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Miri
Miri [1] is a small city in northern Sarawak on the Malaysian island of Borneo.
By itself, Miri does not have much to offer to travellers but because of its role as a transport hub for northern Sarawak, the city is the gateway to the Gunung Mulu National Park, which is a World Heritage Site, and the Kelabit Highlands of the interior of Sarawak. The Niah Caves also located about 100km away.
You will also most likely find yourself in Miri is coming from or going to Brunei.
Culture and History
Shell's first oil well was dug here in 1910, and petroleum has continued to drive the city's economy ever since. Most visitors pause here only long enough to change planes before heading onward to Gunung Mulu National Park.
Travel to Miri, visa requirements
Flights to Miri, airtickets
Miri Airport (MYY), which moved to a sparkling new facility in 2005, is a significant hub for central Borneo. From Peninsular Malaysia there are frequent flights from Kuala Lumpur and Johor Bahru on Malaysia Airlines and AirAsia. The airport is also connected to all major destinations in Malaysian Borneo, including Kuching and Kota Kinabalu.
- To/From Kuala Lumpur: Malaysia Airlines flies four times daily between Kuala Lumpur and Miri, with two stopping over at Kuching. AirAsia also flies direct non-stop three times daily.
- To/From Johor Bahru: AirAsia flies on Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday.
- To/From Kuching: Malaysia Airlines and AirAsia each have three flights daily.
- To/From Kota Kinabalu: Malaysia Airline and AirAsia each have two flights daily.
Fly Asia Xpress (FAX) operates a web of flights to remote destinations in the interior, most notably Gunung Mulu National Park and Bario in the Kelabit Highlands. FAX also links Miri with Limbang, Lawas and Labuan which will enable you to by-pass expensive Brunei. Go to their website to book flights on-line and check schedules.
- To/From Mulu: Daily flights departing Miri at 1130 and 1440, and depart Mulu at 1220 and 1530. Both flights are timed to connect with AirAsia flights to/from Kuala Lumpur. Journey time about 20mins. RM84 one-way before taxes and surcharges.
- To/From Bario: One flight daily except on Thursdays when there are two flights. Journey time 45mins. RM70 one-way before taxes and surcharges.
- To/From Labuan, Lawas and Limbang: Several flights daily, with Twin Otters and Fokkers being used. Fares Miri-Labuan RM66-RM98, Miri-Lawas RM59 and Miri-Limbang RM45-RM88.
Buses to Miri
- To/From other Sarawak cities: Numerous bus companies such as Biaramas, Suria Bus Express and Borneo Highway Express link Miri with other Sarawak cities such as Kuching, Sibu and Bintulu. Most express buses depart from the Express Bus Terminal
- To/From Brunei: There are unfortunately no direct buses between Miri and Bandar Seri Begawan or any other Brunei city. The journey will have to include several bus changes. Miri-Belait Bus Company runs five buses between Miri and Kuala Belait in Brunei, with a change of buses at the Sungai Tujuh border checkpoint. From Kuala Belait, there are onward buses to Seria, where another change is necessary before you can get to Bandar Seri Begawan. As not all buses arrive on time for connections for the next leg of the journey, those planning to do the Miri-Bandar Seri Begawan (or vice-versa) run should start early. Buses arrive and depart from the Miri local bus terminal at Jalan Padang. Note that there have been reports that buses from Miri do not go all the way to the border and stop just before the Asean Bridge at Kuala Baram because of the high toll charge for using the bridge. You may have to use taxis to complete the final 5km between the bridge and the actual border.
- To/From Niah Caves: Bas Suria departs from the Miri Express Bus Terminal to Batu Niah town regularly. The journey takes over an hour. From Batu Niah, you can either take a speedboat or walk to the Niah National Park headquarters at Pengkalan Batu.
Get around
Meet Miri to seek or share information on how to get around in this wonderful city.
Miri attractions and sightseeing
- Grand Old Lady. More prosaically Miri Oil Well No. 1, this was Shell's first oil well (the company's, that is, not just in Malaysia) and has now been declared a national monument.
City tours
Shopping, Miri souvenirs
Good restaurants and cheap meals
Miri nightlife, bars, clubs and pubs.
Hotels, youth hostels, lodging
Get out
- Gunung Mulu National Park - home to one of Malaysia's grandest national parks, with immense caves and jagged mountains
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