally rich in flora and fauna
History
The Gunung Mulu National Park was set up on October 3, 1974. It was thrown open for public viewing in 1985.
Gunung Mulu National Park Tours & Activities
The Mulu National Park Tour includes various activities which should feature in your itinerary while on a visit at the Park. The Gunung Mulu National Park tour can be truly memorable as you get the taste of adventure.
Canopy Walk – Also known as the Mulu Skywalk, the Canopy Walk gives you a feeling that you are walking on air and over the trees. This 480-m-long skywalk of sorts is the longest tree-based canopy walk in the world. It is suspended around 20 meters above the ground and offers a stunning view of the exuberant greenery of the park, the river below and the limestone peaks standing tall.
Pinnacles – The pinnacles of the Gunung Api and Banarat are sharp limestone peaks standing as high as 50 meters. They are in the middle of the rainforests at the Park. Considered a trekker’s paradise, the pinnacles are thrown open to trekking enthusiasts (aged above 16 years). A three-day trip starts from 9.15 am on Tuesdays and Fridays only.
Sarawak Chamber – Considered the largest cave chamber on earth, the Sarawak Chamber offers a challenging expedition to the trekkers. Even the most experienced and physically toughest trekkers from around the world find it hard to stand the rough terrains of the chamber. The authorities at the Gunung Mulu National Park advice the trekkers to carry essentials like tough trekking shoes, personal first-aid kit, lunch, water, a raincoat, and a backup torch. However, the trekkers are provided with ropes, head lamp, and a caving helmet as per the requirement.
Garden of Eden Valley Walk – This is yet another natural spectacle on offer at the Park. Only one path leads to it and that is through the Deer Cave. It is an ancient enclosed valley where swimming in the rocky water pools and bathing under the falls is the most favorite activity. It is an ideal place for picnicking.
Night Walk – Night is the time when the forest comes to life and reveals its hidden assets to the world A night walk is a must for those who would love to explore a different facet of the forest. The blinks of the fireflies, the night sounds of the jungle, and the thousands of the nocturnal species may give some a spine-chilling experience.
Nearby Attractions
Although you can make the most of your time by visiting numerous attractions within the Gunung Mulu National Park, yet the temptation of venturing out and visiting the nearest city of Miri is always there.
Miri City Fan – This is an award-winning fan-shaped urban park. It’s popular amongst the locals when it comes to strolling, jogging or just hanging around. The Park consists of an amphitheater, which is used by the government authorities, private bodies, and NGOs to organize various events. The Park also houses a musical fountain, Miri IT Library, Garden of Vision, the Islamic Garden, and a public swimming pool amongst others.
Taman Selera – It’s apopular food joint at the Brighton beach that not only offers delicious fish and other sea food items but also serves as the vantage point for watching the sunset.
Other popular attractions – Deer & Lang Caves, Clear Water Cave, Cave of the Winds, Fastlane, Bats Exodus, Lagang Cave, Racer Cave, Long Iman Riverwalk, Treetop Tower, Paku Waterfall, and The Summit are some of the other popular hangouts you can check out at the Park.
Where is Gunung Mulu National Park?
Gunung Mulu National Park is located on the Borneo Island near the coastal city of Miri in the state of Sarawak, Malaysia.
How To Reach
By Air – The nearest airport to the Gunung Mulu National Park is Mulu Airport, which may be seen as a gateway to the Park since there is no road connectivity between the two. The domestic airport is merely 14.5 kilometers away. The nearest major airport from the park is the Miri International Airport, which is located at a distance of 243 km.
By Rail – There is no railway station close to the national park.
By Road – There is no road connectivity to the Gunung Mulu National Park. However, you can drive from Miri to the nearest possible road route to the park. Then, walk to Mulu through the ‘Headhunter’s Trail’. To reach the park safely, contact local tour operators who will look after your travel needs.
Mulu National Park Accommodation
The Mulu Marriot Resort & Spa is the nearest and the best possible accommodation the travelers visiting the Gunung Mulu National Park can expect. The resort offers Park Headquarters Deluxe Garden Bungalows where double bed and single bed rooms are available for RM 253.20 to 340.90 per person per night.
The Park Headquarters Standard Longhouse I also offers double bed and single bed rooms for RM 208.70 to 313.20 per head. Park Headquarters Longhouse II has four single beds in each rooms and costs 208.70 to 313.20 per person. In the Park Headquarters Chalets, each chalet has 2 rooms with four single beds, 2 bathrooms, and a single lounge.
A budget traveler finds comfort at the Park Headquarters Hostels that have 20 single beds with no air-conditioning. This would cost a person not more than RM 52. All the rates include 6% Goods and Services Tax (GST). Visitors are supposed to pay 25% of the total amount payable at any of these accommodations. Check-in and Check-out timings at these hotels are 2 pm and 10 am respectively.
Restaurants
The open-air restaurant is situated at the Park headquarters and is operational from 7.30 in the morning to 8.30 in the evening. You get to sample local as well as the favorite cuisines of the West.
Best Time to Visit
Months from July to September and March and April are the best time to visit the Gunung Mulu National Park as the place receives relatively lesser rains. Days remain mostly sunny, giving travelers a perfect setting to enjoy nature’s bounty.
Things to Remember
- Do not forget to carry the Mulu Survival Kit, which includes First-aid kit, Trekking boots, torchlight, raincoat, water bottle, and insect repellant.
- The refillable water bottle, torch batteries, raincoat, and Book of Mulu can be bought from the park.
- Tickets bought for entry into the Gunung Mulu National Park are usable for five calender days. It means, one can visit the park unlimited number of times, but only for five days.
Gunung Mulu National Park Entrance Fee
Foreigners
- Child- 10 RM (7-18 years of age). No fees for children aged 6 or less.
- Adult- 30 RM
Malaysian
- Child – 5 RM (7-18 years of age). No fees for children aged 6 or less.
- Adult – 15 RM
- Senior Citizen – 7 RM (56 years and above)
Tours and activities have their respective fees structures in addition to the entry fees.
Facts
- The Park is named after Mount Mulu, situated within the Gunung Mulu World Heritage Area.
- Mount Mulu (2,376 m) is the highest peak in the Park and the second highest in the state of Sarawak.
- This Park is spread over an area of about 529 sq. km.
- The Gunung Mulu National Park is the world’s most studied tropical karst area.
- It has 17 ‘Vegetation Zones’, around 3500 species of vascular plants, and 109 palm species.
- World’s largest known cave chamber, the Sarawak Chamber measuring 600x415x80 m is also located in the Gunung Mulu National Park.
- The Park was awarded the UNESCO World Heritage Site status in November, 2000.
Image credits : Luke Price
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