What to expect when visiting Taman Negara
Taman Negara is one of the oldest tropical rainforests in the world — over 130 years old! Trekking through its lush jungle will give you a glimpse at its wide diversity of flora and fauna (some 3,000 species) and various wildlife (including the rare Malayan tiger).
You can choose from a number of trails depending on your capability — from an hour hike to Bukit Teresek to a week of jungle adventure taking you to the peak of Gunung Tahan. Other activities you can enjoy in Taman Negara include white water rafting, bird watching, caving, and of course, the 500-metre canopy walk.
4 ways to get from Kuala Lumpur to Taman Negara
There are four ways to travel the distance of 240 km (149 miles) from Kuala Lumpur to Taman Negara: by bus (4h-4h30m), taxi (4 hours), minivan (5h30m-7h30m) and train (7h12m-7h22m). The journey takes between 4h - 7h30m and the quickest way is by bus. The lowest priced tickets start from 72 MYR ($15.00) for the train.Kuala Lumpur to Taman Negara by Train
Taking the train doesn’t make much sense because you will have to take a detour. There are no direct trains from Kuala Lumpur to Taman Negara.
The national park is located north of Kuala Lumpur. But to get there by train, you will first have to travel 175km southwest to Gemas, before you can take another train going 200 km north to Jerantut. From Jerantut, you will still need to take a shuttle bus or taxi to Taman Negara.
Do you still want to travel by train? If yes, we recommend departing from Kuala Lumpur at night for the least waiting times at the train and bus stations.
Step 1: Kuala Lumpur to Gemas by Train
The first leg of this option requires you to take the ETS train from Kuala Lumpur. The train departs from KL Sentral and your stop is at Gemas Train Station.
This train ride takes almost 3 hours, with tickets starting from 31 MYR ($6.50).
There are two train departures in a day. Whichever train you take, there will be a connecting train from Gemas to Jerantut leaving within the next hour.
Train options from Kuala Lumpur to Taman Negara
You can buy your ticket at the train station or you can book online through the KTM website.
Step 2: Gemas to Jerantut by Train
Upon arriving at the train station in Gemas, you’ll have to transfer to an intercity train bound for Jerantut. This train ride from Gemas to Jerantut takes almost 4 hours.
There are 3 trains available daily, but only two of them will allow you to leave within the next hour upon arrival at Gemas.
A ticket costs 20 MYR ($4.20) for the overnight train and 7 MYR ($1.40) for the day train.
TIP: Even though the night train is more expensive, it will allow you to take the cheaper shuttle bus from Jerantut to Taman Negara. If you take the day train, you’ll have to take a taxi to the national park.
Train options from Kuala Lumpur to Taman Negara
Step 3: Jerantut to Taman Negara (Kuala Tahan) by Bus
Depending on the time you arrive in Jerantut, you can take a shuttle bus or taxi to Taman Negara.
As mentioned in the bus option, shuttle buses operate from Jerantut to Taman Negara 4x daily from 07:00 to 16:30. A ticket costs 35 MYR ($7.00) for the 1-hour journey.
Note that if you take the night train, you’ll have to wait a couple of hours for the first bus.
If you travel by train during the day, you won’t be able to make it to the last bus trip. In that case, you can take a taxi with rates from 365 MYR ($77.00).
Kuala Lumpur to Taman Negara by Minivan
When travelling by minivan from Kuala Lumpur to Taman Negara, you have 2 options: a direct minivan for 5.5 hours or a minivan with longboat transfer for 7.5 hours.
Option 1: Minivan without longboat transfer
Han Travel offers a direct minivan transfer from Kuala Lumpur to Taman Negara. A ticket costs 95 MYR ($20.00) and travel time is 5.5 hours.
This minivan departs from the Han Travel office in Jalan Hang Kasturi within Kuala Lumpur city centre. It makes a stop in Jerantut, where you’ll have to switch to a shuttle bus, which will then take you to Taman Negara.
Minivan options from Kuala Lumpur to Taman Negara
You can book your tickets from the Han Travel website.
