2026 guide
Some of the oldest rainforests on Earth: canopy walks, river safaris and wildlife you will not see anywhere else.
Last updated 31 October 2026 ยท 14 places ยท 12 states
โก Quick answer ยท Last updated 31 October 2026
The best national parks & rainforest in Malaysia in 2026 are Kinabalu Park (Kundasang, Ranau), Sabah, followed by Gunung Mulu National Park (Miri), Taman Negara Pahang (Kuala Tahan) (Jerantut) and Bako National Park (Kuching).
๐ก Pro tip: Book park accommodation and guides early, and pack leech socks. Mornings and late afternoons are best for wildlife.
Kundasang, Ranau, Sabah
Malaysia's first UNESCO World Heritage Site, with Mount Kinabalu towering over cool montane forest, orchids and pitcher plants. Even if you do not summit, the park HQ nature trails and botanical garden are well worth a day.
Don't miss: Sunrise from Low's Peak, or the Silau-Silau nature trail
Mulu, Miri, Sarawak
UNESCO-listed for its giant caves, razor-sharp Pinnacles and rainforest. Deer Cave and Clearwater Cave are reachable on boardwalk tours, while adventure caving needs a guide.
Don't miss: Evening bat exodus at Deer Cave
Kuala Tahan, Jerantut, Pahang
One of the world's oldest rainforests, around 130 million years old, with a canopy walkway, river boat rides to rapids and hide spots for wildlife. Stay in Kuala Tahan village, take guided night walks and cross the river by boat for the park office.
Don't miss: The canopy walkway and Lata Berkoh boat trip
Bako, Kuching, Sarawak
Sarawak's oldest national park: proboscis monkeys, bearded pigs and sea stacks on a short boat ride from Bako Village. Trails range from beach strolls to 5-hour treks.
Don't miss: Proboscis monkeys at Telok Assam and Telok Paku sunsets
Teluk Bahang, Penang
Malaysia's smallest national park: coast trails, Monkey Beach, Turtle Beach and a meromictic lake. Trails are well marked and doable in half a day.
Don't miss: Turtle Beach and its conservation centre
Kilim, Langkawi, Kedah
Mangrove river tours through limestone karst, with eagles, bats and monitor lizards. The geopark has UNESCO status and is a Langkawi must.
Don't miss: Eagle feeding and bat cave on the river tour
Belum-Temengor, Gerik, Perak
A 130-million-year-old rainforest reached by boat across Temenggor Lake, with hornbills, Rafflesia, hot springs and rare tigers and elephants. Visits are with licensed operators who arrange permits and boats.
Don't miss: Boat safaris to hornbill roosts and Rafflesia sightings
Kepong, Selangor
A lowland forest right next to KL, with the 200m canopy walkway, easy trails and a forest museum. A top weekend morning hang-out for joggers and families.
Don't miss: Canopy walkway and Rover Trail
Peta, Mersing, Johor
A lowland rainforest shared between Johor and Pahang, home to Upper Segamat and Buaya Sangkut falls, and some of the best waterfall trails in the peninsula. A 4WD is normally needed to reach the Selai or Peta entrances.
Don't miss: Upper Segamat and Buaya Sangkut falls on a guided trek
Danum, Lahad Datu, Sabah
A pristine lowland dipterocarp forest with canopy walks and orangutans. Stay at Borneo Rainforest Lodge or the field centre.
Don't miss: Canopy walkway and night safaris
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Kundasang, Ranau, Sabah
Malaysia's first UNESCO World Heritage Site, with Mount Kinabalu towering over cool montane forest, orchids and pitcher plants. Even if you do not summit, the park HQ nature trails and botanical garden are well worth a day.
Don't miss: Sunrise from Low's Peak, or the Silau-Silau nature trail
Danum, Lahad Datu, Sabah
A pristine lowland dipterocarp forest with canopy walks and orangutans. Stay at Borneo Rainforest Lodge or the field centre.
Don't miss: Canopy walkway and night safaris
Nothing here matches your filters. Clear a filter to see more.
Mulu, Miri, Sarawak
UNESCO-listed for its giant caves, razor-sharp Pinnacles and rainforest. Deer Cave and Clearwater Cave are reachable on boardwalk tours, while adventure caving needs a guide.
Don't miss: Evening bat exodus at Deer Cave
Bako, Kuching, Sarawak
Sarawak's oldest national park: proboscis monkeys, bearded pigs and sea stacks on a short boat ride from Bako Village. Trails range from beach strolls to 5-hour treks.
Don't miss: Proboscis monkeys at Telok Assam and Telok Paku sunsets
Nothing here matches your filters. Clear a filter to see more.
