EXACTLY How To Go To Taman Negara From KL [2024]

Want to visit Malaysia’s jungle interior and wondering how to go to Taman Negara from KL? We can help!

While it’s not far from KL to Taman Negara, this journey can seem complicated – at least until you take it step-by-step. It’s actually quite straightforward with many people taking this trip every day.

Below, I break down exactly how to get to Taman Negara from Kuala Lumpur so you know exactly what you need to do, when, whether you are looking for a Kuala Lumpur to Taman Negara bus or travelling from KL to Taman Negara by train, taxi or private car. This way, you will be in paradise as quick as possible!

I also share a video so you can see the journey in action as well as what it’s like in Taman Negara.

I also describe the reverse journey from Taman Negara to KL. 

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Map: How To Go To Taman Negara From Kuala Lumpur

How far is Taman Negara from Kuala Lumpur? The distance from Kuala Lumpur to Taman Negara is around 230 kilometres taking the most direct roads.

The driving time Taman Negara KL starts at around 3 hours but heavily depends on traffic, especially on your way out of KL. It’s more likely to take 4-5 hours unless you leave early.

Note that when you want to get to Taman Negara National Park from Kuala Lumpur, you actually want to get to Kuala Tahan which is the small town on the edge of the national park where accommodation options are located.

BEST OPTION: How To Go To Taman Negara From KL

A taxi or shuttle bus are the best options. Which to pick depends on your budget.

Here’s a summary of your options:

Mode of transport	Duration	Best For?	Book
Shuttle Bus	5 hours	People who like the quickest public transport option	Book here
Bus + Bus	7 hours	People who want the cheapest option	Book here
Car	4 hours	People who are happy to hire a car or who like to stop along the way	Book here
Taxi	4 hours	Anyone who wants the easiest and most straightforward way to get between Kuala Lumpur and Taman Negara	Book here
Day Tour	Entire Day	People short on time that want to do as much as possible in one day	Book here
Multi-Day Tour	3-4 Days	People who want transfers + all their accommodation, meals and activities in Taman Negara and for their trip to be EASY!	Book here

Note that however you decide to travel to Taman Negara from the options below, once you hit Kuala Tahan, you need to take quick boat trip across the river to enter the national park.

There is no bridge and this is how you access Taman Negara.

It costs RM1 per person. It is super quick and boats run frequently.

Option 1: Taman Negara Bus From KL

For the best budget option, you’ll want to consider Kuala Lumpur to Taman Negara National Park bus options.

First of all, note that the only direct buses from KL are the shuttle buses which are described in option 2.

If you want to save money, you’ll want to consider catching a bus to Jerantut and then another bus or taxi from there. This is for people who have plenty of time as it can take a lot longer than some of the other options here. PLUS, you may find it ends up costing you more depending on how you get from Jerantut to Kuala Tahan and how many people are in your travelling group.

To get to Jerantut is easy. Around three buses day with LA Holidays leave from the TBS terminal in KL – one in the morning, one in the afternoon and one in the evening and cost from RM25.

You can find the bus timetables to Jerantut here.

OR you can take a bus from Jalan Pekeliling bus station which can be more convenient depending on where you are staying in Kuala Lumpur.

However, this bus doesn’t run daily, so it depends if it works with your itinerary. It’s run by Trans Malaya. We caught this bus to Jerantut. It was comfortable and easy, but it did make a stop first (in Bandar Tun Razak, Jengka) which wasn’t on the way to Jerantut. Still, we were there in about three hours.

You can find the bus timetables from Jalan Pekeliling to Jerantut here.

I bought my tickets using the link above. Note that you don’t need to print them but you do need to check-in at the ticket counter and show it on your phone. You then get a boarding pass for the bus.

This bus departs from the bus station at Jalan Pekeliling/Titiwangsa Sentral which shows up in Google Maps and not where 12go.asia say it is on their map.

The more annoying part of this journey comes next.

From Jerantut, you need to catch a bus or taxi to Kuala Tahan. Your other option is a bus or taxi to Kuala Tembeling. From Kuala Tembeling, you can take a pretty three-hour boat ride to Kuala Tahan. These usually depart Kuala Tembeling early afternoon.

To get to Kuala Tahan, NKS Travel may be able to add you to one of their shuttle buses which leaves at 12:30pm. We were at Jerantut station at 11am and there was someone there trying to convince us to take the bus. It cost RM30, but quickly dropped to RM25 when I said no.

With three of us, it wasn’t worth waiting around for.

Otherwise, there is a taxi stand by Jerantut bus station or you can take a Grab.

A taxi costs RM80 at the time of publishing. When we tried Grab at the bus station, the cost was RM90, but Grab varies based on demand.

We went the taxi option but wish we took a Grab as the taxi was old without seat belts and air-conditioning.

There are also a few local buses. You may be able to find the timetable here.

It’s about 67 kilometres between Jerantut and Kuala Tahan, and it takes just over an hour by taxi.

To get to Kuala Tembeling, you can take one of the NKS Travel shuttles linked to above or a taxi.

Option 2: Shuttle Bus Taman Negara Kuala Lumpur

If you want to take a bus to Taman Negara from Kuala Lumpur, a much easier option is to take one of the shuttle buses that run directly to Kuala Tahan from a few different points in Kuala Lumpur.

These cost more but ensure you get all the way there without any mucking around at Jerantut. Another pro is that you won’t have to worry about spending extra money if you arrive in Jerantut and get stuck taking a taxi on to Kuala Tahan.

Another option with a shuttle bus to Taman Negara from KL is that you can be dropped off at Kuala Tembeling instead and take a three hour boat ride to Kuala Tahan instead. This is a beautiful journey and a popular option.

