Tucked in just behind Brunei,
and hidden high amidst the equatorial rainforests of northern Sarawak
is the world-heritage-listed Gunung Mulu National Park.
If Borneo had a heart,
it would definitely found deep within one of the spectacular cave system
in this remote natural treasure.
Set amidst vertical cliffs, hidden gorges, and limestone pinnacles,
much of it blanketed in impenetrable forest,
the Gunung Mulu Heritage Area is an astonishing storehouse of geo- and biodiversity.
There are no roads into the park,
so travelers must journey by air from the coastal town of Miri,
or undertake a ten-hour boat trip up the river.
Beside the incredible diversity of species that can be found here,
visitors come to Mulu to experience
some of the world's most longest and spectacular cave systems.
Winding and twisting their way through the mountain ranges are subterranean passages,
rivers, and chambers so large they defy description.
Professional park guides drawn from the local rainforest
and riverpeople are on hand to share their knowledge of Mulu.
The Rainfall Discovery Walk takes visitors through lush forest along tumbling rivers
and into the towering chambers and ancient riverbed of Deer Cave.
Nearby, the smaller but more intimate Lang's Cave awaits,
with its otherworldly stalagmite and stalactite formations.
Every sunset, visitors gather at the Bat Observatory
to witness the mesmerising bat exodus.
Millions of bats representing 12 species swarm from the cave entrance
in cloud-like formations in their nightly search for insects and fruit.
The park offers much to see and do,
including the longest tree-based canopy walk in the world, guided tracks,
and longboat trips to hidden valleys and longhouse villages,
as well as advanced caving expeditions for experienced cavers.