Malaysia is home to a diverse range of sights and sounds that will entice and awe any fortunate visitor to this lovely tropical country. Its territory are divided into two parts: West Malaysia, which is located on a peninsula connected to Asia’s mainland, and East Malaysia, which is located on the island of Borneo. As a result, it is home to a broad range of ecosystems just waiting to be discovered.
Whether you’re looking for pristine beaches, the pulsing nightlife of Malaysia’s bustling cities, or the delectable Malay food, this gem of a country has something to offer everyone.
It might be difficult to find the perfect itinerary when there is so much to see and do. To assist you in making your decision, here are the Best National Parks in Malaysia which are well worth a visit!
1: Taman Negara National Park
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Taman Negara has everything. This national park has something for everyone, whether you want to go rock climbing, relax while fishing, or learn about the local culture. With one of the world’s oldest tropical rainforests, the park’s wildlife and plants exude a sense of timelessness that pervades everything, slowing time and providing you with more memorable moments to savour.
Walk cautiously along the narrow canopy walk that extends between the trees and hides itself amid the surrounding greenery for a stunning glimpse of the forest below. Furious Malayan Tigers, stealthy Asian elephants, and the elusive Malayan gaur roam the park’s woodlands below, all of which are protected within the park’s boundaries.
Taking to the Tembeling River and gliding through the rainforest, staring at all of the natural wonders before you, is a lovely way to spend an afternoon. Taman Negara is a tranquil and pleasant retreat that must be experienced to be fully appreciated.
2: Kinabalu National Park
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Kinabalu is one of the world’s most important biodiversity hotspots, with a diverse assortment of species and flora for visitors to enjoy. The richness of life comes out at you from every direction, with over 4500 distinct varieties on display, and the rustles and movements of its hidden birds and animals can be heard in the dense undergrowth. Also read, Banff National Park.
Kinabalu, named for the mountain that bears the same name, is the island’s tallest mountain, reaching at nearly 4000 metres. The national park is beautifully pristine and unspoilt, despite being one of Malaysia’s most popular parks.
3: Gunung Mulu National Park
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This national park is exceptional for the wealth of spectacular vistas and stunning sceneries on display. It is named after the impressive Mount Mulu. The only methods to get there are by plane or riverboat; it doesn’t matter how you get here as long as you do!
Gunung Mulu National Park is most recognised for its ancient karst formations, which have produced an extraordinary assortment of amazing rock formations over millennia. The beauty, which includes caverns, cliffs, and canyons that cut brilliantly through the park’s vegetation, must be seen to be believed.
There are other enormous caverns in the vicinity, including Sarawak Chamber, which is the world’s largest known chamber. The mind boggles at its immense vastness as it stretches on indefinitely. This Malaysian national park is mesmerising and one-of-a-kind, and it is well worth the trip.
4: Niah National Park
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The beautiful caves inside the confines of this impressive national park make it well worth a visit. The cave complex shows evidence of human habitation extending back over 40,000 years, making it an important Malaysian archaeological site. Also read, Mesa Verde National Park.
Pottery, axes, jewellery, and other items dating back millennia have been discovered in the caverns, demonstrating their long-standing value to humans as a haven of refuge and protection. The caves themselves are breathtaking to explore, and the unique geological formations are breathtaking to see.
Outside, the thriving fauna and vegetation abruptly comes to a halt in front of the caves’ shade, unable to continue their progress. Niah National Park is unique because of the contrast between the warm and welcome life-filled trees and the dismal and freezing caverns.
5: Bako National Park
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Bako National Park is home to some very magnificent sights that belie its modest size, with beautiful and unusual rock formations and sea arches snaking their way up out of the water. Also read, Shenandoah National Park.
The park’s twisting routes wind through a variety of beautiful environments that are just begging to be discovered, including lush rainforest, clean beaches, and stunning waterfalls, to name a few. The travel and arrival at the wonderful and remote beach of Bako, which is only accessible by boat, make this national park well worth a visit.
6: Gunung Gading National Park
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The dense and suffocating jungle foliage hems you in on both sides before giving way to stunning vistas of the surrounding area when you approach one of the park’s lofty peaks, which is a sight to behold.
The mountainous region boasts various waterfalls and streams hidden among its woodlands, which provide travellers with a welcome reprieve after their strenuous excursions. While the gorgeous park is worth visiting in and of itself, the spectacular rafflesia, the world’s largest flower, is the main attraction for visitors. These enormous, one-of-a-kind flowers are a sight to behold and the undisputed highlight of Gunung Gading National Park.
7: Lambir Hills National Park
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Lambir Hills National Park, despite its diminutive size, certainly punches above its weight in terms of what it has to offer. This park is ideal for nature enthusiasts who will enjoy everything there is to see and do. It is a biodiversity hotspot that is home to a veritable zoo of large and small creatures and birds. Also read, Mount Rainier National Park.
Trails and roads wind their way through the forest’s undergrowth, as birds and monkeys play among the foliage in the shade of the canopy above. You can feel dwarfed by the oppressive forest that hems you in all around you, with trees reaching up to eighty metres in height.
Make your way to Bukit Lambir, the park’s highest point, for a breath of fresh air and a break from the towering trees. It also has some spectacular vistas. There are a multitude of stunning views to discover in the picturesque and serene Lambir Hills, with waterfalls and isolated pools dotted throughout the park.
8: Similajau National Park
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This national park, which is located on the coast of the island of Borneo, is a lovely combination of a number of varied habitats and offers a wide range of activities for visitors to select from.
Whether you are an avid birdwatcher, a trekking enthusiast, or a snorkelling enthusiast, the facilities on offer are amazing, and each visitor is free to pursue their favourite sport at their leisure. Beautiful beaches flank the shore, and thick, impenetrable forest rises up until it is stopped by the sand. Also read, North Cascades National Park.
Take to the sea for a spectacular boat ride; glancing back at the coast will provide you with a breathtaking view of this stunning length of coastline. At night, brave guests can lease a boat to go crocodile-spotting.
9: Tunku Abdul Rahman National Park
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The five islands that make up Tunku Abdul Rahman National Park are an ideal sanctuary. You may be forgiven for thinking that you are daydreaming as you speed through the gorgeous blue waters to the islands.
Despite their differences in size, all of the islands have beautiful beaches to rest on, and the surrounding coral reefs provide excellent snorkelling and scuba diving opportunities. Although the park can get busy, this simply goes to show how popular it is and how amazing the attractions are.
These islands are a must-see in Malaysia because of their lush verdant forests that gradually give way to gorgeous white beaches that melt into the ocean around them.
10: Gunung Ledang National Park
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The majestic Mount Ophir, which looms dramatically in the centre of the jungle that coats its slopes, is surrounded by this lovely national park. The roots of the mount’s name are shrouded in mystery, and fine mist cloaks the top reaches of its slopes, concealing its mysterious past.
The view from the top is amazing, as you are met with panoramic views of the forest below. Paths snake their way through the thick
undergrowth ever upwards, and the view from the top is magnificent as you are treated with panoramic views of the forest below. The thick and leafy canopies that blanket Gunung Ledang National Park are home to a diverse range of birdlife. Mount Ophir is also dotted with waterfalls, one of the most popular of which is the Puteri Waterfalls, which allows guests to cool off after a strenuous hike in its pleasant and welcoming pool.