Taman Negara National Park, located in Central Malaysia, is the oldest rainforest in the world and a dream destination for any nature lover. The lush jungle spans over an area of more than 4,000 square kilometers (1544 square miles) and is estimated to be around 150 million years old! Taman Negara is not only home to ancient trees and plants but also to various animal species like elephants, tigers, and bears. Fortunately, you are unlikely to encounter these large animals during your visit. What you will frequently encounter are many species of birds, monkeys, and reptiles. Taman Negara can be explored in various ways, and this article provides many tips to help you make the most of your visit to Taman Negara National Park.
Kuala Tahan is the Base for Taman Negara National Park
The small village of Kuala Tahan is located at the entrance of Taman Negara National Park. Here, you’ll find several restaurants and accommodations, making it a convenient base. Between Kuala Tahan and the entrance to Taman Negara National Park, there’s a river, and you can always find boats on the riverbank to take you to the other side for about $0.25.
How to Travel to Taman Negara National Park?
Most people travel from Kuala Lumpur, Cameron Highlands, or the Perhentian Islands to Kuala Tahan, the base for Taman Negara National Park. Below, you can find information on how to get there from these destinations.
From Kuala Lumpur to Taman Negara
By Bus: The fastest way to travel from Kuala Lumpur to Taman Negara is by bus. This journey takes approximately 3.5 hours. Check the current departure times and consider reserving a bus seat in advance.
By Bus + Boat: You can also partially cover this route by boat, which takes longer and is more expensive, but it includes a stunning boat ride. From Kuala Lumpur, you first travel by bus for about 2.5 hours to Kuala Tembeling Jetty. You can reserve bus tickets here. In Kuala Tembeling Jetty, you board a longtail boat to the village of Kuala Tahan. The boat departs twice daily at 9:00 and 14:00. After a beautiful 3-hour river journey, you will arrive at your final destination. You can also book this entire trip through Han Travel.
From Cameron Highlands to Taman Negara
By Bus: The bus from Cameron Highlands to Taman Negara takes approximately 6 hours. You can reserve tickets here.
By Bus + Boat: You can also partially cover this route by boat, which takes longer and is slightly more expensive than the bus, but it includes a stunning boat ride! In total, the journey takes about 9 hours if you travel by both bus and boat. You can reserve tickets here.
From the Perhentian Islands to Taman Negara
By Boat + Bus: First, take a boat to Kuala Besut on the Malaysian mainland. From there, you can catch a direct bus to Kuala Tahan, Taman Negara. Han Travel operates this direct route with a lunch break in between. The bus journey takes approximately 8 to 9 hours in total.
What to Do in Taman Negara?
You can explore Taman Negara National Park in many different ways. Below, you’ll find all my tips!
Take a Boat Trip to Lata Berkoh
One of the highlights of Taman Negara National Park is the boat tour to Lata Berkoh. Board a longtail boat in Kuala Tahan and admire the beautiful river and jungle from the water. Enjoy the stunning views of the lush jungle along the riverbanks. During my boat trip, we made stops along the way to admire the oldest tree in Taman Negara National Park. This tree is called the Tualang Tree, and it’s incredibly massive! When booking your boat tour, inquire whether you’ll make a stop here.
When you’re almost at Lata Berkoh waterfall, it’s about a 500-meter (1640-feet) walk through the jungle to reach the waterfall. Don’t expect a towering waterfall; it’s more of a rapid in the river. Be cautious when swimming as the current can be quite strong. Nevertheless, the view of the waterfall is enchantingly beautiful!
Tip: Most tours to Lata Berkoh waterfall start at ten in the morning. To avoid the crowds, it’s better to leave an hour later. You can book this boat trip through your accommodation.
Walk Through the Treetops on the Canopy Walk
The Canopy Walk is a spectacular series of rope bridges that traverse the tops of the jungle in Taman Negara. The Canopy Walk is about 40 meters (131 feet) high, 530 meters (1730 feet) long, and it takes about 20 minutes to walk across it. If you have a fear of heights, you may need to overcome it, but the reward is more than worth it when you look out over the lush jungle canopy. You can purchase a ticket for the Canopy Walk at the entrance of Taman Negara and walk for about 30 minutes to the starting point of the Canopy Walk.
Tip: Keep in mind that the Canopy Walk is closed on Fridays. On other days, it opens at 9:00 AM. It can get crowded, with potential waiting times, so it’s advisable to arrive when it opens at 9:00 AM. Make sure you’re at the entrance by 8:30 AM because it’s another 30-minute walk from there to the Canopy Walk starting point. If you go later, you may end up in a queue as there’s a maximum number of people allowed on the Canopy Walk at a time. The Canopy Walk is closed in case of rain or strong winds.
