Niah Caves Day Trip: 40,000-Year-Old Archaeological Site

Walk into the Great Caves and stand where the oldest human remains in Southeast Asia were discovered

A full-day tour from Miri to Niah National Park combines a 90-minute drive, a boat crossing of the Niah River, and a forest walk to the Great Caves: one of the world's largest limestone caverns and the site of Southeast Asia's oldest known Homo sapiens remains, dated to 40,000 years ago. A professional English-speaking guide leads you through the archaeological site, where you'll see skull fragments, stone and bone tools, and ancient cave drawings. Lunch at the park cafe and round-trip hotel transport are included.

Step-by-step itinerary

Visit Niah National Park and Caves

• Drive 90 minutes to Niah National Park
• Register at park headquarters
• Boat ride across Niah River to museum
• Walk one hour on plank path to cave entrance
• Explore the Great Cave and archaeological exhibits
• Observe limestone vegetation near cave entrances
• Lunch at park canteen
• Return to Miri hotel or airport

The experience

The day starts with a 90-minute drive from your Miri hotel to Niah National Park headquarters. Once there, you register and board a boat across the Niah River, then begin an hour-long walk on wooden plank paths through the forest to reach the Great Caves entrance. The park itself covers 3,102 hectares of limestone forest, with Gunung Subis peak rising 394 meters above the canopy. The terrain is dense and the plank walk is the main route in, so comfortable walking shoes matter.

Inside the Great Caves, your guide walks you through the excavation sites where archaeologists uncovered evidence of continuous human habitation from 40,000 BC to around 1400 AD. On display are the skull of a young Homo sapiens, tools crafted from stone, bone and iron, and cave drawings left by the Niahan people. The cave itself is one of the largest limestone caverns in the world, and the scale of it (combined with the weight of what was found there) makes the space feel less like a tourist stop and more like standing inside a chapter of human history. Limestone vegetation like Balsaminaceae and Begoniaceae plants line the entrance and the Traders' and West Mouth Caves nearby.

After exploring, you'll head to the park canteen for lunch, then return to your Miri hotel or airport. The full day runs about eight hours from pickup to drop-off. A lot of walking is involved, and the route is not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health. Children from age 2 are welcome but must be accompanied by an adult.

What’s included

• Professional guide in English.
• lunch at the park cafe.
• boat ride across the Niah River.
• hotel pickup and drop-off from selected Miri hotels (airport pickup available for an additional charge).

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 08:30

Book up to2d before

AgesAdult (11 and older) · Child (2 to 10 years)

GroupUp to 10

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 12 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Good to know

Moderate physical effortNot recommended with heart problemsInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Asian Overland Services Tours & Travel

Is this one for you?This is a shared tour with a fixed itinerary and schedule, so you travel with other visitors and follow the guide's pace through the caves and forest. Choose it if you want the archaeological context and the logistics handled. The guide explains what you're seeing, and you don't arrange transport or navigate the plank paths alone. The moderate walking and boat crossing suit travelers with reasonable fitness. It's not a casual stroll, but the plank paths are established and the pace is set by the group.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (2 to 10 years).

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What exactly is the Great Caves and why is it archaeologically important?

The Great Caves is one of the world's largest limestone caverns, located inside Niah National Park. It's the site where archaeologists discovered the oldest remains of Homo sapiens in Southeast Asia, dating back 40,000 years. The cave shows evidence of human habitation spanning from 40,000 BC to around 1400 AD, with artifacts including skulls, stone and bone tools, and ancient cave drawings on display.

How much walking is involved in this tour?

The main walk is an hour-long plank path through the forest from the boat landing to the Great Caves entrance. Once inside the caves, you'll explore the archaeological sites with your guide. Comfortable walking shoes are essential, and the tour is not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health.

What's included in the price, and what do I need to pay for separately?

The tour includes a professional English-speaking guide, lunch at the park cafe, the boat ride across the Niah River, and round-trip hotel pickup and drop-off from selected Miri hotels. Beverages are not included. If you're picked up from Miri Airport instead of your hotel, there's a surcharge for that service.

How long is the full day, and when do I get back to Miri?

The tour runs about eight hours total, including the 90-minute drive each way from Miri. You'll spend roughly four to five hours at the park itself (time for the boat ride, forest walk, cave exploration and lunch) before returning to your hotel or airport.