An undiscovered gem along the East of Malaysia, Miri packs a punch with plenty of trekking and diving options for adventure junkies, and a vibrant nightlife to balance the ledger. Hike through lush forests and grand limestone hills, admire ancient cave paintings, explore underwater shipwrecks and celebrate the night with a party till dawn.
Stay
Slide aside the curtains and look out towards the bay of South China Sea at Park City Everly Hotel. Surrounded by lush greenery, this beach-front hotel is ideal for leisure travellers seeking quiet and serene accommodation. Pamper yourself at Miri Marriott Resort & Spa with stellar service and a multitude of deluxe facilities like spas, fitness centres, swimming pools and trendy restaurants.
Miri Marriott Resort & Spa
For mid-range options, consider Mega Hotel, Imperial Hotel, Dynasty Hotel and Grand Palace Hotel. These three to four star hotels are located right in the heart of the city, near the business district, shopping complexes and nightlife havens.
Budget travellers can choose from a variety of hostels and guest houses scattered around the city. Our favourites are family-run Dillenia Guest House for a home away from home experience and The Highlands managed by a lovely hospitable couple (kiwi husband and kelabit wife).
Do
Nature lovers, rejoice! Lambir Hills National Park is a mere 40 minute drive away, and is home to hundreds of birds and other forest dwelling animals. Choose from a variety of trekking trails- from fifteen minute strolls to an all-day jungle trek. The Latak waterfall trail is one of the most manageable and leads you to a large forest pool (pack your swimsuit because you can jump right in!) surrounded by rock walls and the 25m Latak waterfall.
Head on a caving expedition at Niah National Park where you will pass through one of the world’s largest cave entrances. Learn to navigate the cave chambers, marvel at iron-age cave paintings and spot flocks of swiftlets returning to their nests at sundown.
Take your adventures underwater with an array of amazing dive sites at Miri-Sibuti Coral Reef National Park. The marine park draws diving enthusiasts from all around the world, especially during the optimal diving season from late March to November. The nearest dive site is only ten minutes from the marina bay jetty, so you can land in Miri and embark on your diving trip within a couple of hours. Revel in clear blue waters, pristine reefs, thriving marine life (if you’re lucky you’ll chance upon manta rays and leopard sharks!) and unique wreck dive sites.
Turn it down a notch upon nightfall and enjoy some live music over a couple of drinks – Wheels Bistro Café (1271 Jln Dagang) is a favourite amongst the expat community. If you’re in town in May, check the annual international jazz festival which will be in full swing.
Jazz Festival
For the party seekers who want more than chilling at a bar, head to Pelita Commercial Centre (along Jln Miri Pujut & Jln Sehati) where the most happening nightlife takes place. Miri’s party crowd gathers nightly to fill up the lively bars, clubs and karaoke spots. Check out the neighbouring alleys, which are lined with more party joints and good drink deals.
Eat
Savour traditional Malaysian dishes like satay, lalapan ayam (chicken) and nasi lemak at Restoran Sajian Warisan, or dig into an array of ‘jungle food’ like canko manis (forest ferns), minced tapioca leaves and wild boar at The Summit Café (Lot 1245, Ground Floor, Jalan Melayu, Centre Point). Don’t forget to try the local favourite- nuba laya (rice wrapped in banana leaves).
Chow down on fresh local fruits like Buah Salak, Lime and Durian at Tamu Muhibbah Market (located conveniently near the Tourist Information Centre).
Grab your dinner al fresco style at Taman Selera, a food centre along Brighton Beach, where you can savour fresh seafood and other local fare against the backdrop of the sunset.
Tamu Muhibah
Shop
Boulevard Commercial Centre (along Jalan Boulevard 1), Miri’s newest shopping mall, is a popular hangout amongst local youngsters and has over 80 shops, a hypermarket, and a moneychanger. Just a stone’s throw away, Saberkas Weekend Market, Tamu Muhibah (Pujut Lutong road) is bustling with activity and offers a variety of snacks, handicrafts and local tropical fruits. Drop by Miri Handicraft Centre (Jln Brooke) to pick up ethnic craftwork, textiles or trinkets for your friends and family back home.
Tips
Hotels and airport moneychangers tend to give unfavourable rates so head to any of the local banks around the city to get the best rates.
Make sure you pack some comfortable shoes because trekking in Miri is a must-do activity. The beautiful scenery and exotic flora and fauna will definitely be worth it!
The city is completely safe and easy to get around by foot so resist the temptation to taxi around and take a gander instead. It’s the best way to discover interesting new places off the grid.
Don’t hesitate to ask the locals for food recommendations or simply join them for a meal! Friendships are best forged over a good meal, we say.
Thanks to our friends at AirAsia, we took the 1215 flight direct to Miri and were there within 2 hours. Why limit yourself to just Miri? Explore more destinations with AirAsia’s handy downloadable guide to Malaysia. It’s free!
This travel guide was brought to you by Air Asia.