Bako National Park: A Day Trip from Kuching, Malaysia
Last Updated on August 12, 2025 by Charlotte
Bako National Park is one of the best places in Malaysian Borneo to spot wildlife in its natural habitat as a day trip from Kuching. Just a 37-kilometer drive and a short boat ride from the city, this compact yet diverse park is a haven for rare creatures like proboscis monkeys, flying lemurs, and silvered leaf monkeys. The park’s 16 well-marked trails wind through lush rainforests, past dramatic sea cliffs, and cross golden beaches, offering hikers a chance to explore a microcosm of Borneo’s incredible ecosystems. In this post, I’ll share my day-trip adventure through Bako, including wildlife encounters, trail recommendations, and practical tips to help you plan your own visit to this Bornean paradise.
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My Journey to the Park: From Kuching to Bako’s Wild Shores
My day began with an early Grab car ride from Kuching to the Bako Jetty. Bako National Park is just a 37-kilometer car ride and a short 20-minute boat ride from the city of Kuching, Sarawak Malaysia. At the Bako Jetty, I purchased my entrance ticket to the park (RM 20) and my round-trip boat transport (RM 40). Even though it was a weekday, the jetty was bustling with the hubbub of visitors and tour groups. Before I knew it, my group was called to board. We loaded onto the boats and headed out toward the park.
As our boat idled up the river Sungai Tabo, crocodiles peered up at us as their bodies swished through the murky water below. At the river’s mouth where the freshwater meets the ocean, we picked up speed zooming over blue water along the Bako Peninsula. River dolphins danced alongside the hull of the boat, playing the boat’s wake. Twenty minutes later our boat pulled up to a small pier in a mangrove forest.
Depending on the level of the tide, the boats will either dock at this little jetty, or go up on the beach by the park HQ. Even before my feet touched solid ground, the chattering of the animals in the trees cascaded over the air like a cacophony of voices. After checking in at park headquarters and studying the trail map, I was ready to begin exploring Bako’s renowned network of hiking trails, eager to spot the park’s famous long-nosed residents.
Hiking the Teluk Paku Trail
I began my exploration on the Teluk Paku Trail, a 1.7-mile (2.7 km) out-and-back route known for frequent proboscis monkey sightings. The path wound through dense jungle, where wooden ladders occasionally helped navigate steeper sections.
The rustling of leaves drew my attention upward, and I jumped with joy as I spotted a proboscis monkey ascending the canopy of a tree. Proboscis monkeys are long-tailed arboreal primates found along rivers and in swampy mangrove forests of Borneo, distinguished by their unusually long noses. Never in my life had I seen a more curious critter!
What I didn’t immediately notice, was the family of bearded pigs that came galloping out of the forest understory. The baby piglets were so cute, but I wasn’t able to snap a photo while scrambling away. After reaching the end of the trail and still having a few hours before lunchtime, I connected to the Telok Pandan Kecil Trail.
Hiking the Telok Pandan Kecil Trail
With several hours still remaining before lunch, I connected to the more challenging Telok Pandan Kecil Trail, a 4.1-mile (6.6 km) out-and-back route that’s considered Bako’s signature hike. This trail is arguably the most popular hiking trail in the park, and rightly so. The Telok Pandan Kecil Trail winds through wooded hills overlooking the Gulf of Assam before continuing along a sandy, high-elevation plateau ripe with carnivorous pitcher plants. The trek pays off, as the trail ends at the top of a cliff with a sprawling view of the coastline and Kecil beach below.
Exploring Kecil Beach
The descent to Kecil Beach was an adventure in itself. A steep wooden staircase clung to the cliff face, requiring careful footing as it zigzagged down toward the shore. The wooden steps, weathered by tropical conditions, creaked underfoot as I navigated the dramatic drop in elevation. With each switchback, the beach grew larger in my view, the turquoise water becoming increasingly inviting.
Once at the beach, I gratefully kicked off my hiking boots and waded into the cool water. It felt amazing to kick off my shoes and wade in the water. When I visited in 2018, swimming was still allowed. However, a recent uptick in crocodile activity in the area has since closed the beaches to bathing. Personally, I would prefer not to become a crocodile’s dinner.
The Boat Ride from Kecil Beach to Park HQ
At the beach, I was tired and hungry and didn’t feel like hiking the return trip. Luckily, there are boats to ferry people back to the park HQ for a fee. The boats are a flat rate, and being a broke student, I was lucky to make friends with a group of Dutch tourists on the beach who were willing to split the fare with me.
Returning by boat turned out to be an excellent choice as we got a great view of the coastline, including an iconic sandstone rock formation known as the “sea stack”.
Our boat skimmed across the water, we saw glimpses of Bako’s diverse ecosystems from a new perspective. Mangrove forests giving way to rocky cliffs, hidden coves, and stretches of pristine beach. Before we knew it, we were back at park HQ.
