Malaysia is full of wonderful surprises. Its beauty has never ceased to leave me in awe. It is a place of amazingly beautiful contrast. You could be exploring its bustling city one morning and trek some pristine jungles on the same day.
This time I’m going to take you exploring some places beyond the city of Kuala Lumpur that are under the tourists radar. These places are just within 45 to 90 minutes from the heart of Kuala Lumpur.
Thanks to Tourism Malaysia Central and Tourism Malaysia, Beyond KL is an amazing trip exploring off the beaten track destinations within a short drive from the city.
MAH MERI CULTURAL VILLAGE
Have you heard of the ancient Mah Meri tribe? Mah Meri, meaning The Jungle People, is one of 18 indigenous communities living in Peninsula Malaysia. They have been around for over 300 years.
There are only 4200 Mah Meri tribes left in Malaysia. That is just 0.0013% compared to the current population of Malaysia which is 32,700,000. I count my lucky stars to be given the opportunity to get up close and personal with this highly skilled ancient tribe!
The media team was given a very warm welcome by the Mah Meri tribe. They presented us with a headdress made of woven palm leaf upon arrival. We then walked through a ritual where we placed our feet on a mat while they sprinkled our hands and feet with flour as a symbol of blessing.
The Mah Meri tribes are renowned for their skills in woodcarving. Until today, they managed to preserve their spiritual wood carving that is known to be world class in terms of craft and artistry.
The Mah Meri tribe women are extremely adept at palm weaving. Check out their headdresses and other decorative items made of palm fronds in the photos here!
Mah Meri Cultural Village, dedicated to the Mah Meri community, is set up to preserve its cultural heritage. The culture village opens its doors to visitors to give the public an exposure about the tribe. Visitors could learn about their traditional way of life, its culture, history and their skills in leaf origami and wood carving.
I’ve had a fabulous time and have learned so much about this legendary tribe on my visit to the Mah Meri Cultural Village.
Check out my reels on Instagram about Mah Meri Culture Village
FRASER VALLEY KUALA KUBU BHARU
Blessed with beautiful rolling hills, the 80 years old town of Kuala Kubu Bharu is now the new attraction of an ecotourism destination. Pristine landscapes, charming nature and a variety of adventure activities, this is a great option for an escape from the concrete jungle.
Fraser Valley in Kuala Kubu Bharu is on 100 acres of land. This valley boasts some magnificent views of the Titiwangsa Range, the backbone of Peninsula Malaysia.
The lakes here are perfect for fishing and picnics and the luxurious glamping sites have great facilities. The glamping tents are beautifully set-up with an outdoor seating area. My favourite are the ones overlooking the lakes. Imagine waking-up in the morning to views of the lake with the Titiwangsa Range in the backdrop…
The tents are equipped with fans and comfy mattresses, so no worries about getting rough and tumble while you could enjoy the great outdoors.
Pack your yoga mats and trainers,or even bicycles, there’s ample space to practice yoga and meditation or go for a run or cycling.
Visitors could also hop on the 1970s Land Rover and explore the hilltop. I promise it’ll make you feel like you’re exploring the savannah in Africa! Check out my photos here!
Fraser Valley Kuala Kubu Bharu
SRI DAMAI RIVERSIDE KALUMPANG
If you long to fall asleep to the sound of the river and wake-up to the melodious chorus of birdsong, then Sri Damai Riverside Kalumpang is the ideal place for it.
Sri Damai Riverside Kalumpang is located just over an hour from the heart of Kuala Lumpur. Surrounded by nature, this gorgeous site offers beautiful wooden bungalows and campsites for its visitors. Pack a picnic for a day trip or stay in one of its beautiful bungalows for the night.
There’s massive grounds for children to run around other than going for dips in its crystal clear river. Cooking area and toilet facilities are provided too.
The area is well-kept and very clean. So, let’s all do our part and look after the beauty of our nature. Get rid of our thrash after picnicking and keep the surrounding area clean.
Here’s my reel on Instagram on Sri Damai Riverside Kalumpang
Kalumpang, 44000 Kerling, Selangor, Malaysia
RESORT EKO RIMBA KOMANWEL RAWANG
A lovely recreational forest with manicured gardens and dense jungle in the backdrop, visitors will never be short of a camping spot on the massive 620 hectares of land. You can opt to go camping, glamping or stay at their chalets.
The glamping sites are beautifully set-up by the river. They’re equipped with fans, comfy mattresses and a small outdoor seating area. The internet is good, for those who wants to have an office with a view for change.
This park offers BBQ facilities, bicycles and ATVs for rent. There is an onsite restaurant open at reasonable hours.
This park is also located close to the Templer Park Recreational Forest and Kanching Waterfalls.
CHOLO CHOLO HOT SPRING AND CHALET
Nothing beats soaking away the stress of the city in a natural hot spring. It isn’t just relaxation for the mind and soul, hot springs allegedly have healing properties, thanks to the high mineral content of its water.
There’s a number of natural hot springs dotted around Malaysia. I had a great experience at Cholo Cholo Hot Spring, located in Batang Kali, Selangor. During World War 2, this hot spring was used by the Japanese soldiers in Malaya (the old name for Malaysia) as a healing site for its injured soldiers.
Cholo Cholo Hot Spring offers private geothermal pools and rest area for up to a party of 20 pax. There is also a public pool with gazebos for use for a minimal fee of RM10 for 4 hour use.
There are chalets available for nightly rent too.
If you’re keen to kfind out about more destinations on Selangor, head over to my articles by clicking HERE
Awesome! Gonna put all these attractions into my next bucket list la! 👍🏻 great reference!
Thanks you so much. And yes, there are great off the beaten path places to explore within 45-90minutes from the city!