River Junkie – fuel the addiction
River Junkie – fuel the addiction

River Junkie Tours Sdn. Bhd. — licensed Kota Kinabalu tour operator (KPL/LN5696), MATTA member, running wildlife safaris, Mount Kinabalu climbs and cave trips across Sabah and Sarawak since 2008.

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Gunung Mulu National Park, Sarawak

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Mulu National Park

4D3N Mulu National Park - Trekking & Show caves

4 days
3 nights
Departs Mulu
Basic
Price fromRM 1,720
Private room (twin share) & Camp 5, per person, minimum 2 people per trip
Duration4 days
3 nights on the road
DepartsMulu
Groupmin 2 pax
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About this trip

Experience the true remote beauty of Mulu National Park on this 4 day, 3 night adventure with a taster of the Headhunter trail. Start by exploring Deer & Lang's cave and watch as over 3 million bats soar out of the caves at sunset, take a longboat trip up the Melinau river to the Penan settlement and market at Batu Bungan, discover geological treasures in Wind & Clearwater cave and take a refreshing dip in clearwater pool. From there, continue your adventure with a longboat ride and 9km hike to camp 5 for an overnight stay away from civilisation. Hike a section of the headhunter trail and explore Kerangas forest and Melinau Gorge (time & weather permitting) with your guide before returning to Park HQ for your last night. Recommended for physically active travellers who don't mind staying in basic shared accommodation for 1 night at Camp 5 in exchange for stunning views and a remote trekking experience.

Highlights

  • Four stunning and unique caves in a UNESCO World Heritage site
  • Mass exodus of 2.5-3.5 million wrinkle-lipped bats
  • 9km scenic trek to Camp 5
  • Hiking on Headhunter trail
  • Pitcher plants & bird life in the Kerangas forest

    • Trip facts

    Mulu National Park
    Canopy Walk, Caves, Cultural, Jungle walks, Multi-day hikes, Wildlife
    4 days of travel
    Physical difficulty 3 / 5
    Departs from Mulu
    Minimum 2 pax per departure
    Rates: Prices are valid until 31st Dec 2026
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    Day by day

    Day 1

    Deer & Lang's cave + bat exodus

    Pick up from Mulu airport and transfer to your accommodation in Mulu National Park. If you arrive before your room is ready, there is luggage storage available at Park HQ. Have lunch at the cafe in the park (at own cost) and explore the surrounding area if time permits. At 2.15pm, meet your guide at Park HQ and join a 3km walk through the rainforest boardwalk to reach the entrance to Deer cave. A powerful underground river once flowed through this limestone mountain, dissolving and eroding the limestone and leaving a cave passage up to 148m high as well as a perfect profile of President Lincoln in a rock formation within the cave. The sheer size of the cave is awe-inspiring and has to be seen to be fully appreciated! From Deer cave, your guide will take you on to Lang’s cave. Whilst not as large as Deer’s cave, Lang’s cave has some of the most spectacular stalactites and stalagmites in Mulu National Park. After visiting both caves, make your way over to the bat observatory to witness the mass bat exodus around 5.30pm. 12 species of bats have been recorded in the caves, including 2.5 - 3.5 million wrinkle lipped bats. As the sun moves towards the horizon, bat hawks gather on the cliff face awaiting the mass exodus. Most days, the bats will leave between 5.30 - 6.30pm but on some occasions, they don’t leave at all and you may need to return the following evening and try again - such is nature! After the bat exodus, make your way back to Park HQ via the 3km boardwalk, arriving back around 7 -7.30pm.

    Day 2

    Wind & Clearwater cave to Camp 5

    Meet your guide at Park HQ around 9am and board your traditional longboat for a 20min journey up the Melinau river to Wind cave, making a stop at a Penan handicraft market along the way. On arrival at Wind cave, explore the “King’s Chamber” and forest of stalagmites & stalactites within the cave and learn more about the formation of these incredible geological features. Return to your longboat and continue a few minutes up river to Clearwater jetty. From there, climb 200 steps to reach the main entrance to Clearwater cave system. At 227km long, it’s one of the longest cave systems in the world and home to more of the incredible geological features Mulu is famous for. After visiting both caves, enjoy a simple picnic by the river before continuing by longboat to Kuala Litut (approx 1 hour). From there it is a long but relatively easy 9km trek to camp 5. Arrive late afternoon, take a dip in the river and rest surrounded by nature (B, L, D)