Hike to the Bukit Teresek and Bumbun Tabing viewpoints
After walking the Canopy Walk, you can continue from here directly to the Bukit Teresek viewpoint. The path is well-marked and during the short 1-kilometer (0.62-mile) walk, you’ll encounter a wide range of flora and fauna. You’ll start on a wooden boardwalk, but it soon disappears, and you’ll walk on a rugged jungle path. At the viewpoint, you can see for miles on a clear day. After enjoying the view, it’s nice to walk to the Bumbun Tabing viewpoint, which is another 2 kilometers (1.2 miles) away. With a bit of luck, you might spot unique birds like the hornbill from this viewpoint.
Spotting Nocturnal Wildlife on the Night Walk
When it’s dark, you experience the jungle of Taman Negara in a completely different way. Once the sun sets, animals become active that you wouldn’t typically see during the day. If you join the night walk, you’ll search for these night creatures, including spiders, snakes, walking sticks, and scorpions. Armed with a flashlight and guided by an experienced guide, you’ll walk through the jungle. This is a fun way to see and learn about the wildlife in a different light. You can book the night walk through your accommodation or a travel agency in Kuala Tahan.
Explore Deeper into the Jungle with the Keniam Trail
If you want to have Taman Negara National Park all to yourself and don’t mind a bit of adventure, then a multi-day hike is for you! You’ll venture deeper into the jungle and visit places that most people never see. An experienced guide will accompany you, teaching you about the flora and fauna of Taman Negara along the way. The Keniam Trail is a two-day hike covering a total of 25 kilometers (15.6 miles) through the jungle, with an overnight stay in a cave. Read all about the Keniam Trail.
Important to know: You can walk the short trails in the park without a guide. However, if you want to venture deeper into the jungle like with the Keniam Trail, it’s only allowed with a guide.
7 Practical Tips for Taman Negara National Park
- Bring enough cash as there is no ATM in Kuala Tahan, the base for Taman Negara.
- You’ll purchase a single entrance ticket for Taman Negara at the park’s entrance. This entrance pass is valid for multiple days, so make sure you carry it with you throughout your stay. You’ll also pay a small fee for your camera and phone. Altogether, it won’t cost more than a few dollars.
- Drones are not allowed in the park.
- Download the map of Taman Negara National Park on the Maps.me app before your visit. It shows all the hiking trails, allowing you to navigate offline.
- You can book activities and tours in Taman Negara National Park through your accommodation or a travel agency in Kuala Tahan.
- There are no restaurants or shops in Taman Negara National Park, so bring plenty of water and snacks when visiting the park.
- Wear comfortable (hiking) shoes.
Wildlife in Taman Negara National Park
Taman Negara National Park is home to many animals. Large animals like the Malayan tiger, Asian elephant, tapirs, Malayan bear, and wild cats inhabit this ancient rainforest. However, these animals are rarely encountered while trekking through the jungle. Animals that are more commonly seen include monkeys, tropical birds, and wild boars. Yet, you shouldn’t visit Taman Negara for wildlife sightings, as many animals are elusive. Instead, you come here for the rich jungle experience.
Best Restaurants in Taman Negara
In Kuala Tahan, you can find many floating restaurants on the river run by local families. While the variety may not be extensive, the following restaurants are highly recommended:
Restaurant Anne – This popular restaurant serves breakfast and dinner. In the morning, order a banana pancake with honey, or in the evening, go for a delicious local dish like Roti Canai.
Kuala View Restaurant – This cozy restaurant offers various local dishes. Be sure to try the Nasi Lemak Goreng, it’s delicious!
De’ghilir Floating Restaurant – You can enjoy excellent food here at an affordable price, especially the fresh fish.
Our Favorite Places to Stay in Taman Negara
As mentioned earlier, the village of Kuala Tahan is the base for Taman Negara National Park. The choice of hotels is not very extensive, so the options are somewhat limited. The best tip we can give is to stay in accommodation right by the river. At Mutiara Taman Negara, you can stay in a beautiful luxury chalet surrounded by jungle. This is the only accommodation located within Taman Negara, right next to the park entrance. From the veranda of your chalet, you can enjoy the view of the river, and there’s a good chance you’ll see monkeys swinging through the trees. This is undoubtedly the most beautiful hotel in Taman Negara.
Balai Serama Guesthouse is also located right by the river and is a bit more budget-friendly. It’s a bit further from the village of Kuala Tahan, making it a peaceful place to stay. The friendly owners can always drive you to and from the village with their car. There’s a large garden, and you can enjoy delicious meals in the restaurant. TEBiNG Guest House is perfect if you’re traveling on a small budget. It’s located right in the center of Kuala Tahan and, of course, by the river. You’ll stay in a simple but comfortable room that’s clean and spacious.
  Mutiara Taman Negara |
  Balai Serama Guesthouse |
  TEBiNG Guest House |
