6 Great Day Trips From Miri That You Should Explore

A lot of people head to the Malaysian part of Borneo. There are three cities that hit a travellers radar when they set their sights on this part of the island. Namely Kota Kinabalu, Miri and Kuching. This is because these are the biggest cities and the ones that have airports in them which makes them easily accessible from mainland Malaysia.

Kota Kinabalu gives you access to the Sabah area of Malaysia. Kuching helps put a lot of great national parks in reach. Bako National park being a popular favorite! Miri gives you access to a lot of different areas which we will talk about shortly.

Let’s take a look at all the day trips from Miri that you can explore. Since we stayed really close to the city, we had a chance to explore a couple of these sights and if you love nature, then you are going to fall in love with the list.

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Miri

Let’s talk a bit about the city of Miri first. Miri is located in the Sarawak district of the Malaysian part of the island of Borneo. Miri isn’t a large city when you compare it to cities like Kuala Lumpur.

It is however an oil town which means that you usually find a lot of expats there. It is also just across the border from Kuala Belait and Seria in Brunei and it is a popular city that the locals from there head out to.

As I mentioned before, Miri has its own airport which makes it easy to reach from many of the major airports. It is also an easy drive away from Brunei. In fact, you can even get here from West Kalimantan. That however is a longer journey.

Day Trips From Miri

We had a chance to explore quite a number of places that make great day trips from Miri. One thing that I would suggest heading to the Sau Pau café in Miri before heading out. They have insanely delicious cakes and pastries that pair well with a glass of Teh or Kopi.

Alternatively, you could also do what we did and pack some goodies for the way. Trust me, they really add to the picnic flair when you are in the middle of the Borneo forests and hungry!

1. Lambir Hills National Park

Lambir hills is one of the great day trips from Miri.

Distance from Miri: 32 Kilometers

One of the many day trips from Miri that you can embark on is to Lambir hills. In fact, I am given to believe that it is rather popular among the people who live in the area. Shawn and I headed out to Lambir hills from Brunei since it was just a short distance off from where we were staying.

The national park is the perfect place to get away from the city. I would suggest keeping an eye on the news in regard to forest fires as they do take place every year during the dry season.

The Lambir hills national park has a number of different trails that vary in difficulty. I won’t go into the details. I would however suggest taking a peak into our guide about Lambir hills before you head out so you are well prepared.

2. Niah National Park

The Niah caves is a fun place to explore.

Distance from Miri: 90 kilometers

Another great place to visit as one of your day trips from Miri is Niah National Park. This park is a longer drive away but oh so worth it and let me tell you why. The national park houses the second largest cave system on the island (second only to Mulu national park).

The caves are huge and rather exciting to explore. What makes it really interesting is the archeological dig sites and the presence of cave paintings!

If you head here, you definitely need to be prepared. It has a well paved path but the rain and slime can make it rather tricky at times. Nothing too difficult but you definitely need good shoes. Oh and don’t forget a torch and water!

But I digress… If you are heading that way, read our guide and recommendations to Niah National Park.

3. Explore The Coast

The coast of Borneo is gorgeous. There are a number of different places where you can catch a view of it. One great of the day trips from Miri that you should consider is a drive along the coast. We just stopped a couple of times on the way to Niah caves and the view was beautiful. I wish we had more time. It would have been fun to explore the beaches.

Day Trips From Miri Into Brunei

Miri lies very close to the border of Brunei which makes the country extremely accessible. While the capital city is 158 kilometers away, Brunei has really good roads so driving too and fro isn’t too daunting. There are a couple of other spots that you should consider that aren’t Bandar Seri Begawan.

You would be surprised to know that Brunei has a lot of forest cover and a lot of trails to explore. So, let’s talk about all the day trips from Miri that are in Brunei, shall we?

4. Kuala Belait And Seria

I really miss these quiet little towns.

Distance from Miri: 50 kilometers

Both Kuala Belait and Seria don’t really have much to offer as far as sights to see are concerned. In fact, these oil towns are rather laid back and quiet. They do make a great stop for breakfast/lunch since you pass through them (or by them depending on which route you take).

I’ve just added them to the list so that you know that they exist. They are also a great place to refuel at incase you need them. If you are looking for a quaint place to catch a bite for breakfast, might I recommend a place called Universal café in Seria. It is a quaint local joint with great food.

5. Bandar Seri Begawan

Bandar Seri Begawan is an intriguing place to visit.

Distance from Miri: 158 kilometres

There aren’t many cities that are driving distance away from Miri. The closest large-ish city that you can head to would be Bandar Seri Begawan. That would mean crossing the border into Brunei. At first it seemed rather daunting to me, but it was easier than we expected.

Bandar Seri Begawan is the capital of Brunei and is one of the main places that people choose to explore when they visit the country. There are a lot of things to see. Many of the gorgeous mosques of Brunei for one can be found in the city.

You could also take a cruise down the Brunei river and spot wildlife from the boat. Kampong Ayer, more commonly known as Brunei’s water village is another place that people love to explore.

Let us not forget that Brunei is a foodie’s paradise. The food is surprisingly multicultural and there are a lot of places to choose from. If you want to know more, you can take a look at our guide to food in Brunei for recommendations on what you should offer.

6. Forest Reserves In Brunei

A glimpse of one of the trails at Sungai Liang Forest Recreation Park.

One of the reasons why I suggested adding spots in Brunei as part of the list of day trips from Miri is because there are a number of gorgeous forest reserves in the country. While not all of them are frequently used, it does not mean that they are any less beautiful.

If you are interested in trekking through the greener areas in Brunei, then take a look at our guide to forest reserves in Brunei.

Have you ever embarked on any one of these day trips from Miri? Let us know all about it in the comments below.

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