    Day 3

    Kerangas forest & Melinau Gorge

    After breakfast, set off with your guide from Camp 5 for a hike along the Headhunter trail keeping an eye out for pitcher plants and bird life in the Kerangas forest along the way. Also know as Sundaland heath forest, the word Kerangas comes from the local Iban language and means "soil in which rice cannot grow". After a few hours exploring the trail, return to Camp 5 for lunch. If time & weather permit, take a 1 hour hike to Melinau Gorge before beginning your 9km walk back to Kuala Litut and onwards to park HQ via longboat. On arrival, check into your Park HQ accommodation or opt to upgrade to Mulu Marriott for your final night (B, L) Guests who would like to spend more time at camp 5 may opt to overnight tonight at camp 5 and return to Park HQ the following day.

    Day 4

    Optional canopy walk

    Spend the morning at your own leisure exploring the multiple trails in the park before your departure flight to Kuching, Miri or Kota Kinabalu (B) Optional add-on: The Mulu canopy walk is a 420 metre walkway, suspended 25 metres above the forest floor and is one of the longest tree based canopy walks in the world. As you walk across the treetops, you get a unique "bird's-eye" view of the rainforest and river below. Since not everyone is a fan of heights, this activity is optional. Slots for the Canopy Walk are however very limited and require advance booking, please advise us at the time of booking if you would like to join.

    Where you'll stay

    Mulu National Park HQ

    Mulu National Park HQ

    Gunung Mulu National Park, Sarawak
    Gunung Mulu National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage Area in northern Sarawak, famous for its cave systems, pinnacles and the nightly bat exodus. These accommodations are within the park itself and put you a short walk away from the start of your cave tours and give you easy access to the free trails within the park.
  • Deluxe Garden Bungalow1 Double & 1 single bed, air-conditioning & an ensuite bathroom.
  • Rainforest Lodge roomEither 1 double or 2 single beds, air-conditioning & ensuite bathroom.
  • Longhouse roomsEither 4 super single or 1 King & 4 super single beds, air-conditioning, ensuite bathroom, communal veranda
  • Hostel dormitory14-beds, shared bathroom facilities
    • FacilitiesAll private rooms at Park HQ have air-conditioning, ceiling fans, a private bathroom and a set breakfast included. The hostel uses shared bathrooms with hot water. There is a restaurant at Park HQ and some simple local restaurants just outside the park entrance. Mulu Gallery and shop, 8am to 5pm, selling handicrafts & basic trekking groceries (cash only).
    Good to knowMulu is reached by air only, with daily flights from Miri, Kuching and Kota Kinabalu, and heavy rain can cause cancellations, so build slack into your itinerary. There are no ATMs and no banks in Mulu, so bring enough cash in Ringgit. There is no wifi and no phone signal so prepare to be offline for a few days. Check-in is at 2pm and check-out 10am. Camping is prohibited park-wide, and occupancy may not exceed the number of beds in a room.
    A closer look
    Camp 5 at Gunung Mulu National Park, Sarawak

    Camp 5 (Mulu National Park)

    Camp 5, Gunung Mulu National Park, Sarawak
    Camp 5 is the park's remote riverside base for the Pinnacles climb and the Headhunters' Trail. It is reached by longboat up the Melinau river to Kuala Litut, followed by a 9 km walk through forest and over hanging bridges. Accommodation is simple and communal, the Melinau river runs alongside the camp for swimming, and the Pinnacles trail starts from the camp itself with Gunung Api and the Melinau gorge rising directly behind.
  • Shared open-air dormitoryMattresses on a raised platform with mosquito nets and bedding provided.
    • FacilitiesOpen-air communal sleeping platform with mattresses. Mosquito nets and bedding are provided. Shared bathrooms with cold water. All meals are provided while you are at the camp. The Melinau river beside the camp is safe for swimming. Mosquito nets & bedding are provided in our packages.
    Good to knowCamp 5 can only be reached on foot after a longboat transfer, so pack light and bring a dry bag. There is no electricity for charging, no phone signal and no shop, so carry what you need in. There are no upgrade options at Camp 5. Occupancy is on a shared basis and the camp is used by all trekkers on the Pinnacles and Headhunters routes.
    A closer look

