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Gunung Mulu National Park

A UNESCO-listed karst wilderness of vast show caves and the razor-sharp Pinnacles

Difficulty
Expert
Duration
3 days, 2 nights for the Pinnacles trek
Summit elevation
2377 m

A UNESCO World Heritage Site in Sarawak, Gunung Mulu National Park is famous for vast limestone caves, including Deer Cave, and for the Pinnacles, a forest of razor-sharp rock spikes reached by a demanding three-day trek. There is no road access; visitors fly directly into Mulu.

Highlights

  • The nightly bat exodus from Deer Cave
  • The Pinnacles viewpoint after a near-vertical 2.4 km climb from Camp 5
  • The Canopy Skywalk, one of the world's longest tree-based walkways
  • Clearwater Cave, one of the longest cave systems in Southeast Asia

Getting there

Fly into Mulu Airport from Kuching, Miri or Kota Kinabalu; there is no road access to the park.

Safety tips

The Pinnacles trek is classed high-risk: steep, exposed, and unsuitable for children under 16 or hikers without a solid fitness base. A guide is compulsory for all trails beyond the park HQ boardwalks.

What to bring

  • Sturdy trekking shoes with grip for wet limestone and ladders
  • At least 3 litres of water capacity for the Pinnacles day
  • Dry bag for the river approach by boat