Situated on the northern coast of Borneo, bordering the tiny oil-rich nation of Brunei, Miri is the second largest city in the Land of the Hornbills.
Whether you enjoy the wilderness, the beach or simply hunting for great eats, Miri ticks all the boxes.
See The Grand Old Lady
When in Miri, it’s only natural to pay homage to The Grand Old Lady or Oil Well No 1 which began drilling in 1910, changing the city’s fortunes.
Perched on Canada Hill, a limestone ridge overlooking Miri, the site of the 30-metre high derrick – Malaysia’s first oil well – is a favourite recreational spot for its picturesque views.
Here, you can also visit the Petroleum Museum, which traces the discovery of oil in Sarawak via informative exhibits.
There are several hiking trails around Canada Hill as well that are great for all skill levels. Weaving through paths lined with wild flora, the trails are ideal for nature lovers.
Head to the beach
Located close to the coast, Miri offers easy access to several stunning beaches.
First on the list is Tanjung Lobang, a family-friendly sandy white stretch just 5 kilometres south of the city centre.
Order a sundowner at the Miri Marriott Resort & Spa seafront Lush Bar and take in Tanjung Lobang’s glorious sunsets in style, or enjoy a sumptuous dinner of grilled seafood at the beachside food court popular with locals.
Equally entrancing and just a 40-minute drive from the city centre is Tusan Beach, famed for a natural marine phenomenon locals call “Blue Tears” – the electric blue glow of bioluminescent microorganisms called dinoflagellates.
Savour Kelabit cuisine
Owing to its proximity to the Kelabit Highlands, a plateau just a 50-minute flight away, visitors to Miri can also enjoy Kelabit cuisine – a rarity outside the highlands.
One of the best spots to indulge in Kelabit food is The Summit Cafe, a no-frills eatery serving up home-cooked dishes made with indigenous ingredients like wild boar, jungle ferns and mineral-rich Bario salt.
Menu highlights here include nuba laya – steamed and mashed Bario rice wrapped in isip leaves – daun ubi or dry-fried tapioca shoots, and labo senutuk, shredded smoked wild boar stir-fried with onions.
The cafe is also known for their spread of Sarawakian dishes, which includes specialties from the state’s other indigenous communities such as the Kenyah and Iban.
Immerse yourself in nature
Just an hour’s drive south of Miri is the Lambir Hills National Park, 7,000 hectares of pristine rainforest and one of Malaysia’s most ecologically diverse sites that is home to gibbons, tarsiers, clouded leopards and over 150 species of birds.
Beginner hikers can follow an easy 15-minute trail to the cascading Latak Waterfall, while seasoned hikers who crave a challenge can attempt scaling Bukit Lambir, which at 465 metres is the park’s highest peak.
Another nature enclave close to Miri is the Niah National Park, where traces of human settlement dating back 40,000 years have been found.
The impressive network of caves includes the Painted Cave, home to Iron Age cave sketches that depict the journey to the afterlife, and the Great Cave, which boasts one of the world’s largest cave mouths measuring 60 metres high and 250 metres wide.
Miri is also the jumping-off point to the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Gunung Mulu National Park, known for its unique cave systems and imposing limestone pinnacles that are over 60 million years old.
According to airasia.com
