Anybody here been to Taman Negara?

Been there. Took a bus from China Town in KL which took us to a "jetty", don't remember that place name though but from there we had a 3h boat ride in a very uncomfortable boat. It's one one those long narrow wooden boats where you sit 2 by 2 and roughly 14-16 people + the captain.

It's fun for about 1h but then it's just boring because you see the same things over and over again.

However you don't need to go to this jetty if you don't wanna reach there by boat. You can drive all the way to Kuala Tahan (where the Mutiara resort and all the budget places are located). But 4x4!? Dude, I think you have overestimated the remoteness of Kuala Tahan quiet a lot, huge tourist buses can drive all the way to there. 

For me the whole Taman Negara "experience" is totally overrated but I don't know how well traveled/trekked you are. Some of the trekking will include overnight stay in the jungle so then you don't need to pay for hotel/hostel for those nights of course.

If you go, skip the 4x4 night safari, total rip off where they just drive around in a palm oil plantation. Chances of seeing any wild life: close to 0.

And... Hope you're not afraid of leeches

"But 4x4!? Dude, I think you have overestimated the remoteness of Kuala Tahan quiet a lot" Farm Dude, you cracked me up :-D I do own a 4x4 (and I didn't buy it just to go to Taman Negara :-))

I have booked rooms in Woodlands Resort for me and my buddies (any view on this resort?) for 4D3N (is this too much or will 3D2N suffice?). Now wondering what to do for fun. Any advice here? I saw something about shooting rapids (is this like whitewater rafting?)

Bottom line is can I go there and book whatever bits of fun I'm interested in? Or do I have to get entire packages?

Not such a big fan of trekking (the bit about leeches freaked me out a bit) but wouldn't mind doing one trekking session.

No problem to go there and then book whatever trips/activities you find exciting.

You can do a half day trekk for example, they take you upstream with a boat and then you walk back to Kuala Tahan through the jungle. If it starts raining there is a 100% "get bit by leeches" guarantee!

3D2N will be enough there since you dont wanna go for any long trekk.

thanks for the advice farm. appreciate it.