Malaysia has so many amazing places such as the Petronas Twin Towers in Kuala Lumpur, the UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Penang and Melaka, the tranquil beauty of Langkawi and so many more. Other than these, Malaysia indeed has natural attractions that are off the beaten track in Peninsula Malaysia.
When planning trips to these locations, prioritise safety with suitable attire and sturdy footwear as most require some trekking or travelling from jetties. Waterproof bags are essential for electronics, and a minimal approach to packing will make the treks less burdensome. Pack up on bottled water, sunscreen and snacks.
Sky Mirror
Sky Mirror is affectionately named due to its mirror-like reflection of the sky. This mysterious ‘island’ which is a vast sand bar, is only accessible via a boat ride during low tide. Most of the time, it is submerged underneath the sea, which makes it uncharted on the world map. It is when the tide is ideal that this sand bar emerges so it just down to pure luck on whether the boat can take you there.
The shallow waters of this “Secret Island” reflects the sky, thus creating many unique photography opportunities. You can bring your own props too! Besides looking up, don’t forget to also look down and you’ll likely catch sight of sea creatures scattered abundantly in the sand such as tiny crabs, baby clams, sea grapes, and a variety of beautiful shells.
The departure timing for Sky Mirror varies depending on the tide and the ideal time to visit is before 11am, where the weather is cooler. The journey from the jetty to Sky Mirror beach takes approximately 30 minutes, and you might even be lucky to spot pink dolphins too!
There are two different departure points. The travel distance from Kuala Lumpur to both jetty points is about an hour’s car drive. Prior booking and reservations are required.
Rainbow Waterfall
Nestled within the embrace of Sungai Lembing (in the Malay Language, it means Spear River) in the state of Pahang, the Rainbow Waterfall stands as a marvel of natural beauty in a location that was formerly the world’s deepest tin mine. The unique feature of this waterfall is that from 9-10am every morning, the sun hits the falling water at the base of its 250 metre cascades and creates a beautiful rainbow.
Reaching the Rainbow Waterfall is an adventure in itself. Whether by a rugged 4×4 ride through the forest or a trek, which offer a practical and thrilling ride to the campsite at Lubuk Beruk where overnight camping is available. From there, a 45-minute trek across rivers and up steep trails is required to witness the waterfall in its full glory.
Those preferring a day trip are advised to engage a certified tour guide for a safe and informative trekking experience. The duration of the tour is about six hours. Travel time by car from Kuala Lumpur is about three hours.
Tempurung Cave (Coconut Shell Cave)
The Gua Tempurung in Perak is one of the longest limestone caves in Peninsular Malaysia. Tucked away in the Kinta Valley Geopark, the cave has five grand domes that resemble coconut shells (thus its name ‘Coconut Shell Cave’) and showcase a diverse collection of stalagmites and stalactites as well as a 1.6-km-long river. This cave is great for beginners as they have guided tours that allow for easy exploration of this cave.
Estimated to be about 400 million years old, Tempurung Cave is located in Gopeng, Perak and is accessible via Ipoh, Penang and Kuala Lumpur.
Visitors can choose either the dry package tours or wet river adventure tours. For the dry tours, depending on the tour you choose, you will get to climb over 600 steps and see unique jumping, crawling through holes, and sliding down slippery stones. These adventurous and fun ranger-guided tours will take two to three hours to complete.
Taman Negara
Taman Negara is Malaysia’s premier National Park. Ever since its establishment in 1938, Taman Negara which means national park, has become a popular ecotourism destination. The park is home to diverse wildlife, including tigers, elephants, a variety of bird species, monkeys. Visitors can explore the jungle through canopy walkways, river cruises and trekking, providing an up-close encounter with Malaysia’s incredible biodiversity.
Covering a total area of 4,343 square kilometres, Taman Negara is one of the oldest tropical rainforests in the world, estimated to be 130 million years old, which is older than the Congo and the Amazon rainforests.
Avid mountain climbers would not miss the chance to scale Mount Tahan, the highest mountain in Peninsular Malaysia, located within Taman Negara. At a height of 2,187 metres, it is considered by many climbers as one of the toughest treks in Peninsular Malaysia.
You can also visit the Aborigines Village (Kampung Orang Asli) – home to the Batek and Semokberi aborigines – and learn more about their interesting cultures and lifestyles.
In terms of accommodation, there are many choices for visitors. Taman Negara is 240 km away from Kuala Lumpur and the journey takes three hours by bus and then take a taxi for an hour’s journey to Taman Negara, or to Kuala Tembeling jetty and continue the journey by boat.
