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Voykit pocket guide · Malaysia
Bintulu
Stop 1 night only if you are passing between Kuching and Miri; otherwise skip — the LNG town has few sights and no beach scene.
Bintulu is an industrial and port town on Sarawak's central coast, roughly halfway between Kuching and Miri, and the world's largest single-site liquefied natural gas complex sits at its eastern edge. It is not a destination in itself: most travellers use it as a bus or flight break, or as a base for Similajau National Park and the Niah Caves road. Two nights covers the town and the park; one night is enough if you only need to break a long drive.
- Country
- Malaysia
- Best months
- Mar–Oct (drier stretch)
- Avoid
- Nov–Feb (northeast monsoon; rough seas and beach drownings)
- Stay
- 1–2 nights
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- MYR
- Money
- Malaysian ringgit (MYR, RM); cards and e-wallets are widely used in Kuala Lumpur.
- Daily spend
- Budget RM90–150 excl. bed · Mid RM150–280 excl. bed · High RM280+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- CelcomDigi, Maxis, U Mobile and Unifi sell tourist SIMs at KLIA with passport registration.
- Emergency
- Police and ambulance 999 · Fire 994 · From a mobile 112
- Plugs
- Types G · 240 V · 50 Hz · UK three-pin; hotels often have universal sockets.
- Tipping
- Hawker stalls: Nothing.; Restaurants: Nothing if 10% service charge is added; otherwise round up.; Grab / taxi: Round up.; Guides: RM20–50 a day.
- Water
- Treated in cities, but most people filter or boil; bottled water is cheap.
- Toilets
- Western and squat toilets side by side; water hose instead of paper; some public toilets cost RM0.20–1.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Coffee or teh tarik at a kopitiam | RM2–5 |
| Noodle soup or nasi campur plate | RM6–12 |
| Local bus ride (flat fare programme) | RM1 |
| Taxi town centre to Parkcity or Medan Jaya | RM10–20 |
| Belachan or cincaluk, small tub | RM8–25 |
| eSIM or data SIM, about a week | RM20–40 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- BTU · Bintulu Airport
- About 25 km from town; taxi coupon from arrivals, roughly 20 min. No public bus to the terminal.About 16 mi from town; taxi coupon from arrivals, roughly 20 min. No public bus to the terminal.
Typical fares
- Bintulu Airport → town, taxi coupon
- about RM35, about 20 min (check)
- Local bus, flat fare
- RM1
- Bus Bintulu → Miri
- about RM50, about 4 h (check)
Get around
The old town centre is walkable, with traffic lights and pavements. Elsewhere you need a car, a taxi or the City Public Link local bus (flat RM1 fare under the state programme). Grab works in town but coverage thins out towards Similajau and Tanjung Kidurong. Long-distance buses leave from the regional express bus terminal at Medan Jaya.
See and do
Known for
- Petronas LNG complex and Tanjung Kidurong port
- Similajau National Park
- Pasar Tamu and Pasar Utama markets
- Belachan and cincaluk
- Kampung Jepak fishing village
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Similajau National Park | Taxi or Grab from town, about 30 km north on the Bintulu–Miri roadTaxi or Grab from town, about 19 mi north on the Bintulu–Miri road | About 45 min each way |
| Niah Caves (Gua Niah) | Bus or car towards Miri, then local transfer to the park HQ | 2.5–3.5 h |
| Tanjung Kidurong and Bintulu Port viewpoint | Car or taxi, 10–20 km eastCar or taxi, 6.2–12 mi east | About 30 min |
| Kampung Jepak | Tambang boat across the Kemena river from the town jetty, or by road via the Kuala Tatau exit | About 15 min |
Sleep
- Bintulu town centre
- Pasar Tamu, Pasar Utama, the promenade and the old shophouse grid within walking distance; best for a one-night stop.
- Parkcity Commercial Centre
- Newer hotels, Parkcity Mall and restaurants along Jalan Tun Hussein Onn; 5–10 min by car or taxi from the old town.
- Medan Jaya / Medan Sentral
- Supermarkets and the regional express bus terminal; practical if you leave by long-distance bus.
- Tanjung Kidurong
- Industrial zone 10–20 km out; company and contractor lodging only — no reason for leisure travellers to stay.Industrial zone 6.2–12 mi out; company and contractor lodging only — no reason for leisure travellers to stay.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Thank you | Terima kasihter-ee-ma ka-seh |
| How much is it? | Berapa harganya?be-ra-pa har-ga-nya |
| Where is the market? | Di mana pasar?dee ma-na pa-sar |
| I don't want it, thank you | Tak mahu, terima kasihtak ma-hoo, ter-ee-ma ka-seh |
| Help | Tolongtoh-long |
| Can I pay by card? | Boleh bayar dengan kad?bo-leh ba-yar de-ngan kad |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Light handshake or hand on heart; wait for women to offer a hand; avoid: Firm grips, hugging
- Pointing: Use the thumb with fingers folded; avoid: Index finger pointing
- Homes: Shoes off; avoid: Walking in with shoes
- Mosques: Covered clothes, headscarf for women; avoid: Entering during prayers
- Public affection: Keep it low-key; avoid: Kissing in public
Scams and watch-outs
- Saltwater crocodiles in the Kemena river and at Similajau beaches: do not swim, and keep to marked trails.
- The Tanjung Batu coastline has annual drownings in the monsoon season (Nov–Feb); stay out of the water then.
- No public transport serves Similajau National Park; arrange the return taxi before you go or you may be stranded.
- Local buses are used mainly by rural and lower-income commuters; English is not widely spoken on them.
- Smuggled cigarettes and liquor are openly sold at some markets — buying them is on you, not a bargain.
Bintulu is a working town and generally safe by day; the real risks are crocodiles and monsoon currents in the water, unlit roads outside the centre, and long taxi rides with no meter — agree the fare first.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Bintulu yet. Suggested stay: 1–2 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Petronas LNG complex and Tanjung Kidurong port
- Similajau National Park
- Pasar Tamu and Pasar Utama markets
- Belachan and cincaluk
- Kampung Jepak fishing village
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Sarawak Tourism — Pasar Tamu and Pasar Utama: sarawaktourism.com/attraction/pasar-tamu-pasar-utama/
- Sarawak Forestry — Similajau National Park: www.sarawakforestry.com/parks-and-reserves/similajau-national-park/
- Wikivoyage: Bintulu, revision 5242057 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5242057
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Bintulu
Tolong hantar ke alamat ini
To this address, please
My hotel (write the name and address in the local script)
No embassies in Bintulu; the nearest consulates are in Kuching, and embassies are in Kuala Lumpur. Australian and UK travellers: register with your high commission in Kuala Lumpur if you plan remote travel.
Keep the taxi coupon and the park phone number on your phone; mobile signal is patchy on the Similajau trails.
Voykit · checked 2026-09
Printed from Voykit (/bintulu). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.