Taman Negara Travel Guide: Trekking, Night Safari & River Cruises in Malaysia
How to get to Taman Negara? What to see in the jungle? Is it open all year-round? Our guide, tips, and budget.
After living 2.5 years in Kuala Lumpur, we finally decided that it was time we visited one of the oldest rainforests in the World: TAMAN NEGARA!
Indeed, Taman Negara is over 130 million years old! Crazy, isn’t it!
This guide to Taman Negara will explain how to get there, where to stay and eat, the best treks/hikes, we’ll give you many tips based on our experience, and we’ll, of course, share our honest opinion.
If you have any comments or questions, don’t hesitate to ask us in the comments or directly by writing to us here, or reaching out on our social media.
HIGHLIGHTS OF TAMAN NEGARA:
🌏 World’s Oldest Rainforest – Over 130 million years old, even older than the Amazon.
🌿 Canopy Walkway Adventure – One of the world’s longest, offering jaw-dropping views from above the treetops.
🐒 Wildlife Encounters – Spot exotic birds, elephants, monkeys, tapirs, black panther and if you’re lucky… even the elusive Malayan tiger.
🌌 Night Jungle Walks – Discover a completely different world after dark as the rainforest comes alive with sounds and glowing insects.
🚤 River Cruises & Rapids – Take a boat ride through winding jungle rivers or experience the thrill of shooting the rapids.
🏹 Orang Asli Villages – Meet Malaysia’s indigenous people and learn about their traditional way of life.
🥾 Epic Jungle Treks – From short hikes to multi-day adventures, explore lush trails deep into the rainforest.
🌄 Bukit Teresek Viewpoint – A rewarding climb with panoramic views of endless rainforest stretching to the horizon.
Complete Travel Guide to Taman Negara
How to get to Taman Negara?
If you are touring Malaysia, you can reach Taman Negara from various places (Cameron Highlands, Penang ,etc.). However, most of us will probably get there from Kuala Lumpur.
By Car (Self-Drive Option)
As we live in Malaysia and own a car here, it was an easy decision for us. We drove from Kuala Lumpur to Kuala Tahan, the main area right at the entrance of the park.
It took us about 4 to 5 hours, including 1 stop along the way. Roads are well-maintained, and parking is available in the village.
So if you decide to rent a car while visiting Malaysia, this would be the easiest and most flexible option.
By Bus
Direct Transfer
There are a few options when it comes to taking the bus to Kuala Lumpur. The easiest one is to book a direct bus transfer from Kuala Lumpur to Taman Negara (Kuala Tahan) on www.busonlineticket.com. This costs about 90 to 100 RM per person, but it’s the fastest and most hassle-free.
Public Bus
- Take a bus from Terminal Bersepadu Selatan (TBS) in Kuala Lumpur to Jerantut, the nearest town to Taman Negara. The journey takes around 3–4 hours.
- From Jerantut to Kuala Tahan, continue by local bus or taxi to Kuala Tahan, which takes about 1 hour.
By Boat
Yup, you read that right! You can reach Kuala Tahan by boat! Indeed, from Jerantut, head to the Kuala Tembeling Jetty, and hop on a traditional wooden longboat for a 2–3 hour scenic ride along the Tembeling River. This is one of the most iconic and adventurous ways to enter the national park.
You can find most information about the transport to Taman Negara on their official website.
Note that the easiest way to book your whole trip to Taman Negara is via an Agency. We recommend NSK or Han Travel. They offer transfer, but also day trip, 2 or 3 days packages etc. Check it out.
What are the best things to do in Taman Negara?
1. Exploring Kuala Tahan
Kuala Tahan is one of the main places from which you can access Taman Negara National Park. It’s basically one of the entry points to the National Park. It’s a very small village, and you can easily walk around it in just 15 minutes.
Mostly made up of restaurants, guesthouses, and travel agencies, its charm lies in its location right on the banks of the Tembeling River. From here, you’ll find some beautiful viewpoints of the river.
You’ll likely pass by the Kuala Tahan Jetty, either to have lunch at one of the floating restaurants or to cross over into the national park. This is also where you’ll get the best views of the river and the surrounding jungle scenery.
Indeed, note that Kuala Tahan is located just outside the National Park. It is seperated by the Tembeling River. To get to the park, you will need to take a small boat for 2RM per person (only cash) to cross to the Park. There is always 1 boat available to cross the river, so don’t worry it’s very easy. The crossing takes less than 5min.
2. Walk the Canopy Walkway (Closed and under renovation as of July 2025)
The Canopy Walkway is a treetop adventure that takes 20 to 30 minutes to complete. It is, however, famous for being the longest suspension bridge in the world, with a total length of 550 meters.
