7 Jungle Trekking Spots in Malaysia for All Kinds of Hikers
Jungle trekking is one of the best activities to do in Malaysia for thrill seekers and nature lovers alike. The country boasts several of these lush landscapes and all of them are just begging to be explored – that’s where we come in!
In this blog, we’re going to take you on a virtual tour of the top jungle trekking spots in the country by giving you an idea of what you can expect from each one. Furthermore, we’ve also separated them by level of difficulty to make sure everyone can enjoy this activity. Let’s begin!
Beginner Trails
KL Forest Eco Park (Bukit Nanas Forest Reserve)
Address: Lot 240, Bukit Nanas, Jalan Raja Chulan 50250, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Contact details: +603 2020 1606
Operating hours: 8:00 AM to 5:30 PM (counter closes at 4:30 PM)
Entrance fee:
- Adults: RM10 (MyKAD Holder), RM40 (Non-MyKAD Holder)
- Children (6 to 12 years old): RM1 (MyKAD Holder), RM5 (Non-MyKAD Holder)
- Children (below 6 years old): Free
- Senior Citizens: RM1 (MyKAD Holder), RM40 (Non-MyKAD Holder)
- Person with Disabilities: Free
Duration: 30 minutes+ (depending on the trail)
Distance: 200m+
You don’t have to leave Malaysia’s capital to enjoy trekking in the country – case in point, KL Forest Eco Park. Also known as Bukit Nanas Forest Reserve, this tropical rainforest features three different trails: Jelutong trail, Penarahan trail and Arboretum trail – the more the merrier!
Here, you’ll be treated to beautiful sights of ferns, towering trees, tons of giant bamboo and herbs! Moreover, there’s a high chance that you’ll get to meet some of the amazing fauna this rainforest houses like the Long-tailed Macaque and the Silvered Langur.
Pro tip:
- If you’re coming with senior citizens or children or you simply find the trails too difficult, don’t worry! There’s a canopy walk that will treat you to the same beautiful sights while providing a more accessible trail.
- Make sure to wear the right shoes for the occasion. Some of the slopes here are steep and sometimes slippery, especially after rainfall.
Hutan Pendidikan Bukit Gasing
Address: Bukit Gasing, 46000 Petaling Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia
Contact details: +60 3-7956 3544
Operating hours: Open 24 hours
Entrance fee: Free
Duration: 1 and a half hours or more depending on the trail
Distance: 3.9 km to 5.8 km depending on the trail
Bukit Gasing Forest Park is another reserve near Kuala Lumpur that we highly recommend because of its many trails to try. These trails range from beginner to intermediate, with each one featuring equally beautiful sights of flora and fauna.
Aside from natural beauty, you can also find tons of manmade structures that are worth checking out like the suspension bridge and Hindu temple. To make things more interesting, you can sort of make your trek a scavenger hunt and see who’ll find these structures first!
Another reason why we included this in the beginner category is its abundance of roofs and benches. These simple things make trekking here much more accessible, especially if you’re coming with kids or elders.
Pro tip:
- Make sure to pack your lunch when visiting this rainforest! There are several picnic spots here where you can set up camp and dine while being surrounded by nature.
- Avoid visiting this place during weekends, especially mornings if you don’t want your trip to be crowded with other people. During this time, the trails will be packed with locals who are looking to experience a getaway from the city.
Templer’s Park
Address: Kilometer 17, Jalan Kuala Lumpur – Rawang, 48000 Rawang, Selangor
Contact details: +603 6091 6131
Operating hours: Open 24 hours
Entrance fee: RM7 (including car park)
Duration: 2 hours+
Distance: 4.8km to 6.6km depending on the trail
Aside from being a great trekking spot, Templer’s Park is a great quick getaway destination from KL thanks to its nearby location. It’s also one of the most scenic trails you can trek in Malaysia, as it features tons of streams along the way, which by the way, you’re free to swim in!
The abundance of natural water sources as well as the park’s overall leafy and shady nature makes it a refreshing jungle experience. Plus, the best part is that it’s extremely easy to conquer since the trail mostly consists of flat ground–easy sightseeing anyone?
Pro tip:
- You can’t leave this park without seeing Bukit Takun in person! It’s the famous million-year-old limestone hill that’s located at the edge of Taman Rimba Templer.
