Traveling Borneo: 48 Hours in Mulu
"A mind that is stretched by a new experience can never go back to its old dimensions." Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr.
8/10/20253 min read
Deep in the heart of Borneo’s lush rainforest lies Mulu National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site famous for its caves and diverse wildlife. We boarded a small MASWings plane from Kota Kinabalu for our 48-hour jungle adventure, landing in Mulu’s modest airfield. Waiting for us was a pick-up from Mulu Marriott Resort & Spa—our ride was in the back of a truck, adding to the adventure.
The Mulu Marriott is an oasis in the jungle. We were delighted to receive a surprise upgrade to the Presidential Suite—a spacious, luxurious retreat to return to after our daily explorations. The resort features a spa, small gym, limited-seating pool, bar, and indoor/outdoor dining. The menu can be hit-or-miss for availability, and extra lounge chairs by the pool would be welcome, but the friendly staff made every effort to accommodate special requests. A small gift shop sells local crafts, snacks, and even bottles of alcohol.
For tours, you can book directly through the hotel or via the Mulu National Park website. We chose the latter, reserving two excursions. Our first was a guided walk through the rainforest to Deer Cave and Lang Cave. Deer Cave is massive and home to thousands of bats—a breathtaking sight. Lang Cave is smaller but showcases intricate stalactite and stalagmite formations. After exploring, we waited in a designated area to witness one of Mulu’s most famous spectacles: as dusk fell, millions of bats spiraled out of the cave in mesmerizing waves across the sky.
For nature lovers and adventurers, Mulu is worth the journey. Even in just two days, you can experience some of Borneo’s most extraordinary natural wonders, all while enjoying the comforts of a jungle-set Marriott.
Deep in the heart of Borneo’s lush rainforest lies Mulu National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site famous for its caves and diverse wildlife. We boarded a small MASWings plane from Kota Kinabalu for our 48-hour jungle adventure, landing in Mulu’s modest airfield. Waiting for us was a pick-up from Mulu Marriott Resort & Spa—our ride was in the back of a truck, adding to the adventure.
The Mulu Marriott is an oasis in the jungle. We were delighted to receive a surprise upgrade to the Presidential Suite—a spacious, luxurious retreat to return to after our daily explorations. The resort features a spa, small gym, limited-seating pool, bar, and indoor/outdoor dining. The menu can be hit-or-miss for availability, and extra lounge chairs by the pool would be welcome, but the friendly staff made every effort to accommodate special requests. A small gift shop sells local crafts, snacks, and even bottles of alcohol.
For tours, you can book directly through the hotel or via the Mulu National Park website. We chose the latter, reserving two excursions. Our first was a guided walk through the rainforest to Deer Cave and Lang Cave. Deer Cave is massive and home to thousands of bats—a breathtaking sight. Lang Cave is smaller but showcases intricate stalactite and stalagmite formations. After exploring, we waited in a designated area to witness one of Mulu’s most famous spectacles: as dusk fell, millions of bats spiraled out of the cave in mesmerizing waves across the sky.
For nature lovers and adventurers, Mulu is worth the journey. Even in just two days, you can experience some of Borneo’s most extraordinary natural wonders, all while enjoying the comforts of a jungle-set Marriott.
