Niah Caves, Sarawak, Malaysia

5Shafaet A 5:00 PM Mar 6, 2020

Scary dark but worth the effort
I already knew some parts of the cave are dark but I didn't expect the dark part to be so long! It's a scary but fascinating experience. Seeing the workers collecting birds nest from so high above on pole of bamboo is really incredible. When we two went, there was no other visitors in sight, it was quite scary to climb stairs up and down in dark. The experience is worth it but keep a few things in mind. The path until the first cave is really easy but it gets harder once you enter the dark cave. You can choose the go until the entrance of the dark cave, see the spot where they found the ancient man and come back. If you choose to go inside, I would suggest go with a group of at least 3 and take more than one torch light with you (one torch is sufficient but good luck you lose it inside the dark cave, better be safe and take spare ones). Some parts of the dark cave were quite slippery even though it was not raining that day. There is guide service available on the counter, it's expensive but I would've taken if i knew it's so dark. In the midway of the first 3 km, there is a toilet and a small shop selling drinks, after that there is nothing. Go well prepared.

5Wes H 5:00 PM Jan 31, 2021

Wonderful place to visit
Have been going to Niah caves from time to time over the past 40 years. Dont be put off by the slight difficulty of getting to the Park HQ or by the lack of accommodation in the Park or Batu Niah. Can be comfortably done as a day trip from Miri- if own transport. The Caves themselves are a pleasant (if sweaty) hour's walk on a wide plankway from the boat landing. Inside there is now a strong (but slippy) pathway to the furthest extent of the caves. The cave paintings have now mostly disappeared as have the wooden relics which were preserved until at least the mid 80s. Birds nests are still gathered by Iban who somehow clamber up rickty poles- how were these erected in the first place??