Transportation in Miri and Mulu

Getting around Miri and Mulu is easy and fun with a wide range of transport options available. Most travellers travel inland by boat, along rugged roads by 4WD or by skimming past the wild terrain of central Borneo by small plane.

Miri is the perfect staging point for adventure treks into the heart of Borneo.

Our Miri and Mulu Transportation Guide will help you get to, from and around Miri and Mulu with ease. Not only does it provide detailed information of the interesting and fun ways to get around Miri and Mulu, we have also provided contact details for some trusted and reliable transport providers in Miri and Mulu. Use this guide, along with our Miri tours page, in order to get the most out of your holiday in Miri and Mulu.

Miri Transportation Guide

Getting to Miri

By Air

In the number of take-offs and landings, Miri airport is ranked the fifth after the international airports in Kuala Lumpur, Kota Kinabalu, Penang and Kuching. Regular flights from Johor Bahru, Kota Kinabalu, Kuching, Sibu, Labuan, Bintulu and other smaller cities of Sarawak arrive at Miri. It is advisable to book well ahead of your journey to avoid disappointment.

There are four daily flights to Kuchin and two to Kuala Lumpur operated by Malaysian Airlines.

Many rural air services are centred in Miri. Frequent Fokker flights connect Miri with Mulu, Bintulu, Limbang, Sibu and Labuan. There are also regular Twin Otters to Lawas, Marudi, Bario and Limbang. Long Akah, Long Banga and Long Seridan are serviced by weekly flights. Flights to and from Mulu and Bario are almost always fully booked. It is essential that you make bookings well ahead of your journey. If the flight to Mulu you want is full, try to find a seat on it at the Miri airport. If you are lucky you might manage it.

Air Asia flies thrice daily to Kuala Lumpur, twice a day to Kota Kinabalu and once a day to Kuchin and Johor Bahru.

For transport from the airport to the city (or from the city to the airport), we recommend Green Path Transfers, who offer eco-friendly airport transfers in hundreds of destinations around the world.

By Land

Excellent roads connect Miri to Bandar Seri Begawan, the capital city of Brunei and other townships of Sarawak. The Pan-Brunei Highway network links Miri to the large towns of Brunei, Sabah and Sarawak. Miri buses which ply from the Miri bus station located at the southern extreme of the town will take you to Kualu Baram and the border with Borneo. Miri bus services are frequent and dependable.

Mulu Transportation Guide

Getting to Mulu

Journey into the heart of Borneo exploring Mulu World Heritage Area. Getting to Mulu National Park is part of the adventure, and a great introduction to the jungle experience awaiting you. You can fly over the impenetrable jungle from Miri or arrive at the mountains on the far horizon by traversing the river system travelling all day up the Baram, Tutoh and Melinau rivers.

It is possible to take an overland trip to a nearby longhouse, and then a two hour boat ride to the park, though this can be very difficult. The longhouse can only be accessed via logging roads that are in relatively poor condition and are often locked or washed out.

It is also possible to fly in to the park from Kota Kinabalu in the north, or to hike in from Limbang down the Head Hunter's Trail.

By Air

Daily flights from Miri to Mulu are operated by MASwings, a subsidiary company of Malaysian Airline Services.

By River

The ten hour river trip from Miri to Mulu gives you the chance to meet the locals. If you choose to get to Mulu National Park by river you must first catch an early morning taxi from Miri to Kuala Baram before taking an express boat up the Baram River. You will arrive in Marudi around lunch time. From here you will board a second boat that will take you to Long Terawan, a small community of Berawan people. Hire a local longboat on the Tutoh River to take you to the park.

It is important to note that the boats between Marudi and Long Terawan can be cancelled with little or no warning if the water level is too low in the river, making this service somewhat unreliable. If you would like help organising this trip, you can contact us or visit the Visitor Information Centre in Miri.

Hiking the Headhunter's Trail

The Headhunter's Trail runs between Limbang and the Mulu Park Head Quarters. Hikers will enter Mulu on its northern boundary and trek through Camp 5 on there way to head quarters.

Trekking with a guide is highly recommended, but should you choose to trek this trail from the north without a guide you must first:

- Contact the Mulu Park Office so they can confirm a space for you to stay at Camp 5 overnight, and check that you arrive safely.

- Register at the Mentawai Ranger Station before beginning the hike.

To ensure you are at Camp 5 before dark you must begin the walk from Kuala Terikan by no later than 1pm. While the trail is well marked and maintained, it is easy to become disorientated after dark and this area is very isolated with the nearest town being many hours away.

Getting around Mulu

Once you arrive at the Mulu Park Headquarters you have reached the end of the road. Transportation around Mulu at this point comes in the form of a boat or your own two feet.

The canopy skywalk at Gunung Malu National Park is the world's longest tree-based structure. Visitors get the chance to glimpse life in the rainforest canopy as they walk the 480m circular walkway that is suspended 20m above the forest floor.

Arranging the services of a Mulu World Heritage Guide is strongly recommended as Mulu is a remote area. Mulu is covered in dense tropical rainforest and it is easy to lose your bearings. The World Heritage Guides are all members of the local Berawan, Penan, Kelabit, Murut, Lun Bawang, Kiput and Iban communities, licensed by the Forestry Department of Serawak and employed by the Park.

It is compulsory under state law to have the services of a guide when visiting all Mulu caves within the park, and many areas are restricted to visitors without a guide.

Airline

Public Transport

Car Rental