Uniqueness of this attraction
Uniqueness of this attraction
Established since 1957, the Bako National Park covers nearly 10 square miles of magnificent scenery. Located only 30 minutes away from Kuching, the adventure begins when you board a boat to reach the park as you are greeted by the bizarre rock formations, white sandy beaches and clouds looming over the tall hills.
There are over 16 unique trails that lead you through the jungle and into hidden waterfalls, beaches, cliffs and summits. Your fitness will be tested as the trails involve various boardwalks, ladders and rickety bridges. The many trails are all colour-coded to ease your adventure. It is definitely worth exploring all of them if you wish to experience close encounters with rare wildlife species such as proboscis monkeys, Bornean bearded pigs, colugo, slow loris and unique flora sightings such as the pitcher plant and rafflesia.
There are also options for staying in the park itself ranging from your own tent to twin bedrooms. If you have good negotiation skills, you could even try to convince a boatman to take you to Pulau Lakei, where you can spend a day on pretty much your own personal island!
There are over 16 unique trails that lead you through the jungle and into hidden waterfalls, beaches, cliffs and summits. Your fitness will be tested as the trails involve various boardwalks, ladders and rickety bridges. The many trails are all colour-coded to ease your adventure. It is definitely worth exploring all of them if you wish to experience close encounters with rare wildlife species such as proboscis monkeys, Bornean bearded pigs, colugo, slow loris and unique flora sightings such as the pitcher plant and rafflesia.
There are also options for staying in the park itself ranging from your own tent to twin bedrooms. If you have good negotiation skills, you could even try to convince a boatman to take you to Pulau Lakei, where you can spend a day on pretty much your own personal island!
Other things to do here?
Other things to do here?
An hour’s drive away from Bako Jetty, you can reach the famed Sarawak Cultural Village where there are daily cultural shows, longhouses representing the various ethnic tribes and a long beach surrounded by jungle!
What to bring home?
What to bring home?
Carry along a compact camera to capture the beautiful images that Bako has to offer! It offers great photography opportunities so you can take home all the memories and beautiful pictures of your trip here.
Who should I travel with?
Who should I travel with?
Solo , Couple , Friends , Group
Getting around
Getting around
A hired car or taxi will comfortably get you from Kuching to the Tabo River jetty where you will have to board a boat to get to the Bako National Park. The taxi ride takes around 10 minutes but will cost significantly more than a bus.
Rapid Kuching bus #1 (the bright red one!) takes you to Bako for RM 3.50 one way. It stops opposite Riverside Majestic Hotel where you can board it. The train has a rough frequency of about 1 hour and operates from 7am to 6pm, but this is not fixed. The journey by bus takes about 45 minutes.
Once you arrive at the Bako Jetty, you will have to purchase your entrance ticket to the park as well as the boat ticket. It is advised you return with the same boat operator you use to depart to the park. The price of the boat ride (one way) is RM 15 for Malaysians and RM 20 for foreigners. It will take about 30 to 40 minutes to reach the park itself.
Rapid Kuching bus #1 (the bright red one!) takes you to Bako for RM 3.50 one way. It stops opposite Riverside Majestic Hotel where you can board it. The train has a rough frequency of about 1 hour and operates from 7am to 6pm, but this is not fixed. The journey by bus takes about 45 minutes.
Once you arrive at the Bako Jetty, you will have to purchase your entrance ticket to the park as well as the boat ticket. It is advised you return with the same boat operator you use to depart to the park. The price of the boat ride (one way) is RM 15 for Malaysians and RM 20 for foreigners. It will take about 30 to 40 minutes to reach the park itself.
Insiders’ tips
Insiders’ tips
- Best times for wildlife spotting is during early morning or late afternoon. It is also safer for you to take the trails during this hour as it won’t be dark and you will probably meet other visitors along the hike.
- Carry a decent amount of water with you (1 or 2 litres) and a few energy bars as trekking the terrain requires a lot of energy.
- Even though the last boat is advertised to leave at 4pm, it leaves at 3pm most of the time due to the tides.
- Depending on the tides, you’ll be either be dropped off on a small jetty upon arrival or deposited onto a beach, so be prepared to wade in the water!
- If you do not wish to pack your own food, there is a cafeteria that sells simple meals, soda, beer and snacks.
- The trails are well marked and you can inquire about the difficulty level from the park rangers. For longer trails, it may be wise to hire a guide.
- The animals roam freely and interact with park visitors often, it is advised you keep your distance from them and not do anything to aggravate them.
- Remember to keep the place clean during your hike and do not litter around the well-maintained park.
- Do note that as Bako is a designated national park, it is an offence to remove any wildlife from their natural habitats here.
- If you are camping overnight, observe the rules laid down by the rangers. Remember to camp only if it’s weather permitting.
- It is best to do your research on the place and trails so you can explore them yourself. If you wish to book a tour or a hire a guide, the cost can go up to RM 400.
Sarawak’s oldest national park greets you with white sandy beaches, an abundance of wildlife creatures, and acres of sunny rainforest!