The downside is that this can be pricier than taking a regular bus to Jerantut and then transport on to Kuala Tahan, but it is faster and more convenient. And for solo travellers, this option can end up cheaper.

The shuttle buses leave in the morning giving you the afternoon to explore on arrival.

Click here to see the see the latest options and prices.

OR click here for more options.

Option 3: Taman Negara From KL Train

It’s also possible to travel most of the way Kuala Lumpur Taman Negara by train. However, I don’t recommend it.

This is because the trains aren’t at all direct.

You will need to:

1. Take a train from KL Sentral to Gemas. These currently run twice a day around midday and late. You can see timetables and prices here.
2. From Gemas, you can take a train to Jerantut. These currently run three times a day. You can see timetables and prices here.
3. From Jerantut, you need to take a bus or taxi as described above.

This is all much more time consuming and will cost more than taking a bus or shuttle bus which will be quicker. It’s only for people who love to travel by train, even if it’s longer.

Option 4: KL To Taman Negara By Car

The easiest answer to how to get from Kuala Lumpur to Taman Negara National Park can be to drive yourself if you have access to a car (or you can hire one here).

The Kuala Lumpur to Taman Negara distance is not long and the driving time is not huge.

The only problem is that in the wet season if there is flooding, roads can be damaged.

Click here to read more about driving in Malaysia.

Option 5: KL To Taman Negara By Taxi

The absolute easiest way to get to Taman Negara Malaysia from Kuala Lumpur is to take a taxi.

This will get you straight there at the time you pick without wasting any time or any extra costs. You won’t have to negotiate a taxi in Jerantut or lug your bags around in the heat.

This is also the quickest way and is door-to-door. However, the cost can be a deterrent as it costs around RM600. However, it is definitely worth it if you have the funds.

We can book this taxi for you direct from the airport or your hotel in KL with a safe and trustworthy local operator.

Click here for more information.

Option 6: Taman Negara Day Tour From KL

If you don’t have much time then a day tour is the only way to go. You just can’t get there independently quick enough to make a day trip from KL work.

Here are two great options depending on if you would prefer one with other people or a private day tour. You can also find more tour options here.

Taman Negara National Park Join-In Day Tour

This is tour starts at 5:30am and ends around 8:00pm and fits in so many attractions in one day.

It includes a walk over the Canopy Walkway (the world’s longest and tallest suspension bridge) and then a trek to Teresek hill taking around three hours by guided tour. There is a real focus on wildlife in the region and the diverse natural beauty.

Lunch is included and had at a floating restaurant, before a one hour rapid shooting boat ride – a trip where you’ll almost certainly get drenched (bring a spare change of clothes).

You’ll then arrive at a village of Orang Asli where you’ll receive an induction by local aboriginal people on hunting and gathering in this region. This is a fascinating experience and a chance to interact with a nomadic tribe.

This is a long trip but hotel pickup and drop-off from Kuala Lumpur is included. Whilst lunch is included, there is no real breakfast or dinner so it might be wise to bring snacks.

Click here to see the latest prices and dates.

Taman Negara Private Day Tour from Kuala Lumpur

This is similar to the tour above. However, it is shorter starting at 7am and finishing in KL at around 5:30pm.

This tour includes jungle trekking, entrance to the Canopy Walkway, a rapid shooting boat ride and a visit to an aboriginal community of Orang Asli.

Prepare to see animals like tigers, macaques and various bird species on this Taman Negara Malaysia tour. Lunch is included at a floating restaurant and the tour starts heading back to Kuala Lumpur at around 2:30pm.

This is a good option if you want a shorter Taman Negara jungle tour. This a private tour and includes hotel pickup and drop-off in central Kuala Lumpur.

Click here to see the latest prices and dates.

Click here for all tour options to Taman Negara.

Option 7: KL To Taman Negara Ultimate Experience

If you don’t just want to get to Taman Negara but also want to spend a few days soaking it all in, buying a tour that includes transfers is the best way to go.

This tour can take you from Kuala Lumpur to Taman Negara and back again. There’s simply no easier way to travel.

You’ll be picked up at your hotel in Kuala Lumpur and taken to Taman Negara. You’ll receive your accommodation in a chalet in Mutiara Taman Negara, all meals while you are there and a range of activities are included too. At the end, you’ll be taken back to KL.

Read all about this package tour here.

KL From Taman Negara

Taking the opposite journey, Taman Negara to Kuala Lumpur, is really the same as the way there, you can just reverse all instructions.

You can find Taman Negara to Kuala Lumpur bus options here.

You can find much easier shuttle bus options here.

You can find the train from Jerantut to Gemas here and then from Gemas to KL here.

The easiest way to get from Taman Negara to KL is also by taxi which you can book here.

Video Overview Of Taman Negara

You can see a quick overview of what it’s like in Taman Negara in the following video as well as the journey here from Kuala Lumpur.

We walk you through the bus from KL, taking a taxi from Jerantut, staying at the Mutiara Taman Negara and some of the most popular activities like the Canopy Walk, Lata Berkoh and visiting an Orang Asli settlement.

You can find more videos like this on our YouTube channel. Please subscribe here!

Final Words

Getting to Taman Negara from Kuala Lumpur is quite straightforward especially if you travel by shuttle or taxi. It’s just one trip and you’ll soon be exploring the jungle.

It’s also possible to take regular buses and trains, but it’ll take longer and won’t necessarily be cheaper.

Enjoy your trip!

I hope you found this guide to how to reach Taman Negara from Kuala Lumpur useful. Find all the best accommodation at Taman Negara here or the best Taman Negara tour and package options here. You can find our complete travel guide to Taman Negara here or listen to our podcast episode all about Taman Negara here.

Planning a trip to Malaysia? Have any questions? Join our Malaysia Travel Planning Facebook group here now! It’s the perfect place to ask any questions and to be inspired!