If you are thinking of traveling through Malaysia, there are several national parks worth enjoying.
Gunung Mulu National Park is one of my favorites and we discovered it as we went. It is located on the island of Borneo, in the Malaysian part and is a good option if you want to combine Malaysia and Brunei.
Since the year 2000, Gunung Mulu National Park has been included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. The spectacular landscape, the high concentration of caves and the biodiversity make Mulu deserve this place on the list. The main reason for a visit to Mulu is the caves. Some of the most spectacular, and largest caves in the world can be found here. Although it is not the only beautiful thing about this place. There are many amazing trails, full of nature to discover.
In this post I tell you what to see in the Gunung Mulu National Park, all the places you should discover in this beautiful place, how to get to Mulu, where to stay, the entrance fee to the park and the costs of the guided tours, and some practical advice.
WHAT TO SEE IN GUUNG MULU NATIONAL PARK
Mulu Caves
Not all caves in the park are accessible to visitors. You can only visit the so-called 'showcaves'.
The most famous cave is the deer cave. The vast majority of days between 5:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. approx. Millions of bats fly in search of food.
Langs cave is located 100 meters from the previous one, and offers you the opportunity to see bats up close. You will also find beautiful stalagmites and stalactites in this cave. It's a beauty.
Fast Lane Cave offers one of the best rock, stalactite and stalagmite formations in the Park. In the Cave of the Winds, you will feel more comfortable because it is cooler, and the breeze enters. Hence the name. One of the most visited caves is the Clearwater cave and an underground river passes through it.
Once you enter the Park, the ticket office will offer you a map with the caves, hiking routes to follow...
The park trails
The park offers a wide variety of trails for trekking and enjoying the surroundings.
The canopy trail is the most popular, through paths and hanging bridges, you will walk through the jungle.
If you prefer to look for spiders, snakes, scorpions and hopefully a Tarsier, then the night walk is highly recommended! To do the night routes it is advisable to do it with a guide from the park. And although you can do it for free, it is not highly recommended. The cost of the guide is RM20.
You can explore some trails on your own, finding beautiful spots like the Paku Waterfall and the Botanical Heritage Trail.
There is the option of making the most famous path is that of the pinnacles. This challenging 3-day trip takes you into the beautiful limestone formations. A guide is essential for this route.
Price to access the park
You can buy the ticket at the official entrance of the Park. It costs RM30 and is valid for 5 consecutive days. In addition to the entrance, it is advisable to book a guided tour. To do any of the routes through caves or hiking trails. These routes usually cost RM20 per person.
WHERE TO STAY IN MULU
It is possible to sleep in the park. In Mulu. There are not many accommodation options and there is only one more luxurious option. But all the options are fine.
Backpacking budget: AA Homestay, This homestay offers accommodation for about 7 euros per person in a double room. With bathroom. And although the home stay is very simple, it is clean and the staff is very friendly.
High budget: Mulu Marriott Resort, This 5-star resort is located about 2km from the park, and is in Mulu. It is a spectacular hotel and even being a 5-star hotel, it has quite cheap prices. It is possible to stay for about 55 euros per person in a double suite with breakfast included. It was our choice of accommodation and we were great. In addition, the same hotel offers excursion options to visit the National Park and its surroundings.
HOW TO GET TO GUUNG MULU NATIONAL PARK
Mulu is a very remote and isolated area.
This also makes the park so special. And be little touristy.
There are no good roads to get there. So anyone who doesn't want to travel 8-10 hours in a jeep from Miri should book a flight to Muru. Mulu can be reached by plane from Miri, Kota Kinabalu and Kuching.
Just before landing you can already enjoy a spectacular and intact landscape. Once you have landed, you can use the local taxi service to get to your accommodation and the park.
TIPS FOR VISITING GUNUNG MULU, MALAYSIA
Mulu is a remote area, where despite having some accommodation, even a resort, it is not an area with shops. You will be able to find some basic things, but you must take this into account to already carry some things in your backpack or suitcase such as: basic medicines, mosquito repellent, sunscreen, comfortable shoes, clothes, raincoat, flashlight... Also, make sure you have cash to be able to pay in the Park, in the hotels etc…
If you are going to sleep in a backpacker hotel, it is also advisable to have a sleeping bag, shower towel, mosquito net for while you sleep and a small insecticide spray.
The Park is completely in the jungle. So you should keep in mind that bugs and animals are everywhere here. Snakes, birds, insects of all kinds...
PLAN YOUR TRIP STEP BY STEP
I hope you enjoy your trip to Malaysia a lot and that this article has been useful to you. You can continue reading many more related articles on the blog.
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A hug and see you soon!
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