Option 2: Minivan with longboat transfer*
COVID-19 Update: Han Travel has temporarily suspended its longboat operations to/from Taman Negara (October 2022). The tentative date of resumption is in March 2023.
You can also take a minivan with a longboat transfer from Kuala Lumpur to Taman Negara.
With this option, you will also be picked up from the Han Travel office in KL city centre. But instead of driving straight to Taman Negara, you will be dropped off at Kuala Tembeling Ferry Port at around 12:00 noon. This is where you’ll take the longboat to the national park.
The minivan with a longboat journey takes a total of 7.5 hours. Fares start from 140 MYR ($29.50).
Minivan options from Kuala Lumpur to Taman Negara
Note that although covered, the longboat doesn’t provide much protection against heavy rains. It’s best to make sure your gadgets are protected in case you’re travelling on a bad day.
Kuala Lumpur to Taman Negara by Bus
There are no direct buses from Kuala Lumpur to Taman Negara, so you will have to take one to Jerantut first. From Jerantut, you can then transfer to another bus bound for the national park.
Step 1: Kuala Lumpur to Jerantut by Bus
TransMalaya Express and LA Holidays operate several trips from Kuala Lumpur to Jerantut daily.
The bus ride takes 3-3.5 hours with fares starting from 24 MYR ($5.00).
Buses depart from Kuala Lumpur until the evening, but note that you’ll have to arrive at Jerantut before 16:30 to make it in time for the last bus trip to Taman Negara. Otherwise, you’ll have to take a more expensive taxi for the 2nd leg of this journey.
This is why we recommend that you take a bus that departs from Kuala Lumpur before noon. You can see the complete schedule below.
Bus options from Kuala Lumpur to Taman Negara
TransMalaya Express departs from Pekeliling Bus Terminal, near Titiwangsa Train Station. You can reach this bus terminal by train from almost anywhere in KL city centre.
Meanwhile, LA Holidays depart from Terminal Bersepadu Selatan (TBS), also located within the city centre.
Both companies park at Jerantut Bus Station.
You can buy your tickets onsite at the bus terminals or book them online beforehand via 12GoAsia.
Step 2: Jerantut to Taman Negara (Kuala Tahan) by Taxi
COVID-19 Update: Pre-pandemic, there were cheap local buses on the Jerantut to Taman Negara route, but they stopped operating. For now, your options are a taxi and a bus with a ferry ride.
The most convenient option for the second leg of your journey is to take a taxi. Travel time from Jerantut to Taman Negara by taxi is 1 hour, and rates start from [isd 80 MYR].
You can take any bus departure from Kuala Lumpur to Jerantut since you can hail a taxi right away.
Alternative option: Jerantut to Taman Negara by Bus + Ferry
If you want a serene and scenic way to travel to Taman Negara, you can also take a bus with a ferry or long boat ride. The only bus company on this route is NKS Travel, offering only one trip daily at 07:00.
Note that there is no bus from Kuala Lumpur that will bring you to Jerantut in time for this 07:00 departure. You will need to stay a night in Jerantut and take the bus the next morning.
A ticket costs 38 MYR ($8.00) for the 3-hour trip, which includes a bus and a long boat ride. When you book with 12GoAsia, both rides will be arranged for you.
Bus options from Kuala Lumpur to Taman Negara
Since this bus and ferry option has only one departure daily and requires an overnight stay in Jerantut, you might be better off taking a taxi to Taman Negara instead.
Kuala Lumpur to Taman Negara by Taxi
Do you prefer a private and direct ride from Kuala Lumpur to Taman Negara? If so, you can get a taxi with fares from 550 MYR ($115.00). Taxis can fit up to 4 people, and you can split the fare among your group.
Long-distance taxi stands are normally located beside intercity bus stations. In KL, you will find one beside Kuala Lumpur Bus Terminal (TBS). You can also ask your hotel for assistance because they may be able to find a driver that can pick you up directly from your accommodation.
