Taman Negara, the most popular national park in the country, is a scenic region of forested plateaus, lofty peaks and green valleys with clean, clear streams in an area covering 4343sq km.

The national park ranges in altitude from 120m to 2150m (the summit of Gunung Tahan, the highest mountain in Peninsular Malaysia). It is traversed by several rivers Of these, the Tembeling provides access to the park headquarters.

This park on the east coast of the peninsula, situated between Johor and Pahang encompasses the watershed of the rivers Endau in Johor and Rompin in Pahang and comprises some 488sq km of forest. Lush and relatively untouched, it is one of the few remaining lowland dipterocarp forests in the country and the last refuge of the Sumatranz Rhinoceros in Peninsular Malaysia.

It is of major conservation significance due to the diversity of flora and fauna and animal species found within. Its rocks and hills have been estimated to be nearly 250 million years old. 

Take a trip off the beaten track and venture into Kenong Rimba Park, situated in the Sungai Kenong Valley where the placid Kenong River flows.

A sprawling nature reserve covering 120 sq kilometres with eastern and northern boundaries touching Taman Negara, the park offers nature lovers the charm of the cool green forest, interspeared with cascading waterfalls, cool mountain streams, a variety of flora and fauna and for the more adventurous ones, a range of activities like mountain climbing and exploring caves.

Some 138km from Kota Kinabalu, the capital of Sabah, the magnificent Mount Kinabalu at 4093m is one of the highest mountains in South East Asia.

Taking up an area of about 750sq km, it was established in 1964 as an important research centre for exploration and scientific investigation.

Today the focus is more on tourism and the mountain attracts climbers to its summit.

Sarawak's Niah National Park is made up of 3103 hectares of forest and limestone. It was originally established to protect the valuable Niah Caves, made famous by the discoveries of an early ancient human settlement.

The Niah Caves is a major attraction in this park One known as the Great Cave covers an area of 11 hectares, or as large as 13 football fields.

This is Sarawak's largest national park, covering an area of 544sq km.

The park contains Sarawak's secondhighest peak, Gunung Mulu a sandstone outcrop standing at 2376m. There is also the 1750m Gunung Api, an impressive limestone outcrop

The park is noted for its diverse vegetation which varies from peat swamp to limestone and forest terrain. This national park contains about 1500 species of flowering plants, including 10 species of the famous pitcher plant.

Bako, the oldest National Park is also the closest to Kuching and easiest to get Residents include the endemic proboscis monkey, famous bearded pig, silver leaf monkeys and long tailed macaques.

The park also showcases a wide variety of vegetation found in Borneo including carnivourus pitcher plants, sundews, bladderworts and wild ochids.

Similajau (about 30 minute's drive from Bintulu) has emerald water, tropical rainforest and long, golden sandy beaches.

The Park's close proximity to Bintulu makes it one of the state's more accessible parks. It is popular with the local people and those interested in seeing birds of prey like the sea eagle and Brahminy kite. Other animals that may appear in the Park are turtles, monkeys and wild boar.

 There are some short walks in the coastal forests behind the beaches. In all, there are over 16 km of marked trails throughout the Park. Various vegetation types are found here including mixed dipterocarp forest, heath (kerangas), peat swamp and coastal forest. Mangrove forests supporting nipah palms are located in the estuaries.