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Taman Negara is one of the world's oldest rainforests. You come for the canopy walkway, night walks and river trips deep into the jungle. The bus via Temerloh is the cheapest way to get from Penang to Taman Negara, at $19 (78 MYR). The ride takes around 9h 55m - 10h. A taxi is the quickest, and it costs far more.
Distance from Penang to Taman Negara
Penang and Taman Negara are about 246 km (153 miles) apart, and the journey itself covers around 373 km by road. The quickest way to get from Penang to Taman Negara is by taking the taxi, which takes around 8.5 hours.
3 ways to travel from Penang to Taman Negara
There are three ways to travel from Penang to Taman Negara. You can choose between the bus via Temerloh, bus, and private transport. The journey takes 8h 30m–10h 30m and the quickest way is by private transport. If you're on a budget, the cheapest option is by bus via Temerloh with tickets starting at $19 (78 MYR).
incl. transfers — see itinerary
- Penang→Butterworth20m
- Butterworth→Temerloh6h 45m
- Temerloh→Jerantut1h 30m
- Jerantut→Kuala Tahan1h 30m
2 legs — see itinerary
- Penang→Butterworth20m
- Cameron Highlands→Kuala Tahan8h
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Penang to Taman Negara by Bus via Temerloh
Step 1: Penang to Butterworth by Ferry
The first step is to travel to the mainland by ferry. Butterworth is the nearest mainland town only 3 km away.
You will find the ferries at Weld Quay, which you can reach from George Town by a 5-minute taxi with rates from $0.70 (3 MYR) or a 20-minute bus (Line 101) that costs $1.20 (5 MYR).
At Weld Quay, transfer to a ferry bound for Pangkalan Sultan Abdul Halim Ferry Terminal in Butterworth. A ride costs $0.70 (3 MYR) and takes 10-20 minutes. Ferries depart twice every hour from 05:40 to 00:40.
Step 2: Butterworth to Temerloh by Bus
Next, you’ll need to take a bus to Temerloh, a quiet town in central Pahang. This leg of the journey covers 470 km around the mountainous area of Pahang.
There are several companies offering bus trips for this route. Be aware that the bus time you pick for this leg will determine the rest of your journey. A ticket costs from $11 (45 MYR) when you book with BusOnlineTicket.
Bus tickets are available on BusOnlineTicket.
Booking Tip
A few things to consider when choosing your bus schedule:
- If you take a late-night bus, you’ll arrive early morning in Temerloh. You won’t have much to do here though except to have breakfast. And then, you can either wait for the first available connecting bus at 13:15 or just take a taxi to Jerantut.
- If you take one of the day buses, you’ll only have to wait a few hours for your connecting trip to Jerantut. However, you won’t make it in time for the minibus trips from Jerantut to Taman Negara and will have to settle for a taxi.
Step 3: Temerloh to Jerantut by Bus
Bus tickets are available on BusOnlineTicket.
Booking Tip
Alternative Option: Temerloh to Jerantut by Taxi
If you take a late-night bus from Butterworth, you’ll have quite a long waiting time in Temerloh. Another option that we recommend is to just travel by taxi to Jerantut. With rates from $36 (145 MYR), it might be worth considering, especially if you’re travelling in a group.
This way, you will arrive early in Jerantut, where you can take a cheap minibus to Taman Negara.
Step 4: Jerantut to Taman Negara by Minibus or Taxi
Booking Tip
Option 1: Jerantut to Taman Negara by Minibus
Minivan tickets are available on Bookaway.
Booking Tip
Option 2: Jerantut to Taman Negara by Taxi
Penang to Taman Negara by Bus via Cameron Highlands
The bus schedules from Penang to Taman Negara via Cameron Highlands make it hard to complete the journey on the same day – unless you’re willing to spend a fortune on taking a taxi for the 2nd half of the trip.
It does, however, give you a chance to stay a night in the beautiful Cameron Highlands. Read on for more details!
Step 1: Penang Island to Butterworth by Ferry
Your first step is to travel by ferry from Penang to Butterworth, the nearest mainland town just 3 km away.
Ferries depart from Weld Quay, which can be reached from George Town by a 5-minute taxi or a 20-minute bus (Line 101). Fares start from $3.20 (13 MYR) and $1.20 (5 MYR), respectively.
