Eco Adventure at Kuantan & Terengganu

The rainforests around Kuantan in Pahang state is Peninsular Malaysia’s richest repository of flora and fauna. Millions of species of trees, plants, shrubs and moving creatures thrive in these deep, tropical forests, offering fascinating sights to explore.

Besides trekking and swimming in waterfalls, eco-lovers can also shoot white-water rapids in Jeram Besu, do abseiling, rock-climbing and herping. The whole range of nature-based activities are there waiting for visitors to explore in Pahang.

The most popular park in Pahang is of course, Taman Negara Pahang, which is also the largest in the Peninsular. For a less-frequented rainforest, head to Endau-Rompin which has some fantastic waterfalls. Other places to check out include Kenong Rimba and the Gunung Senyum Recreational Forest.

National Park (Taman Negara)

Taman Negara National Park was established in Malaysia in 1938/1939 as the King George V National Park. It was renamed to Taman Negara after independence, which literally means "national park" in Malay. Taman Negara (total area 4,343 km²) has a reputation as the world's oldest tropical rainforest

Taman Negara is indeed one the oldest rainforests in the entire world, estimated at 130 million years old. The abundance and diversity of nature is phenomenal in Taman Negara, one of the world's most complex and rich ecosystems. A veritable treasure of the planet. Undisturbed for a millennia, it maintains a natural habitat for a variety of flora and fauna, many of which have become highly specialized and are inter-linked with other species in both parasitic and symbolic ways. Although Malaysia has promoted Taman Negara as a popular tourist destination, the government has, over the years, taken careful steps to ensure geological and biological attractions in the park continuous conservation.

Lush riverine vegetation and trees that form a giant canopy above you plays a warm welcome to the start of a great adventure into an unknown and mysterious world that is reputably older than that of the Congo and Amazon.

Peninsular Malaysia's highest mountain, Mount Tahan (Gunung Tahan) almost 2,187 meters high, is located in Taman Negara, and climbing the mountain is an unforgettable experience.

On the southern edge is Kuala Tahan, the park's headquarters, linked to the outside world by river.

The Mount Tahan Trail is limited to only a maximum of 48 climbers per day (on the trail). This is to minimize the impact  from user behaviour including soil damage, trampling effect, flora and fauna being damaged due to heavy usage of the trail.

The park is open all year round. A good time to go is during flowering / fruiting season, usually from May through September. The rainy monsoon season is from November to February. Weekends and Malaysian school holidays attract big crowds so if you prefer quiet times, opt for weekdays and off-peak season. Alternatively, there are three other entrances to the National Park that is from Sungai Relau in Merapoh, Pahang; Kuala Koh in Kelantan and Tanjung Mentong, Kenyir Lake in Terengganu.

Please note that Taman Negara is a restricted area. All visitors to the park must get permits from the Department of Wildlife and National Parks.

Department of Wildlife and National Parks (DWNP)

Address: KM 10, Jalan Cheras, 56100 Kuala Lumpur.
Tel :  03-9086 6800 
Operation Hour: 9am - 5pm

Deputy Superintendent, Taman Negara Pahang National Park

Address: Taman Negara Pahang National Park, Sungai Relau, Merapoh, 27210 Kuala Lipis
Tel: 09-912 4894 
Operation Hour: 9am - 5pm

Kuala Tahan Park Deputy Superintendent

Address : Taman Negara Pahang National Park, 27020 Jerantut, Pahang
Tel: 09-266 1122 / 09-266 4152 
Operation Hour: 9am - 5pm

Gunung Tahan Park Deputy Superintendent

Address: Taman Negara Pahang National Park, Sungai Relau, Merapoh, 27210 Kuala Lipis
Tel:  09 - 2661122
Operation Hour: 9am - 5pm

Endau Rompin

A proper trip to see all the major highlights of Endau-Rompin National Park should take 3 days. Of course it's not hard to spend a week to get lost amidst the breathtaking rivers and forests.

Endau-Rompin National Park is the second designated national park in Peninsular Malaysia after Taman Negara (National Park). It contains the one of world's oldest rainforests and the volcanic rocks there date back 248 million years. It is a pristine, ancient wilderness covering about 49,000 hectares of mostly undisturbed lowland tropical rainforest in the State of Pahang, East Malaysia.

They are two entry points to Endau Rompin Johor National Park which is through Kg. Peta in Mersing and Kg. Selai in Segamat. The park covers 48,905 hectares. The second gateway to the Endau Rompin Johor, National Park is Selai. The park has an area of 48,000 hectare of which 2/3 is located at Selai.

To protect the pristine environment, only limited areas of the park are open for ecotourism purposes. Entry to the park requires a special permit from the Johor National Park Corporation. But the much easier option is to get the permits at the District Office, which is just next to the Police Department in Kuala Rompin before reaching the FELDA Selendang turnoff from Lanjut Beach. Visitors are advised to inform the Johor National Parks Corporation at least a week prior to your departure. Upon entry to this park, trekkers will be guided by forest rangers to ensure safety at all times.

Operation Hour: November till March, the park is closed to the public.
Fishing is banned from September till October during mating season.
Location: Located on the Johor-Pahang border

National Parks Johor Corporation

Operation Hour: 9am - 5pm
Address: Johor National Park, JKR 475, Bukit Timbalan, Johor, Malaysia.
Tel: 07 223 7471  
Operation Hour: 9am - 5pm