Bako National Park night tour from Kuching: Nocturnal wildlife

Monkeys sleep in the canopy at dusk. That's when the night shift begins.

A six-hour night tour of Bako National Park departing from Kuching includes hotel pickup, boat transport, park admission and a guide who leads night walks in search of nocturnal wildlife. The tour starts just before sunset, so you watch monkeys retreat into the forest canopy as daylight fades, then spend the evening spotting creatures that only emerge after dark: flying lemurs, pangolins, mouse deer, fruit bats, tarsiers, slow lorises, palm civets, pit vipers and insects. The park's nocturnal animals are entirely different from the daytime species most visitors see.

Step-by-step itinerary

Night wildlife tour in Bako National Park

• Start tour before sunset
• Observe monkeys retreating to canopy
• Search for nocturnal animals
• Spot flying lemur, pangolin, and bats
• Look for long-tailed macaques and bearded pigs
• Enjoy bird watching with 150 species
• View dramatic coastline and sandy bays

The experience

The tour runs six hours total. It begins with hotel pickup from either Kuching City or the Kuching Outskirts, then a boat ride to Bako National Park. The timing matters: you arrive just before sunset, which is when you start to see the shift change. Diurnal monkeys (long-tailed macaques and silvered langurs among them) don't build nests. They settle into whatever space on a tree branch is most convenient for the night. Watching them settle as light drains from the forest is the bridge between day and night wildlife viewing.

Once darkness falls, the night walks begin in search of animals that stay hidden during the day. Flying lemurs, pangolins, mouse deer, various species of fruit-eating and insect-eating bats, tarsiers, slow lorises and palm civets all emerge. You'll also search for pit vipers: venomous snakes with green bodies and yellow undersides that are excellent climbers and often stay motionless in the canopy waiting to ambush prey. Insects, frogs, centipedes, scorpions and spiders become visible under torchlight. The park has recorded over 150 bird species, though most are easier to spot during daylight hours.

Bako's coastline (shaped by millions of years of sandstone erosion into steep cliffs, rocky headlands, sea arches and white sandy bays) forms the backdrop, though the night tour focuses on the forest interior where nocturnal animals hunt and forage. Bring bug spray, a water bottle, a torch light and trekking shoes. A poncho is useful if rain arrives. Infants can sit on an adult's lap. The guide speaks English and leads the entire experience.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup and drop-off from Kuching City or Kuching Outskirts.
• boat ride to and from Bako National Park.
• park admission.
• six-hour guided night walk with an English-speaking guide.

Options for this experience

2 options

Kuching CityGuide in English · Available from 1 Mar 2027Includes pickup from hotels in central Kuching City

Kuching OutskirtsGuide in English · Available from 1 Mar 2027Includes pickup from hotels on the outskirts of Kuching, in the Damai area (Damai Beach Resorts/Hotels)

You'll see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates and prices

Before you book

Days and timesNext departure: 1 Mar 2027

Book up to1d before

AgesAdult (12 and older) · Child (2 to 11 years) · Infant (under 2): free

GroupUp to 7

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 6 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated 3 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Magunatip Holidays Sdn Bhd

Is this one for you?The fixed start time, just before sunset, is what lets you witness the daytime monkeys settling into the canopy as the nocturnal shift emerges, a transition most daytime visitors miss. Book this if you want to see an entirely different cast of animals than a standard park visit offers.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (2 to 11 years); Infant (under 2): free.

What nocturnal animals will I actually see on the night walk at Bako?

Flying lemurs, pangolins, mouse deer, tarsiers, slow lorises, palm civets, pit vipers, fruit bats, insect-eating bats, frogs, centipedes, scorpions and spiders all come out after dark in Bako National Park. Long-tailed macaques and silvered langurs are visible at dusk as they settle into the canopy for the night.

Why does the tour start just before sunset instead of after dark?

Starting before sunset lets you watch the daytime monkeys (which are diurnal and sleep at night) retreat into the forest canopy as light fades. This transition period shows the shift from day to night wildlife and is part of what makes the nocturnal tour distinct from a daytime visit.

Do I need to arrange my own transport to Bako, or is it included?

Hotel pickup and drop-off are included, along with the boat ride to the park and park admission. You choose pickup from either Kuching City or the Kuching Outskirts at checkout.

What should I bring for a six-hour night tour in the rainforest?

Bring bug spray, a water bottle, a torch light and comfortable trekking shoes. A poncho or rain jacket is useful since rain can arrive quickly in the forest. The tour is suitable for all fitness levels, and infants can sit on an adult's lap.

Is the guide English-speaking, and do they lead the whole tour?

Yes, the guide speaks English and leads the entire night walk through the park, pointing out nocturnal animals and explaining their behavior as you search for them after dark.