You can find yourself about 40 meters above the ground… so for those who are afraid of heights, be aware!
As for us, the Canopy was unfortunately closed since 2024, as it’s under renovation. Well, it gives us a good reason to come back 😉
3. Hiking to Bukit Teresek
Bukit Teresek is an easily accessible peak in Taman Negara. The hike to get there is relatively easy; however, expect lots of stairs… Most of the trails starting at the entrance to the national park are marked with wooden paths and are well indicated.
After about 45 minutes to an hour of hiking, you finally reach the summit, which has two viewpoints. The first offers a view of Kuala Tahan to the southeast, and the second to the northwest.
The climate is often foggy, creating a rather unique atmosphere. However, we were personally a bit disappointed with the view… We expected something much more impressive.
Luckily, we decided to take an alternative route on the way back and ended up in a “secret” spot by the river where we could swim… See the next section.
4. Swim at Lubok Simpon
On the map, we noticed that halfway down from the summit of Bukit Teresek, another trail branched off toward Lubok Simpon and then circled back to the park entrance—turning the hike into a scenic loop instead of retracing the same path.
And that was probably the best decision we made during our trip to Taman Negara. Indeed, we were the only ones at Lubok Simpon, which is a small secluded “beach” by the river, where you can swim and cool down after the hike. It turned out to be our favorite spot in Taman Negara. So we highly recommend it!
Be aware that Taman Negara is full of leeches… After removing our shoes to swim in the river, we noticed that both of us had a leech on our ankle. It’s nothing dramatic, but it kept bleeding for about 15min…
5. Join a full-day trip with a guide
While some parts of Taman Negara can be explored on your own, such as Bukit Teresek or the Canopy Walk, for the rest, you’ll need to take a guide.
You can find many travel agents in Kuala Tahan. You can also book activities via your hotels (book in advance during peak season), or you can go via an agency online, such as NSK or Han Travel (you are likely to pay a bit more, though).
Our plan for the day with our guide, called “Hippy”:
- Hike for about 5km
- Have lunch by the river
- Hike for another 3km and swim at a waterfall
- Take a boat for “Rapid shooting” (basically, these are canoes that go much faster than normal and make you completely wet! Well, it’s fun and refreshing after the long hike)
- Visit an Orang Asli village
Overall, it was a great day, but to our surprise, there were probably over a hundred other people joining the same tour (we visited in August, the peak season). Instead of feeling like ‘Indiana Jones’ exploring the jungle, it felt more like following a long line of tourists along the same trail. Unsurprisingly, that didn’t make spotting wildlife any easier either.
6. Learn more about the Orang Asli
Before visiting Taman Negara, we were really excited about meeting the Orang Asli. These indigenous people have lived in the jungle for centuries, and we were curious to learn more about their traditional way of life, survival skills, and deep connection with the rainforest.
However, when we realized that nearly a hundred people were joining the same tour, we immediately knew the experience wouldn’t feel very authentic—and unfortunately, we were right.
The Orang Asli village was quickly overrun with tourists. While we did see demonstrations of hunting with blowpipes, making fire without matches, and using jungle plants as natural remedies, the whole experience felt staged and far from genuine.
7. Join a 2D1N or 3D2N trip deep in the Jungle
Sadly, before going to Taman Negara, we didn’t do too many research, so we only knew about the possibility of sleeping in the Jungle after we arrived. As we already booked our tour and hotels, we decided to stick to our original plan, but if we were to go again to Taman Negara, we would most likely join one of the overnight(s) trips to experience the “true” jungle moment!
As per what our guide Hippy explained to us, you will be sleeping inside a massive cave. This trip is not for the faint-hearted, as it requires quite a lot of hiking in the humid jungle (over 90% humidity). So be aware.
However, this would probably be one of the most memorable experiences in your life and in Malaysia! Again, all travel agencies will offer such a trip.
8. Night River Cruise or Night Hike
Taman Negara isn’t just about daytime adventures; the real magic often begins after dark with either a night jungle walk or a night river cruise. Since we had already done plenty of hiking, we opted for the cruise, and it turned out to be one of the major highlights of our trip.
At 8:30 pm, together with our guide, Safarin, we boarded a small wooden boat in Kuala Tahan. Armed with strong lamps, we glided quietly along the still waters while he scanned the riverbanks for wildlife.
That evening, we didn’t spot many animals, but Safarin told us it’s quite common to see elephants coming down to the riverbed at night. We did manage to catch sight of flying squirrels and a few interesting bird species, which was still an unforgettable experience.
After two hours on the water, we stopped by the riverbank where Safarin built a bonfire, a perfect ending to our Taman Negara adventure. He was by far the best guide we had on our trip, and even shared his WhatsApp number so future travelers could reach out directly.
