Singaporeans love spending weekends at our local nature parks, such as Windsor Nature Park and Chestnut Nature Park. Now, if you’ve got an itch for adventure, you don’t have to look far to find it.
Miri, Sarawak, is a lesser-known holiday destination in East Malaysia that’s packed with dramatic landscapes for you to truly go off the grid. Imagine massive natural caves, calming waterfalls, lush jungles, and scenic coastlines – all accessible via a 2-hour direct flight from Singapore via Scoot. If you’re up for an adventure across the border, check out these best outdoor things to do in Miri.
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The best time to visit Miri is during the dry season, which runs from June to August. During these months, you can expect warm temperatures ranging from 25°C to 32°C and minimal rainfall, making it ideal for outdoor activities. However, do keep in mind that this is also the peak season, so if you’d like to avoid crowds and don’t mind experiencing a bit of rain, you can consider visiting from March to May.
Grab, Maxim, and Airasia Ride are the main e-hailing services you can use to get around Miri. Otherwise, if you’d rather have a flexible itinerary to see Miri’s attractions on your own schedule, renting a car is the way to go!
From exploring magnificent caves in national parks to relaxing on pristine beaches, here’s what to do in your first visit to Miri.
If your idea of a holiday well spent is by going back to nature, then your very first attraction in Miri should be Gunung Mulu National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, after eating a hearty bowl of Sarawak Laksa or Kolo Mee, of course.
Deer Cave (left) and Clearwater Cave (right).
Image adapted from: @pjmcd43, @seann_tan via Instagram
The Gunung Mulu National Park houses many extensive cave systems and offers daily tours to caves, including the Deer Cave (RM35/pax, ~S$10.67) and the Clearwater Cave (RM70/pax, ~S$21.35).
The Deer Cave is one of the largest cave passages in the world. At dusk, it’s where you can see a couple of million bats flying out on their nightly forage for food. There’s also the rather spectacular Clearwater Cave, which is only accessible via boat as it has a natural river running through it.
Enquire about Deer and Clearwater Cave tours.
Sarawak Chamber.
Image credit: Gunong Mulu National Park
Another must-see at Gunung Mulu National Park is the Sarawak Chamber located in Gua Nasib Bagus, or the Good Luck Cave, when translated into English. You’ll have bragging rights having visited the largest cave chamber in the world. To put its massive size in scale, the Sarawak Chamber can easily hold a whopping 40 Boeing 747 aircraft.
A visit to the Sarawak Chamber is not for beginners. For RM312/pax (~S$95.13), a guide will bring a group of 3 to 6 pax there. It’s not a short tour, and you’ll need to stay overnight and be able to swim.
Enquire about a night at Sarawak Chamber.
Image credit: @adventureswithst via Instagram
If spelunking is not for you and you would rather hike and trek through lush forests, Gunung Mulu National Park has 15 different types of forests that are home to thousands of species of fauna and flora. For a bird’s-eye view of the forest, book a tour on the Canopy Walk (RM50/pax, ~S$15.25).
This 420m walkway is suspended 25m above ground level, offering views of tree tops, rivers, and even limestone cliffs.
Enquire about the Canopy Walk.
Mulu Summit (left) and Pinnacles (right).
Image adapted from: @keriiii, @fed.wang via Instagram
Finally, for those who want to challenge themselves and truly experience the national park for all its wonders, you can hire a guide to take you on the Mulu Summit Climb (RM657/pax, ~S$200.33). This 24km trek spans over 4 days and 3 nights.
You can opt for a shorter trek instead to the Pinnacles of Mount Api (RM455/pax, ~S$138.73) which takes 3 days and 2 nights. The climb is steeper and requires a lot more prior training, but you’ll be rewarded with views of dramatic rock formations perfect for the ‘Gram
Enquire about the Summit and Pinnacles.
You can also book a tour package (from RM616/pax, ~S$187.83) which is a minimum of 2 days and includes lodging, meals, park entrance and guide fees, and boat transfers. Some tours include the 2D1N Mulu Show Caves (from RM616/pax, ~S$187.83), 3D2N Mulu Headhunter Trails (from RM1740/pax, ~S$530.55), or the extreme 5D4N Mulu Show Caves + Pinnacles + Headhunter Trails (from RM2855/pax, ~S$870.52).
Book a tour to Mulu National Park.
Getting there: The fastest way to get to Gunung Mulu National Park is via a 30-minute local flight from Miri Airport. If you decide to rent a car, it’s a 5.5-hour drive from Miri.
