Outstanding Area of Wild Natural Beauty

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Outstanding Area of Wild Natural Beauty
Maliau Basin is a caldera shape landform with an inner part is approximately 400km2 in size. Surrounded by cliff and mountain in all sides reaching out to more than 1600 meters in a certain location.

The lowest part of the basin is the river valley which in some places are only 100 - 200m above sea level.  The only opening into the basin is the canyon shape gorge which was created by a thousand years of erosion by the only river that drained out the caldera or bowel like basin.  Imagine a world inside this basin that evolved over millions of years untouched and unvisited until recent human history.

Fowzi Falls at Maliau Basin

To visit this lost world, one has to trek up from 500m above sea level to the mountain cliff surrounding the basin, and there are not many places that this can be easily done.  As you trek up tiredly, notice the chances of forest structure, from a tall Agathis and Dipterocarp trees to shorter trees.  At the elevations above 1200m, the rim is frequently covered in cloud and cool mist-laden winds soak the vegetation.  The basin itself is home of numerous magnificent waterfalls littered around the untouched rainforest that reach the height around 80 to 100 feet tall.

One of the waterfalls at Maliau Basin

Ascending to the mountainous rim, enjoy the magnificent panoramic view of a vast expansion of forested area at the lowland behind.  Once reaching the ridge, ingulf in the midst of the undisturbed world, with no humanization and modernization.  Descending into the valley, it is very obvious how the forest structure shifted across different part of the Maliau Basin due to the chances in the elevations.

For travelers who yearn for a thrill and raw nature experience, Maliau Basin is an ultimate spot to unveil the raw-beauty of the tropical rainforest.  Just make sure to have your imagination gear switch on and make this the adventure of a lifetime.