GUNUNG MULU
NATIONAL PARK is
Sarawak's premier national park,
located deep in the rainforest; at
the last count, featured 20,000
animal species and 3500 plant
species. Quite apart from the
park's primary rainforest, which
is characterized by clear rivers
and high-altitude vegetation,
there are three dramatically
eroded mountains, including
fifty-metre-high limestone spikes
known as the Pinnacles. The
park also has the largest
limestone cave system in the
world, much of which is still being
explored. The two major hikes, to
the pinnacles on Gunung Api
and to the summit of Gunung
Mulu, are daunting, but you're
rewarded with stupendous views
of the rainforest, stretching as
far as Brunei.
NATIONAL PARK is
Sarawak's premier national park,
located deep in the rainforest; at
the last count, featured 20,000
animal species and 3500 plant
species. Quite apart from the
park's primary rainforest, which
is characterized by clear rivers
and high-altitude vegetation,
there are three dramatically
eroded mountains, including
fifty-metre-high limestone spikes
known as the Pinnacles. The
park also has the largest
limestone cave system in the
world, much of which is still being
explored. The two major hikes, to
the pinnacles on Gunung Api
and to the summit of Gunung
Mulu, are daunting, but you're
rewarded with stupendous views
of the rainforest, stretching as
far as Brunei.
Only four of the 25 caves so far
explored in Mulu are open to
visitors; they're known as "show
caves" and can get quite
crowded. From the
headquarters, a well-marked
three-kilometre plankway runs to
the impressive Deer Cave ,
whose 2km long and 174m high
cave passage is believed to be
the largest in the world. You
follow the path through the cave
for an hour to an incredible spot
known as the Garden of Eden,
where a large hole in the roof
allows light to penetrate, feeding
plants, and attracting birds,
insects and leaf monkeys.
Nearby, Lang's Cave is small,
but has fine curtain stalactites
and coral-like growths - helictites
- on its curved walls.
The route to the summit of
Gunung Mulu (2376m) is a
straightforward climb, though
very steep, and any reasonably
fit person can complete it. The
first stage is from park
headquarters to Camp 3, an
easy three-hour walk on a flat
trail. The first night is at the
open hut at Camp 3, which has
cooking facilities. Day two
comprises a hard, ten-hour,
uphill slog, some of it along the
southwest ridge, a series of
small hills negotiated by a
narrow, twisting path. The hut at
Camp 4 is at 1800m; it can be
cool here, so bring a sleeping
bag. Most climbers set off well
before dawn for the hard
ninety-minute trek to the summit,
to arrive at sunrise. Near the top
you have to haul yourself up by
ropes onto the cold, windswept,
craggy peak. From here, the
view is exhilarating, looking down
on Gunung Api. It's just possible
to do the whole return trip from
the summit to park headquarters
in one day. This takes around
twelve hours and cuts out the
last night at Camp 4. The
red-and-white trail marks are
easy to see, so you shouldn't
lose your way.
explored in Mulu are open to
visitors; they're known as "show
caves" and can get quite
crowded. From the
headquarters, a well-marked
three-kilometre plankway runs to
the impressive Deer Cave ,
whose 2km long and 174m high
cave passage is believed to be
the largest in the world. You
follow the path through the cave
for an hour to an incredible spot
known as the Garden of Eden,
where a large hole in the roof
allows light to penetrate, feeding
plants, and attracting birds,
insects and leaf monkeys.
Nearby, Lang's Cave is small,
but has fine curtain stalactites
and coral-like growths - helictites
- on its curved walls.
The route to the summit of
Gunung Mulu (2376m) is a
straightforward climb, though
very steep, and any reasonably
fit person can complete it. The
first stage is from park
headquarters to Camp 3, an
easy three-hour walk on a flat
trail. The first night is at the
open hut at Camp 3, which has
cooking facilities. Day two
comprises a hard, ten-hour,
uphill slog, some of it along the
southwest ridge, a series of
small hills negotiated by a
narrow, twisting path. The hut at
Camp 4 is at 1800m; it can be
cool here, so bring a sleeping
bag. Most climbers set off well
before dawn for the hard
ninety-minute trek to the summit,
to arrive at sunrise. Near the top
you have to haul yourself up by
ropes onto the cold, windswept,
craggy peak. From here, the
view is exhilarating, looking down
on Gunung Api. It's just possible
to do the whole return trip from
the summit to park headquarters
in one day. This takes around
twelve hours and cuts out the
last night at Camp 4. The
red-and-white trail marks are
easy to see, so you shouldn't
lose your way.
