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Taman Negara is one of the world's oldest rainforests, inland from Kuala Lumpur. Think canopy walkways, night safaris and river trips into the jungle. The bus is the cheapest way to get from Kuala Lumpur to Taman Negara at $9.30 (38 MYR), and the ride takes 4-9h. A private taxi is another option, if you'd rather not spend the day in transit.
Distance from Kuala Lumpur to Taman Negara
Kuala Lumpur and Taman Negara are about 193 km (120 miles) apart, and the journey itself covers around 309 km by road. Depending on the option, the trip takes between 4h and 9h.
4 ways to travel from Kuala Lumpur to Taman Negara
There are four ways to travel from Kuala Lumpur to Taman Negara. You can choose between the bus, train, minivan, and private transport. The journey takes 4h–7h 10m and the quickest way is by bus. If you're on a budget, the cheapest option is by bus with tickets starting at $9.30 (38 MYR).
2 legs — see itinerary
- Kuala Lumpur→Jerantut8h
- Jerantut→Taman Negara (Kuala Tahan)1h
3 legs — see itinerary
- Kuala Lumpur→Gemas2h 30m
- Gemas→Jerantut3h 40m
- Jerantut→Taman Negara1h
2 legs — see itinerary
- Minivan without longboat transfer5h
- Minivan with longboat transfer7h 30m
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2Kuala Lumpur to Taman Negara by Bus
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 3-8h with fares starting from $6.50 (26.5 MYR).
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 tickets are available on Bookaway.
Booking Tip
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 $20 (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 $9.30 (38 MYR) for the trip which, including a bus and a long boat ride, is 3h long. When you book with 12GoAsia, both rides will be arranged for you.
Minivan tickets are available on 12Go Asia.
Booking Tip
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 2h 30m - 2h 35m, with tickets starting from $7.40 (30 MYR).
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 tickets are available on Online.
Booking Tip
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 3h 40m - 3h 50m.
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 $4.90 (20 MYR) for the overnight train and $1.70 (7 MYR) 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 tickets are available on Online.
Step 3: Jerantut to Taman Negara (Kuala Tahan) by Bus or Minivan or Taxi
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 $8.40 (34.5 MYR) for the entire trip that is 1h long.
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 $89 (365 MYR).
Minivan tickets are available on Bookaway.
Kuala Lumpur to Taman Negara by Minivan
Option 1: Minivan without longboat transfer
Han Travel offers a direct minivan transfer from to . A ticket costs $20 (80 MYR) and travel time is 5h - 7h 30m.
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.
Booking Tip
Option 2: Minivan with longboat transfer
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 7h 30m. Fares start from $35 (140 MYR).
Minivan tickets are available on Han.
Booking Tip
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 $135 (550 MYR). 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.
ABOUT YOUR DESTINATION
Why Visit 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.
Rounding it up
That's the full picture for getting from Kuala Lumpur to Taman Negara, roughly 193 kilometres (120 miles) apart. In all, there are 4 ways to make the trip. The cheapest fare is $9.30 (38 MYR). The quickest trip takes 4h.
Prices and timetables change, so it's worth a quick check before you travel. Have a question, or travelled this route recently? Ask the community below and we'll do our best to help.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the distance from Kuala Lumpur to Taman Negara?
The distance from Kuala Lumpur to Taman Negara is 193 kilometres (120 miles).
What is the fastest way to get from Kuala Lumpur to Taman Negara?
Journey times from Kuala Lumpur to Taman Negara overlap: bus 4-9h, train 7h 10m - 7h 25m, minivan 5h - 7h 30m, taxi 4 hours. Depending on the departure, no single option is always the fastest.
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 bus with ticket costs starting from 38 MYR.
About the Authors
Senior Travel Writer
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.
Travel Writer & Digital Nomad
Kate is a travel content creator, writer and founder of Stay Wild Travel, a tour company running group trips for women beyond your typical destinations. Her full-time travels have taken her to almost 60 countries, and she doesn't intend to stop anytime soon.
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