Image credit: @samechong89 via Instagram
We’re no strangers to soaking up lots of sun on the beaches of Singapore, but what we’re arguably missing is dramatic coastal sights that’ll make us the envy of all our friends. Enter Tusan Beach, or Pantai Tusan Bekenu in Malay, a 40-minute drive away from Miri’s city centre. It’s got white sandy shorelines enhanced by rugged cliffs and unusual rock formations for its entire 11km length.
Image credit: Asrul Haniff via Google Maps
As if that was not breathtaking enough, there are many cliffs where you can get picturesque memories with the sunset as your backdrop. Walk along the shoreline and you’ll reach the iconic arched Tusan Cliff.
Image credit: Tourism Malaysia Sarawak via Facebook
On top of that, if you are lucky and patient enough, you might also get to experience something truly magical known as the “Blue Tears” phenomenon. This is a very rare instance where the sea begins to glow a vivid blue, caused by micro-organisms known as Dinoflagellata. However, like many natural phenomena, sightings aren’t guaranteed.
After you have worked up an appetite from your photowalk, you can take a 15-minute drive to the small fishing town of Bekenu and feast on the fresh. A highly rated place is Sing Chiong Restaurant, where you can enjoy their signature tutu fish or drunken prawns sold at seasonal prices.
Image credit: @jimmyyong81 via Instagram
No list of things to do in Miri is complete without mentioning diving. East Malaysia is known to have some of the best diving spots in the world, and Sarawak has its very own gem at the Miri-Sibuti Coral Reefs National Park. Those who love the open water will thrive here; and even if you’re a beginner, you can sign up for various diving courses at one of the many centres, such as Miri Divers and Borneo Dive Network (from RM350/person, ~S$106.72).
This national park has over 40 dive sites and each one is protected, so you’ll find an abundance of corals and marine life in all of them. Some of the marine life you can expect to meet at these dive spots include turtles, barracudas, angel fish, and moray eels. Occasionally, divers have even had the opportunity to bump into whale sharks.
Book a dive session at Miri-Sibuti Coral Reefs National Park.
Most of us have only read about ancient civilisations in our history books. But you can actually see one yourself. The Great Cave at Niah National Park is where our ancestors lived at least 40 millennia ago – and you can easily visit it from Miri. There’s also the Gua Kain Hitam, or Painted Cave, where you can see ancient drawings on the walls.
The Great Cave.
Image credit: Sarawak Tourism Board
You’ll likely spend an entire day here. Not only can you explore the large network of caves, but you can also go for a jungle walk, visit an Iban longhouse, and witness how the local Penan tribesmen collect edible birds’ nests built high on the cave walls by swiftlets.
Image credit: @msdshotz via Instagram
Getting there: Niah National Park is about a 1.5-hour ride away from Miri City Centre, and the easiest way to get there is by taxi or by renting a car. You can easily visit the caves without a guide or tour and choose to stay at one of the park’s chalets, hostel-style rooms, or camping sites.
Admission: RM20/adult & senior (~S$6.10) | RM7/child (~S$2.13) | Free for kids below 6
Opening hours: 8am-5pm, Daily
Hornbills are familiar sights in Singapore, especially in Pulau Ubin and Pasir Ris Park. That said, Sarawak is actually known as the “Land of the Hornbills” – perfect for fans of these majestic birds. You can spot them at Piasau Nature Reserve, a short 15-minute drive from Miri City Centre.
Image credit: @piasau_naturereserve via Instagram
This nature reserve has multiple zones, including Zone 1 for wilderness conservation without public access, Zone 2 for public bird watching, and Zone 3, which has a visitor centre, children’s playground, and picnic grounds to rest in between bouts of exploration.
Image credit: @heather_matahari via Instagram
The reserve also has a 900m Community Trail and a 2.1km Faridah Loop, where you might get a chance to spot the free-roaming hornbills. If you’re lucky, you might encounter the critically endangered Helmeted Hornbill or the near-threatened Wrinkled Hornbill. You’ll also be surrounded by an array of beautiful local species of plants with trees exceeding 80m in height.
Admission: RM5/adult & senior (~S$1.52) | RM2/child (~S$0.61) | Free for kids below 6
Opening hours: Main trail: 6am-6.30pm, Daily | Visitor Centre: Mon-Fri 8am-5pm
Image credit: @jacek092 via Instagram
An outdoor adventure won’t be complete without a visit to some waterfalls at Lambir Hills. It’s famous for its multiple jungle trekking trails that lead to majestic waterfalls where you can cool off and snap ethereal photos. These trails range from leisurely 15-minute strolls to a 4-hour hike to the peak of Lambir Hills.
