Liew Jieh Sun - April 06 2021
Hiking Series
Where are the best places to hike in (Peninsular) Malaysia?
Mount Kota Kinabalu, Sabah
Introduction
Malaysia, a country located near to the equator in Southeast Asia, is composed of two major regions (divided by the South China Sea): Peninsular Malaysia (West Malaysia), which is on the Malay Peninsula and East Malaysia which is on the island of Borneo. Due to its location and climate, it is an extremely blessed country as it boasts one of the most diverse ranges of flora and faunas. Most of Malaysia is covered in rainforest making it a very attractive location for the outdoor enthusiasts. These are the 10 spectacular hiking trails that you can explore if you are in currently this region:
1. Bukit Gasing Forest Park
Location: Petaling Jaya, Selangor Difficulty: Medium Estimated duration: 1 - 2 hours Located in the suburbs of Petaling Jaya, Bukit Gasing Forest Park was once a rubber estate spanning 100 hectares which has various levels of hiking trails frequently visited by residents. Although there are limited signboards, there are six different routes that cater for hikers of all fitness levels. With a peak of about 160 metres, you can enjoy a wonderful view at the top of the hill. The hiking trail is steep but there are a lot of marking points and steps left by other hikers. There are various benches along the route for those who needed it. The highlight of this trail is definitely the unmissable suspension bridge! Credits to @annaevening for details on how to get to the suspension bridge.
2. Bukit Saga (Apek Hill)
Location: Ampang, Kuala Lumpur Difficulty: Medium to Hard Estimated duration: 3.5 - 4.5 hours (much longer for the waterfalls) This trail is connected by two bukits (hills) and currently only Trail A and C are open to the public. You can either choose to start your hike from Jalan Awana or Bukit Hatamas. There are various stations along the trails for people to take a breather and rejuvenate. There is even workout equipment that makes it sort of a “jungle gym” theme on one of the stations (station 6 a.k.a Tea Station) for those wanting to workout in nature. However, this hike is not for the faint hearted as there are steep ascends and descends and be prepared to hike much longer than 5 hours if you are aiming to reach the waterfalls. Yes! There is a waterfall in between this trail which is also the highlight of the trail. Hence, please do aim to get to the waterfalls if you are up for it! We are sure you will not regret it. Please check out @meowtainpeople for further details on the trail.