At Weld Quay, ferries bound for Butterworth depart twice every hour from 05:40 to 00:40 every day. You can buy your ticket at the port for only $0.70 (3 MYR). The trip takes 10-20 minutes and the ferries dock at Pangkalan Sultan Abdul Halim Ferry Terminal.
From here, you can just follow the walkway to Penang Sentral, where you can find the buses bound for Cameron Highlands.
Step 2: Butterworth to Cameron Highlands by Bus
From Butterworth, you’ll have to travel 240 km southeast to Cameron Highlands.
The buses are parked at Penang Sentral. CS Travel & Tours is the only company operating on this route. A ticket costs $12 (49.5 MYR) when you book on BookAway.
Bus tickets are available on Bookaway.
The buses park at Tanah Rata Bus Terminal in Cameron Highlands, which is also the departure point for buses bound for Taman Negara.
Alternative options from Penang to Cameron Highlands
If you’re not comfortable with the combined ferry and bus option from Penang to Cameron Highlands, there are actually three other ways you can travel this route: by direct bus (around 5 hours), by taxi (3.5 hours), and by train (5 hours).
Check out our guide for Penang to Cameron Highlands for more details.
Step 3: Cameron Highlands to Taman Negara by Minibus or Taxi
There are two minibus trips from Cameron Highlands to Taman Negara every day. However, they both depart at 08:00. With the ferry and bus schedules mentioned in the first two steps, it’s really not possible to arrive at Cameron Highlands in time for that.
So we have two recommendations: either spend a night in Cameron Highlands and then take the minibus the next day or just take a taxi to arrive in Taman Negara on the same day.
By Minibus
You’ll only be able to take the minibus if you stay the night in Cameron Highlands. We think that’s a great thing though because it’s a beautiful town.
If you arrive early, you can even enjoy its rolling tea plantations and wonderful climate. At night, you can have its famous steamboat (hot pot) for dinner! You will find many steamboat restaurants in town.
As for the minibus, you can choose from Han Travel, Eco Cameron, or NKS Hotel and Travel. Both are trusted companies for this route.
Minivan tickets are available on Bookaway and BusOnlineTicket.
We prefer Han Travel because they offer free hotel pick-up and a direct minibus journey. Also, it’s available to book online beforehand via BookAway.
Eco Cameron is a good option for those who want to enter Taman Negara via a longboat. The minibus will only take you to Kuala Tembeling, where you will transfer to a longboat to the national park. Tickets are available on BusOnlineTicket, also for $17 (70 MYR).
NKS makes a short stopover in Jerantut, a town south of Taman Negara. This makes the total travel time longer. If you want to book with them, you can book via BookAway or you’ll have to contact them directly through their website.
By Taxi
If you don’t mind spending more money to arrive in Taman Negara on the same day, you can also just take a taxi. Long-distance taxis should be available just outside Tanah Rata Bus Terminal.
Fares start from $145 (580 MYR) for the 5.5-hour journey.
Penang to Taman Negara by Taxi
Travelling in a group? Especially if you’re on vacation with your family, you might be thinking of taking a direct taxi from Penang to Taman Negara.
Sadly, this is an uncommon route so you might have a hard time finding a driver who’s willing to take on this journey. You can always ask your hotel for assistance, but be prepared to pay at least $285 (1,170 MYR) for the taxi ride from Penang to Taman Negara that lasts for 8.5 hours.
If you don’t mind paying that much, but are not having any luck in finding a driver, you can also divide this trip into 2 taxis – one from Penang to Cameron Highlands and then another one to Taman Negara.
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 Penang to Taman Negara, roughly 246 kilometres (153 miles) apart. In all, there are 3 ways to make the trip. The cheapest fare is $19 (78 MYR). The quickest trip takes 8h 30m.
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 Penang to Taman Negara?
The distance from Penang to Taman Negara is 246 kilometres (153 miles).
What is the fastest way to get from Penang to Taman Negara?
The fastest way to get from Penang to Taman Negara is by private transport and takes 8.5 hours.
What is the cheapest way to get from Penang to Taman Negara?
The cheapest way to get from Penang to Taman Negara is by bus via temerloh with ticket costs starting from 78 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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