If you’d like his contact, feel free to get in touch with us, we highly recommend skipping the middleman and arranging a personalized trip with him, a true local!
What animals can you see in the National Park?
Taman Negara is home to an incredible variety of wildlife. While sightings are never guaranteed, lucky visitors may encounter Asian elephants, Malayan tapirs, or even the elusive Malayan tiger deep in the jungle.
More commonly, you can see monkeys, wild boars, deer, and an impressive range of colorful birds such as hornbills and kingfishers.
At night, night walks or river cruises reveal nocturnal creatures like flying squirrels or owls.
The diversity of wildlife in Taman Negara is one of the park’s biggest highlights. That said, during our visit we only managed to spot a few animals. The large number of tourists certainly didn’t help, and since we didn’t venture deep enough into the jungle, our chances of wildlife encounters were lower. We were a little disappointed, but that’s part of the beauty of nature, wild animals can’t be guaranteed, and we respect that.
Where to eat in Taman Negara?
The floating restaurants are the first thing you see when you arrive in Kuala Tahan.
We chose to eat there one evening, as the prices are higher than in the village. For 25-35MYR, you can dine on a floating restaurant. We ordered steamed fish, fried rice, vegetables, and freshly squeezed watermelon juice. It was good, although let’s just say it won’t be your meal of the year either.
Another evening, we tried the Sunset Riverview Cafe, located on a hill facing the river. This place has some of the best reviews on Google. The food was actually very similar to the floating restaurants (fried rice, fried noodle,s etc. but they also serve burgers if you are in need of western food). Overall, we liked this place, and the view was great!
If you’re looking for the best coffee in town, we found the perfect spot for you—though sadly, we only discovered it on our last day before leaving! It’s called Acah Corner. Don’t be fooled by its modest appearance; the coffee is excellent, and that’s what truly matters.
Where to stay?
By far, Mutiara Taman Negara is the best hotel in Taman Negara. In fact, it’s also the only hotel directly inside the National Park, directly opposite Kuala Tahan.
In order to enter the National Park, you actually need to walk through the hotel. We really wanted to stay there, but as it was peak season, the place was fully booked.
Well, this is also the most expensive hotel in the area (by far), so we didn’t mind saving money at a more modest hotel, knowing anyway that we would be out in the jungle the entire day!
We then found a place called Xcape Resort, with simple but clean and affordable rooms. And it was great.
Frequently Asked Questions about Taman Negara
The best time to visit Taman Negara is during the dry season, from February to September, when trails are less muddy and activities such as jungle trekking and river cruises are easier to enjoy. The rainy season (October to January) can make some activities more challenging.
Most travelers spend 2 to 3 days in Taman Negara, which allows enough time for jungle trekking, the canopy walkway, a night safari or river cruise, and a visit to an Orang Asli village. Those looking for deeper jungle adventures often stay 4 to 5 days.
While some trails can be explored independently, for activities like night safaris, long treks, or Orang Asli village visits, a guide is required. Guides not only ensure safety but also enhance the experience by pointing out wildlife, plants, and explaining the local ecosystem.
Yes, accommodation is available in and around Kuala Tahan, the main gateway to the park. Options range from budget guesthouses to mid-range resorts like Mutiara Taman Negara, located right at the park entrance. If you join an overnight trek, you will also spend 1 or 2 nights inside the park.
All visitors to Taman Negara must obtain a Park Entry Permit before entering. This must be done at the Mutiara Negara Hotel; there is a small counter on your left after climbing up the stairs from the boat Jetty. You’ll need to fill in a form with some information before going to the counter to proceed with the payment.
The entry permit is very affordable at just RM1 per person, while the Camera License costs RM5 per device. Without this license, the use of cameras is “theoretically” not permitted inside the park, though no one has checked a single time… Both permits are valid for 30 days.
Our honest opinion about Taman Negara
To be honest, our overall impression of Taman Negara was a bit mixed. Living in Malaysia, we’re lucky to experience rich wildlife in many different places almost daily, and Malaysia truly is an incredible country for that.
So when we heard that Taman Negara offered the chance to spot elephants, tapirs, and even black panthers, our expectations were sky-high. In reality, we found ourselves surrounded by large groups of tourists and saw only a limited amount of wildlife.
That said, knowing we were walking through one of the oldest rainforests in the world still felt very special. Experiencing such a preserved and unique place gave us a deep sense of awe. We especially loved our night river cruise with our lovely guide Safarin and the chance to swim in the river at Lubok Simpon; those moments were unforgettable.
Looking back, we’d probably avoid visiting in July or August to escape the peak season crowds. And next time, we’d definitely contact Safarin directly to customize the trip and venture deeper into the jungle for a more authentic experience.
