Lodging Option in Taman Negara National Park

Situated inland of the Malaysian Peninsula, Taman Negara National Park is a major tourism spot in the country. This jungle is one of the oldest pristine tropical rainforests that begun to develop as long as 130 million years ago - far earlier than forests of Latin America and the African continent.

When I say a pristine jungle, it doesn't mean that fauna and flora only make their habitats within. In this jungle live descendants of indigenous people who have been with the forest for centuries. Later immigrant Malays and Islams as well as tourists enliven the vicinity of the Tembeling River with their daily life.

Along the Tembeling River, there are facilities including lodges, hotels, campsites, a tourist information center, and restaurants.
At this time, there is only one hotel, Mutiara Taman Negara, that is built within the National Park, and 16 other accommodation facilities are located in areas of the other side of the river called Kampung Kuala Tahan.




We stayed at Durian Chalet, which is located in a serene village about a 15-minute walk uphill from the Tembeling River. Lodges by the river seemed crowded and noisy, and didn't make me feel cozy.
We immediately liked Durian Chalet especially because of its location a bit away from the center of tourism.

There, dormitories, bungalows, chalets, and family rooms are available, ranging the price from RM10-50. Upon request, one of the staff members willingly gives guests a ride to the Tembeling River free of charge.




This is the bungalow we stayed in. The room is simple but clean, and comes with a fan, toilet, and cold shower. It took me some time to get accustomed to the cold shower, but I admit it was quite refreshing after walking in the humid tropical climate.




The price of an overnight-stay includes a breakfast.
At this small restaurant, local Malaysian dishes are served. The price was very reasonable and food was great.

If I travel all the way to a foreign country, I definitely prefer dishes cooked by local mothers to fancy cuisine prepared by some chefs.


　Support this blog! Go to blog ranking.