The taxi journey from Kuala Lumpur to Taman Negara takes about 4 hours.
Frequently Asked Questions about Kuala Lumpur to Taman Negara
What is the distance from Kuala Lumpur to Taman Negara?
The distance from Kuala Lumpur to Taman Negara is 240 km (149 miles).
What is the fastest way to get from Kuala Lumpur to Taman Negara?
The fastest way to get from Kuala Lumpur to Taman Negara is by bus and takes 4h-4h30m.
What is the cheapest way to get from Kuala Lumpur to Taman Negara?
The cheapest way to get from Kuala Lumpur to Taman Negara is by train with ticket costs starting from 72 MYR ($15.00).
Rounding it up
We hope this guide was helpful in planning how to get from Kuala Lumpur to Taman Negara. If there's anything else you're wondering about, drop us a comment and we'll do our best to answer you within a few days.
PS: If you've recently travelled this route, share your experience with fellow travellers and help us improve this post. Thanks for helping out our travel community!
Ela is a storyteller, content producer, solo traveller and a mermaid-in-training. When she’s not in front of her laptop, you will find her barefoot and living her best tan on some island in the Philippines… Or exploring the depths of its seas as a budding freediver. An island girl at heart, she’ll be happy anywhere there is sea, sand, sun and coffee.
Kate is a writer, (ex)Management Consultant and avid traveller. She recently returned from a 2-year career break exploring the world and decided corporate life wasn’t for her. She’ll soon be testing life as a digital nomad. She’s visited over 40 countries and fell in love with Latin America in particular. Her travelling has inspired a passion for yoga, salsa, hiking and Spanish.
I can confirm that the cheap bus services running from Jerantut to Kuala Tahan has closed down due to Covid. To get from Jerantut to Kuala Tahan is by private taxi R$80. Here are some additional pointers :
Hotel Stay
Murita is an expensive 5 star hotel. Cheap accommodation is available is across the river of Taman Negara Park, in the village Kuala Tahan.
Most expensive : Jun, July, Aug
Cheap during off peak
Hotel prices most expensive during weekends. Go on weekdays!
Weather
Raining Season : 2nd week Oct, Nov, Dec, Jan
Boat Transfer stops in Oct. Monsoon season
Very Hot: April
Best season to visit: March- May, Sept
Things to bring :
Repellent
Binoculars
Torchlight
River Crossing: R$1
River Cruise : R$10
Rapid Shooting: R$45
Recommended Restaurants:
Ann Restaurant
Family Floating Restaurant
Getting to Taman Negara
KL to Jerantut 3.5hrs R$25
Jerantut to Kuala Tahan 1.5hrs R$80 private Taxi
Cheap bus service used to run from Jerantut to Kuala Tahan but they closed down due to Covid.
Leaving Taman Negara
Taman Negara to Jerantut 1.5hrs R$35 Shared Minivan
8am, 10am
Jerantut to KL 3.5hrs
12.10pm
KL to JB
Boat Transfer Out (Closed during Monsoon)
Boat – Tembeling Jetty R$75
9am – 11am
Jerantut +R$10
Hi Bryce, thanks for sharing your insights with us. We will update the route in the next days with your information. Also thanks for sharing the extra tips! I’m sure you are going to help some fellow travellers with these tips. Safe travels!
Hi, your pages were massively helpful for me to plan my trip to Taman Negara. However, I just got to know that there is no public bus running anymore from Jerantut to Kuala Tahan. The only way to cross this one hour stretch is either using the shuttles from NKS, etc., the boat or a taxi. Grab also does not work well in that area. As I only arrived After the other Option already left, I grabbed a cab for 80 RM from Jerantut Sentral to Kuala Tahan. Maybe you can update that piece in the article.
Hi, Gustav! Thank you so much for letting us know about this. We are currently doing additional research and also coordinating with involved companies to make this route up-to-date. We’re always grateful for readers like you who inform us of any necessary updates to our route guides. We hope you still had a great time in Taman Negara! Safe travels!