From exotic wildlife to wild adventure, from treks through lush vegetation to trailing after bright-coloured birds, Taman Negara offers it all to you, and more.

Taman Negara is one of the oldest rainforests in the world; and it’s been around for the past 130 million years. It’s also one of the world's richest and most varied eco-systems, and Nature can be enjoyed in all her wondrous, varied glory here. This attracts thousands of local and international eco-travelers every year, and you have to discover for yourself all this fascinating region has to offer. Here are just a few of the memorable moments in store for you:

World’s Tallest Tree: Go into the heart of the tropical rainforest, and get your picture clicked in front of Southeast Asia’s tallest tree, Buttressed Tualang, which towers over 200 feet above.

Taman Negara National Park: There’s over 4,343 sq. km. of rainforest waiting to be discovered – go from misty mountains to mysterious caves, race over rapids and drink in the awesome beauty of the waterfalls.

Orang Asli Aboriginal Settlement: Enjoy the simple life with the friendly and gentle Orang Asli tribe, who continue to live the nomadic way.

Bird-Watching: Out of the 650 species of bird species found in Malaysia, nearly 350 of them can be spotted in Taman Negara. Walk through the Nature trails and you’ll get to see Pied Hornbills, Drongos, Malkohas and Babblers, among many others.

Take a look at some of the Must-Do activities in Taman Negara:

Cave exploration: Enter a mysterious world populated by bats, racer snakes and strange insects, with fascinating stalactite and stalagmite rock formations. The most popular caves are Gua Telinga, Gua Peringat, Gua Kepayang, Gua Daun Menari and Gua Besar. Marvel at the tallest limestone outcrops in Peninsular Malaysia at Gua Peringat and if you prefer, you can spend a night in caves like Kepayang Besar, Kepayang Kecil, Luas or Daun Menari.

Jungle Trekking: Go on the adventure trail to Bukit Teresek, and savour the magnificent panoramic view of Gunung Tahan from its peak. Other popular trails are Lubok Simpon, Gua Telinga, Bumbun Kumbang Hide and Lata Berkoh.

Night Jungle Walk: When the lights go out, the jungle comes to life. Discover a different world of nocturnal plants and insects, and watch out for animals from the Observation Hide.

Rapids Shooting : The Tembeling River offers seven distinct sections of white water rapids for you to relish that adrenaline rush.

Canopy Walkway: Get a bird’s eye view of Taman Negara’s enthralling flora and fauna from the longest canopy walkway in the world – 530m in length and 40m above the ground.

Mountain Climbing: Ascend the highest peak in all of Peninsular Malaysia from the base of Kuala Tahan. Take on the challenge of the steep slopes and tricky rivers on this exhilarating trek, and you’ll be rewarded with the most spectacular views from the summit.

Kayaking and Waterfalls: The crystal clear Tahan River offers the perfect spots for kayaking or bamboo rafting. You can go for a laid-back picnic or swim around gushing waterfalls such as Lata Berkoh.

Animal Observation: Lie in wait hidden up in the trees and you’ll get a glimpse of tapirs, bears or elephants. These observation hides are built overlooking saltlicks, which these animals visit to get the minerals they need. At the Bumbun Tahan Hide in Kuala Tahan, you’ll get a chance to spot wild boars and barking deer.
Fishing: Most professional anglers fish in the deeps of Taman Negara, and one of the most popular spots is Kuala Perkai. Fishing in Tahan River is permitted only on a catch and release basis. If you want to cook and savour your catch, you can fish at Kuala Perkai below Keniam Kecil.

Boat Cruise to Lata Berkoh: Sail along Sungai Tahan for a journey of amazing Nature sights. Stop over at Lata Berkoh for a dip into the natural jacuzzi. At the Fish Sanctuary, you can snorkel among freshwater fish and feed them too.

Four Step Waterfall Exploration: Captivating scenes of the local cascades are worth capturing with your camera. One of the tributaries in the Ulu Tahan plunges spectacularly down the mountainside, and this is called the Four Steps Waterfall. The eastern flanks of Gunung Tahan and Gunung Gedong drop off sharply into the headwaters of Sungai Tahan and offer you some magnificent waterfall vistas.

Some of the must-visit places in Taman Negara include:

Bukit Teresek: Climb up to this enchanting area, which offers you superb views of lowlands, hills, mountains, rivers, and grey-leafed Seraya trees in Gunung Perlis and Gua Besar, Keniam. On a clear day, you can see Gunung Tahan, the highest peak in Peninsular Malaysia.

Gua Telinga: Ready for the experience of a lifetime? Go cave crawling through the dark, get wet as you squeeze through an underground river tunnel and catch sight of some rare animal species. What’s unique is that Gua Telinga has a rock formation shaped like a human ear.

Lata Berkoh: One of the best places to visit, Lata Berkoh is a spectacular cascade with deep pools below, and very cold water. Avoid swimming here, but you can try the natural jacuzzi located a little way off.

Getting there:
By Train: Travel by rail from Kuala Lumpur, Singapore or Kota Bharu (via Tumpat) to Tembeling Halt, from where it is a half-hour drive to the Kuala Tembeling Jetty, and then take a boat to the Park.

By Bus/Taxi: Shuttle buses depart daily from Crowne Plaza Mutiara, Kuala Lumpur at 9.00 am. It’s a 3-hour journey to Kuala Tembeling Jetty from where you take a boat. On the return journey, you can take the 12.30 pm daily shuttle bus from Kuala Tembeling to Kuala Lumpur. Alternatively, you can take a taxi from Pekeliling Bus Terminal or hire a self-drive car to Kuala Tahan which takes 4 hours.

By Boat: From Kuala Tembeling Jetty, you can travel to Kuala Tahan by motorized traditional wooden boat which takes 2-½ hours. The boat leaves at 2.00 pm daily except on Friday at 2.30 pm. For the return journey, the boats from Kuala Tahan depart at 9.00 am daily.