Taman Negara Everything You Need To Know

Flo MBT
Feb 5
4 min read

Updated: Mar 1

Taman Negara National Park, located just three hours from Kuala Lumpur, is an accessible escape into nature, easily reached by bus.

Our journey from Tioman Island was longer - after one ferry, two buses, and a train ride, we finally reached Kuala Tahan, the village at the park’s gateway. Kuala Tahan is a charming little village, offering a handful of dining options, including floating restaurants on the river, and Jungle activities.

The Riverside Across from Taman Negara National Park

What to expect in Taman Negara

To access the national park from Kuala Tahan, you only need to cross the river. Simply wave your hand, and a boat will take you across for just 1 MYR (about 0.22 USD) per person.

Taman Negara is packed with activities, from jungle treks to guided tours, with plenty of small agencies offering tours and experiences. We didn’t book anything in advance, but there’s no shortage of options. One of the must-do treks, for example, will take you on a multi-day adventure into the jungle.

Before entering the park, make sure to stop by the registration counter and pay a small entrance fee (we paid 1 MYR per person), as well as a camera fee (5 MYR).

Quick Currency Reference:

1 MYR ≈ 0.36 AUD
1 MYR ≈ 0.21 EUR
1 MYR ≈ 0.22 USD.

How long to spend in Taman Negara

Most visitors stay for around two full days, which felt like the perfect amount of time for us. This is also what the fellow travelers we met recommended. However, if you're craving more adventure, there are multi-day treks available for those looking to immerse themselves deeper into the jungle.

When to visit Taman Negara

Taman Negara National Park is best visited between the months of March and September. The multi-day treks only reopen at the end of February.

Note: The famous canopy walk is sometimes closed for maintenance, so make sure to check before going. However, it was closed when we visited, and it wasn’t the end of the world!

Things To Do in Taman Negara

We opted for a mix of guided tour and some self-exploration.

Guided Tour: We booked a guided tour for 180 MYR per person. This included lunch, water, and cookies, which was a nice touch.

Here's what our day looked like:

We kicked things off with a jungle trek covering several kilometers. Normally, the trek leads to the canopy walkway, but it was under renovation when we visited. Even so, the hike was incredibly enjoyable, and our guide frequently stopped to point out interesting plants, and facts about the jungle. Make sure to wear good shoes, as the path in the jungle is covered with roots, and a twisted ankle could happen fast!
The trek led us to Teras waterfall, where we enjoyed a refreshing swim after our hike. We spent about an hour there—perfect for cooling off!
Next, we boarded on a boat that took us to the Aborigines village - Orang Asli. Here, we learned about the indigenous community’s way of life, their use of plants, and even had the chance to try our hand at making fire and using a blowpipe (sarbacane).
The tour wrapped up with a "rapid shooting" boat ride back to Kuala Tahan (don’t be afraid to get wet!).
Self-Exploration: Jungle treks outside the boardwalk require a guided tour—but don’t worry, it’s clearly marked where you can and can’t go on your own. If you prefer to explore independently, there’s a simple map highlighting the key attractions. We easily covered spots 1 through 5 without any hassle. Bukit Terisek is a must-see, but be prepared for plenty of steps.

Good to know: After a long day exploring the National Park, you can have a swim at Lubuk Simpon.

Additional Popular Activities

For the following activities, you'll need to book a guide:

1. Night tours to spot wildlife.

2. A visit to the caves in the park.

3. Overnight treks with camping in the jungle.

4. A trip to Lata Berkoh waterfall.

Where to eat in Taman Negara

Kuala Tahan offers many options to choose from and is best known for its floating restaurants. Be sure to enjoy a fresh dinner at one, where the fish is caught straight from the river.

For breakfast, we recommend Anne Restaurant - a cozy spot with a variety of local options. Someone may have been a little obsessed with the banana chocolate roti…!

Where did we stay?

There are several cute guesthouses around Kuala Tahan. We stayed at Julies Hostel which was perfect. The room was clean, spacious, and had a little seating area just outside, ideal for relaxing after a day of jungle adventures.