Popular Sites For Hiking/Trekking/Nature Walks

Malaysia is home to some of the oldest and most biologically diverse rainforests in the world. Discover the country’s rugged beauty at these lowland, highland and mangrove rainforests, along with the diverse plant and animal life that dwell there.

Johor

• Endau-Rompin National Park
Lowland rainforest

• Mount Ophir (Gunung Ledang)
Highland rainforest

Kedah

• Mount Jerai
Highland rainforest

Kelantan

• Kuala Koh National Park
Lowland rainforest

Negeri Sembilan

• Kenaboi Forest Reserve
Highland dipterocarp forest & bamboo forest

• Pasoh Forest Reserve, Forest Research Institute Malaysia (FRIM) Pasoh
Highland dipterocarp forest & bamboo forest

• Sungai Menyala Forest Reserve
Lowland dipterocarp forest

• Ulu Bendul
Lowland dipterocarp forest

Pahang

• Cameron Highlands
Highland & mountain rainforest

• Fraser’s Hill
Highland rainforest

• Genting Highlands
Highland rainforest

• Lake Bera
Freshwater swamp forest

• Lake Chini
Freshwater swamp forest

• Taman Negara Kuala Tahan
Lowland & hill rainforest

• Taman Negara Sungai Relau
Lowland & hill rainforest

Penang

• Teluk Bahang
Low rainforest

• Cherok Tokun Hill
Low rainforest

Perak

• Royal Belum
Mixed dipterocarp forest

Perlis

• Perlis State Park
Hill rainforest & limestone pinnacles

Sabah

• Bohey Dulang
Lowland rainforest

• Crocker Range National Park
Highland & mountain forest

• Danum Valley
Lowland rainforest

• Kinabalu Park
Highland & mountain forest

• Kinabatangan Floodplain
Freshwater swamp forest

• Maliau Basin
Lower montane forest, rare montane heath forest and lowland, and hill dipterocarp forest

• Tabin Wildlife Reserve
Lowland rainforest

• Tawau Hills National Park
Lowland rainforest

Sarawak

• Bako National Park
Mangrove & mixed forest

Sarawak’s oldest national park is home to the rare prosboscis monkey, long-tailed macaque, silver leaf monkey, monitor lizard, plantain squirrel, wild boar, otters, mouse deer and over 150 species of birds.

The best times to see proboscis monkeys are early in the morning or in the hours before dusk. Good places for viewing the monkeys include the trails at Telok Delima, as well as the mangroves at Telok Assam.

Despite its seemingly small size, Bako also has a wide range of vegetation – swamp forest, scrub-like padang vegetation, mangrove forest, dipterocarp forest and delicate cliff vegetation.

Bako’s extensive trail system is made up of 16 colour-coded jungle trails which offer a range of walking and hiking options. The fit and adventurous can opt for full-day jungle hikes or overnight camping expeditions, while those who prefer to take it easy can opt for a relaxing forest walk.

• Lambir Hills National Park
Lowland rainforest

With 6,952 hectares of lowland dipterocarp and heath forests rising to a height of 450 metres, producing the greatest known level of plant biodiversity on the planet, Lambir Hills National Park is possibly the world’s most complex and diverse forest ecosystem.

Located about 36km southwest of Miri, the Park is also home to 237 different species of birds, flying squirrels, wild pigs, gibbons, many different types of monkeys, various species of deer, and untold number of insects and other invertebrates.

The Park also has trekking trails leading to sparkling waterfalls such as the nearby Latak Waterfall, and Pantu and Nibong Waterfalls on the Pantu Trail. There is even a 22m Tree Tower on the Pantu Trail, about 1km from the Park Office, where you can climb up to see the scenic dipterocarp forest profile as well as a rich variety of bird species.

• Mount Gading National Park
Highland rainforest

A glimpse of the spectacular Rafflesia, the world’s largest flower which can grow up to 1m in diameter, is the main attraction of this Park.

When in bloom, the flower gives off a nasty smell which attracts flies and other insects. The Rafflesia has no specific season but the rainy season provides better blooming frequencies. The flower takes nine months to mature and flowering lasts only four or five days before it dies.

But even if you don’t get to see the Rafflesia, the Park is worth a visit for its jungle trails that lead to streams, cascading waterfalls and the mountains, with one path taking trekkers to the summit of Mount Gading (906m). The rugged mountains within the Park provide a scenic backdrop to the nearby town of Lundu, as well as the beaches at Pandan and Siar.

• Mount Mulu National Park
Highland rainforest & limestone pinnacles

This UNESCO World Heritage Site is home to the world’s largest cave chamber and the world’s most extensive cave systems with razor sharp limestone pinnacles.

A fascinating experience not to be missed is catching the exodus of millions of bats from the dim caverns at dusk.

• Niah National Park
Lowland rainforest

The area was a major centre of human settlement as early as 40,000 years ago and features one of the world’s largest cave entrances, Palaeolithic and Neolithic burial sites, and iron-age cave paintings.

The nearby Painted Cave houses wall-paintings depicting the boat journey of the dead into the afterlife, along with remnants of “death-ships” on the cave floor.

Those leaving its Great Cave around sunset will get to witness two great black clouds intermingling – the nightly “changing of the guard” – as hundreds of thousands of swiftlets return to their nests, whilst an approximately equal number of bats fly out to forage in the forest. A variety of luminous fungi can also be clearly seen from the plankwalk at night.

The surrounding area is covered in dense primary rain forest and is home to many species of plants and wildlife. Even today, the caves remain important for local communities, with birds nest and guano collection providing valuable employment and income.

Info source: Sarawak Tourism Board

Selangor

• Ampang Forest Reserve
Lowland forest

• Broga Hill
Green hill

• Forest Research Institute Malaysia
Lowland forest

• Kanching Recreational Forest/Kanching Rainforest Waterfall
Lowland forest & waterfall

• Kota Damansara Forest
Lowland forest

• Kuala Selangor Nature Park
Mangrove forest

• Sungai Tua Recreational Forest
Lowland forest & waterfall

• Templer Park
Mountain forest

Trengganu

• Lake Kenyir
Freshwater swamp forest

• Lata Belatan
Waterfall & recreational forest

• Lata Tembakah
Waterfall & recreational forest

• Mount Berembun
Highland & mountain forest

• Mount Tebu
Highland & mountain forest

• Sekayu Waterfall
Waterfall & recreational forest

• Setiu Wetlands
Nature & statepark