Niah National Park

Niah National Park is famous for the Niah Great Cave, a massive limestone cave system that has been a major human settlement and burial site for 40,000 years. The cave is most famous for its 1,000-year-old wall paintings (the 'Death Ships' — boat-shaped coffins) and its significance as a Neolithic archaeological site. A 3-km plankwalk leads through rainforest to the caves, passing through the enormous cave mouth.

By Plane

Miri Airport (MYY) — 60 km north, 1 hr drive. Alternatively, fly to Bintulu (BTU) and drive 120 km north (2 hr).

By Train

No train.

By Car / Road

Niah is 60 km south of Miri on the Miri–Bintulu highway (1 hr drive). Buses from Miri to Bintulu stop at the park junction. The park entrance is at the end of a 3-km access road from the highway.

Walking. The main attraction is accessed via a 3-km plankwalk through the rainforest (45 min each way). The plankwalk is flat and easy.

• Niah Great Cave — the enormous limestone cave (250 m long, 60 m high); a 3-km boardwalk leads through the rainforest to the cave mouth. The cave is lit and has a walking trail inside

• Painted Cave — the site of the 1,000-year-old wall paintings and 'Death Ship' coffins; accessible from the Great Cave via a 1-km trail (guided tour recommended)

• Archaeological site — Niah is one of the most important Neolithic sites in Southeast Asia; human remains and tools dating back 40,000 years have been found here

• Rumah Chang longhouse — a traditional Iban longhouse near the park entrance; visitors can arrange homestays

• Bukit Kasut — a short climb near the park entrance for a view of the surrounding oil-palm plantations

• Explore the Great Cave — the main activity; allow 2–3 hours for the round trip and cave exploration

• Visit the Painted Cave — requires a guide and gumboots (wet season)

• Archaeological tour — learn about the Neolithic site at the visitor centre

• Longhouse homestay — at nearby Rumah Chang Iban longhouse

• Birdwatching — swiftlets and bats inside the cave; hornbills and bulbuls in the surrounding forest

• Night visit — the bat emergence at dusk from the Great Cave

• Park restaurant — Malay and Chinese food; RM 5–10
• Niah town (5 km from park) — local warungs; RM 3–7
• Bring food and water for longer cave exploration

• Bottled water (RM 2–3 at the park shop)
• Teh tarik at the restaurant (RM 2)
• Bring 1+ litres for the cave walk (hot and humid inside)

• Budget: Park hostel (RM 30–50/night, basic dorm)
• Mid-range: Niah Cave Inn (RM 60–100/night, 5 km from the park, clean and comfortable); Rumah Chang homestay (RM 40–80/night, Iban longhouse experience)
• Most visitors come as a day trip from Miri

• Park shop — souvenirs, T-shirts, and basic supplies
• Niah town market — local produce and handicrafts (weekends)

• Miri (60 km north, 1 hr drive) — gateway city
• Bintulu (120 km south, 2 hr drive) — Similajau National Park
• Lambir Hills National Park (90 km north, 1.5 hr drive) — rainforest and waterfalls
• Loagan Bunut National Park (150 km south, 2.5 hr drive) — lake and wetland wildlife