Lunch at the Bako Cafeteria
After a safe boat ride back to the park visitor’s center, the Dutch folks kindly invited me to lunch at the park’s cafeteria. Hilariously, the lawn outside the cafeteria was crawling with monkeys. Aggressive, clever, monkeys with puppy dog eyes. Macaque monkeys might look cute at first, but these little dudes are smart and vicious.
At another table, I saw an unsuspecting tourist with a chicken leg in one hand. Suddenly, a macaque lept from the roof ripping the chicken leg from the tourist’s hands before running off to its monkey friends. All around, sunglasses and keys were swiped from pockets by little monkey hands, backpacks were rooted through in search of snacks, and every attempt to prevent monkey theft was met with sharp teeth and monkey screams.
Hiking the Ulu Assam Trail
With a few hours left before my boat return time, I set out to do one last trail, the Ulu Assam Trail. This trail is a 1.7-mile out-and-back trail that passes through swamp forest before steeply ascending to a viewpoint. Along the swampy section of the trail, I saw a number of birds, a snake, and a “Beware of Bees” sign. I soon realized that I was running out of time and that I could possibly miss my return boat. I had purchased a return ticket for the last boat of the day. If I missed this boat, I would be stranded in the park overnight!
The Boat Ride Home
I ran at top speeds back along the trail, but alas. As I breathlessly reached the beach, I stumbled up to a group of six people staring with befuddlement. The beach was empty, utterly devoid of boats. My heart sank. I’d missed my boat. Solo travel is all fun and games until you are alone in a National Park on a peninsula on an island with poor cell service, and next to no cash. The shadows stretched longer as the sun journeyed across the sky.
With little hope, I chatted with the group of six tourists who were also stranded. I found out that they were waiting for a private boat charter that had never showed. They kindly offered to keep me company while they figured out what they were going to do. Half an hour later, a boat appeared around the edge of the bay. It was their charter! The group graciously let me piggy-back on their boat ride back to the jetty. I was so relieved to have found a way off the peninsula.
Stranded at the Jetty
Back at the Jetty, my adventure wasn’t over yet. Being way past the closing hour, the previously bustling jetty had transformed into a ghost town, with not single a taxi in sight. I tried ordering a ride on Grab, and of course, there were no drivers available anywhere remotely close by.
Salty, sweaty, and tired, I plopped down on the stairs in front of the park office to assess my options. A bus perhaps? No buses were scheduled to arrive any time soon. The sun was beginning to set, casting long shadows across the empty parking lot, and with it came the sobering realization that I had no clear way back to Kuching, over 37 kilometers away.
A local teen must have noticed my sullen face, because he approached me and offered me transport back to Kuching with him and his wife for a fee. I accepted the offer. On the ride back, they told me about their life in Sarawak, and their efforts to make a better life for their family. Many of their struggles sounded similar to those that my peers face in the US today. We both face a lack of opportunity outside of the cities, and managing the expectations set by our families. Thankfully, I safely made it back to Kuching, and I swore to myself to never be so dumb and starstruck by wildlife to miss a boat again.
Plan Your Trip To Bako National Park
Getting to Bako National Park
Bako National Park is only accessible by boat from the Bako National Park Carpark and Boat Jetty. It is easy to get to the Bako National Park Carpark and Boat Jetty from Kuching by rideshare and Taxi. Be aware that it could be more difficult to get a Taxi back to Kuching on the return trip if you arrive late in the afternoon.
Best Season for Bako National Park
Bako National Park is best in the dry season between March and October. I visited in July and had a sunny day.
Facilities in Bako National Park
Food and Water
Bako National Park has a cafeteria with decent hot food. During my visit, they cooked noodles, curries, and fried rice.
Toilets
Bathroom facilities are also available in some areas of the park.
What to Pack for Bako National Park
- Binoculars
- Camera
- Food and Water
- Sunscreen
- Bug Spray
- Rain Jacket
- Hat
Bako National Park Travel Tips
- Arrive Early: The park is usually open from 8 A.M. in the morning to 5 P.M. Arriving early will give you plenty of time to enjoy your visit without being rushed for time.
- Beware of Monkeys: These little guys are smart and crafty with sticky fingers.
- Check-in at Park HQ: It is best to let the park know you are there so they can go find you if you fail to return from a hike.
- Overnight Stays: The park has a number of cabins where you can stay overnight for longer park visits and night hikes.
- Take Photos of the Trail Map and Boat Schedule: While the trails were relatively well marked, I did lose track of time and miss my boat.
Was It Worth The Trip?
100% Yes! Borneo has always fascinated me; an island rich with biodiversity, Borneo hosts some of the oldest rainforests in the world, home to animals ranging from wild orang-utans and hornbills to over 15,000 species of plants, 6,000 of which are found nowhere else in the world. Bako National Park was a great place to see wildlife and explore.
