INTRODUCTION
Gunung Mulu National Park (Taman Negara Gunung Mulu,) is in Sarawak on the island Borneo, at the border with Brunei.
History
Landscape
Named after the 2,377m Mount Mulu (Gunung Mulu), the park is famed for its limestone karst formations both above ground and underground. The massive cave systems, which contain the 12 million cubic meter Sarawak Chamber (the world's largest), is still in the process of being mapped.
DIRECTIONS TO GUNUNG MULU NATIONAL PARK
By plane
Gunung Mulu National Park has a small airport (code: MZV) which actually lies just outside the national park boundary. Most tour operators pick up passenger from the airport and bring them to their respective accommodations. Independent travellers can either thumb a lift from these operators or take a boat ride to Park Headquarters.
Fly Asian Xpress (FAX), a subsidiary airline of AirAsia, offers twice daily flights to to/from Miri, with direct connections to Kuala Lumpur on AirAsia. RM84 one way before taxes and surcharges. Journey time is about 25mins. FAX also has one flight daily to/from Kota Kinabalu, departing Mulu at 1220, and Kota Kinabalu at 1105. Journey time is about 50mins. Fare is RM179 one way before taxes and surcharges.
By land
This option is certainly for the more adventurous. In fact, by land is a bit of a misnomer because this option usually requires a combination of going by road, boats and maybe even some hiking.
- To/From Miri: You need to go by road to Kuala Baram along the Miri-Brunei border road (see Miri page for bus connections), then taking a boat up the Baram River to Marudi. Here, you have to take a series of boats up the Tutoh River to reach Gunung Mulu National Park. The Miri-Marudi leg can also be cover by plane. See Miri page for flight details.
- To/From Limbang: This option basically requires you to hike the Headhunter's Trail. See details of the trek under the "Do" section below. There are no longer flights between Mulu and Limbang.
THINGS TO DO
See
Most visitors come to Mulu for the caves, but there are also good jungle and mountain trekking options in the area. Guides are obligatory for all cave visits and most treks.
Caves
- Clearwater and Wind Caves
- Turtle Cave
- Deer and Langs Caves
- The Garden of Eden
- Bat Exodus
Trekking
- Paku Waterfall
- The Pinnacles
- The Summit. A challenging 4-day, 3-night climb to the top of Mt. Mulu itself.
Do
- Trekking to the Pinnacles
- Trekking the Headhunters' Trail
CUISINE
Eat
- Cafe Mulu, Park HQ. Basic but cheap local eats.
ACCOMMODATION
Lodging
The Park HQ offers lodging for visitors in several categories:
- Longhouse Rooms, with air-con and en-suite bathroom, from RM80 twin share.
- Rainforest Rooms, with fans and en-suite bathroom, from RM50 twin share.
- Dormitory, 21 beds with fan and shared bathroom, RM18 per night.
- Royal Mulu Resort offers upclass lodging for visitors with many of the basic ammenities one would need.
Camping
Camping is permitted only at Park HQ, but is not really recommended due to the soggy rainforest conditions. RM5/person.
