Taman Negara: visiting Malaysia's national park

PERHILITAN lists several Taman Negara gateways — in Pahang, Kelantan and Terengganu, plus Taman Negara Pulau Pinang on Penang — and Kuala Tahan in Pahang is the classic entry point.

According to PERHILITAN, the nearest town is Jerantut. The drive from Kuantan, by car or public transport, takes 3 to 4 hours. From Jerantut, buses and taxis cover the roughly 68 km to Kuala Tahan in about 1 hour 15 minutes.

PERHILITAN manages the park itself; accommodation and services are run by the local community and private operators. The Mutiara Taman Negara Resort has accommodation inside the park, and there are bungalows, chalets and hostels around Kuala Tahan.

Source: PERHILITAN (Department of Wildlife and National Parks) — Taman Negara Pahang, Kuala Tahan, read 7 October 2026.

PERHILITAN's published charges at Kuala Tahan are modest:

• Entry permit — RM1 per person
• Camera licence — RM5 per camera
• Fishing licence — RM10 per rod
• Camping — RM1 per person per night at a standard site, or RM5 at sites run by the Mutiara resort
• Overnight in a hide (bumbun) to watch wildlife at a salt lick — RM5 per person per night
• Canopy walkway — RM5 for adults, RM3 for children

Some activities need a boat, priced per boat rather than per person — RM200 for up to four people for trips to Lata Berkoh or the Lubuk Tenor fish sanctuary.

PERHILITAN's list of activities shows how much there is in a few days:

• The canopy walkway — 283 metres long, suspended about 45 metres above the forest floor
• Birdwatching — the park records 380 species, including hornbills, argus pheasants and trogons
• Caves in the limestone forest, including Gua Daun Menari and Gua Kepayang
• River trips along the Tembeling and Tahan rivers, including rapids shooting (RM180 per boat for up to four people)
• Jungle trails such as the Teresek trail, and visits to an Orang Asli settlement
• Gunung Tahan, the highest mountain in Peninsular Malaysia — a 7-day climb with a compulsory guide (RM1,800 for the 7 days), recommended March to August and closed November to January

For a multi-day trek like Gunung Tahan, it's worth checking how your health cover treats trekking before you go — our hiking insurance guide covers what to look for.