Opening hours
Always open
Sarawak’s oldest national park greets you with white sandy beaches, an abundance of wildlife creatures, and acres of sunny rainforest!
Opening hours
Always open
Uniqueness of this attraction
Uniqueness of this attraction
Established since 1957, the Bako National Park covers nearly 10 square miles of magnificent scenery. Located only 30 minutes away from Kuching, the adventure begins when you board a boat to reach the park as you are greeted by the bizarre rock formations, white sandy beaches and clouds looming over the tall hills.
There are over 16 unique trails that lead you through the jungle and into hidden waterfalls, beaches, cliffs and summits. Your fitness will be tested as the trails involve various boardwalks, ladders and rickety bridges. The many trails are all colour-coded to ease your adventure. It is definitely worth exploring all of them if you wish to experience close encounters with rare wildlife species such as proboscis monkeys, Bornean bearded pigs, colugo, slow loris and unique flora sightings such as the pitcher plant and rafflesia.
There are also options for staying in the park itself ranging from your own tent to twin bedrooms. If you have good negotiation skills, you could even try to convince a boatman to take you to Pulau Lakei, where you can spend a day on pretty much your own personal island!
There are over 16 unique trails that lead you through the jungle and into hidden waterfalls, beaches, cliffs and summits. Your fitness will be tested as the trails involve various boardwalks, ladders and rickety bridges. The many trails are all colour-coded to ease your adventure. It is definitely worth exploring all of them if you wish to experience close encounters with rare wildlife species such as proboscis monkeys, Bornean bearded pigs, colugo, slow loris and unique flora sightings such as the pitcher plant and rafflesia.
There are also options for staying in the park itself ranging from your own tent to twin bedrooms. If you have good negotiation skills, you could even try to convince a boatman to take you to Pulau Lakei, where you can spend a day on pretty much your own personal island!
Other things to do here?
Other things to do here?
An hour’s drive away from Bako Jetty, you can reach the famed Sarawak Cultural Village where there are daily cultural shows, longhouses representing the various ethnic tribes and a long beach surrounded by jungle!
What to bring home?
What to bring home?
Carry along a compact camera to capture the beautiful images that Bako has to offer! It offers great photography opportunities so you can take home all the memories and beautiful pictures of your trip here.
Who should I travel with?
Who should I travel with?
Solo , Couple , Friends , Group
Getting around
Getting around
A hired car or taxi will comfortably get you from Kuching to the Tabo River jetty where you will have to board a boat to get to the Bako National Park. The taxi ride takes around 10 minutes but will cost significantly more than a bus.
Rapid Kuching bus #1 (the bright red one!) takes you to Bako for RM 3.50 one way. It stops opposite Riverside Majestic Hotel where you can board it. The train has a rough frequency of about 1 hour and operates from 7am to 6pm, but this is not fixed. The journey by bus takes about 45 minutes.
Once you arrive at the Bako Jetty, you will have to purchase your entrance ticket to the park as well as the boat ticket. It is advised you return with the same boat operator you use to depart to the park. The price of the boat ride (one way) is RM 15 for Malaysians and RM 20 for foreigners. It will take about 30 to 40 minutes to reach the park itself.
Rapid Kuching bus #1 (the bright red one!) takes you to Bako for RM 3.50 one way. It stops opposite Riverside Majestic Hotel where you can board it. The train has a rough frequency of about 1 hour and operates from 7am to 6pm, but this is not fixed. The journey by bus takes about 45 minutes.
Once you arrive at the Bako Jetty, you will have to purchase your entrance ticket to the park as well as the boat ticket. It is advised you return with the same boat operator you use to depart to the park. The price of the boat ride (one way) is RM 15 for Malaysians and RM 20 for foreigners. It will take about 30 to 40 minutes to reach the park itself.
Insiders’ tips
Insiders’ tips
- Best times for wildlife spotting is during early morning or late afternoon. It is also safer for you to take the trails during this hour as it won’t be dark and you will probably meet other visitors along the hike.
- Carry a decent amount of water with you (1 or 2 litres) and a few energy bars as trekking the terrain requires a lot of energy.
- Even though the last boat is advertised to leave at 4pm, it leaves at 3pm most of the time due to the tides.
- Depending on the tides, you’ll be either be dropped off on a small jetty upon arrival or deposited onto a beach, so be prepared to wade in the water!
- If you do not wish to pack your own food, there is a cafeteria that sells simple meals, soda, beer and snacks.
- The trails are well marked and you can inquire about the difficulty level from the park rangers. For longer trails, it may be wise to hire a guide.
- The animals roam freely and interact with park visitors often, it is advised you keep your distance from them and not do anything to aggravate them.
- Remember to keep the place clean during your hike and do not litter around the well-maintained park.
- Do note that as Bako is a designated national park, it is an offence to remove any wildlife from their natural habitats here.
- If you are camping overnight, observe the rules laid down by the rangers. Remember to camp only if it’s weather permitting.
- It is best to do your research on the place and trails so you can explore them yourself. If you wish to book a tour or a hire a guide, the cost can go up to RM 400.