- Don’t worry about finding nearby restaurants when visiting this place. Instead, we encourage you to pack a lunch so that you can wind down at one of the picnic spots of the forest and admire beautiful views while eating.
Taman Negara
Website: https://www.tamannegara.asia
Address: Pahang, Malaysia
Operating hours: Open 24 hours
Entrance fee: RM1
Duration: 30 to 7 days
Distance: 8.5km
Taman Negara is one of the main attractions of Malaysia, simply because of its sheer scope and rich significance tourism-wise. This is because the entirety of this national park comes at around 4343 sq km and it’s home to the oldest rainforest in the world – how cool is that!
Trekking here is a treat because of the beautiful wildlife species that you’ll encounter like hornbills, markohas, wild boars and even elephants! The main event of this trail, however, is the 530-metre canopy walk, which is suspended 40 metres off the ground – perfect for sightseeing.
Pro tip:
- If you want to see the best seat in the house for bird watching, we recommend taking the Teresek Hill trail. You’ll meet the White-rumped Shama along the way and if you’re lucky, you’ll hear them sing!
- You can also go canoeing in one of the national park’s many rivers! This is great if you’re looking for a more exciting activity, as the rapids will take you for a wild ride.
Penang National Park
Address: Pejabat Taman Negara P. Pinang Jalan Hassan Abbas, 11050 George Town, Penang, Malaysia
Contact details: +60 4-881 3530
Operating hours: Daily from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM
Entrance fee: RM10
Duration: 2 hours+
Distance: 6 to 7 miles depending on the trail
Penang National Park is one of the most rewarding trekking spots in Malaysia because the light at the end of the road is Monkey Beach. It’s one of the most beautiful beaches in Malaysia and it’s the perfect way to end a tiring trek through countless numbers of towering trees.
Another reason why we say it’s a rewarding trek is because you’ll also get to visit Muka Head Lighthouse. This magnificent manmade structure is a must-visit if you want to catch a glimpse of amazing views of the national park.
Pro tip:
- If you don’t want to hike your way back to the entrance once you’ve reached Monkey Beach, you can take a boat ride!
- If you don’t want to go with the crowd, we recommend going for the lesser-known trail that takes you to the beautiful white sands of Kerachut Beach. It’s also here where you’ll spot tons of turtles living their best lives!
Moderate Trails’
Kota Damansara Community Forest Reserve
Website: http://kotadamansaraforest.org
Address: Jalan Merbah 10/1, Seksyen 10 Kota Damansara, 47810 Petaling Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia
Contact details: +60 4-881 3530
Operating hours:
- Weekdays: 7:30 AM to 3:00 PM
- Weekends: 7:00 AM to 3:00 PM
Entrance fee: RM2
Duration: 2 hours+
Distance: 2km to 7.7km depending on the trail
Kota Damansara Community Forest Reserve is one of the most intricate jungle trekking spots in the country just because of its series of trails. These trails range from moderate to expert and they’ll test your fitness levels through a series of terrains and a bunch of twists and turns.
The overall reserve poses a challenge for hikers but at the same time, it doesn’t fall short on marks and directions that point to the right direction. These marks are well maintained so you won’t have to worry about getting lost in this massive forest.
Pro tip:
- If you want to reach the highest peak in the forest, we recommend taking either the Unity Peak or Denai Tiga Puteri trails.
- We recommend exploring this reserve as early as 7:00 AM for a more pleasant hiking experience. During this time, the heat won’t be as harsh and you’ll even see some areas engulfed in mist.
Gunung Datuk Recreational Forest
Website: http://kotadamansaraforest.org
Address: 71350 Kota, Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia
Contact details: +60 4-881 3530
Operating hours: Daily from 7:00 AM to 6:00 PM
Entrance fee: RM5
Duration: 1.5 to 2.5 hours
Distance: 3.7km
Gunung Datuk Recreational Forest offers a fairly moderate hike that’s filled with picturesque views. This destination is for the adventurous kind, as it provides both jungle trekking and mountain hiking.
Although the overall hike duration is quite short (around one and a half hours), you still have to be fit to reach the peak. It is worth every sweat though, as the top of the mountain will provide you with beautiful unobstructed views of the Straits of Malacca.
Pro tip:
- We recommend using a hiking stick, especially when descending the mountain, as some parts of the trail can be quite steep and slippery.
- If you forgot to pack some food for your trip, don’t worry! You’ll find several stalls at the car park during the weekends that sell different kinds of snacks.