Kuala Tahan, Jerantut, Pahang
One of the world's oldest rainforests, around 130 million years old, with a canopy walkway, river boat rides to rapids and hide spots for wildlife. Stay in Kuala Tahan village, take guided night walks and cross the river by boat for the park office.
Don't miss: The canopy walkway and Lata Berkoh boat trip
Nothing here matches your filters. Clear a filter to see more.
Teluk Bahang, Penang
Malaysia's smallest national park: coast trails, Monkey Beach, Turtle Beach and a meromictic lake. Trails are well marked and doable in half a day.
Don't miss: Turtle Beach and its conservation centre
Nothing here matches your filters. Clear a filter to see more.
Kilim, Langkawi, Kedah
Mangrove river tours through limestone karst, with eagles, bats and monitor lizards. The geopark has UNESCO status and is a Langkawi must.
Don't miss: Eagle feeding and bat cave on the river tour
Nothing here matches your filters. Clear a filter to see more.
Belum-Temengor, Gerik, Perak
A 130-million-year-old rainforest reached by boat across Temenggor Lake, with hornbills, Rafflesia, hot springs and rare tigers and elephants. Visits are with licensed operators who arrange permits and boats.
Don't miss: Boat safaris to hornbill roosts and Rafflesia sightings
Nothing here matches your filters. Clear a filter to see more.
Kepong, Selangor
A lowland forest right next to KL, with the 200m canopy walkway, easy trails and a forest museum. A top weekend morning hang-out for joggers and families.
Don't miss: Canopy walkway and Rover Trail
Nothing here matches your filters. Clear a filter to see more.
Peta, Mersing, Johor
A lowland rainforest shared between Johor and Pahang, home to Upper Segamat and Buaya Sangkut falls, and some of the best waterfall trails in the peninsula. A 4WD is normally needed to reach the Selai or Peta entrances.
Don't miss: Upper Segamat and Buaya Sangkut falls on a guided trek
Nothing here matches your filters. Clear a filter to see more.
Bukit Nanas, Kuala Lumpur, Kuala Lumpur
A 10-hectare patch of primary jungle in the middle of the city with a 200m canopy walk and shaded trails. It's a quiet escape just steps from KLCC.
Don't miss: Canopy walk with city-skyline views
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Tasik Kenyir / Tanjung Mentong, Kuala Berang, Terengganu
The Terengganu side of Malaysia's great Taman Negara is reached the fun way, by speedboat across island-dotted Tasik Kenyir. Rangers at Tanjung Mentong check you in for jungle trails, waterfalls, kelah fish sanctuaries and Gua Bewah, where 4,000-year-old human remains were found. Far quieter than Kuala Tahan, with houseboats if you want to stay overnight on the lake.
Don't miss: Feeding the kelah (Malaysian mahseer) at the Sungai Petang fish sanctuary
โ ๏ธ Not yet re-verified for 2026. Check fees, hours and that it is open before you go.
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Kuala Koh, Gua Musang, Kelantan
The quieter side of Taman Negara, with Sungai Koh rapids, canopy trails and fewer people. Check with PERHILITAN before travelling.
Don't miss: River trails and wildlife hides
โ ๏ธ Not yet re-verified for 2026. Check fees, hours and that it is open before you go.
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Jelebu, Kuala Klawang, Negeri Sembilan
A forestry-department eco-park in the Jelebu hills where a tall cascade tumbles through lowland rainforest into cool, shallow pools. After nearly four years shut by the 2021 floods, it reopened in late August 2025 with new walkways, toilets, parking and a kids' wading pool. An easy, leafy day out about 45 minutes from Seremban, lah.
Don't miss: The main multi-tier cascade from the upper viewing pondok
โ ๏ธ Not yet re-verified for 2026. Check fees, hours and that it is open before you go.
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The best national parks & rainforest in Malaysia in 2026 are Kinabalu Park (Kundasang, Ranau), followed by Gunung Mulu National Park (Miri), Taman Negara Pahang (Kuala Tahan) (Jerantut) and Bako National Park (Kuching).
Kinabalu Park, Langkawi Kilim Karst Geoforest Park and FRIM - Forest Research Institute Malaysia
Kinabalu Park (Kundasang, Ranau) and Danum Valley Conservation Area (Danum, Lahad Datu)
Gunung Mulu National Park (Mulu, Miri) and Bako National Park (Bako, Kuching)
Taman Negara Pahang (Kuala Tahan) (Kuala Tahan, Jerantut)
Penang National Park (Teluk Bahang)
Book park accommodation and guides early, and pack leech socks. Mornings and late afternoons are best for wildlife.