| Five million years ago, a constant splatter of raindrops dissolved Gunung Api's limestone and carved out the razor-sharp fifty-metre-high pinnacles from a solid block of rock. The 'Pinnacles' is inside Gunung Mulu National Park. Trekking to the Pinnacles is best enjoyed with a trained guide as there are many obstacles to overcome. Most climbers take a couple of days to complete the trek there and back. One of the many paths to enjoy along the way is the Headhunter's Trail. It's a beautiful spot, which, despite the number of hikers passing through, still retains a wild, elemental edge. |
| The Pinnacles - no one doubts that it is one of the wonders of the Asian world. |
| The Hilton Hotel Kuching |
| The Hilton Kuching Is situated along Kuching's spectacular Riverfront Promenade with panoramic views of the Sarawak River and Fort Margherita Shopping Centres. Business areas and places of interest are all within walking distance. Taxis are easily available from the hotel. All 315 rooms offer breath taking views of the river or city. |
If you are planning on hiking in
the park, some of the equipment
you'll need is a large water
bottle, walking shoes, sun hat
and swimming gear, a
poncho/rain sheet, torch,
mosquito repellent, salt solution,
ointment for bites, a basic first
aid kit and a thin mat. Wear
shorts and T-shirts on the trails
(it'll be easier to spot leeches),
and bring long trousers and
long-sleeved shirts for the dusk
insect assault at the Pinnacles,
Mulu and Headhunter's Trail.
the park, some of the equipment
you'll need is a large water
bottle, walking shoes, sun hat
and swimming gear, a
poncho/rain sheet, torch,
mosquito repellent, salt solution,
ointment for bites, a basic first
aid kit and a thin mat. Wear
shorts and T-shirts on the trails
(it'll be easier to spot leeches),
and bring long trousers and
long-sleeved shirts for the dusk
insect assault at the Pinnacles,
Mulu and Headhunter's Trail.
Once back at the camp, most people rest,
swim, eat and sleep, preferring to start the
return trip to park headquarters the
following day. There are some other
interesting walks from here, however. A
path from the camp follows the river
further upstream and ends at a beautiful
spot below the Melinau Gorge (2hr
return), where a vertical wall of rock rises
100m above the vanishing river. A much
longer option from Camp 5 is to follow the
so-called Headhunter's Trail, a route once
traced by Kayan war parties. Cross the
bridge, turn left and walk along a wide trail
passing a large rock (around 4km). From
here a clearly marked flat trail to Kuala
Terikan , a small Berawan settlement on
the banks of Sungei Terikan, takes four
hours (11km). You can stay at basic hut
accommodation.
From here the trail continues for two
hours to Sungei Medalam, where you can
take a longboat to the Iban longhouse at
Bala. It's best to stay here and then
continue next day down Sungei Medalam
in a longboat into Sungei Limbang and on
up to Limbang Town, an all-day trip. This
is a good way of getting to Brunei from
Mulu, as boats run frequently from
Limbang to Bandar.
A guide is recommended for trekking in
the park.
swim, eat and sleep, preferring to start the
return trip to park headquarters the
following day. There are some other
interesting walks from here, however. A
path from the camp follows the river
further upstream and ends at a beautiful
spot below the Melinau Gorge (2hr
return), where a vertical wall of rock rises
100m above the vanishing river. A much
longer option from Camp 5 is to follow the
so-called Headhunter's Trail, a route once
traced by Kayan war parties. Cross the
bridge, turn left and walk along a wide trail
passing a large rock (around 4km). From
here a clearly marked flat trail to Kuala
Terikan , a small Berawan settlement on
the banks of Sungei Terikan, takes four
hours (11km). You can stay at basic hut
accommodation.
From here the trail continues for two
hours to Sungei Medalam, where you can
take a longboat to the Iban longhouse at
Bala. It's best to stay here and then
continue next day down Sungei Medalam
in a longboat into Sungei Limbang and on
up to Limbang Town, an all-day trip. This
is a good way of getting to Brunei from
Mulu, as boats run frequently from
Limbang to Bandar.
A guide is recommended for trekking in
the park.
| Design Your Travel Package 2 - 6 Travel Guests Private Tours You have a car and driver You see what you want to see On your own time, At your own pace Tourist sites, Shopping, Cultural Shows Your choice of hotels/resorts Five Star, Beach front or Treetop It's YOUR design YOUR Fantastic Vacation We just make it happen! |
| All Rights Reserved. 2005 Fantastic International Inc. |
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