Miri & the Northeast  

The second largest city in Sarawak and gateway to the north of Sarawak, Miri is fast becoming Sarawak’s most popular tourist destination. Miri has a population of 240, 0000 people (year 2000 census) and is also a bustling commercial centre and boasts as the home of Sarawak’s oil industry. Miri was controversially elevated to city status on May 20, 2005 and it is the 10th municipality to receive city designation in Malaysia and made history as the first non-Federal/State capital city in Malaysia.

Visit the most famous landmark in Miri, ‘Grand Old Lady’ on top of Canada Hill, the first well to strike oil in Sarawak in 1910 (now a state monument). Shell also built Malaysia's first oil refinery in Lutong, a suburb of Miri in 1914. Recently, vast oil reserves was discovered just offshore northeast of the city. The city has grown phenomenally since oil was first discovered in the early 1900s, burgeoning into the modern and dynamic business, commercial and educational centre it is today.

If you are planning to visit Miri, you will be happy to note that Miri is a safe city with low crime rates. One could walk alone in the middle of the city even after midnight. When you are here, you can

o        explore and discover Miri’s national parks, heritage sites and adventure destinations for the most spellbinding experiences in Sarawak.

o        Stroll along Brighton Beach, near the mouth of Miri River, and dine in at Taman Selera, a busy open-air seafood centre facing the sea, for a delicious taste of Sarawak food. You could also visit at the completed Esplanade beach and the Miri Park.

o        Miri also hosts Sarawak’s excellent national parks. Gunung Mulu National Park, 40 minutes away by air, is home to the world’s largest cave system, the world’s largest cave passage and the largest natural rock chamber in the world.  It is as well known as untouched rainforest and remarkable rock formations such as the Pinnacles.

o        Another attraction that you should not miss out is Sarawak’s Lambir Hills. It is known as the world’s most biologically diverse rainforest with waterfalls and is just a mere 25 minutes drive from town.  Another important heritage site is the Niah Great Cave in Niah National Park located just 2 hours drive away from Miri. Niah Great Cave is known as an important archaeological site and one of the cradles of civilization in Southeast Asia as the oldest human remains found here have been dated as over 40,000 years old. Get to see ancient rock paintings; birds nest collectors at work and stop off at a friendly Iban longhouse.