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    Bako National Park
    Borneo mobilegrapher / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0

    Malaysia

    Bako National Park

    Point of Interest

    The Bako National Park, at the tip of a peninsula north of Kuching, is Sarawak's oldest and a manageable 27 square kilometers.

    by Felix Gillen

    1. Home
    3. Destinations
    5. Malaysia
    7. Sarawak
    9. Bako National Park
    The Bako National Park, at the tip of a peninsula north of Kuching, is Sarawak's oldest and a manageable 27 square kilometers. On short hiking trails, you'll spot proboscis monkeys, bearded pigs, and pitcher plants; along the coast, sea-sculpted sandstone cliffs. All just over an hour's journey by bus and boat from Kuching.Tip: Most animals are active early mornings or late afternoonsEquipment: Sturdy shoes and at least two liters of water; paths can be steep and root-filledSwimming: Prohibited at beaches due to saltwater crocodiles and jellyfish

    Sehenswürdigkeiten

    Discover the most important sights and attractions

    1Batu GT Lakei

    Rock formation on the north coast of the Bako Peninsula. Like the other sandstone formations along the park's coast, it was shaped by the surf.
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    Nationalpark Bako

    2Nationalpark Bako

    The Park Headquarters at Telok Assam is a jetty, the starting point for all hiking trails, and the location of the simple accommodations which you book through the Sarawak Forestry Corporation. Here you register before and after every hike. Around the buildings, you can often see proboscis monkeys, macaques, and bearded pigs.
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    Ching San Yan Temple 青山岩寺 (Qingshan Yan Si)

    3Ching San Yan Temple 青山岩寺 (Qingshan Yan Si)

    Chinese temple on the coast of the Muara Tebas Peninsula, southeast of the National Park and outside it. It can be combined with a trip to Bako.
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    Bako National Park Carpark and Boat Jetty

    4Bako National Park Carpark and Boat Jetty

    Your visit starts at the Kampung Bako boat jetty: Here you pay the park entrance fee (20 RM for foreigners in 2026) and rent a boat for up to five people to the park headquarters in Telok Assam. Bus No. 1 from Kuching travels to Kampung Bako. Arrange your return pick-up time with the boat driver on the outbound journey.
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    Essen & Trinken

    1

    Kedai Kuih Bang Ghani

    Small, simple shop for Kuih, traditional sweet and savory Malaysian snacks, on the route between Kuching and Kampung Bako. Handy for a snack before or after the park visit.
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    Our Story

    Bako was designated Sarawak's first national park in 1957, during the colonial era. Today, it is managed by the Sarawak Forestry Corporation, where you can also book the simple accommodations at the park headquarters.

    Getting there and around the park

    Getting ThereBus No. 1 from Kuching's Open Air Market takes 45-60 mins to Kampung Bako. Grab/taxi are alternatives. At Kampung Bako's boat counter, pay park entry and rent a boat (up to 5 people). Solo travellers usually share, arranging a joint return. Telok Assam crossing takes approx. 20 minutes. Check bus return times; the last depart late afternoon.In the ParkYou'll be on foot in the park. Register at park HQ before and after each hike.

    Accommodations in Bako National Park

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    Nearby

    Sarawak Cultural Village

    Sarawak Cultural Village

    The Sarawak Cultural Village, located at the foot of Gunung Santubong, approximately 35 kilometers north of Kuching, is an open-air museum featuring the traditional houses of Sarawak's main ethnic groups. Twice daily, there is a cultural show with music and dances.Cultural Show: usually at 11:30 AM and 4 PM, approx. 45 minutes; please check current times and admission prices beforehandFestival: The Rainforest World Music Festival takes place here at the end of June
    Kuching

    Kuching

    Kuching, the capital of the Malaysian state of Sarawak in western Borneo, is a compact city on the Sarawak River, featuring buildings from the White Rajahs era, Chinese shop houses, and a long waterfront promenade. It is the best starting point for orangutans, proboscis monkeys, and the national parks in western Borneo.In the city: Waterfront, Main Bazaar, Borneo Cultures Museum, Fort MargheritaExcursions: Bako National Park, orangutans at Semenggoh Wildlife Centre, Sarawak Cultural VillageTravel time: year-round; most rain falls from November to February
    Sarawak

    Sarawak

    Sarawak in western Borneo is Malaysia's largest state. Here you'll find the Mulu and Niah Caves (both UNESCO-listed), Bako National Park's proboscis monkeys, Semenggoh's semi-wild orangutans, and Iban longhouses. The capital Kuching, on the Sarawak River, is the starting point.
    Semenggoh Wildlife Centre

    Semenggoh Wildlife Centre

    At the Semenggoh Wildlife Centre, about 20 to 25 kilometers south of Kuching, rehabilitated orangutans roam freely in the reserve's forest. Twice daily, rangers offer fruit at a feeding platform; whether and how many animals visit is up to them.Feeding Times: mornings from 9 to 10 AM and afternoons from 3 PM for about half an hourAdmission: 10 RM for foreign adults, 5 RM for childrenNote: Sightings are not guaranteed, especially when the forest offers abundant food
    Batang Ai National Park

    Batang Ai National Park

    The Batang Ai National Park is located approximately 250 kilometers east of Kuching, beside a large reservoir in the interior of Sarawak. Orangutans, gibbons, and hornbills live in the rainforest, and around the lake, Iban live in longhouses, which you can visit on tours.Getting there: a long drive from Kuching to the reservoir, then onwards by longboatTip: Day trips and overnight stays in longhouses can be booked through local tour operators

    Sources & method

    • Photos: Wikimedia Commons, Google Maps. Each photo carries its credit.
    • The content is based on web research from public, traceable sources. How the content is made · The role of AI