Bako National Park is one of the most popular national parks in Sarawak, and is a great spot to visit from Kuching. The park is well-known as one of the best places to see wild proboscis monkeys, part of the Borneo Big Five, as well as several other species including Bornean bearded pigs, colugos, and snakes. It’s easy to visit Bako National Park to discover Kuching’s amazing wildlife, whether you opt for a self-guided day trip, a guided tour, or an overnight stay. Discover Borneo’s incredible wildlife with this guide on how to get to Bako National Park from Kuching.
Want to stay overnight in the park? Check out our guide to booking accommodation in Bako National Park to ensure an unforgettable trip!
How to get to Bako National Park
There are two stages to reaching the national park, firstly the journey from Kuching to the Bako National Park jetty and then the boat ride into the park itself. The journey to the jetty is possible by either bus or taxi.
Bus
Buses run every hour between 7am and 5pm from Kuching to the Bako National Park jetty. You will need to take the red #1 bus, which runs from the Kuching Waterfront.
There are a few different stops where you can get on the bus, including near the open-air market and opposite the Riverside Majestic Hotel. The bus from Kuching to the Bako National Park jetty costs 3.50 MYR per person, and takes around an hour.
Buses also run from the Bako National Park jetty back to Kuching on the hour.
Taxi
The quickest way to get from Kuching to Bako National Park is to take a taxi to the jetty. It’s around a 30-minute drive from the Kuching Waterfront, and costs around 30 MYR one-way if you book via the Grab e-hailing taxi app.
Alternatively, you can book directly with a taxi driver or via your accommodation, but this may cost up to 100 MYR. We recommend using Grab as it’s a lot cheaper, and is extremely convenient for arranging taxi journeys across South East Asia.
Getting a taxi from the Bako National Park jetty back to Kuching can be more challenging, as often there aren’t many drivers nearby – which means you may have to wait a while before you get a driver to accept your ride.
The boat trip into Bako National Park
Upon arrival at the jetty, the first thing you need to do is register your visit to the national park via the QR code at the desks or via the self-registration form on the Sarawak Forestry website. The form requires you to register basic information for every person in your group, including their name, nationality, and age.
After you have registered you will need to arrange and pay for your boat, as well as pay the Bako National Park entrance fees. There are different counters to arrange the boat and pay your entrance fees, but the staff will help guide you through the process.
A return boat trip from the jetty to the national park costs 200 MYR per boat, which can accommodate up to five people. If you are in a group of less than five, then it may be possible to share with other travellers wanting to take a boat at the same time to help split the cost.
Once you have arranged your boat you will need to pay the national park entrance fee, which is just 20 MYR for adults and 7 MYR for children. It’s also possible to arrange a guide whilst at the Bako National Park jetty, which is well worth it if you want help spotting some of the park’s incredible wildlife. Guides generally cost around 200 MYR for the day.
After you’ve registered your visit and paid for everything, then it’s time for the boat trip into Bako National Park, which takes around 20 minutes. Along the way you may encounter some wildlife, including kingfishers, white-bellied sea eagles, and even Irrawaddy dolphins if you’re lucky.
Once you reach the park you will be dropped off near the boardwalk to the Bako National Park headquarters, or if you arrive in low tide then you may have to wade through the water to the beach.
The jetty is open from 8am to 3pm every day, and card payments are not accepted – so make sure you have plenty of cash to cover the cost of your boat, entrance fees, guide (if you’re getting one), and for food and drink at the park headquarters.
Bako National Park’s opening hours are from 8am until around 5pm for anyone visiting on a day trip, and accommodation must be booked in advance for overnight stays. It’s worth arriving as early as possible for a day trip, and confirming what the latest time is that you can take a boat back to the jetty.
Day trip to Bako National Park from Kuching
The easiest option for visiting Bako National Park is to take a day tour from Kuching. Tours include return transport from your accommodation to the park, as well as a guided tour of the national park to help you spot some of its incredible native wildlife.
One of the main advantages of taking a tour is having a guide in the national park, as the guides are experts in spotting animals like the famous proboscis monkeys, snakes, and more. Bako National Park day trips can be booked in advance via the Klook website, and it’s best to book as early as possible to avoid missing out.
Click here to book a memorable day trip via the Klook website!
If you’re looking for a unique experience, then it’s also possible to stay overnight at the park. Staying overnight is one of the top tips for visiting Bako National Park, giving you the chance to explore the park after day trippers have left for the day, as well as take a night tour to discover the park’s nocturnal wildlife.
Overnight stays can also be arranged via Klook, as part of a 2 day 1 night Bako National Park tour. The accommodation in the park is fairly basic, but it’s well worth it for the chance to spend extra time in the park’s stunning nature.
Click here to discover the full range of tours available on the Klook website!
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