travHolidays
Plan my trip
Plan trip
Forested headland with rocky cliffs above a jade-green bay and a sandy beach, seen from a rock outcrop
National park · Bako, Kuching Division, Sarawak

Bako National Park

Sarawak's oldest national park, known for proboscis monkeys, beaches and coastal trails

Explore on the mapPlan a Malaysia trip
Ambient sound · similar settingSound of a tropical forest
Photo: Ong Cheng Zheng (@ocz0929) / Unsplash

Discover Bako National Park

Bako is Borneo in miniature. On a compact peninsula north-east of Kuching, sandstone cliffs drop to sheltered bays, mangroves edge the river mouths, and trails climb through rainforest to open heath where pitcher plants grow beside the path. There is no road in: a short boat ride from Kampung Bako is part of the adventure.

The star attraction is the proboscis monkey, a pot-bellied, long-nosed primate found only in Borneo, often seen feeding in the mangroves and trees near park headquarters in the early morning and late afternoon. Long-tailed macaques, silvered langurs, bearded pigs and monitor lizards are also common. With well-marked trails of every length, Bako suits families on a day trip as much as hikers who stay overnight for dawn walks and night tours.

Don’t miss

  1. 01Proboscis monkeys in the mangroves and trees near park headquarters
  2. 02Telok Paku and Telok Pandan trails to secluded beaches
  3. 03Pitcher plants and other carnivorous plants on the heath plateau
  4. 04Sandstone cliffs and rock formations seen from the boat approach
  5. 05Nocturnal wildlife such as tarsiers, colugos, frogs and insects

History & culture

The story of Bako National Park

Established in 1957, Bako is Sarawak's oldest national park. Though small, it contains a remarkable range of habitats, with more than 25 vegetation types forming seven distinct ecosystems, from beach and cliff vegetation to kerangas heath, mangrove, mixed dipterocarp and peat swamp forest.

Waves and weather have carved the park's sandstone coast into cliffs, arches and sea stacks. Its most famous sea stack, often likened to a serpent's head, collapsed in February 2024 after its base was eroded by waves; Sarawak's tourism minister said the loss would not stop visitors coming, and other rock formations can still be seen from the boat and from Telok Assam beach.

Local life & traditions

Kampung Bako, where the boats leave, is a fishing village, and local boatmen ferry visitors to the park throughout the day. Fishing and small-scale trading remain part of daily life here, and the village has simple stalls selling snacks and drinks. Bako is a favourite weekend outing for Kuching families, so it is busier on weekends and public holidays.

Things to do

Experience it like a local

A day trip is easy from Kuching: travel to the Bako jetty, register, take the boat to park headquarters at Telok Assam, and choose one or two of the shorter trails. The routes towards Telok Paku and Telok Pandan combine forest walking with beach views and are good for spotting proboscis monkeys. Late afternoon, before the last boat back, is often a productive time for wildlife near headquarters.

Staying overnight in the park's chalets lets you walk at dawn, when animals are most active, and ask at headquarters about guided night walks. Longer trails head across the plateau to remote beaches; ask at headquarters about conditions and allow plenty of time.

When to go

The park is open daily and can be visited year-round. The wettest period on the Sarawak coast is usually around the turn of the year, when seas can be rough enough to disrupt boat transfers; the rest of the year is generally better for hiking and calmer crossings. Whatever the month, start early: mornings are cooler, wildlife is more active, and afternoon storms are common.

Plan your visit

Verified information

Established
1957; Sarawak's oldest national park Source: sarawaktourism.com ↗
Opening hours
8:00 am to 5:00 pm daily (as published, Oct 2026) Source: sarawaktourism.com ↗
Distance from Kuching
About 37 km Source: sarawaktourism.com ↗
Overnight stays
Chalets with electricity and running water are available in the park; dining options are limited Source: sarawaktourism.com ↗

Checked against the sources on 27 October 2026. Opening times and fees can change — confirm before you go.

Travel tips

  • Access is by boat only; boats leave from the jetty at Kampung Bako, where visitors register and buy park and boat tickets.
  • Boat landings depend on the tide, so be ready to wade at the beach.
  • Keep food and bags closed; macaques around headquarters snatch anything they can.
  • Wear sturdy shoes, as trails can be steep, rooty and slippery after rain.
  • Bring water, snacks and sun protection, as food choices in the park are limited.

General guidance from our specialists, not official information.

Around Bako National Park: food, markets & places to stay

Kuching, about 37 km away, is the base for most visitors, with hotels, halal food and transport options. Public buses and minivans run from Kuching to Kampung Bako, and ride-hailing cars are widely used. The village near the jetty has small stalls, and the park canteen and chalets serve overnight guests.

Bako National Park & what’s nearby

All places in Malaysia →
Loading map…
Open larger map ↗
Penambang boats on the brown Sarawak River beside the waterfront promenade, a pavilion and the white Square Tower
City
Kuching, Sarawak · 22 km away

Kuching Waterfront & Old Kuching

Explore

Bako National Park in pictures

Pairs well with

A bright green lizard with blue spots clinging to a thin vine against a dark rainforest background
National park
Mulu, Miri Division, Sarawak

Gunung Mulu National Park

Deep in northern Sarawak and reached mainly by air, Mulu protects vast cave systems including Deer Cave and the Sarawak Chamber, millions of bats, and the Pinnacles, 50-metre limestone spires. UNESCO World Heritage since 2000.

Explore

Visit Bako National Park on a Malaysia holiday

All Malaysia packages →
Petronas Twin Towers lit up at night above the KLCC Lake Symphony fountains, Kuala Lumpur
NatureBeach
Malaysia · 11 nights4★ Resort

Malaysia Rainforest & Islands

  • Sepilok orangutans
  • Langkawi beaches
  • Kinabatangan river
Includes accommodation · private transfers · daily breakfast · guided sightseeing
Indicative from
$2,138 pp
Trishaws with umbrellas parked by heritage shophouses on a tree-lined street in George Town, Penang
City breakCulture
Malaysia · 7 nights4★ Boutique

Kuala Lumpur & Penang Food Trail

  • Hawker food tour
  • George Town street art
  • Petronas skybridge
Includes accommodation · private transfers · daily breakfast · guided sightseeing
Indicative from
$1,559 pp

Sources & verification

This guide was researched from the sources below and reviewed by our team on 27 October 2026. Facts under “Verified information” link to the page they were checked on; travel tips are general guidance. Photos are credited on each image. The ambient recording’s author and licence are shown in the sound player.

  1. Bako National Park — Sarawak Tourism Board
  2. Bako National Park — Sarawak Tourism Board
  3. Bako National Park a gem of Sarawak — New Straits Times
  4. Serpent Head sea stack in Bako National Park collapses — Free Malaysia Today
  5. Bako National Park — Wikipedia

Want Bako National Park in your itinerary? Our specialists will fit it in.

Customise a Malaysia tripAsk a specialist