Latak Waterfall.
Image credit: @evelyn_t7 via Instagram
There are many waterfalls within this national park, with some highlights including Latak Waterfall and Pantu Waterfall. A breezy 20-minute trek over a hanging bridge and a couple of turns will bring you to Latak Waterfall. This is the shortest and easiest trail in Lambir Hills National Park.
To get to Pantu Waterfall, you’ll need to make an uphill climb to a hut with a 4-way intersection first. This hour-long trail will lead you to a waterfall known for its waters that exude different colours due to the natural chemical properties it possesses.
Getting there: The park is a 40-minute drive from Miri. Most of the trails to the waterfalls at Lambir Hills National Park are well-marked with signage scattered around, so it’s possible to visit without a guide.
Admission: RM20/adult & senior (~S$6.10) | RM7/child (~S$2.13) | Free for kids below 6
Opening hours: 8am-5pm, Daily
Image credit: @rithauddin584 via Instagram
In between all your adventuring in your list of things to do in Miri, you probably need to schedule in some time to wind down, and Tanjong Lobang Beach is where you can do just that. It’s more popularly known as Brighton Beach, and it’s the best spot to watch the sunset in the city.
There are 2 small piers extending out to the ocean, which give you a clear view of the coastline and Miri Marina’s unique seahorse lighthouse.
Image credit: @rasta_polo83
Tanjong Lobang is one of the city’s oldest recreational parks and remains popular among joggers, anglers, children, and Tai Chi enthusiasts.
Work up your people skills and charm, and you might be able to discover a new eatery or two that only the locals know about. If not, check out 57 Tanjong Restaurant, a short 8-minute walk from the beach, for seafood dishes such as yam fish soup, salted egg crab, and sambal squid.
Getting there: Tanjong Lobang Beach is a short 15-minute drive from Miri city.
Image credit: @myrtlemarteen via Instagram
Located near the Sarawak-Kalimantan border, the Bario Highlands is the place to go if you want to go off the grid and absorb as much culture as possible. Think unpretentious farmlands of paddy fields surrounded by misty mountains and cold mornings to start the day with.
Image credit: @zul.a1i via Instagram
There are plenty of opportunities for you to experience a simpler and unique way of life, as many of the indigenous Kelabit people still live in traditional longhouses located in the centre of the Bario Highlands. If you are a foodie, a trip to Bario in July is a must, as that’s when the Pesta Nukenen or Bario Food and Culture Festival takes place.
The megalithic Batu Ritung at Pa Lungan village.
Image credit: @nhabxyz via Instagram
There are also many trekking trails in Bario and the cooler climate makes it a more enjoyable experience. A 3 to 5-hour trek to the Pa Lungan village will also lead you to the site of Bario’s megalithic rock structures that have their fair share of folktales surrounding them.
Getting there: While it’s possible to drive from Miri to Bario Highlands, the popular route is taking a 45-minute local flight. Do note that flights can easily be rerouted back to Miri if the weather conditions aren’t suitable for landing.
The Chinese name for Miri is 美里, pronounced: Méilǐ, which directly translates to “Beauty Within”. It cannot be more apt, as Miri is packed with culture and is peppered with lush forests to trek through, picturesque beaches to relax on, and idyllic oceans to swim in.
That said, you’ll be supporting eco-tourism as Sarawak puts plenty of conservation efforts into its many national parks. The best thing is, traveling here is rather straightforward. All it takes is a 2-hour direct flight from Singapore.
While there’s no shortage of adventures here, trust that you’ll be winding down in modern-day comfort. Aside from outdoor things to do, Miri is also a modern city and has all the creature comforts that you have grown accustomed to, be it cafes, shopping malls, and ride-sharing services. But maybe, you should ditch the need for all that and get lost in Miri’s mythical wilderness for a while.
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This post was brought to you by Sarawak Tourism Board.
Cover image adapted from: Sarawak Tourism Board, @evelyn_t7 via Instagram, Asrul Haniff via Google Maps
A portion of this content may contain referral links where The Smart Local may collect a commission. Our opinions remain our own.
Article originally published on 28th August 2023 by Jeremy Cheong. Last updated by Nathan Koh on 16th September 2025.
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