    What's included

  • 2 nights accommodation at Mulu Park HQ & 1 night at Camp 5
  • 3 x breakfast, 2 x lunch, 1 x dinner
  • Activities as per itinerary
  • Park entry fee & conservation fees
  • Return airport transfers from Mulu airport
  • Registered Mulu guide

    • Not included

  • Flights to / from Mulu
  • Optional activities: Night walk & Canopy walk
  • Beverages
  • Guide tips / gratuities (optional)

    • Prices

    4D3N Dorm & Camp 5RM 1520per person
    4D3N Private room (twin share) & Camp 5RM 1720per person
    4D3N Private room (single occupancy) & Camp 5RM 2020per person
    Pricing notesOptional add-on: Night walk, per person — RM 60 Optional add-on: Canopy walk, per person — RM 70 Upgrade to Mulu Marriott, from per person per night — RM 200 Switch to 1 night at Park HQ and 2 nights at Camp 5 (add-on per person) — RM 150
    ChildrenThe minimum age for the canopy walk is 7 years old
    Rate validityPrices are valid until 31st Dec 2026

    Frequently asked questions

    Who is this trip suitable for?
    It is recommended for physically active travellers who do not mind staying in basic shared accommodation for 1 night at Camp 5 in exchange for stunning views and a remote trekking experience. It gives you a taster of the Headhunter trail alongside the main show caves.
    Where will I sleep?
    Your first and last night are in your choice of a private air-conditioned ensuite room or fan-cooled dormitory accommodation within Mulu National Park, or you can upgrade to the Mulu Marriott Resort & Spa. The middle night is at Camp 5, a simple but beautifully situated forest camp next to the river, where you sleep in a basic open air dormitory with shared bathrooms; mosquito nets and bedding are provided.
    Can I spend longer at Camp 5?
    Yes. Guests looking to spend more time in nature can switch to 1 night at Park HQ and 2 nights at Camp 5, just ask for a quotation
    Are there any seasonal closures I should know about?
    Yes. The Headhunter trail and access to Melinau Gorge close annually from 15th December until 31st January. Camp 5 remains open and all show caves and other activities are open the whole year round.
    How do I get to Mulu, and what if my flight is cancelled?
    Mulu National Park is only accessible via Air Borneo flight from Kuching, Miri or Kota Kinabalu. Flights are not included in the tour price, so please check that flights are running on your preferred dates and route by visiting Air Borneo before you book. Return airport transfers from Mulu airport are included. For safety reasons, flights to and from Mulu are occasionally delayed or cancelled due to bad weather. If Air Borneo cancels your flight due to weather, you will need to pay for any additional accommodation expenses incurred.
    What optional extras are available?
    You can add a night walk at RM60 per person or the canopy walk at RM70 per person, and upgrade to the Mulu Marriott from RM200 per person per night. Canopy walk slots are very limited and require advance booking, so please tell us at the time of booking if you would like to join.
    What should I pack, and do I need insurance?
    You will be trekking in a remote location where medical assistance may not be immediately available, so please ensure you have adequate travel insurance; rescue and evacuation is strictly at your own expense. Mulu has no supermarkets, pharmacies or ATMs, so bring all the medication you need and some cash; there is a small convenience store for snacks and a basic clinic for emergencies. Wear non-slip closed footwear for caves and trekking, and pack a torch with spare batteries, a water bottle, a raincoat, snacks, insect repellent and a basic first aid kit.

    Photos from this trip

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    Ready to book, or still deciding?

    Tell us your dates and we will come back with availability, the total cost and honest advice — including when a different trip would suit you better.

    Getting between destinations: we also run private van and 4X4 transfers across Sabah and a daily Kota Kinabalu to Sandakan shuttle — ask us to add either to your trip.

    WhatsApp / phone: +60 11 1265 8581
    Email: info@river-junkie.com
    Hours: 8am–5pm, Monday to Sunday
    Office: Wisma Sabah, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah

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