This national park is one of the best known and the oldest national park in Malaysia. It is famous for its rainforest. It is easy to get around as guides are not necessary.
The park Headquarters are just across the river from the village Kuala Tahan. This is where most people enter the park, but there are also three other official entries.
Admission is RM1, a camera permit RM5. If you also want to fish, it is an additional RM10. The permit is valid for as long as you want to stay in Taman Negara. Permits can be bought at the park headquarters, or if you use a tour operator to take you to Kuala Tahan, at their headquarters.
The local taboos to talk about while in the park are:
1. Not boasting about your abilities.
2. Joke about animal attacks.
3. Sing or talk loudly in the jungle.
Local buses to Jerantut leave in the morning, at 3:30pm and 7pm (RM6) then bus from Kuala Tembeling to Jerantut (RM5)
Alternatively, you can drive to Kuala Tahan. There are parking spaces at the motels and resorts. There are plenty of roadsign so you shouldn't get lost. It takes about 1 hour from Jerantut town. You will drive across estates of palm oils and winding roads. Beware of cows and buffalos. There is no cell phone signal in the estates.
The major advantage of this park is that it is easy to get around without any guide. You can explore the forest on your own. However, if you go into the deep jungle, especially by the Keniam, Tenol, or Tahan Mountain trails, it is better to go with guide-- you will learn a lot about the jungle and save yourself from getting lost in it.
Bird watching
Slides and films on the Park's indigenous flora and fauna are shown at the Interpretive Room at 8.45 pm daily
In and around the Park, various soft adventures are available
Cave Exploration - Gua Telinga (Ear Cave)
Fishing
Jungle Trekking
Kampung Experience thumb|The canopy walk in [[Taman Negara National Park
Mountain Climbing
Shooting The Rapids
Swimming in Natural Pools and Cataracts
Canopy Walk
Hill Climbing - Bukit Teresek
Waterfalls cascades - Lata Berkoh
Overnight Stay at Animals Salt Lick Hide
Hired guides are a necessity if you plan to go deep into the forest. However, if you have one with you on a short journey, they can point out interesting facts and creatures you would otherwise has miss such as trees that are used to make arrows, poisonous barks, plants with medicinal values, curious insects, and others. They can add value to your trip if you so choose to hire them.
Outside of Kuala Tahan there is limited restaurant except of the services provided by your respective accommodation.
Good floating restaurants at the riverside include Family Restaurant, Wan Cafe and LBK. These cafe serve local delicacies such as toast bread with kaya jam (weird but tasty combination of egg and coconut), fried rice and drinks along with other common things such as sandwich and soups.
There are not a lot of bars in Kuala Tahan. Chess Corner, near the Tembling Riverview Guesthouse is a nice bar where locals sing songs and play the guitar at some nights. However, this bar does not server alcohol, only coffee, tea, and fruit juices. There are also several cafes across the Tembelign River which a reachable in a minute's boat ride.
One local drink you should try is the "Sirup Bandung", which is a blend of rose syrup and milk. It is a tasty concoction to drink after a day's trek.
There is plenty of accommodation in Kuala Tahan. In the park itself there are hides (RM5 , book at the park headquarters) and camp sites.
The Mutiara Resorts located inside the park are the most expensive and luxuries place to stay with prices ranging from US$1.50 for hostel to US$350 for a bungalow per night. Wild hogs sighting are a regular sighting and can be seen scavenging for food in the evening.
For a natural setting please head upriver for Nusa Holiday Village, built to blend with the surroundings and provides a pleasing environment. Located just a short walk away, you can bath in a natural stream.
Across the Tembeling River (just 1 minute boat ride away) are are several affordable alternative accommodations in motels, the Rainforest Resort and Woodlands Resort.
Another option is Travelers Home, homestay style accommodation but with new, clean rooms at affordable rates. Food is included and the service is excellent. Prices are about 75 Rm per night per person.
All of these accommodations can help you arrange for guides and trips to make your stay a pleasant one.
Leeches have a bad press and the thought of them is worse than an encounter. Best to be brave and go without trousers, pull your socks up and cover with mossie spray. When one of the little fellas jumps up onto you leg it will be easy to spot and you can just flick it off, after you've done a little dance that is.